Category Archives: Clinical Technique

Retrofitting a Crown to an Existing Partial Denture

I first posted this “article” on Dentaltown back in 2007.  A friend just reminded me about it, so I thought I’d re-post it here. We all know what a pain this can be – fitting a new crown to an … Continue reading

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Paging Dr. MacGyver – Herodontist

After nearly 25 years in Dentistry, I’ve learned that “herodontics” is often an exercise in futility.  But, one of the things I love about being a dentist is the creative problem-solving aspect.  My assistant has called me “McGyver” for many … Continue reading

Posted in Case Presentation, Clinical Technique, Tips & Tricks, What Happened Today | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

When a Toothache Isn’t a Toothache – Being a “Real” Doctor

My friend and fellow dental blogger, Dr. Alan Mead just posted a great article, Don’t just do something, sit there!.  In it, he discusses a particular emergency patient he saw recently with whom he couldn’t yet identify a dental issue. … Continue reading

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Optragate – So Many Uses

I’ve written about the Optragate before:  Optragate for Full Arch Prep & Impression The Optragate (by Ivoclar) is a nifty disposable item that effectively retracts lips and cheeks exposing both dental arches for easy access. I use it mostly when … Continue reading

Posted in Clinical Technique, Dental Product Reviews, Tips & Tricks | Tagged | 6 Comments

Super-cool Intra-oral Photo Sharing With Patients

I’ve been meaning to get this set up in my office and then sharing the idea with you for quite some time.  FINALLY, I got around to doing it… the way I wanted to do it.  For most of my … Continue reading

Posted in Case Presentation, Clinical Technique, Photography, Tips & Tricks | Tagged , , , , | 34 Comments

Check those BPs! (redux)

This will be one of my more brief blog posts. Last May I wrote about the discovery of malignant hypertension in three patients who presented for tooth extractions.  All of them had systolics over 200 and diastolics over 120!  Yeeeeee-ikes!  … Continue reading

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Seeing Teeth Better and Seeing the Light!

Designs for Vision – Dental Magnification Review I’m not sure when I started using magnification in dentistry, but I estimate it’s been about 17 years.  I started with some 2.5x telescopes from Orascoptic.  They are technically and properly termed telescopes, … Continue reading

Posted in Dental Product Reviews, Tips & Tricks | Tagged , , , , | 26 Comments

Isolite saves my butt again.

This week, I had two particular patients that presented clinical challenges.  In both cases, treatment involved lower posterior teeth.  I’ve written about the Isolite in this blog twice before: Win the Isolation Battle with Isolite! (see video, too!) Isolite Saves … Continue reading

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Implant Provisional – using the original tooth

Several months ago (April 2011), a long-time patient had tooth #8 blow up.   The patient is a 80 y.o. male.  It was a perio-endo lesion (with root resorption evident), and we decided extraction and replacement with an implant would be … Continue reading

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Isolite Saves the Day

This is just a quick “what happened this week” post. Earlier this week, I had a patient who is in a wheelchair.  His neck had been broken in a chiropractor’s office.  Ironically, he is a retired chiropractor.  Really nice guy. … Continue reading

Posted in Clinical Technique, Dental Product Reviews, Tips & Tricks, What Happened Today | Tagged , , | 4 Comments