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3D Printing: An Important Milestone on the High-Tech Highway
Digital technology is increasingly common in many of today’s dental offices, and it includes some of the slickest technology ever to hit the dental profession. Clinicians who travel the digital workflow route often report higher patient treatment acceptance, faster treatment times, an efficiency boost, enhanced precision, increased revenue, and cost… Read More
The Benefits of Going Cordless in Dentristry
It’s gotten to the point these days, that it might be hard to find dental technology that isn’t cordless. Available in everything from curing lights and obturation systems to intraoral cameras and ultrasonic scalers, cordless technology is an increasingly common choice for busy practitioners. Cordless devices tend to be quieter,… Read More
Ergonomic Adjustments Can Foster Improved Hand and Wrist Health
When it comes to practicing dentistry, there’s nothing like a good pair of hands. Unfortunately, the profession can take a toll on hands, wrists, and pretty much everything else, in the form of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Research shows that oral health care practitioners are at high risk of developing work-related… Read More
Bulk-Fill Composite Resins Save Time and Limit Operator Errors
To ensure complete cure and to minimize problems associated with polymerization shrinkage, composite resins, used for direct restorations, have traditionally been placed and cured incrementally, one layer at a time, with none exceeding 2 mm.1 But, especially in deep cavities, this process can be time consuming and fraught with multiple… Read More
Minimizing the Risk of Cross Contamination in Dental Practice
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while disease transmission among patients and dental health care personnel is rare, if proper infection control and preventive protocols are not followed, any dental practice can become ground zero for a number of contagious viruses.1 The CDC counts unsafe… Read More
Dentinal Hypersensitivity: Causes and Treatment Strategies
You love ice cream, but suddenly that triple fudge cone doesn’t seem so appealing due to dentinal hypersensitivity. Though statistics vary widely, research indicates that dentinal hypersensitivity affects more than half of all patients, especially in the 20 to 40 age group,1 with women slightly more affected than men.2 Characterized… Read More
Zeroing in on Xerostomia
Saliva plays many roles in the oral cavity. Composed of 99.5% water, this biofluid is endowed with elements such as electrolytes, mucus, proteins and enzymes. Together, they help to maintain oral hygiene through continuous bathing of the mouth in antimicrobial, optimally pH-balanced fluid, countering acidic conditions favored by cariogenic bacteria. Read More
Gingival Recession: An Equal Opportunity Condition
Gingival recession affects many of us as we grow older, but it can become a problem at any age. In fact, according to one study, while 88% of adults age 65 and older experience gingival recession, 50% of adults between the ages of 18 and 64 develop it in multiple… Read More
Provisional Dental Restorations: Temporary Excellence
When a patient needs a crown, a provisional (or temporary) restoration is usually in the cards — unless the office is equipped with a computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) setup that can deliver same-day service. But plenty of practices have yet to make this particular digital leap. In such… Read More
Implant Placement: A Quick Scan of the Basics
Dental implants are becoming an increasingly popular choice for those outliving their teeth. In fact, the global dental implant market, valued at $3.77 billion in 2016, is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 7.7% into 2024.1 When a tooth can’t be saved via root canal treatment,… Read More