BOSTON – Karen was trying on a bridal gown when disaster struck. With all that loose material flowing to the ground, she tripped and broke off half a maxillary central incisor. By the time she showed up at the Restorative Dental Group of Cambridge, MA, she was desperate. “I want it perfect for the wedding photos.” “No problem,” responded Alan Sulikowski, D.M.D. “I can make it just like it was
BOSTON – In real estate, it’s all about location, location, location. When it comes to crafting CAD/CAM restorations with Cerec, it’s all about planning, planning, planning. That’s especially true if you’re taking your Cerec work to the next level — namely, working with an entire quadrant, not just a single crown or inlay. That’s according to Richard Short, D.M.D. and Lisa Horne, CDA, who gave the equivalent of a two-day
BOSTON – You’re a master of the perfect porcelain veneer, the artful crown, the smooth-as-silk filling. Think again. Look at your work under a microscope and you’ll find holes in your restoration you could drive a truck through. You’ll also see things your naked eye — and even X-rays — will miss, from cracks to fissures to fractures. That’s the word from Roger Lacoste, D.M.D., clinical assistant professor of endodontics
NEW YORK (Reuters) Jan. 30 Periodontal disease and edentulism are independently associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study in the January issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. “Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a public health problem that is undiagnosed in a significant number of those affected in the United States,” Dr. Monica A. Fisher, of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, and colleagues write. In
A local anesthetic is a boon — until your patient no longer needs it. Then it’s a bother, the patient suffering with numb cheeks, lips, and tongue, hours after a procedure is over. But relief may be at hand. San Diego-based Novalar Pharmaceuticals’ NV-101 could be the first local anesthetic reversal agent to hit the market. Under development since 2002, the drug is being reviewed by the FDA and news
Big companies are making big donations to put smiles on little faces for the ADA’s sixth annual Give Kids A Smile day. On February 1 more than 50,000 dental professionals around the country will provide free dental treatment to kids from low income families. “The ADA and dentists across the nation are engaged in creating public awareness of this critical need and trying to extend access to dental care to
Imagine waving a wand and — poof! — your patients’ teeth are protected from caries. It sounds like a page out of Harry Potter, but the fantasy took a step closer to reality this week. In the first-ever experiment using carbon dioxide lasers to pre-treat living teeth, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) say they achieved an 87 percent reduction in tooth decay. “It looks like an
Here’s an argument that will have your wayward patients back in the chair in a heartbeat. According to an article in the latest Journal of Periodontology, patients with a high level of systemic bacterial exposure — due to periodontal disease — are at a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease. “Although there have been many studies associating gum disease with heart disease, what we have not known is exactly why
Taking bisphosphonates for osteoporosis can be like rain on your wedding day. Although bisphosphonate drugs are great at battling osteoporosis, they can also cause the rare, but serious condition of osteonecrosis, where loss of blood supply to the bone causes it to collapse. Or so claim a spate of studies including a latest one in the Journal of Rheumatology. Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ), for example, is a relatively
If you are in the business of selling perfect pearly smiles, what better way to advertise than to have one of your own? Maybe that explains the results of a recent independent survey conducted on behalf of the American Association of Orthodontists that found that nearly 75 percent of orthodontists have had orthodontic treatment themselves. The survey also found that 95 percent of orthodontists believe they enhance patients’ self-esteem through
A patient complains about a pain like a jolt of lightning that courses through her face whenever she brushes her teeth. Before you reach for your forceps and elevators, consider this. It may not be a dental problem at all.This pain could be a symptom of trigeminal neuralgia, which is a nervous disorder commonly caused by an enlarged artery or a vein pressing on the trigeminal nerve at the base
Never mind the Golden Globes and Oscars, we at DrB are more excited about the winners of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s (AACD) 2008’s Best Celebrity Smiles contest. And what a line-up they are. Eva Mendes took the top prize in the women’s category with 38 percent of the votes followed by Anne Hathaway who had 12 percent. Kate Hudson came in third. Brad Pitt’s famous grin was awarded first
