“What’s needed isn’t fewer posts — it’s better ones.” For decades, placing a post after endodontic treatment to further retain and reinforce he core was considered the standard of care — regardless of the tooth involved. Yet even with their widespread use, a common refrain echoes throughout dental offices everywhere: “I don’t like posts.” This conclusion was made for a variety of reasons. First, post preparation drills often had greater radii
Align’s new Invisalign System with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks. Image courtesy of Align Technology Inc. Align Technology Inc. has launched Invisalign with mandibular advancement featuring occlusal blocks in the U.S. and Canada. The new clear aligner is designed to treat class II malocclusions by simultaneously advancing the lower jaw and aligning teeth. It’s the first Invisalign product to include solid occlusal blocks, which add durability, improve jaw engagement, and
Artificial intelligence (AI) is all the buzz in dentistry right now. With that in mind, I recently asked ChatGPT to list the five biggest mistakes that dentists and dental teams make when it comes to smile design. It not only provided five answers, but it listed suggestions on how to fix those mistakes as well. After reading the mistakes and suggestions below, let us know what you think about what
Asking about the medications dental patients take is part of gathering a detailed medical history, but do clinicians know how to gather this information without overstepping or passing judgment? When it comes to opioids, some say clinicians do more harm than good. An article published recently in Pain News Network in which chronic pain advocate Neen Monty expresses frustration over clinicians, including pharmacists and dentists, offering unsolicited opinions about her
Conservative composite restorations have become the benchmark for minimally invasive dentistry. The push for little to no prep restorations in the aesthetic zone has created a demand for composite “bonding” and chairside composite veneers. Dr. Priya Tirumalasetty. With that demand, dentists must have a reliable protocol for polishing composite resin restorations. The Super-Snap system can achieve an enamel-like, high-shine finish to resins in the aesthetic zone. The Super-Snap finishing and
3D-printed noninvasive restorations made from a ceramic-reinforced composite resin may experience significant wear over time; therefore, they may only be suitable for short-term use. The study was recently published in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Furthermore, these restorations may show considerable material wear after two years, with molar restorations experiencing the greatest amount of wear, the authors wrote. “Based on these findings, the noninvasive design using ceramic-reinforced composite resin material
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) replacement surgery may have complications, most often temporary facial nerve damage, in almost 40% of cases. This study was recently published in the Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery. However, more detailed research is needed, as inconsistent data may mean the actual complication rate is lower than currently reported, the authors wrote. “The meta-analysis reports a moderate prevalence of neurogenic complications and a low prevalence of other complications which
Assessing root overlap with the maxillary sinus may predict the likelihood of the complication oroantral communication (OAC) after maxillary tooth extraction. This study was recently published in Clinical Oral Investigations. Furthermore, the extent of root projection over the maxillary sinus may be positively correlated with the occurrence of OAC, the authors wrote. “Fraction of the root overlapping the maxillary sinus (FROMS) is a valid indicator of OAC probability,” wrote the
OrthoFX has introduced AirFlex with New PrecisionFinish Aligners, which are designed to improve accuracy during the final stages of orthodontic treatment. The aligners address a common challenge in clear aligner therapy: achieving precise final tooth alignment, according to the company. Made with a proprietary material, they aim to enhance the performance of OrthoFX’s AirFlex system, offering orthodontists more predictable results and improved aesthetics before patients move to retention, according to
You’ve probably encountered compounded medications at some point. Maybe a pharmacy-made topical anesthetic or a customized rinse for a sensitive patient. Simply put, compounding means a pharmacist mixes or alters ingredients to create a medication tailored to an individual’s needs, such as changing the flavor, adjusting the concentration, or modifying how it’s delivered. Dr. Richard Nagelberg. In dentistry, the kind of customization that compounding brings to a medication can be
Researchers have developed a tooth-whitening powder that is activated by the vibrations of an electric toothbrush, according to a press release from the American Chemical Society. When activated, the powder triggers the release of reactive oxygen species that break down stains without harming teeth, according to the release dated January 26. “This work offers a safe, at-home teeth whitening strategy integrating whitening, enamel repair and microbiome balance for long-term oral
Mississippi appears to be the U.S. state with the poorest oral health, ranking the lowest due to dental treatment costs and access to fluoridated water, according to an analysis published on January 29 by personal finance website WalletHub. Meanwhile, Illinois ranked as the top state for dental health, thanks to fewer residents reporting mouth or tooth pain or sleep disruptions related to oral health over the past year, according to