Dr Conkin earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry in Memphis in 2012. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the Tennessee Dental Association, the First District Dental Society, the Kingsport Dental Society, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Andrew Conkin, DDS

The dental industry constantly moves toward higher standards of care via decreasingly invasive treatments and workflows. Updated materials, instruments, and technologies improve the outcomes clinicians can achieve for their patients. Although the benefits of these advancements are easily recognized, the many steps to get there are not always seen.

Still, every innovation that helps drive dentistry forward is worth noting and even celebrating. One way to put these innovations in the spotlight is to take a look at what they replaced. It’s easy to get used to a comfortable and effective daily workflow, and sometimes it may even seem there’s no need for change. But once something new is brought in to save time, enhance results, or otherwise make things better, it’s easy to move forward from the way things were.

This article (and its online components at dentalproductsreport.com) puts some of those former favorites front and center a final time, as dental professionals share stories of things they once used day in and day out but no longer need due to innovations that make practicing dentistry better for everyone.

How Ameet R. Sachania, DDS found a better material for posterior composites when he tried VOCO's VisCalor Bulk.

Warming to a New Bulk Fill Composite

A simple design feature makes these posts suitable for almost any situation where a post is indicated.

Adaptable Post Becomes Core Part of Armamentarium

Using Simplifeye makes running the practice easier for patients and clinicians.

Simplify the Payment Process

How the Clio Prime intraoral sensor from SOTA Imaging solved one practice's imaging challenges.

The Perfect Digital Development

Adopting Stellalife's natural rinses impacts a practice and its patients.

Natural Rinse for Better Postop Care

Finding the best mill for his practice set this clinician on a new path.

Milling Made Easy

Necessity leads one clinician to find a faceshield that delivers on both comfort and convenience. 

Pandemic Leads to Face Shield Find

Sometimes the innovation doesn't seem that large, but the effects can still change a practice.

Chemical Bonding Means Better Endo Temps

With the right tools, creating restorations with lifelike anatomy can be simplified.

A Better Shape for Shaping Anatomy

A new material selection helps eliminate postop sensitivity.

Eliminate Sensitivity and Toxicity

Using VoIP phones can change the way a dental practice and its patients connect and interact.

Move Beyond the Phone to Connect With Patients

A new option for sealing root canals helps this clinician perform at his best.

Enhanced Endodontic Chemistry Means Better Seals

3D printing leaps forward with printed, long-term crowns.

Permanent Crown Resin Replaces Conventional Restorations

Shifting from a scalpal to a laser makes treatment easier on patients and for clinicians.

Why I Tabled My Scalpel for a Dental Laser

Find out why the author believes every practice should be using an electric handpiece.

It’s Time to Upgrade to Electric Handpieces

Why Gary Radz, DDS, believes he's found an "easy button" for creating temporary crown matrices. 

Pressing the Button on a Better Temporary Crown Matrix

The dental mirror will always be essential, but it doesn't need to be limited by the past.

Reflections on the Dental Mirror

A pre-exam rinse is a good prophylactic step for many practices, and finding the best rinse is a key to success.

Replacement Rinse Leads to Better Results

Oral probiotics show favorable results for enhancing oral health in both lab testing and clinical use.

Out With Bad Bacteria, In With the Good

Why a new technology, and its fresh approach to treating xerostomia, might be the best approach for some dry mouth patients.

A New Technology to Manage Xerostomia

The Vivos sleep system aims to treat patients with sleep apnea rather than help them manage their condition.

Treating Sleep Issues at the Root Cause

Finding a system for automatic shade matching can save a practice time, improve relationships between clinics and labs, and enhance restorative outcomes.

Shade System Reduces Miscommunication

Using tooth morphology as a guide, one clinician designed an instrument set to make it easier to mimic the details of a natural tooth.

Let the Tooth Design the Instrument

One clinician is excited about the possibilities of moving his clinical imaging to the cloud.

Add Security and Convenience With Cloud Imaging

The Dental Products We’ve Left Behind (and What’s Replaced Them)

Articles

Dental professionals share stories of dental products they’ve stopped using and innovations that are their new favorites.