THE DIGITAL STREAM

If you’re using an intraoral scanner to take digital impressions, then you already know their many benefits. However, it’s always good to have a few tricks up your sleeve when using new technology. Often when scanning shiny surfaces, such as a metal restoration, bracket or abutment, you may notice an overly bright area (or “hotspot”) on your scan. Not to worry, in this video I share a few easy tips for scanning reflective surfaces and getting the perfect scan to complete your digital impression.

Intraoral scanning is another way digital workflows are used in dentistry. To create custom abutments with a digital scanner, attach a scan body (compatible with your implant system) and scan like you would a prepped tooth. The digital impression is sent to the lab and the lab software orients the implant fixture according to the scan body position. The lab then designs the final abutment, mills it and can either send a model of the final abutment to fabricate a restoration or mill both crown and abutment digitally.

Taking an impression is a common procedure utilized by general practitioners and specialists alike. However, the process is time-consuming and messy, not to mention costly, as numerous consumables such as trays, alginate, PVS, etc., are required. Thankfully, impressions have come a long way and—unlike the Dr. Henriod of the 1980s—I now use a digital intraoral scanner to take impressions. In this video, I demonstrate the clean, digital workflow a scanner offers when taking impressions.

When it comes to suturing, it’s best to keep things simple. All dentists should know at least the three basic sutures: simple interrupted, figure-eight interrupted and continuous, with or without locks. Keep these 10 general principles in mind to improve your suturing. Tips include the proper way to grip the needle; how many ties are needed; and how to tie a surgeon’s knot:

You’ve heard the phrase, “quality over quantity,” but when it comes to implant treatment, both are equally important. Luckily for implantologists, advancements in technology now let us view the bone in 3D, saving time and taking the guesswork out of implant surgery.

Do you know what a “Goldilocks” implant is? Even if you’ve never heard the term, you’re familiar with the concept—when placing an implant, we don’t want it to be too big or too small but just right. But how do we find that perfect fit? There’s a lot to take into consideration...

When you’re about to drill into the posterior mandible, it’s critical to know exactly where the artery, nerve and mental foramen are located. That’s one of the reasons it’s so important that implantologists utilize software to simplify identifying anatomy before implant surgery.