Techniques

For many years, the IPS Empress all-ceramic brand was known for the highest level of esthetics when imitating the characteristics of natural teeth. Since it was introduced, more than 37 million indirect crown and veneer restorations fabricated from the IPS Empress pressed ceramic material have been placed.

If a vertex, as defined by Webster, is the intersection of two lines that form an angle, Vertise Flow is the intersection of composite and bonding agent where speed and convenience collide without sacrificing performance.

Patients often experience oral inflammation, whether it’s from self-induced trauma or an area that must heal following a dental procedure. MIS Implants Technologies’ PeriZone™ PerioPatch® acts as a barrier while it provides relief and absorbs excess wound exudates to promote healing.

Laura Dodge, a dental assistant who writes for About.com, posted her take on the top questions asked when it comes to cosmetic dentistry.

The distinguished team of dentists behind The Dawson Academy show dentists how they can add value to their patients and practice by implementing the concepts, techniques and skills presented. This column challenges dentists to recognize the clinical deficiencies that prevent them from achieving their personal and professional goals. The learning points in each piece demonstrate how to improve a clinical aspect of the practice which, in turn, will create increased efficiency, predictability and profitability.

Earlier this year, I competed in the first North American Candulor KunstZahnWerk® “Art of Denture” competition featuring Candulor’s “Swiss art of Prosthetics” and Camlog’s “perfect fit” implants.

Modern dentistry provides the dental team with many options for restoring the oral cavity. The newer tools like digital impressions, CAD/CAM models and restorations, and full-contour milled restorations, allow us to do many things that were not available in the past.

In ceramic technology development, we must recognize that pressing and milling is the newest in state-of-the-art technology, or maybe not art but science. So where did the art go?

In the current market, communication between the dental lab and dentist is more important than ever.

Today's HOT How To features a technique demonstrating the use of KOMET USA's S6856XL.FG.021 extended-length diamonds to help ease crown preparations when gingival recession is present. Case presentations are performed by Christine M. Yonker, DDS, and Sergio Rubinstein, DDS, from Oral Rehabilitation Center in Skokie, Ill.

The world of prosthetic oral appliances has been totally transformed since the first acrylic denture base was invented by Heraeus’ forerunner about half-a-century ago. Today advanced surgical techniques and the latest materials, such as Heraeus’ Mondial i denture teeth, can rapidly restore a patient’s oral function and confidence. About the teeth

To match an anterior tooth for a custom shade is the most difficult of procedures, as every technician knows. One problem is there are so many factors that relate to the final outcome, including: 1) Adjacent teeth color is often a big problem. If they are opacious in color, that is easier to mimic in our restorations than translucency or transparency; 2) The height of contour of the teeth, lobe and the type of surface texture all relate to the final color, as well.

Many advancements have occurred in dental implantology in the past several decades. Perhaps one of the most significant developments that provides the dental patient with the greatest benefit is the hybrid implant. The hybrid implant is a small diameter implant that offers full prosthetic versatility. It has been proven to provide long-term success in a myriad of clinical cases. One of its advantages is providing implant anchorage in cases of minimal bone width.

The latest in dental-industry corporate alliances brings together two of the major players in the expanding 3D printing market as Stratasys, Inc. and Objet Ltd. today announced their merger plans.

It’s all about respect. That was Dr. Kim Kutsch’s message at his keynote address on minimally invasive dentistry Friday morning. His presentation kicked off day two of the Academy of Laser Dentistry’s 19th annual conference in Arizona.

For the fully edentulous person, dentures serve many purposes beyond just restoring the smile. They assist with speech and mastication, help strengthen facial muscles that control expression, and maintain the vertical dimension of occlusion, thus helping maintain facial features that enhance the patient’s beauty and well-being.

The original long-term studies on dental implants focused on solving issues associated with unsuccessful lower denture usage. It’s estimated that lower dentures have a less than 60% success rate. Patients who are unsuccessful in wearing and using their lower dentures fit the definition of a “dental cripple.” The issue is how to offer a reasonably priced solution to the dental profession with minimal surgical trauma. American Dental Implant’s Skinny 2.4 hybrid small diameter implant is a viable option.

Technology has advanced rapidly over the past 40 years. Today we equate new technologies with CAD/CAM advances, milling, wax printing, scanners and other digital equipment. The lab industry has even developed a new language for the computer age. Words like splines, collision lines, wall heights and many others are routine conversation in a growing number of labs.

Commonly encountered challenges faced by laboratories when fabricating implant-supported dentures are lack of case planning and arbitrary implant placement that often create nearly impossible fabrication scenarios. For these reasons, technicians should be included as an integral part of the implant restorative team to provide critical information regarding tentative case design and subsequent implant placement decisions.

Designed to recreate the internal effects and characteristics of natural teeth, Lite Art light-curing coloring pastes are highly fluorescent with low viscosities. Featuring a newly developed, multi-functional monomer and photo initiator, they  deliver excellent surface covering qualities.

What is the average time for a porcelain buildup? With all the studies and articles I have read throughout the years, I can honestly say “who knows.” I developed my No Cut Back Technique more than 20 years ago and have taught this technique throughout the United States at various dental conventions. This technique is designed to increase production and at the same time allow the ceramist to produce a much more esthetic restoration.

We all like and enjoy being in a contest to see who is judged best, and more importantly, who wins bragging rights among their colleagues.

Designed for use in full-contour situations, highly translucent Prettau® Zirconia can be used in conjunction with a specialized coloring system to create esthetic, implant-supported bridges.

Telio is a comprehensive, fully integrated product system for temporary restorations designed for dentists, CAD/CAM users and dental technicians. All Telio materials are well suited for the manufacture of conventional and implant-borne temporaries. The materials are compatible with each other and their shades are optimally coordinated.

Laboratory ceramists and their dentists often are faced with restorative cases that demand the use of a singular material capable of simultaneously providing conservative esthetics and sufficient functional strength. Lithium disilicate is increasingly being used in clinical situations demanding the highest physical and optical characteristics.

The rising demand for elective and implant-based dental treatments has led to a direct increase in the use of temporary restorations.1 Properly fitted and reliable, patients benefit from the utility and esthetics that provisional materials offer.1 Further, dentists rely on provisionals to prevent deterioration of hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity while patients await the definitive restoration.1

Separation rings can be used as a predictable method to place Class II composite resins and obtain tight, well-contoured, interproximal restorations.

This case demonstrates placement of highly esthetic indirect restorations using an efficient and reliable adhesive cementation technique. Reducing the risk of debonding, fracture and restorative failure, the all-ceramic and adhesive materials selected provided a stable, durable and long-lasting bond. By carefully considering material such as Ivoclar Vivadent’s Multilink Automix and technique selection, the patient benefited from restorations that demonstrated ideal fit, function and esthetics. About the material

When creating restorations using pressable ceramics with the cut-back and layering technique, dental laboratory ceramists have traditionally cut-back and layered the buccal aspect of the restoration.

Most dentists likely have seen the statistics that tell us seniors will represent more than 20% of the total population within the next few decades.1 In light of this fact, many of us are exploring our options for how to better cater to members of the senior population and their specific needs. In many cases, this means providing denture services.