Placing an exquisite composite restoration on an anterior tooth involves managing lots of moving parts. My focus is creating an incredible final result where the color is such that the restoration Read More
Seating Inlays and Onlays- Getting a Handle on Them
Seating small all porcelain restorations, inlays and onlays, can be very challenging. I find they are difficult to hold and maneuver in and out of the mouth, even if I use the placement tools. In my Read More
Removing Resin Cement from Inside a Restoration
I had a patient come in today with a onlay out on the upper left first bicuspid. Fortunately the onlay and the tooth were in perfect shape and we would be able to bond it back in place. The challenge Read More
Pre-Wedging for Posterior Composites
Years ago while doing some research for a program on posterior composites I came across interesting information about how interproximal wedges work. The article looked at the distance the teeth were Read More
Quick and Easy Provisional Matrix
[/caption] A routine procedure in my office is the restoration of a single posterior tooth with a crown or onlay The tooth is being restored for structural or biologic reasons, and we are Read More
Creating Interproximal Contacts-Separation Ring Fatigue
Until today I hadn't given any thought to the lifespan, care and maintenance of the separation rings that I use in the office to create tight interproximal contacts when placing a posterior composite Read More
Drying Teeth Before Marking the Occlusion
Often I need the occlusal surfaces of the teeth to be dry, and I mean completely dry. Over the years we have dried them with the air/water syringe, or tried to wipe them off with a two by two. Blowing Read More
Flexing the Set Time of Alginate
One of our new assistants has been struggling to get exquisite alginate impressions. Together we came up with an approach to getting the kind of impressions we need for our patients and accomplish Read More
Video: Full Contour Silicone Reduction Matrix
One of the challenges in restorative dentistry is ensuring adequate reduction for the technician to create an exquisite result, while remaining conservative in our preparation and not taking away more Read More
Sectioning an Implant Bar
My partner Scott had a patient in this afternoon to try to save an implant retained bar that supported a denture. The original bar did not fit passively and allow all the fixtures to be engaged. Two Read More
