best of 2014

It’s been another extraordinary year for the Spear Daily Digest, the publishing platform of Spear, thanks to our insightful and passionate contributors and key educators. We’d also like to sincerely thank you—our valued readers. As always, we appreciate your insightful comments and thought-provoking questions. Below are the most read articles of 2014.

1.  Restoring Discolored Endodontically Treated Teeth: Case 2

By Frank Spear

In this article I’ll discuss discolored endodontically treated teeth that have existing indirect restorations. This patient presented to me unhappy with the esthetic outcome of the veneers on her central incisors.

2. Why Watching May Be Negligent

By Steve Ratcliff

The image on the left is of a 28-year-old patient I saw for a routine exam. She was unaware that she had any wear on her teeth and also didn’t realize that she might be engaging in some parafunctional activity. 

3. The Infamous Mandibular Block

By Kevin Kwiecien

Frustration with the lack of predictable mandibular blocks stimulated a great conversation with a lot of energy. We have all experienced the complication and embarrassment of attempting to finish a crown preparation.

4. Dealing With a Loose Implant Crown

By John Carson

Have you ever had to deal with a loose implant crown? Implants are being used more and more in dentistry and if you have not dealt with this yet, chances are so you will sooner or later.

5. Five Critical Criteria for Digital Smile Design

By Vivek Mehta

dults go through a change in the length of anterior teeth with age due to wear. Width stays standard throughout an entire lifetime more or less.     

6. Implants: Screw-Retained vs. Cement-Retained

By Gregg Kinzer

When it comes to the restoration of implants, we typically have two treatment options: Screw-retained or Cement-retained.

7. Dental Insurance: Why You NEED to Stop Depending on It

By Imtiaz Manji

What started out as a boon to dentistry when it was first introduced and got people into dental chairs more regularly, has in many ways become more limiting than liberating, for patients and dentists.

8. Understanding Screw-Retained Implant Restorations

By Gregg Kinzer

In my own practice I have been increasing the number of screw-retained implant restorations for a variety of reasons but the main two are retrievability and eliminating the need for cement.

9. Socket Preservation 101: What Works?

By Jeff Lineberry

Once we realize that a tooth is going to be lost, there are a variety of methods and materials to help with socket preservation.

10. Is it a Good Idea to Repair Crown Margins?

By John Carson

We would always like to be able to repair crown margins that have developed recurrent decay for our patients; however, while this is possible in some cases, in others it can be risky.