Top 10 DPR Articles

As always, the editorial team at Dental Products Report strives to deliver important news to our readers in all facets of the industry. While new products and techniques designed to help clinicians deliver optimal patient care are our bread and butter, the staff is proud to produce interesting articles on a variety of topics important to patients, dental manufacturers, and dentists alike. 

Here we summarize 10 of the most-read articles from 2019 along with links so you can easily find the full articles on our website at dentalproductsreport.com.

As you’ll see, the topics run the full gamut from which cities are the best places to practice, the top innovations and product launches from large trade shows in Germany and in the U.S., updates and solutions for dentures and infection control protocols, mistakes to avoid with composites, and even a study suggesting the sequence of mechanical cleansing may influence oral health.

The top 10 best cities for dentists in 2019

By Robert Elsenpeter

Dentists spend four years and hundreds of thousands of dollars on dental school. And while there has to be some level of humanity and wanting to help people involved, nobody wants to do it just for the sheer altruism of it. Sure, dentists want to make money-the more the better-but just as important is living a good life, and a lot of that comes down to where a doctor practices. Dentists can set up shop anywhere in the country, but some communities are better than others. To that end, we looked at each city and compiled a list of the 10 best cities in the country for dentists.

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5 exciting innovations introduced at IDS 2019

By Matthew Petchel

The IDS (International Dental Show) was held in Cologne, Germany, for the 38th time, bringing together the best dental technologies and more than 150,000 dental professionals from around the world. This really is dentistry’s global event, and it takes place every other year.

As dentistry’s busiest mega-tradeshow, IDS is THE place to see the future of dentistry, meet old friends, and get your fill of the local Kolsch beer and the casual food currywurst. Don’t worry if you couldn’t make it to Cologne in 2019; we’ve got you covered on what’s new in dental technology.

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What you missed at the 2019 Chicago Midwinter Meeting

By Kristen Mott

The Chicago Midwinter Meeting is an event dental professionals look forward to year after year. Hundreds of exhibitors and companies gather in the Windy City early each year to showcase dozens of new products, technologies, and innovations. As always, this year’s meeting in February didn’t disappoint.

From new materials to updated software, the show was brimming with new product launches and announcements. This article is filled with some of the latest products coming out of the 2019 Midwinter Meeting you don’t want to miss.

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10 questions to test your understanding of infection control requirements

By Robert Elsenpeter

The most dreaded words any student can hear are “pop quiz.” While those words can strike fear and anxiety into students’ hearts, there’s a good reason for their use. It’s a quick assessment to evaluate students’ knowledge level.

The same tool can be used by professionals to find out what they know and where they might need a little help. Over their careers, dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) are exposed to a lot of information about infection prevention. 

Here you can take our pop quiz to find out where you stand when it comes to infection control efforts in the dental industry.

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5 biggest patient complaints about dentures-and how to solve them

By Terri Lively

Here at Dental Products Report, we spoke to denture experts to discover what are some common complaints patients have about their dentures. According to these experts, here are the five biggest complaints patients have about dentures-and how to solve them.

The first complaint: “I can’t eat with my denture.” Dan Elfring, CDT, has been making dentures for more than a decade. He says that conventional dentures often result in a reduced biting force. Patients can’t bite as hard, and it creates problems eating certain types of foods. Other patient complaints in the article address the look, fit, and materials used with dentures, as well as difficulty getting used to wearing them.

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5 mistakes you might be making with composites

By Terri Lively

Composite is a versatile and useful material for direct restorations. However, there are common mistakes you might be making with composites that could affect your patient outcomes. We spoke to our experts about some of these common mistakes and what you can do to fix them. 

The mistakes covered include not using magnification during your work; allowing moisture to contaminate your prep; rushing your curing technique and neglecting your equipment; lacking an understanding of the handling and properties of the materials; and rushing the composite process. Read more to help avoid these key mistakes and to improve patient outcomes.

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3 reasons to be excited about dentures in 2019

By Terri Lively

Dentures are rarely an exciting part of dentistry for clinicians. And patients typically aren’t that excited when you tell them they need dentures either.

However, that could change in the next 12 months, and that’s a good thing because dentures aren’t going away anytime soon. This year could be the year we start seeing these huge benefits, according to our experts. From new software to new materials to new techniques, there were many reasons to be excited about dentures this year. 

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4 tips for creating well-fitted dentures

By Terri Lively

Dentures that don’t fit correctly are a significant patient complaint. Even worse, poorly fitting dentures can also lead to health problems down the road.

Dr. John Huebner, a general dentist in private practice in Lee’s Summit, Mo., works with the denture patients at the practice. He says getting an excellent fit is crucial and the methods for achieving a good fit is an area that hasn’t changed much over the past few decades.

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  The WORST infection control breach stories

By  Robert Elsenpeter

The damage resulting from an infection control breach can affect the dental practice in tangible and intangible ways. Stiff fines and penalties can be imposed; patients and staff run the risk of serious illness; and if the infraction is severe enough, the practice may find itself on the evening news.

Unfortunately, several practices have made headlines as a result of their poor infection control methods. Learning the lessons that they didn’t can keep other practices out of the spotlight.

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  New study suggests sequence of mechanical cleansing may influence oral health

By Drew Boxler

Dentists have routinely emphasized the importance of mechanical cleansing, citing it as one of the most effective measures to deter plaque buildup and the potential onset of caries and periodontal disease. When advising patients, one of the most common questions dentists receive regards the process of mechanical cleansing: Can patients do without either, and is there a combination of flossing and brushing that works better than others?

Brushing and flossing have long been touted as principle deterrents of gingivitis and periodontal disease, but the sequence of cleansing can result in greater plaque removal and fluoride retention.

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