Skip to main content

Spear Digest Dental Articles

Complete and Accurate Periodontal Charting
Techniques & Materials

Complete and Accurate Periodontal Charting

Helping patients retain their natural teeth and maintain overall health is vital. It's important to closely monitor their periodontal health and recommend...

| 10 years ago ›
The Three Kinds of Hygiene Patients
Techniques & Materials

The Three Kinds of Hygiene Patients

As I wrote about previously, the hygiene check can be one of the most overlooked, or at least under-committed, relationship-building tools for many dentists....

| 10 years ago ›
What is the Universal Dental Language?
Techniques & Materials

What is the Universal Dental Language?

Every day in our practices and with each one of our patients, our ability to communicate impacts our success immensely. Not only are we able to do what...

| 10 years ago ›
Need a Simple Technique for a Single Tooth Provisional?
1
Techniques & Materials

Need a Simple Technique for a Single Tooth Provisional?

​In a simple case where only one or two teeth are going to be restored indirectly and the tooth form is not badly broken down, I'll often fabricate the...

| 10 years ago ›
The Icing on the Cake: Finish on Provisionals
Techniques & Materials

The Icing on the Cake: Finish on Provisionals

We all know how important it is to provide excellent temporaries or provisionals for our patients. From testing proposed changes to impressing excellent...

| 10 years ago ›
Follow the Case: Fixed Bridge [Part II]
Techniques & Materials

Follow the Case: Fixed Bridge [Part II]

In Part I of this series I showed the lower anterior bridge removed and provisionalized in preparation for root coverage procedures and grafting in the...

| 10 years ago ›
Five Key Criteria for Sealant Success
1
Techniques & Materials

Five Key Criteria for Sealant Success

We know that 80 percent of decay on young permanent teeth occurs in pit and fissure areas, and sealants have proven to be a very useful...

| 10 years ago ›
Simplifying Open Tray Impressions [Part II]
1
Techniques & Materials

Simplifying Open Tray Impressions [Part II]

In Part I of this series I discussed how 'guide cones' can help with open tray implant impressions. In this article I'll discuss forming your tray and...

| 10 years ago ›
Examining Patients With An Outside-In Approach
Techniques & Materials

Examining Patients With An Outside-In Approach

Well-defined systems within our offices, such as scheduling, financial arrangements and specialist referrals promote predictable flow and consistency. ...

| 10 years ago ›
Follow the Case: Fixed Bridge [Part I]
Techniques & Materials

Follow the Case: Fixed Bridge [Part I]

In this series of articles I'll be discussing a specific case as I complete it. This patient is congenitally missing her lower centrals and it's time...

| 10 years ago ›
Using a 'Liquid Dam' in Your Restorative Practice
1
Techniques & Materials

Using a 'Liquid Dam' in Your Restorative Practice

The first time I used a 'liquid dam' in dentistry was when I started doing in-office whitening. A liquid dam is a flowable, light cured material that...

| 10 years ago ›
How to Make Sense of the Noise of Articulating Paper
Techniques & Materials

How to Make Sense of the Noise of Articulating Paper

Adjusting the bite on new amalgam or composite restorations can be a daily challenge. With intra-coronal restorations like these we can at least look...

| 10 years ago ›