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In a previous article, I discussed the concept of using rest position to determine the correct vertical dimension when restoring patients. In reality, this concept typically works well for edentulous patients but has limitations for our dentate patients. The following … Read more
20 hours ago by Gregg Kinzer 0 Comments
It can often seem that the ideal life you envision for yourself as a dentist is miles away from reality and that it would take years or huge improvements in revenue to get to where you want to be. But … Read more
Yesterday by Imtiaz Manji 0 Comments
According to a recent media release, a University of Michigan study found the newly discovered bacterium that causes gum disease also triggers normally protective proteins in the mouth to destroy more bone. Scientists and oral health care providers have known for decades that … Read more
3 days ago by Raj Dayal 0 Comments
“I don’t have enough time,” is a common refrain in today’s world. In fact it’s probably among the most universal conditions. Who among us would not like to have more time? The thing is, there is a big difference between … Read more
4 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 0 Comments
White spot lesions (WSL) are common during or after orthodontic treatment. Managing these lesions is a challenge. The following are best practice recommendations based on current research. Most studies report the incidence of new clinically visible WSL occurring during orthodontic … Read more
4 days ago by Vivek Mehta 3 Comments
White spot lesions (WSL) are common during or after orthodontic treatment. Managing these lesions is a challenge. The following are best practice recommendations based on current research. Most studies report the incidence of new clinically visible WSL occurring during orthodontic … Read more
4 days ago by Vivek Mehta 3 Comments
At the time you try-in a patient’s final restorations, if there is a cant to the occlusal plane or midline, you can follow these steps to assess or rectify the situation. • Evaluate the restorations on the mounted cast. Place the … Read more
5 days ago by Bob Winter 1 Comment
In this series of articles, I’m going to start on a new case study for a retired dentist named Tom. His desire was to replace a posterior reconstruction that had been very well done about 25 years ago, along with … Read more
6 days ago by Frank Spear 0 Comments
Subgingival margin placement is necessary for several reasons: to hide the margin on a discolored tooth, to hide the margin when a more opaque restoration is placed, to chase old restorations or decay, and sometimes to increase the amount of … Read more
13 days ago by Frank Spear 0 Comments
As the closing article in the Nancy Case Study series, I’ll be discussing Nancy’s final restorations. I ended up going with a set of crowns made from Feldspathic porcelain. Obviously, how you place your crowns is very dependent on … Read more
25 days ago by Frank Spear 0 Comments
In a previous article, I discussed the concept of using rest position to determine the correct vertical dimension when restoring patients. In reality, this concept typically works well for edentulous patients but has limitations for our dentate patients. The following … Read more
20 hours ago by Gregg Kinzer 0 Comments
At the time you try-in a patient’s final restorations, if there is a cant to the occlusal plane or midline, you can follow these steps to assess or rectify the situation. • Evaluate the restorations on the mounted cast. Place the … Read more
5 days ago by Bob Winter 1 Comment
[Editor's Note: This article is one of our most read on the topic of worn dentition and was originally published 10/24/12.] Almost every restorative dentist I know has a set of models sitting on their desk they have looked at … Read more
10 days ago by Frank Spear 0 Comments
Once the decision is made to make a custom incisal guide table, the following sequence of steps should be followed. Determine if you are going to restore the patient in a seated condylar position (CR) or in maximum intercuspal position … Read more
12 days ago by Bob Winter 0 Comments
A common question asked of me is: “When should I make or prescribe a custom incisal guide table?” If there is no pathway wear, generally there is not a need for one to be made. I suggest one should … Read more
17 days ago by Bob Winter 0 Comments
White spot lesions (WSL) are common during or after orthodontic treatment. Managing these lesions is a challenge. The following are best practice recommendations based on current research. Most studies report the incidence of new clinically visible WSL occurring during orthodontic … Read more
4 days ago by Vivek Mehta 3 Comments
At the time you try-in a patient’s final restorations, if there is a cant to the occlusal plane or midline, you can follow these steps to assess or rectify the situation. • Evaluate the restorations on the mounted cast. Place the … Read more
5 days ago by Bob Winter 1 Comment
If you’re like me, you or your team has trouble getting the contacts on bitewings open at times. I would like to share a simple tip to help you get those difficult contacts open on your bitewings. While you might … Read more
7 days ago by John Carson 5 Comments
• 1957: S.S. White Company introduced the Borden Airotor, the first successful air-driven handpiece. This instrument is regarded as the precursor to the present generation of high-speed handpieces [3]. • 1992: ADA/FDA issued guidelines mandating routine handpiece autoclave sterilization after every instance … Read more
10 days ago by Vivek Mehta 0 Comments
Once the decision is made to make a custom incisal guide table, the following sequence of steps should be followed. Determine if you are going to restore the patient in a seated condylar position (CR) or in maximum intercuspal position … Read more
12 days ago by Bob Winter 0 Comments
Implant position is critical to esthetic success, especially when the patient has a high smile line and is esthetically aware. At times, using an angled abutment that changes the long axis of the restoration can be helpful, at other times … Read more
28 days ago by Steve Ratcliff 2 Comments
Sometimes it’s the little things that save time and aggravation and you wonder what took you so long to think of it. I always use the open tray technique when impressing implant sites for final restorations. I used to spend … Read more
55 days ago by Mary Anne Salcetti 0 Comments
When trying in an all-ceramic restoration on an implant abutment to confirm the esthetic outcome prior to its cementation, I suggest following these steps: 1. If the screw access hole is on the labial aspect it must be closed or … Read more
56 days ago by Bob Winter 1 Comment
Recently I had the not so pleasant experience of retrieving a broken implant abutment. This was a really challenging case. As a result, I would like to share some tips with you about what I learned. 1. First, the more … Read more
67 days ago by John Carson 2 Comments
The most critical factor when cementing an implant crown to an abutment is to avoid cement you may not subsequently detect, from getting into the sulcus. This undetected cement will cause peri-implantitis. To prevent this from occurring, prior to cementation … Read more
119 days ago by Bob Winter 1 Comment
You are probably familiar with the quotation, often attributed to Albert Einstein: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.” It is an observation that certainly applies to case presentation and … Read more
11 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 0 Comments
What do you do when a patient says no to the dental problems you have shown them? If you’re like many dentists, you consider your job done, accept their decision and leave it at that. But in fact you should … Read more
12 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 2 Comments
There was a time in America when the pattern of adult life was steady and predictable. You grew up, got a job and stayed in that job until you retired and collected a pension. You bought a home and you … Read more
20 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 1 Comment
You will always have some patients who choose to accept nothing more than having you “fix” their most immediate care concerns. But at the same time you’d be surprised how many will commit to ideal care—or at least a higher … Read more
28 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 1 Comment
Do you ever find yourself suddenly thinking about a patient you diagnosed several weeks ago—the one who agreed to your plan for a quadrant or smile makeover? Whatever happened to her? Well, she may have said yes to you, but … Read more
32 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 1 Comment
It can often seem that the ideal life you envision for yourself as a dentist is miles away from reality and that it would take years or huge improvements in revenue to get to where you want to be. But … Read more
Yesterday by Imtiaz Manji 0 Comments
“I don’t have enough time,” is a common refrain in today’s world. In fact it’s probably among the most universal conditions. Who among us would not like to have more time? The thing is, there is a big difference between … Read more
4 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 0 Comments
The voice you hear most often is the one inside your head. Psychologists call it “self-talk.” It’s that internal dialogue that provides a running commentary for our lives. It’s the voice that narrates and helps us interpret our experiences. It’s … Read more
5 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 2 Comments
How much time are you going to spend reading this article? Since most of my readers are busy dentists, I’m going to assume that you are going to scan it quickly and see if there is anything worthwhile you can … Read more
6 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 3 Comments
To me retirement is about doing what you love. If you are living with passion and doing the things you love, while also embracing the things you don’t necessarily enjoy but recognize as important, you’re living a retirement lifestyle. Read more
7 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 5 Comments
It can often seem that the ideal life you envision for yourself as a dentist is miles away from reality and that it would take years or huge improvements in revenue to get to where you want to be. But … Read more
Yesterday by Imtiaz Manji 0 Comments
“I don’t have enough time,” is a common refrain in today’s world. In fact it’s probably among the most universal conditions. Who among us would not like to have more time? The thing is, there is a big difference between … Read more
4 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 0 Comments
The voice you hear most often is the one inside your head. Psychologists call it “self-talk.” It’s that internal dialogue that provides a running commentary for our lives. It’s the voice that narrates and helps us interpret our experiences. It’s … Read more
5 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 2 Comments
How much time are you going to spend reading this article? Since most of my readers are busy dentists, I’m going to assume that you are going to scan it quickly and see if there is anything worthwhile you can … Read more
6 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 3 Comments
To me retirement is about doing what you love. If you are living with passion and doing the things you love, while also embracing the things you don’t necessarily enjoy but recognize as important, you’re living a retirement lifestyle. Read more
7 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 5 Comments
It can often seem that the ideal life you envision for yourself as a dentist is miles away from reality and that it would take years or huge improvements in revenue to get to where you want to be. But … Read more
Yesterday by Imtiaz Manji 0 Comments
“I don’t have enough time,” is a common refrain in today’s world. In fact it’s probably among the most universal conditions. Who among us would not like to have more time? The thing is, there is a big difference between … Read more
4 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 0 Comments
The voice you hear most often is the one inside your head. Psychologists call it “self-talk.” It’s that internal dialogue that provides a running commentary for our lives. It’s the voice that narrates and helps us interpret our experiences. It’s … Read more
5 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 2 Comments
How much time are you going to spend reading this article? Since most of my readers are busy dentists, I’m going to assume that you are going to scan it quickly and see if there is anything worthwhile you can … Read more
6 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 3 Comments
To me retirement is about doing what you love. If you are living with passion and doing the things you love, while also embracing the things you don’t necessarily enjoy but recognize as important, you’re living a retirement lifestyle. Read more
7 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 5 Comments
“… Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Those famous words from the Declaration of Independence have long defined the ambitions of a free person in a free society. But there’s more to life than being happy. Everybody wants to … Read more
145 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 1 Comment
A favorite quote from Jim Valvano: “To me, there are three things we all should do every day. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number … Read more
200 days ago by Peter Virga 3 Comments
Remember that blog post from my partner, Dr. Glen Wysel, about his trip with his wife, Lisa, to Guatemala to visit the site of the clinic we’re helping to build there? Many of you were quite moved by his recounting … Read more
1 year ago by Imtiaz Manji 0 Comments
December is behind us; the time of year where our senses are inundated with the sounds, the smells, the language and customs of the holidays. And as the decorations come down and the parties end, the meaning of the season … Read more
1 year ago by Glen Wysel 1 Comment
Someone sent me the link to this video clip awhile back and I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind since.
I find it pretty hard to watch that without getting a little choked up, and going by the responses of the judges and the audience, I’m not alone. Read more
1 year ago by Imtiaz Manji 0 Comments
The Wall Street Journal is one of the most influential media sources and has the largest circulation of any newspaper in the country, with more than two million subscribers. Teen idol Justin Bieber shares his thoughts on Twitter. He has more … Read more
34 days ago by Imtiaz Manji 2 Comments
Twitter is one of the most popular social media platforms today with more than 500 million users. Commonly referred to as a “micro-blog,” Twitter allows anybody to tweet a brief message in 140 characters or less in the world of … Read more
227 days ago by Denise Prichard 1 Comment
Do you think Facebook is just something “kids” use these days to keep the world up-to-date on every single step they take? Sure, there are definitely those people who abuse their Facebook privileges by uploading 80 pictures of their cat … Read more
237 days ago by Denise Prichard 1 Comment
I don’t know if you’ve heard from all of the experts in the industry, but social media is running for President, has cured the common cold and is currently the most popular Beatle. The attention around social media is unprecedented. … Read more
255 days ago by Matthew Petchel 0 Comments
Dr. Gary DeWood once told the story of the 20 (sick) sheep. If one dies, how many are left? Depending upon how or what is heard, the answer often is 25. The accurate answer is 19 live sheep. The moral … Read more
346 days ago by Jeffrey Bonk 0 Comments
I just returned from the CDS Midwinter meeting. As always, it was a great experience to see old friends and make new ones. We have a great profession filled with many like-minded dentists, assistants, hygienists, technicians and staff who converge … Read more
1 year ago by Martin Mendelson 0 Comments
We are pleased to announce Markus Blatz, DMD, PhD as a confirmed speaker at the 2012 Faculty Club Summit. Dr. Blatz is professor of restorative dentistry and chairman of the Department of Preventive and Restorative Sciences at University of Pennsylvania … Read more
1 year ago by Martin Mendelson 0 Comments
This past week I was sitting in on the Facially Generated Treatment Planning workshop and Frank Spear was talking about possibilities. Possibilities as they relate to eliminating our filters when we treatment plan a patient. The ultimate objective is to … Read more
1 year ago by Martin Mendelson 0 Comments
After I spoke on social media at our Faculty Club event this June, I had many requests to begin contributing to the Spear Education blog. The time has finally come that I deliver on the request. Welcome to my first … Read more
1 year ago by Kaleim Manji 0 Comments
In the last eight years I have lived in four different states, owned four different homes and held four different distinct positions within dentistry. The single biggest life lesson out of this journey is that the learning never ends. Learning … Read more
1 year ago by Martin Mendelson 0 Comments
OK, this might look like an informercial, well, actually it is! I think every dentist in the U.S. should be in a Spear Study Club. Why? Because I know that most of us need support to move forward. We need … Read more
1 year ago by Steve Ratcliff 0 Comments
One of my last blogs talked about my consternation around seeing myself differently when Lee Brady and I looked at my photographs. Lee and I did her case about four or five years ago and now the tables are reversed. … Read more
2 years ago by Steve Ratcliff 0 Comments
This is a case that could occupy us for days if we chose to enter into discussion and debate. I look at this case and see every discipline in dentistry involved. And I am certain that if I attempt to … Read more
2 years ago by Steve Ratcliff 1 Comment
I met this person quite recently here in Scottsdale – what a beautiful smile! Those “laterals” are canines moved into the lateral position due to congenitally missing teeth and subsequently veneered to create this result. The maxillary first premolars are … Read more
2 years ago by Gary DeWood 0 Comments
From the Mediterranean, Frank and the Athens Spear Study Club prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, that learning can be fun! If you cannot see this video, please visit speareducation.com/blog.
2 years ago by Frank Spear 0 Comments
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