by Howard M. Goldstein, DMD, Director of Continuing Education
Finally it is summertime (well in the Northern
Hemisphere anyway!). I thought it would never come.
Time to go to the beach and take some Dentaltown
CE on your iPad or Android device.
There have been new additions to Dentaltown’s
CE courses in the last couple of weeks:
Socket Bone Grafting Techniques using
d-PTFE Membranes
by Anthony Reganato, DDS, MD
Dense PTFE is non-resorbable and chemically
stable. In addition to its long history in the field of
guided tissue regeneration, PTFE has been used for
over 30 years in cardiovascular applications such as
suture, vascular grafts and heart valves. PTFE is bioinert
and does not cause inflammation. If manufactured
with a small pore size (0.3 microns), bacteria are
prevented from entering the structure of the barrier
while still allowing diffusion of oxygen and small
molecules across the membrane. Upon implantation,
dense PTFE is immediately coated with plasma proteins,
facilitating cellular adhesion to the smooth,
biocompatible surface. This cellular adhesion is
observed to form a hermetic seal, providing resistance
to migration of bacteria and epithelial cells around
and under the membrane when it is exposed in the
mouth. Plasma protein adsorption also facilitates diffusion
of soluble organic molecules across the membrane.
Removal of dense PTFE is simplified due to
the lack of tissue ingrowth into the surface structure.
The primary advantage of high-density PTFE is
the ability to remain exposed in the mouth while protecting
the underlying defect and bone graft. The
membrane is soft, flexible and
easy to handle. Primary closure is
not required and the membrane
may be removed without additional
surgery if exposed. If primary
closure technique is used,
the membrane may be easily
removed through a small incision
in a flapless technique.
In addition to these excellent courses, I want to
remind everyone that we now have online John Nosti’s latest CE masterpiece:
Anterior All Ceramics: From Case Selection to
Cementation. Are you wanting to perform more cosmetic dentistry
in your office but unsure which patients are great candidates,
or what cement works best? Patients today
are as cosmetically motivated as they have ever
been. Join Dr. John Nosti as he discusses case selection,
Smile Design principles, how to order your
Wax-up Rx, preparation designs, temporization technique, cementation and all the records necessary from your first
visit to delivery day. Dr. Nosti will then demonstrate and review a
case from his office from start to finish. On video, you will be able
to see the patient tell you her desired goals, review of her case,
preparation, temporization and cementation of her final ceramics!
As always, we also have Dr. Howard Farran’s One-Day Dental
MBA. Dr. Farran shares his proven techniques to increase
your productivity, boost your bottom line and build your business.
Don’t miss his live and unfiltered insights on dentistry and
business along with an insider’s view of his dental practice.
And do yourself a favor and view Minimally Invasive
Management of Missing Teeth by Dr. Louis Mackenzie. This
course is a comprehensive overview of the minimally invasive
management of missing teeth. It is composed almost entirely of
clinical examples and case reports to provide practitioners with
an evidence-based update in the following subject areas:
- Discussion of the potential “biological cost” of replacing
missing teeth
- Case selection for the replacement of missing teeth
- An overview of the management options for patients with
missing teeth
- A grisly description of the potential complications of traditional
techniques for tooth replacement
- An outline of the potential benefits of cantilever and fixed
or movable bridge designs
- A detailed description of contemporary metal-ceramic
resin-bonded bridgework (including advantages and disadvantages)
- Step-by-step practical guidance on optimization of all clinical
stages in metal-ceramic resin-bonded bridge procedures
- Practical guidance on the use of fiber-reinforced composite
resin-bonded bridges using step-by-step clinical examples
- Practical guidance on the use of resin-bonded bridges
made entirely from ceramic
Enjoy learning from the comfort of your home!
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