In this video I will discuss some cool tips to take your teflon tape use to a whole new level. Teflon tape over the screw heads in implant access holes has been a common trick for many years. Using different colors for the teflon tape and the composite make retrieval even easier and can enhance this tried and true technique. Read More
Using An iPhone To Uncover A Functional Interference
I got the chance to use an interesting piece of small "dental" equipment recently with a patient who broke a provisional: My iPhone! Whenever a patient breaks a provisional I wonder if I missed something with the occlusion? Or did the patient eat something that was hard or sticky? More and more lately I have also been doing what I call a "chew test", which I Read More
Speaking In A Language Patients Understand
I know I am not the only dentist who has patients who are not moving forward with the treatment I have recommended. Recently when interacting with a patient who was not moving forward with occlusal therapy I got to watch his understanding shift about the recommendation I had made. The difference was in explaining it in a language he understood, because I Read More
Using Mallampati Scores
Screening our patients for airway and breathing issues is becoming a standard in dentistry. One of the things we have started to use in our practice are Mallampati scores as a quick, easy visual screening process. If you are not familiar with them, it will be a tool you will want to implement. Read More
Setting Your Camera’s Diopter
Recently I was having trouble with my digital images being out of focus even though they looked right to me through the viewfinder. I called Photomed as I thought my camera needed to go in for repair. They shared a great little tip on setting the diopter adjustment. This can be very important especially in a dental office where the camera is shared amongst Read More
Helping Patients Understand “The Why”
I recently got to be part of a very impactful conversation with a patient. He had come to my practice frustrated with a previous dentist about recommendations to do adult orthodontics. After completing a comprehensive exam I saw that there could be benefits from orthodontic therapy. The challenge was: Could I help him connect with the benefits in a way that Read More