Whats hot in dentistry?

[PERFECT3434]

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i have heard and know that during the interview they ask questions about things the are going on in dentistry. I currently have subscribed to 3 different dental magazines and still can not tell whats hot in dentistry today?.

anyone have any ideas? the only thing that i know is very interesting to me is the fact that the use of laser is becoming very prominant in dental offices and i was also shocked how laser could be used for so many different procedures.

if anyone can help, i'd really appreciate it.

 

[UBTom]

Lots of cutting-edge stuff out there.

Implant dentistry is starting to get real popular.

Lasers as you mentioned.

Biomedical research into tooth regeneration-- Literally growing new teeth!

Research into guided tissue regeneration to help regenerate lost bone and attachment due to periodontitis.

Other technologies are also emerging, like computer-controlled milling machines that can cut a crown or a 3-unit bridge out of a block of ceramic while the patient waits (CEREC 3 by Sirona).

Mercury-free amalgam.

The list goes on and on like the energizer bunny. 😀

 

[PERFECT3434]

thanks for the info.
i have read about some of the things you mentioned, however, i am not sure how i could get more info on the researches going on.

do you recommend a journal, or an online site where i could read more about these issues?

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by UBTom

Biomedical research into tooth regeneration-- Literally growing new teeth!

That's why we took a Genetics course this year. Our faculty are fully expecting us to be comfortable with the procedures and mechanisms behind this.

Our professor for this module is one of the leading scientists behind tooth regeneration, and will be the head of the National Institute for Craniofacial research in October.

Very interesting stuff to read about.

 

[Yah-E]

Increase of the beautiful female colleagues!! 😍

 

[PERFECT3434]

how can i read more about it?

 

[UBTom]

Easy. You can do a search for articles on MedLine-- Accessible through Pubmed at the NIH website or through your university's library computers.

Good luck!

 

[PERFECT3434]

just wondering if anyone else has thought of some other topics that are hot in dentistry right now.

please share!

 

[critterbug]

Originally posted by UBTom
Lots of cutting-edge stuff out there.


....Other technologies are also emerging, like computer-controlled milling machines that can cut a crown or a 3-unit bridge out of a block of ceramic while the patient waits (CEREC 3 by Sirona)......

😀

I've actually seen this technology in action!! The dentists' office that I shadow just purchased one of these bad boys (not cheap!!) Man, if you don't get excited about dentistry after seeing one of these puppies in action, then there is something wrong. Gotta be one of the coolest things I've witnessed. It's amazing how technology is being incorporated into dentistry. If you are a tech gadget freak like me, then I bet you just can't wait to "play" with all the new toys that will be entering dentistry in years to come.

 

[blankguy]

Originally posted by UBTom

Implant dentistry is starting to get real popular.

Biomedical research into tooth regeneration-- Literally growing new teeth!

Research into guided tissue regeneration to help regenerate lost bone and attachment due to periodontitis.

Mercury-free amalgam.

I've always wondered how retired athletes got their teeth back after seeing pictures of them in their playing days with half the teeth missing.

Also I heard from one of my coworkers who went to baltimore say that he met a group of women there that "between them they had a full set of teeth"

That's it encourage kids to play sports for the wrong reason. Get their teeth knocked out of them more work for dentists especially ice hockey.

 

[Meggs]

Originally posted by PERFECT3434
just wondering if anyone else has thought of some other topics that are hot in dentistry right now.

please share!

Evidence Based Dentistry.

There's a British journal covering only this. I think you can find it online, but I don't remember the link.

 

[DDSdude]

Critterbug,

I have to agree. I too am shadowing a dental practice and they have a Cerec 3. It has to be one of the sweetest pieces of equipment I have seen. It takes all of about 10-15 minutes to mill a crown out of a block. The cost may seem high up front, but there are lease programs and if you are doing about 2 crowns a week you easily pay for itself and then some!! I have been fortunate enough to get all the inside scoop on their cost for the machine and the profit they make because of the machine in their office.

No more two-visit crowns. Everything is done right there. From a root canal to the fitting and permanent placement of the crown. Totally Awesome!!

 

[PERFECT3434]

DDSDUDE,

i am a little confused. i have worked at a dental office for almost a yr now and still am shocked that your dentist could do the whole thing in one visit.

i guess i haven't read enough about whats out there.
this is really awsome that you could do a root canal, crown and everything in one visit.

can you please tell me more about the crown mills. how is that work, i mean make a crown while the patient is there?

 

[ShawnOne]

In 2002, when I went to the California Dental Assoc Conference in Anaheim, new materials was a hot topic. For example, packable composites that are used instead of amalgam for posterior restorations (a lot of stuff geared towards aesthetics) . Also, new impression materials that (allegedly) gave a much better image and quicker set.

Beside that, i thought some hardware was pretty hot. I saw some Sirona chairs that were PHAT! They had some imaging software on the chair's PC that showed the patient images of the tooth in question (on a flat-screen attached to the light pole). Also, it projected how a patient would look with: whitening, veneers, etc.

lots of cool gadgets

 

[UBTom]

to Perfect3434:

The CEREC 3 system by Sirona works in the following manner:

1) You cut the crown prep on the tooth.

2) You scan the prep with CEREC's camera/digitizer. It will digitize the contours of the tooth into a 3D computer model.

3) You design the crown to fit the scanned prep 3D computer model.

4) Choose the shade of ceramic you want, put a block of the stuff into the milling machine. The CEREC 3's three-axis milling machine will cut the crown you designed out of the ceramic block you chose.

5) Check for fit, adjust occlusion.

6) Stain and glaze the crown, and cement the sucker.

7) Collect the fee from the patient. 😀

Single-visit crown. No need to take impressions, make provisionals, or send things out to the lab.

Like Critterbug and DDSDude, I was pretty darn impressed when I saw that thing in action... There are still some limitations with CEREC though, but it's pretty good for the treatment situation it's designed for.

Yep, Sirona does make some neat stuff!

 

[larryt]

what is the life expectancy of those crowns comparing to lab-made ones ?

 

[UBTom]

Hey Larry,

Well, CEREC cuts all-ceramic crowns. The life-expectancy would be about the same as an all-ceramic crown made in a lab.

Personally, I'm still a little wary of all-ceramic crowns despite what I saw the CEREC 3 does... I like PFM crowns because there is at least a durable metal backing to protect the tooth in case the ceramic fractures. I'm sure as technology progresses all-ceramic crowns should get stronger and stronger though.

 

[PERFECT3434]

thank u tom,

that was really nice of you to go through the whole procedure.

i can not believe the tech today. i am shocked that my boss doen't have one yet.