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The Spin on Low-Speed Rotary Handpieces
Not many instruments can send shivers down a patient’s spine in quite the same way that a dental drill does. But without these rotary handpieces, dentists would be up a creek, without, well, a drill. Low-speed handpieces are typically the go-to instrument for dental office standards such as cavity preparation,… Read More
Paint on Protection: How Fluoride Varnish Benefits Both Kids and Adults
As an additive to numerous community water sources, fluoride has worked its magic to prevent caries and improve oral health for more than 75 years. In fact, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists water fluoridation as one of the 10 great public health achievements in the… Read More
Maximizing Esthetics with Cutting-Edge Restorative Materials
Typically, dental esthetics are measured by the look of the front teeth. A recent report projects that growth in esthetic dentistry in the United States will approach $30 billion by the year 2024, due, in part, to an aging generation of baby boomers.1 There are a number of ways to… Read More
Development in Local Oral Anesthesia
Pain control is probably the number one concern of patients dropping into a dental chair. But the irony is that the very thing that helps eliminate pain, also inflicts it momentarily. And patients may be more fearful of that local injection than they are of any actual dental pain. But… Read More
Instrument Sterilization for Contemporary Dental Practices
In today’s dental practices, infection control is a top concern. While an important part of the scenario, disinfection is just one aspect of the infection control protocol. Sterilization is another. Typically used on noncritical surfaces, such as intact skin and operatory furniture, low- and intermediate-level disinfectants are generally incapable of… Read More
Preventing or Treating Dry Socket
You extract a tooth, a blood clot forms in the empty socket, and healing begins. That’s the ideal scenario, anyway. But things don’t always go as planned. For instance, the most common complication in third-molar extraction is said to be alveolar osteitis, also known as dry socket.1 Dry socket… Read More
Saving Teeth Through Vital Pulp Therapy
When caries has extended into the pulp, vital pulp therapy may be a good treatment option, as long as the tissue is not overly inflamed.1 Also known as pulp capping, this procedure is designed to keep the pulp alive, allowing it to heal itself. This is accomplished by sealing the… Read More
Personal Protective Equipment for Oral Health Care Practitioners
Some of us can recall the days of wet-fingered dentistry, when the wearing of gloves was practically unheard of in general practice. But with today’s infection-control awareness in the stratosphere, performing dentistry barehanded or without surgical masks is unthinkable. To discover the best options in personal protective equipment (PPE) for… Read More
Bioactive Dental Materials Advance The Practice of Minimally Invasive Dentistry
It seems that increasing numbers of today’s dental materials are described as being “bioactive,” in that they interact with the body. But with respect to dental materials, the term “bioactive” is still up for debate. For instance, while some in the dental community view glass ionomers as bioactive, others do… Read More
The Art and Science of Gingival Augmentation
As we age, many of us will experience gingival recession and the problems associated with being “long in the tooth.” At the other end of the periodontal spectrum are those with the dreaded “gummy smile,” another esthetic handicap. Fortunately, treatments for these conditions are continually improving, and many general dentists… Read More
