October 24, 2017

As more and more dentists are using the Smart Dentin Grinder protocol to convert extracted teeth into autologous graft, it is becoming obvious that the procedure offers the predictability they seek. This simple 15-minute procedure takes the extracted teeth through a special chairside device that crushes them into a consistent particulate size and then applies a cleansing process which results in plenty of dentin graft in putty form that can be placed right back into the site.

October 16, 2017

Dr. Nelson Pinto presented “Guidelines for the Use of Autologous Platelet Concentrate Technologies in Tissue Regeneration: L-PRF Workshop” during the 2017 AAID meeting in San Francisco. Pinto is the founder and chairman of the Research Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine in Concepcion, Chile, where for the past 30 years, he has maintained an active private practice specializing in advanced oral implantology.

August 7, 2017

I came across Ed Sorel’s illustration “The Last Flossing” in a round-about way. Sorel is one of those artists whose work might be immediately familiar to you from popular magazines, but his name likely isn’t. Such is the fate of illustrators. Their hand-colored drawings are usually just an adjunct to a nationally syndicated story — unless, of course, the artist has been at it for about six decades and is considered an institution.

July 31, 2017

A greater number of dentists may soon be ready to start using hard-tissue lasers in the preparation of teeth and reshaping of bone. The technology promises to be more precise, lead to more esthetic results and, hopefully, be more economical as well. Restoring the natural dentition has been one of the cornerstones of dentistry. Historically, GV Black was the first to use hand chisels to shape his design preparation for restorations.

June 8, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C., USA: I was recently in Washington, D.C., to hear a National Institutes of Health lecturer speak about the direction and future of global public health. When planning my weekend sightseeing, I wanted to include both classical architecture and structures with new vision. With that in mind, my first stop was a historic Smithsonian building and next was the ultra modern Newseum (www.newseum.org).

March 2, 2017

There are many challenges to restoring a tooth to its natural shape, contour and shade using a direct composite technique. Advances in composite restorative material and adhesion have enabled today’s dentist to control most of the esthetic variables that result in restoring a tooth close to its original state. However, there is still the matter of a properly established proximal contact.

February 26, 2017

Precision is the hallmark of prosthodontics. Careful thought and consideration must be given to the impact of occlusion, esthetics, the type of restoration and the amount and location of tooth reduction. Models and mock-ups are frequently used before the tooth is even prepared. While planning is essential to the success of the case, it is the precision of the preparation that will provide the best foundation from which your lab can build the perfect restoration.

February 22, 2017

While the demand for esthetically pleasing composite restorations that also mimic the natural dentition is rising, there is a similar growth in the desire for a comprehensive, yet simple, system that will allow dentists of every skill level to deliver beautifully sculpted esthetic restorations regardless of their location in the mouth.