June 22, 2018

Our office has, in its staff room, what I like to call the “temptation table.” During the holidays, it is usually chock-a-block with sugar-laden treats. Some are gifts from grateful patients, some are from local specialists, and some are just a coworker’s leftover Halloween candy. There was a day this past season when a dental assistant brought in a bag of Sour Patch Kids. I stared at the bag thinking, “Who eats these?”

May 6, 2018

With the combination of: (a) external challenges and changes in the certification process by the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO); (b) internal changes in almost every orthodontic office as a result of computerization; (c) confrontation from the government with HIPAA and OSHA requirements and limitations; and (d) the need for better time/motion efficiency to address improved delivery of orthodontic services, the forces for change combine to be far stronger than the forces for maintaining the status quo.

February 28, 2018

A revolution in surgical guidance is afoot. A new dynamic navigation technology called “Trace and Place” (TaP for short), was developed by ClaroNav and will soon become available with its Navident system. I have had the opportunity to try the technology in a range of cases, and I am very impressed. Here’s a brief description of my experience.

February 15, 2018

There is increased interest in the long term clinical outcomes and quality of life of patients treated with a high performance polymer for the framework material for full-arch implant-supported dental prosthetics, rather than the traditionally used metal or ceramic materials.

January 8, 2018

One of the dental field’s biggest esthetic priorities, after restoring and preserving health, is enhancing the smile. In 1995, Dentistry Today published an article I wrote about a technique I developed, which I called “Growing Enamel.” The phrase is erroneous, of course, because, after enamel is formed, it does not grow. But this technique creates an image of it doing so. In the years since the article was published, the concept has been copied in articles and books on cosmetic treatment techniques without reference or recognition. However, imitation or replication is a great form of flattery.

January 5, 2018

The removable denture may seem an outdated rehabilitation. However, it is the foundation on which all prosthetic procedures are based; therefore, it is imperative to know it and to follow its constructive steps when restoring the patient’s oral cavity to obtain an esthetic result not only of the smile but of the whole face.

December 29, 2017

As a partner and clinical director of a large private group practice, I often speak of modern dentistry’s esthetic possibilities. Our practice highly prioritizes working with committed laboratories, using quality materials and focusing on predictable processes. BioTemps Provisionals consistently help our doctors materialize the esthetic vision we create for our patients.

December 13, 2017

Platelet-rich fibrin can play an important role in oral and maxillofacial surgery, implant dentistry, periodontal regeneration and post-extraction site preservation. The fibrin is a reservoir of platelets that will slowly release growth factors and cytokines, which are the key factors for regeneration of the bone and maturation of the soft tissue. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is an autologous platelet concentrate prepared from the patient’s own blood at the dentist’s office just before the oral/dental procedure.