Anterior implant success is evaluated both in the appearance of the prosthetic result, but also in the biologic result. The most common negative outcome in anterior implant dentistry is failure of the pink esthetic result. To a large degree the biologic and prosthetic outcome can be predicted on the front end. In this webinar we will go through a systematic Read More
When To Use Diamond Polishing Paste
Diamond polishing paste has been a routine part of almost all of my restorative dental procedures for years. Achieving the surface texture of unworn enamel to enhance the patient's experience of the feel of their teeth, as well as to preserve the health of the teeth is critical. In this video I will discuss what I use, why I use it and how I use diamond Read More
Laboratory Communication: Incisal Translucency
1st video in this series: Understanding Patient Expectations 2nd video in this series: Importance of Tooth Silhouette For Shade Communication Incisal translucency is the information the lab needs to create the esthetic effects in the incisal one-third of the tooth. We want the dental lab to know the width of this band, the specific color Read More
Alternative Causes of Chronic Gingival Inflammation
I just had a discussion with a patient who had seen another dentist for upper and lower full-coverage ceramic restorations. She was struggling with her gums being red, irritated, bleeding when brushing and generally not feeling good. However, we determined the cause is not bacterial; she has great home care and frequent hygiene visits. There are several Read More
Diagnosing A Gummy Smile
Patients with excessive gingival display may have one of many diagnoses. Being able to properly identify whether the cause of the gummy smile is skeletal (vertical maxillary excess), soft tissue (short upper lip or hypermobile lip) or something else is critical in helping the patient choose treatment. Can we do crown lengthening? Are restorations part of the Read More
Lab Communication: Importance of Tooth Silhouette For Shade Communication
1st video in this series: Understanding Patient Expectations In this video I will discuss how to communicate silhouette to the lab and some suggestions on capturing the images. The silhouette is the outline form or the shape of the tooth. We often uses terms like ovoid and rectangular to describe the silhouette of teeth. Tooth forms for dentures are based Read More
Gluma on Every Prep
I have used Gluma on every tooth I have prepped for well over a decade. Many of us think of it as a re-wetting agent so that we overcome the technique piece of rinsing phosphoric acid and them having to leave moist dentin. Is is also well known for it's ability to block dentinal tubule fluid movement and thereby eliminate sensitivity. Lesser known are it's Read More
I Love My Composite Gun
You might think it is strange to say I LOVE my new composite gun, and I would have thought so as well before I found one that is so much better then anything I have used before. I got to use this gun for the first time at a hands-on workshop I was teaching and the participants were enamored of it, so I decided I better look into it also. I bought one for my Read More
Mastering Shade Selection for Dental Ceramics
In this webinar we will look at how to gather the information needed to optimally match the shade of a single tooth and effectively communicate it to the lab. Shade matching is reasonably straightforward when you are restoring all of the teeth in the aesthetic zone. The challenge arises when you are restoring one or just some of the anterior teeth. We will Read More
Laboratory Communication: Understanding Patient Expectations
Laboratory communication for an anterior esthetic case is a complex process. In a series of videos I want to look at the different pieces of information we need to be successful, and some ways to effectively communicate them. Step one in the process is clearly understanding the patient's "hoped for" outcomes. One of the challenges is how to "see" the picture Read More