With the price of gold holding steady at over $1500/oz, dentists have been turning to a variety of all-ceramic materials in an effort to find the most suitable alternative. While some feel comfortable with glass replacing metal, others can’t seem to bring themselves to the point of switching over to prescribing all-ceramics in the posterior. [...]
This is the first in a three part series from the Chesapeake Dental Education Center (CDEC) covering the topic of treating the worn dentition. Part I will focus on diagnosis and etiology. Part II will cover esthetics, the first phase of treatment planning, and Part III will cover occlusal issues relative to treatment planning. Classically, [...]
This year we attended several meetings in Chicago including The American Equilibration Society, American Prosthodontic Society, The American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics, and The American Academy of Restorative Dentistry. Several themes were repeated which I have highlighted here along with a couple of exciting new products. Sleep Dentistry/ Obstructive Sleep Apnea Obstructive Sleep Apnea was [...]
1. Start With Quality Impressions Many diagnostic impressions are not viewed with the same attention to detail that a final crown and bridge impression is scrutinized. If these impressions are going to be utilized to for diagnosis, treatment planning, diagnostic waxing, and eventual provisional fabrication, then it makes sense to obtain extremely accurate impressions. 2. [...]
Don’t you love those “Ah-ha” moments when a concept that has avoided sinking into your understanding suddenly becomes clear to you? That was the feeling class attendees experienced as Dr. Lenny Hess brought them into that clearing of understanding through what can, at times, seem like a dark and winding forest of technical information. Dr. [...]
We had the honor again last week to host another sold out course for the Dawson Academy. The “Restoring Anterior Teeth “ course was presented by senior Dawson Academy Faculty Dr. Scott Finlay, DDS, FAGD, FAACD. Dr. Finlay was assisted by Dr. Raj Upadya, DMD, and Dr. Jennifer Kalochie, DMD. The [...]
The popularity of gold hue CAD/CAM implant abutments soared last year, and it is now our first choice for implant cases. The warm gold color of the abutment has a reflective property you don’t get from darker colored or silver abutments. The reflective properties create a beautiful aesthetic when combined with an all-ceramic restoration. [...]
Our first workshop of the new year on Marketing and Practice Development for the Complete Dental Practice was a huge success. The sold out program featured our longtime friend and practice consultant Larry Guzzardo. In this one-day course Mr. Guzzardo shared his secrets and strategies for practice growth, determining and optimizing your practice’s operating overhead, employee time management, [...]
One of the most frequently asked questions for us is about restoring premolars – when to layer and when to use full contour e.max. There are several factors to take into consideration when selecting what type of restoration to prescribe, such as occlusal space, margin design, and prep shade. One of the considerations that should [...]
Diagnosis and Pre-Treatment of Worn Dentition Cases Severe wear type cases present special challenges as well as opportunities for the doctor/technician team. A critical first step is to properly diagnose the cause of the wear. From occlusal interferences, to parafunctional habits, to chemical erosion, the causes can be varied but should be an important part of the diagnostic [...]
