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I’ve had some good times in dentistry, and in addition to the good times, I’ve also learned a lot. Of course I’ve learned a lot about dentistry, I mean a license to practice is really just a license to continue to learn, but I’ve also learned a lot about my patients and how to make things better for them.

A commitment to providing quality esthetic dentistry and staying ahead of new technology-along with a shared middle name-have been passed down from one generation to the next at Sikes Dental Studios in Charlotte, N.C. Four generations have been or are currently employed at the company that was founded by Adam Lee Sikes, who got his start in the industry when he worked for a couple of dental labs before launching his own business in 1944.

Do you have some great vendors that support your dental practice? Perhaps your computer technician does a great job coordinating all the technology in the dental office plus he’s saved the day in an emergency once or twice? Has your dental supply vendor rushed an order for you or given you a product out of her own personal stash when you were in a pinch?

If a patient walks out of your practice annoyed, that patient likely isn’t coming back. And these patients may not even tell you they’re irritated with you or one of your team members; they may smile and nod until they can finally leave, all the while thinking, “man, I need to find a new dentist.”

In October 2010, I attended the American Dental Association’s annual conference in Orlando. Just a few months before, I started a Facebook page for our practice and was struggling to come up with new and interesting posts. So, while at the conference, I attended a presentation on Social Media to learn how to use Facebook to benefit the practice.

Having a beautiful smile would change everything for her son. Jalen’s mother had tried to get him the dental care he needed, but the family had faced hard times over the years and they were unable to afford it. Accidents resulting in trauma to his mouth as a child had left him with a broken smile.

The further you get into your career, the easier it is to become complacent, to make yourself believe there’s no point to invest in new technology or that the pains that come with practicing dentistry are just part of the job. But no matter what your age or how close you think you are to retirement, you have to continue to grow. You have to stay curious and passionate about what you do, whether you’re planning to retire in 5 years or 20 years.

In a shift at the top of the one of the dental laboratory industry's leading marketing firms, Terry Fine was recently named President of AMG Creative, Inc. Prior to the promotion, Fine served as VP of Sales and Marketing for the Colorado-based agency. Fine takes over the position from AMG founder Bill Neal, CDT, who will continue in his role as Chief Executive Officer for AMG.

The QMIX 2in1 Irrigating Solution removes the smear layer and disinfects in one step following NaOCl application.

Dr. Bill Dorfman, the cosmetic dentist from ABC's series "Extreme Makeover," admitted to saving the teeth he extracts from his celebrity patients. He told TMZ reporters that he has a secret stash and hopes to sell them on eBay in the future. Is this too extreme or would you collect teeth from the rich and famous? John Lennon's tooth recently sold for $30,000...

DentalEZ launches its new iPhone app for dental professionals who wish to obtain information about the company's dental products and services.

This is an important decision.

Delcam will launch major upgrades of its software for the design and manufacture of dental implant restorations with the release of the 2012 versions of its DentCAD and

CAD/CAM has become a way of life for some technicians and dental labs, but even labs with little to no CAD/CAM investment have felt the impact from the technology and the material and restoration options it’s made available. Numerous outsource options and workflows are available, ranging from sending a model to be scanned, designed and milled by an outsource partner, to investing in a scanner for in-house design, to buying into a complete system with on-site milling. It comes down to each lab finding what level of integration fits best.

When Irish dramatist Oscar Wilde wrote “To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect” in the nineteenth century he probably did not imagine just how relevant this adage would ring true in the twenty-first century.

With the many furnaces available from numerous manufacturers, selecting just the right one can be a daunting task for any dental lab technician. There also are four categories of furnaces to differentiate from, each made to best handle varying tasks. Having more than 30 years of component-level electronics experience, Daniel Serrago of IBEX Dental Technologies Inc., Richardson, Texas, literally knows all types of furnaces inside and out.

The new VITA ZYRCOMAT 6000 MS sintering furnace is capable of sintering up to 25 units as well as 9-unit bridges in 80 minutes starting from room temperature.

The QUATTROcare PLUS dental handpiece maintenance system offers incomparable thoroughness, economy and ease of use.

With dental-related ER visits on the rise, Dr. Norman Holtz's New York-based dental practice is available to patients at all hours.

The Mississippi Dental Board now requires all dental offices in Mississippi to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) onsite. This mandate deadline date is July 1, 2012. The regulation also requires that all licensed dentists and dental hygienists licensed by the State of Mississippi maintain a current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Air Techniques, Inc., a leading dental equipment manufacturer, announced today a major redesign for their dental product line of PSP Cleaning Wipes. The Cleaning wipes are disposable, lightweight wipes that effectively and safely remove surface debris. This new design includes an improved, compact packaging of the individual wipes.

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.

Looking to better serve governments, large accounts and educational facilities, Holt Dental Supply has created a Special Markets Division. Over the years Holt Dental Supply has worked steadily to build the best full service dental dealer possible. For more information on the company's announcement, see the full press release below.

As a follow up to an article from last month about tooth tattoos, we'd like to share a recent submission to an advice column in the York Daily Record.

According to surveys conducted by the journal Anesthesia Progress, the need for sedation in pediatric dental practices comes from high percentages of dental anxiety associated with this age group.

Have you ever had a dental patient ask you if you are placing secret transmitters in his or her fillings or implants that could help the CIA or other agencies pick up messages from his or her teeth? If so, you probably chalked it up to a serious case of paranoia.

Children who need conscious sedation usually receive treatment from a certified pediatric specialist because most general dentists may not be prepared to treat children ages two through six who have rampant decay or developmental disabilities. It is very important for a dentist to recognize early on that his or her patient may require more management skills than he or she is equipped to offer. Kids First A spin-off of our children’s access to care campaign, this column now focuses on specialized care and education for young patients.

 If you’re interested in learning about lasers in dentistry, this is the place to be.