Resources
It Should Never Be All or Nothing
Composite artistry provides patients with a cost-effective alternative to porcelain.
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CE Courses: What, When, and Where?
One of the most common questions I’m asked is, "What CE course do you recommend?" Unfortunately, this question doesn’t have a simple answer…
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Adopting Stronger Flowable Composites
For many clinicians, a strong, flowable composite was not available when they first started practicing. “When we were initially using flowable composites, I was trying to use as little as possible on my restorations.”
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Can Indirect Restorations Be Produced With the Same Level of Quality Without Using Digital Technology?
Whether or not digital tools are used in treatment, the critical foundations of quality clinical practice remain the same. Dentists must have the experience and wisdom to determine the correct diagnosis and appropriate clinical endpoint.
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When Pictures Really Matter
When we say that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” we mean that a visual presentation conveys information more effectively than words can alone.
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When Words Are Not Enough
To consistently achieve excellent functional, esthetic, and biologic outcomes, the design of dental restorations should occur very early during treatment planning. When more data is shared between the clinician and the laboratory, a case can proceed more smoothly as it moves through preparation and provisionalization to the final restorations. Historically, laboratory technicians have selected the tooth shapes and arrangement based on guidelines provided by dentists through writ-ten prescriptions or phone conversations. This process left the laboratory technician unable to catch errors in clinical record taking or to see the dynamic facial movements of the patient whose smile he or she was creating.
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Ivoclar Vivadent’s bluephase® style Offers Clinicians Convenience, Comfort
Ivoclar Vivadent’s bluephase® line of curing lights represents a balanced combination of proven dentistry standards and new technology. Featuring a specially developed polywave® light-emitting diode (LED), bluephase curing lights achieve an optimal broadband range from 385 nm to 515 nm—similar to the spectrum of halogen lights, which serve as the benchmark for many clinicians. As such, bluephase lights are suit-able for curing any material currently on the market, according to the company.
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Match Even The Whitest Teeth
At my general dentistry practice in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, we see many patients during the course of a day. I have a team of dentists, and together, we offer a variety of services to our clientele. As clinicians, we all have our own techniques and preferences for how we like to do things as well as different materials that we prefer to use for various clinical situations. A big part of what I offer as a service is composite artistry, so it is important for me to have everything that I need on hand to deliver esthetic outcomes for my patients in a predictable, efficient manner—and that begins with having the right composite.
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Achieving Esthetic and Functional Objectives with Additive Equilibration
In a case involving a patient with high esthetic demands who wanted to keep treatment conservative, minimal direct bonding was used to enhance anterior esthetics while creating acceptable function. Primary treatment goals in the case, in which the patient was diagnosed with a constricted chewing pattern, were to improve esthetics by lengthening the maxillary anterior teeth and to stop continued loss of anterior tooth structure. Through the use of a Kois deprogrammer, an additive equilibration with direct composite was done to provide proper occlusal function to support the esthetic outcome, and no tooth reduction was needed.
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Metal-Based Restoration Replacement
For over 60 years, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) restorations have provided a functional and stable treatment option in dentistry. Although there is variability in the esthetic quality and longevity of these restorations, they have demonstrated consistent success. However, some disadvantages of PFM restorations include the substantial amount of tooth structure that must be removed during preparation to achieve proper esthetics and retention form.
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Mid-Year Planning
As we move past the midpoint of the year, it's time to start planning for 2025. Patients are already scheduling their 3, 4, and 6-month recare appointments, which means we're already looking ahead. How do you plan for the year ahead?
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Streamlined Protocols for Managing Big Cases: Ensuring Consistency and Patient Satisfaction
Managing large cases in a dental practice can be complex, but having a well-defined protocol ensures consistent, efficient results and satisfied patients every time. In our practice, we’ve developed a streamlined approach that begins as soon as a patient pays for their case, setting the stage for a smooth process from start to finish.
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Pink Porcelain Placement
Addressing defects in tissue and bone can pose significant challenges, particularly when a patient exhibits full gingival display. In such cases, the use of pink porcelain may be necessary. However, pinpointing precisely where to place the pink porcelain to seamlessly conceal the defect is crucial.
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Strategic Orthodontics for Minimally Invasive Veneers
Intentional planning enables the realization of minimally invasive dentistry. Pre-restorative orthodontics was employed to align the teeth and create the necessary spaces for minimally invasive veneers.
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Optimizing Cosmetic Consultations
I am constantly striving to improve my approach to providing our valued patients with the best possible experience. Cosmetic consultations are a vital part of this process, and over time, I've honed my methods to ensure they are both efficient and effective.
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Achieving a Balanced Smile with Same-Day Crown Lengthening and Veneers
Balancing tissue height can enhance the appearance of longer teeth, resulting in a more balanced and harmonious smile. Utilizing same-day crown lengthening along with two veneers offers a straightforward yet highly effective outcome.
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Conservative Treatment to Improve Function & Esthetics
PATIENTS TURN TO US for professional advice regarding treatment that aligns with their best interests. As dental professionals, our role is to of-fer patients solutions that meet their esthetic goals while ensuring that the treatment provided does not pose additional risks.
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The Power of Checklists Inspired by Atul Gawande
While the topic of efficient systems may not initially captivate, implementing them can significantly enhance the productivity and profitability of your dental practice. My introduction to this concept stemmed from reading Atul Gawande's enlightening book…
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The Magic Four: Transformative Cosmetic Dentistry Made Simple
Discover the art of seamlessly blending natural teeth with porcelain restorations for a truly remarkable result. Follow along as we dissect a recent Magic Four case, revealing the strategic combination of orthodontics and restorative dentistry to achieve stunning esthetics.
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Cross-Training Your Team: Empowering Team with Photography Skills
Team cross-training is a multifaceted concept, and in this discussion, I'll highlight the significant value it brings to your team when applied to photography. Initially, I assumed the sole responsibility for capturing photographs in our office. Armed with photography courses and extensive practice, I had the most experience with this subject. It seemed easier for me to handle it myself rather than explaining it to my team members.
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Unmasking Tooth Transformations
This tip demonstrates how the removal of old restorations can unveil less-than-ideal tooth positions and preparations and offers guidance on ensuring a harmonious final result.
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Transitional Bonding with Kois Deprogrammer: A Conservative Treatment Approach
Restoring a worn dentition presents challenges for the restorative dentist, requiring decisions on reconstructing lost tooth structure, addressing underlying risk factors, and meeting treatment goals while adhering to the principles of minimal dentistry.
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Lengthen & Widen the Smile
This tip showcases the process of using aligners to add length and widen the smile, followed by the application of minimally invasive veneers for a stunning transformation.
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Let’s Talk About Mock-Ups
Mock-ups serve two distinct purposes. First, they are instrumental in showcasing possibilities to our patients and promoting dentistry. Second, they are essential for evaluating shade, layering, and overall treatment outcomes.
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A Predictable Procedure Guide
Let’s discuss the restorative periodontal interface and its significance. In essence, it involves the harmonious interplay of pink aesthetics (the gum tissue) and white aesthetics (the teeth). To achieve an optimal smile design, we need to address these components individually and in conjunction.
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Replacing Worn Cosmetic Restorations with Porcelain
Addressing the challenge of balancing functional and esthetic goals within a patient's budget, a young female with acid reflux-induced erosive facial lesions on her maxillary teeth sought treatment.
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Simplified Posterior Restorations
Direct restorations in posterior teeth are a routine and frequently performed dental procedure. Despite their commonality, when using direct composite resin, it demands meticulous attention to detail and roughly twice the time compared to traditional amalgam fillings.
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Utilizing Digital Technology to Facilitate Dentofacial Integration
Advancements in digital technology offer a growing array of tools for enhancing team communication in restorative dentistry, utilizing high-quality photographs, presentation software, and video capture to analyze esthetic relationships.
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