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Spear Digest Dental Articles

Treatment Planning and Sequencing in Patients with Severe Wear

Treatment Planning and Sequencing in Patients with Severe Wear

Almost every restorative dentist I know has a set of models sitting on their desk they have looked at multiple times and yet they still don't know...

| 11 years ago
Ridge Evaluation of Ovate Pontics

Ridge Evaluation of Ovate Pontics

The goal of an ovate pontic is to create the illusion that the tooth is emerging from the gingiva with a cuff of tissue surrounding it on the facial....

| 11 years ago
Esthetic Management of a Flat Periodontium Without Orthodontic Extrusion

Esthetic Management of a Flat Periodontium Without Orthodontic Extrusion

In a previous article, 'Esthetic Management of a Flat Periodontium Through Orthodontic Extrusion', I discussed the use of orthodontic extrusion to...

| 11 years ago
Esthetic Management of a Flat Periodontium Through Orthodontic Extrusion
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Esthetic Management of a Flat Periodontium Through Orthodontic Extrusion

Patients that are prone to generalized interproximal anterior bone loss are an esthetic dilemma that plagues many restorative dentists. Treatment...

| 11 years ago
Two Options for Correcting Crown Contour to Close an Open Gingival Embrasure

Two Options for Correcting Crown Contour to Close an Open Gingival Embrasure

In a previous article, we discussed two etiologies of open gingival embrasures due to a short contact: root angulation and tooth shape. When the contact...

| 11 years ago
Two Fundamental Etiologies of Open Embrasures
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Two Fundamental Etiologies of Open Embrasures

Open embrasures or 'black triangles' are usually thought of as a gingival problem, but the papilla is only half of the potential problem, since inadequate...

| 11 years ago
Four Treatment Options for Isolated Periodontal Disease

Four Treatment Options for Isolated Periodontal Disease

The presence of isolated periodontal defects is one of the most challenging esthetic issues encountered by the restorative dentist. The typical presentation...

| 11 years ago
Tooth Wear Appliances: Full Arch Maxillary and Full Arch Mandibular
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Tooth Wear Appliances: Full Arch Maxillary and Full Arch Mandibular

Conceptually, full coverage appliances decrease elevator muscle activity in excursive movements if they are designed with anterior guidance, but...

| 11 years ago
Tooth Wear Appliances: Posterior Pivots
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Tooth Wear Appliances: Posterior Pivots

To pick up where I left off in the previous article about tooth wear appliances, a posterior pivot is the opposite of an anterior bite plane. This appliance...

| 11 years ago
How to Manage Bleeding Tissue
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How to Manage Bleeding Tissue

Inflamed, bleeding tissue is one of the most frustrating parts of making dental impressions. Use this simple trick from Dr. Frank Spear to get reliable...

| 11 years ago
Four Key Steps to Facial Crown Lengthening

Four Key Steps to Facial Crown Lengthening

When we think of an attractive smile, we are referring to one that lines up smoothly with the lower lip and displays even gingival levels. When a patient...

| 11 years ago
Reinforcing Temporaries

Reinforcing Temporaries

Dr. Frank Spear discusses reinforcing temporary bridges if they need to be in for an extended period of time.

| 11 years ago