You Only Treat What You See...
Consider this patient who did exactly what her dentist suggested; she cracked her lower left second molar and it split in half and had to be extracted....
Steve Ratcliff | 9 years ago ›
Restorations: Do They Need to Be Redone?
I have distinct memories of hearing lectures on the rationale for redoing restorations that included marginal leakage and stain as an indication to redo...
Steve Ratcliff | 9 years ago ›
I've been working on a case with my world-class ceramist, Matt Roberts, for the past month. It is a case that will require some pink porcelain or composite...
Steve Ratcliff | 9 years ago ›
Group Function Isn't a Dirty Word
Bilateral canine guidance is great when it is appropriate, but sometimes it just isn't possible. So what happens in these cases? Do the teeth break...
Steve Ratcliff | 10 years ago ›
Impression Materials: Pesky Air-inhibited Layer!
Here's a tip I learned the hard way—twice! Before I used preparation guides and reduction guides for veneer and crown preparations I would make my provisionals before...
Steve Ratcliff | 10 years ago ›
Dental Implants: What Implant is That?
Since I am a restorative dentist, I usually rely on my surgeons to tell me what implant system they used if they refer a case to me. Sometimes, however,...
Steve Ratcliff | 10 years ago ›
This is a follow-up to Frank's article entitled, Oh Wow, That is BAD! This patient had orthodontic treatment at the age of 35. Since I didn't...
Steve Ratcliff | 10 years ago ›
We all know that providing our lab with images of shade tabs against adjacent teeth helps them to produce the best possible results for our patients....
Steve Ratcliff | 10 years ago ›
If you remember your occlusion course from dental school, you probably remember being taught that contacts should be cusp tip to marginal ridge or cusp...
Steve Ratcliff | 10 years ago ›
Can Treating Worn Dentition Be This Easy?
Over the years I've had my share of patients who came in with destroyed dentitions that I had no idea how to treat....
Steve Ratcliff | 10 years ago ›
So You Hated Setting Denture Teeth?
For many of us, removable pros lab was a pain in the elbow. Yet everything we need to know about esthetics can be demonstrated in a denture setup....
Steve Ratcliff | 10 years ago ›
Photos Are Great for Diagnosis, But Don't Get Faked Out
I rely heavily on photography to help me get to a correct diagnosis and to enable my ability to treatment plan. I like to look at a photo with lips in...
Steve Ratcliff | 10 years ago ›