The top 10 most-viewed how-to articles of 2013

From clinical techniques to practice management advice, DPR revisits 2013's most-viewed articles that showed you how to enhance performance and better your practice.

How to make composite placement easier

The patient presented with a lower right quadrant of mandibular teeth with existing defective restorations, interproximal caries, and in the case of the first molar, excessive occlusal wear. The treatment plan was: 1) A disto-occlusal direct composite restoration on tooth No. 29; 2) An indirect ceramic MOD onlay/crown for tooth No. 30; and 3) A mesio-occlusal direct composite restoration on tooth No. 31. The plan was to complete the composite restorations before master impression for tooth No. 30 to restore proper proximal contour to those teeth so the ceramist would have ideal proximal surfaces on tooth Nos. 29 and 31 to build to.

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How to choose the right impression material

Accurate impressions depend on proper technique as well as desirable material characteristics. Elastomeric impression materials (polyethers, polyvinyl siloxanes, and hybrids) are popular impression materials because of their excellent physical and mechanical properties including excellent detail reproduction, high elastic recovery and good dimensional stability.

There are many impression materials available from many manufacturers to choose from. Making the right impression material choice for you helps avoid making a bad impression on your patients.
The preferred elastomeric impression materials on the market are polyvinyl siloxanes (PVS) and polyethers (PE). Polyethers are known for their hydrophilic properties and good flowability. Polyvinyl siloxanes, on the other hand, are known for their excellent elasticity, high tear strength and stability. The decision to use one over the other varies among clinicians and is based on personal preference.

In recent years, a new class of impression materials has emerged. The polyether/polyvinyl hybrids were developed to combine the best features of both materials.

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Dr. Cathia Bergeron, DMD, MS, walks the viewer through an esthetic build-up anterior restoration.

Each week, DPR explores a different dental technique how-to with our Technique Geek e-newsletter series. We feature video techniques of a product in use, offering step-by-step examples of clinical success. In this case, while incorporating two opacities of 3M ESPE Filtek™ Supreme Ultra Universal Restorative, Dr. Cathia Bergeron, DMD, MS, walks the viewer through an esthetic build-up anterior restoration of two broken teeth (No. 8 and No. 9) using a dual-shade technique.

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Here are some proven ways to reduce the number of no-shows and broken appointments.

Broken appointments and no-shows can turn a well-scheduled day into a wreck.  Scheduling is one of the most difficult management systems in the practice. When you work hard to access a well-scheduled day only to have it fall apart at the last minute, frustration results. In this Morning Huddle video, Cathy Jameson from Jameson Management offers some proven ways to reduce the number of no-shows and broken appointments, from giving patients a reason to come back to your practice to rescheduling patients who are cancelling appointments while you have them on the phone.

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The oral systemic link relates to how the body is connected to the mouth and diseases can be affected by oral health. This is why Stephanie Pietrantonio Lodding, RDH, says it’s of upmost importance to get your team on board and talking to patients about the oral systemic link. In this Morning Huddle video she addresses specific health concerns that are linked to oral health, plus how to get your practice conveying the right information to patients.

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In this Morning Huddle video, dental consultant Penny Limoli of Limoli and Associates talks about the importance of the intraoral camera. The intraoral camera is the most underused case presentation tool in a dental practice. In this video, she tells you how  to get the most out of your intraoral camera, and that means improving case acceptance in your practice and reducing broken appointments.

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In this Morning Huddle video, Misty Absher Clark of Jameson Management lays out how you and your team can grow and maintain excellent relationships with new and existing patient referral sources.

Nurturing referrals is not only desirable but also necessary in any practice. The vast majority of your patients will come to you as a result of personal and professional referrals. Your referral sources must know what services you offer, be confident in your ability to access excellent results, benefit from referring to you and like you and your team.

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How many new patients did you get last year? How many did you get last month? How were they referred to your office? If you don’t know the answers to any of these questions, you may need to start keeping better track of your new patient numbers.

As part of our Monday Morning Huddle tips to get your team talking, Jill Nesbitt, MBA, dental consultant and office manager, tells you how to know your numbers so you can track new patient flow into the practice.

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In this Technique Geek case, Bisco Inc. offers a video how-to with Dr. Robert E. Rada demonstrating how he uses Bisco’s TheraCal LC protectant/liner to help reduce potential for post-operative sensitivity.

Lining dental material is frequently used beneath dental restorations to reduce the potential for post-operative sensitivity, but takes on a much greater role long-term in serving as pulpal protectants.

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In this Technique Geek clinical how-to video, 3M ESPE offers a video that features Dr. G. Aboudharam demonstrating how he used two opacities of Filtek™ Supreme Ultra Universal Restorative and a dual-shade technique to restore a premolar that was exhibiting primary caries.

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