Q&A with Dr. Jack Ringer, president of the AACD: Trends in cosmetic dentistry and universal adhesives

I recently had the opportunity to ask Dr. Jack Ringer, president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), what trends he sees in cosmetic dentistry and what role universal adhesives might play in advancing the specialty. 

On top of his position at the AACD, Dr. Ringer is in private practice at Advanced Smile Design in Anaheim Hills, Calif. and has lectured on and taught contemporary esthetic dentistry for 16 years.

What trends do you see in cosmetic dentistry for 2014?

There are two major trends I see in cosmetic dentistry for 2014. The first is the continual advancement and development of technology that assists diagnosis, e.g. 3D imaging, and restoration manufacturing, e.g. CAD/CAM. Dentists and labs will find it easier to acquire and utilize these devices because as their cost drops, they are becoming more precise and accurate, as well as “talk to each other” due to the open architecture that manufacturers have developed for these devices.

The second trend I see is a definite increase in the demand for cosmetic therapy. This was also confirmed by a recent survey done by the AACD. I believe that the increased confidence in our economy has helped motivate many to engage in elective cosmetic work that they may have put off previously.

With all of the advances in materials and adhesives, what advice do you and the AACD have for keeping up with the latest trends?

Since there are many dental manufacturers who are eager to have a “slice of the economic pie” when it comes to the sale of materials and equipment, it is imperative that dentists review independent studies about these products to make sure they fit the practice’s style and expectations before purchasing and incorporating them into their arsenal.

Dentists have to make sure that what manufacturers are promoting for their products is substantiated and will make clinical and financial sense for their practice.

How do you see universal adhesives fitting into the dentist’s arsenal?

Universal adhesives have been proven to be extremely valuable for dentists in regards to efficiency and success when placing direct and indirect restorations. Due to their chemical nature and versatility, less time is spent cementing restorations, bond strengths in most cases are comparable to other adhesive systems, and patients are experiencing less post-operative sensitivity.

This, however, is dependent on the dentist accurately following the manufacturer’s recommendation on how, where, and when to place the adhesives. Universal adhesives are the latest development for bonding restorations, so they have the shortest track record as far as their long-term success is concerned. Therefore, though the results initially look extremely promising, dentists must keep an open mind as to how the adhesion will hold up over time.

What is the focus of this year’s AACD scientific sessions?

The AACD’s focus at all our scientific sessions is comprised of education, accreditation, philanthropy, and fun. 2014 is our 30th anniversary, so to celebrate we are bringing in some of the world’s top educators in the field of comprehensive cosmetic dentistry, we will be providing diverse programs; such as marketing strategies and business management; for the dentist, lab technicians and the team, and we will be putting on more hands-on clinical programs than ever before for our attendees.

Times are changing and evolving, and so is the AACD as we are continually focusing on bringing new offerings for our members to ensure a true value proposition for being a member.