F02: Dental Pearls from the Masters and Fellows
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Multidisciplinary Management of a Fractured Root Ivy D. Peltz, DDS, MAGD  Description: A forty-one year old male patient hit himself in the face with a racquet during a racquetball game. He presented to a private dental office with tooth #7 fractured in the middle third of the root. The entire coronal portion of the tooth was also fractured off as a result of the impact from the racquet. The tooth was determined to be non-restorable, with placement of an implant as the ideal treatment plan. However, due to the location of the fracture in the middle third of the root, it was unlikely that the remaining root tip could be extracted without trauma to the buccal plate of bone, which would negatively impact the prognosis of an implant. The decision was made to implement orthodontic forced eruption therapy until an extraction could be performed atraumatically, using a Maryland bridge to provisionalize the area. Once the root was sufficiently erupted, it was extracted without trauma to the buccal plate of bone. The implant was placed, restored and esthetic results have been maintained for thirteen years post-op. |
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An Unusual Case of Oral Self-Injury Evan Spivack, DDS, FAGD Description: Self-injurious behaviors (SIBs) involving the oral region are commonly seen in patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities. These behaviors often prove resistant to therapy and if unresolved, may result in the removal of some or all teeth. The dentist confronted with oral SIBs must determine the etiology of this behavior in order to develop an effective treatment plan. This presentation highlights the case of a 22 year old female with spastic cerebral palsy with self-induced lesions on the ventral surface of the tongue. Discussion focuses on the importance of the medical history in determining both the etiology of the self-injury and an appropriate course of action. |
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Digital Denture Case Report Jean Furuyama, DDS, FAGD Description: As the population gets older, the number of patients needing dentures is increasing. Conventional dentures routinely take 5 visits while digital dentures drastically cut down chair time for the dentist, and patients benefit from better fitting, more comfortable dentures. This presentation will be a case report of a typical digital denture delivery from impression taking to denture insertion. |
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Patients with Reduced Vertical Dimension John Sung, DDS, FAGD Description: A dental practitioner faces all kinds of challenge every day. To an endodontist, it may be a blocked canal; to a periodontist, it may be a 7mm pocket on a molar; to an orthodontist, it may be an anchorage issue. To a general dentist, it is all of the above – if you decided to do all these. One of the challenges that a general practitioner faces is lack of restorative space.
“Reduced Vertical Dimension” presents itself as an end result of multiple problems a patient experiences throughout a period of time. The causes are manifold, but the result is lost of restorative space in the vertical dimension.
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Facial Asymmetry & Conservative Smile Enhancement Ajay Dhankhar, DDS, FAGD Description: Desire to help patients by enhancing beauty is a continuous thought in the minds of all dentists inclined towards cosmetic dentistry. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, but we have never had a better understanding of what makes one pretty and attractive. Apart from factors which are con be weighed subjectively based on ethnic origin and geographic heritage, Proportions & symmetry are universally accepted as markers of beauty along with form. Enhancing these does enhance the overall appearance and perception both. |
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Pressure Forming Machines in General Dentistry Alex Gonzalez, DDS, FAGD Description: Thermoforming machines have been utilized in dentistry for many years. The evolution of pressure thermoforming units has virtually rendered the traditional vacuum machines obsolete. This discussion aims to familiarize the general dentist with pressure machines. The differences between pressure and vacuum machines will be explored by outlining the advantages and disadvantages of each. In addition, the versatility of pressure machines will be demonstrated by presenting several clinical applications, such as the fabrication of athletic mouthguards, templates for crown and bridgework, occlusal splints, bleaching trays, surgical stents, and orthodontic retainers. From this information, the general dentist will gain a new-found appreciation not only for the enhanced product quality but also the cost effectiveness of pressure machines, and, ultimately, consider incorporating them into their daily practice. |
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Treating Difficult Patients in the Office and Operating Room Harvey Levy, DMD, MAGD Description: Skilled general dentists are in a unique position to offer comprehensive multi-disciplinary treatment plans, and executing them in a way no single specialist can perform. Treatment plans involving surgical extractions, periodontal care, endodontics, restorations plus crowns would take a team of specialists...or one general dentist. If this patient has special needs, then the treatment may require office sedation and operating room general anesthesia. This case of a 39 year old female with Huntington's Disease requiring comprehensive dental care was evaluated in the office, treated in the OR, and then successfully completed in the office via oral conscious sedation. |
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Dental Implants: What Are You Waiting For? Donald Roman, DMD, FAGD Description: A retrospective review of dental implant placement and restoration by a general practitioner. Having been placing and restoring dental implants since 1986 gives me an ideal view and history to help dentists new to the implant field to reduce the learning curve and the stress involved. Dental Implants, types and designs: what and where, short implants: do they work and when and where to utilize them. Flap or flapless surgery for implant placement when and why to use each and not to use each. Implant s are a prosthetically driven discipline so we do not place implants where the bone is but where the restoration needs to go. |
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Have Laser? Make a Better Smile
Annette Skowronski, DDS, FAGD
Description: The health and appearance of soft tissue is just as important as how the hard tissue, tooth and bone are treated in dentistry. Incorporation of the use of a soft tissue diode laser into everyday dental practice, with proper training, can be a safe and effective mode of improving clinical restorative and cosmetic dentistry outcomes. This course will outline frequent soft tissue anomalies, that when altered, can yield a dramatic improvement in not only the quality of the care but meet or exceed the expectations of the patient.
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