Letter from the Editor
There are many new dental technologies available today that clinicians can utilize to provide a higher quality of care for their patients; however, understanding the benefits, proper use and limitations of these technologies is paramount to their successful application. This issue of Inclusive showcases several of these innovations, ranging from digital treatment planning and Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) to CAD/CAM implant abutment design and fabrication.
When placing small-diameter implants, a flapless surgical procedure is often used. In a case report, Dr. Paresh Patel utilizes a CBCT scan, treatment planning software and guided surgery to plan and place mini implants in a patient with severely atrophic ridges. Another application of 3-D imaging allows Dr. Daniel McEowen to correctly diagnose the previously undetected cause of an endodontic failure, which leads to immediate post-extraction implant placement.
CAD/CAM is one of the fastest-growing sectors in dentistry today. This technology enables the dental laboratory to create custom solutions for your implant cases. Supplementing this issue's article on the subject (page 6), our online version includes a step-by-step tutorial presented by Glidewell Laboratories' Alec Di Lullo demonstrating how this technology is used in implant abutment design. Understanding the functionality of this software will allow you to direct the lab to provide your patients with the best possible restorations.
There have also been technological improvements in dental materials. Nobel Biocare's classic Brånemark System® hybrid denture has been around for more than 40 years, and with the introduction of CAD/CAM milled titanium frameworks, the screw-retained denture is still a standard implant restoration. One of the challenges with this type of prosthesis is the inevitable wear of the denture teeth and loss of VDO. An article by Thorsten Michel, MDT, details the development of Ivoclar Vivadent's SR Phonares® nano-hybrid composite denture teeth, which offer improved strength and esthetics.
While conventional dentures can provide missing facial support, they are often unstable and do nothing to prevent future bone loss. Dr. Timothy Kosinski describes how implants have been shown to minimize resorption while providing greater comfort and stability for denture wearers. Case examples illustrate the decision process for selecting various types of overdentures, including freestanding attachments, bars and mini implants.
Our featured interview is with Dr. Sascha Jovanovic, a leading clinician and educator on implant esthetics. He shares his thoughts on the latest implant designs and grafting procedures. Of related concern is the sculpting of the soft tissues, which can be effectively contoured by a quality temporary restoration. Dr. Ara Nazarian demonstrates this and other benefits of BioTemps® in provisionalizing implant cases.
We are also proud to announce the opening of the Glidewell International Technology Center. A primary goal of this state-of-the-art facility is to educate clinicians on the latest dental technologies, including how to smoothly integrate them into their practice. For information about upcoming courses, visit www.glidewellce.com.
Dr. Bradley C. Bockhorst
Editor-in-Chief, Clinical Editor
inclusivemagazine@glidewelldental.com
