Antimicrobial Effect of a Single Dose of Amoxicillin on the Oral Microbiota
Amoxicillin is commonly used in oral surgery for antimicrobial prophylaxis against surgical-site infection and bacteremia because of its effect on oral streptococci. The aim of this study was to determine whether amoxicillin reaches the break-point concentrations in saliva and has any effect on the salivary microbiota, colonizing bacteria on mucosal membranes and on the gingival crevice after a single dose of amoxicillin. A single dose given as prophylaxis to prevent a surgical-site infection results in a significant reducing effect on the oral streptococcal microflora in the gingival crevice and may have an impact on bacteria spreading into tissues and the bacteria of streptococci.

Effectiveness of a Super-Pulsed CO2 Laser For Removal of Biofilm From Three Different Types of Implant Surfaces: An In Vitro Study
As dental implants become a routine part of dental practice, so too will the prevalence of peri-implant diseases. Inherent to the treatment of peri-implant disease is the removal of microbial biofilms from the implant surface. Currently, there is no standardized protocol for application of any treatment modality directed at implant surface decontamination. In this in vitro study, we report on the effectiveness of a super-pulsed CO2 laser, delivering an average fluence of 6.3 to 113 J/cm2, to remove biofilm from three different types of implant surface topographies. Biofilms ranged in thickness from 5 to 15 μm. An average fluence of 19 J/cm2 was sufficient to achieve 100% ablation of the biofilm on hydrophilic sandblasted and acidetched surface specimens (SA). However, to achieve 100% ablation of biofilm on HA and highly crystalline, phosphate enriched titanium oxide (PTO) surfaced implants required an average fluence of 38 J/cm2.

Oral Soft Tissue Laser Ablative and Coagulative Efficiencies Spectra
The key to the success of soft tissue lasers is their ability to cut and coagulate the soft tissue at the same time. Present work is aimed to derive the wavelength-dependent differences in photo-thermal ablation and coagulation efficiencies for oral soft tissue pulsed dental Near-IR Diode, Mid-IR Erbium and IR CO2 lasers. Even though the soft tissue photothermal ablation has been extensively studied, there remains a discrepancy between (a) the widely proliferated notion about efficient Near-IR 800-1,100 nm laser ablation of the oral soft tissue, and (b) studies reporting the inefficient soft tissue Near-IR absorption/ablation. Indeed, the notions about “the key to the usefulness of the Nd:YAG is that this wavelength is highly absorbed in oral soft tissue”, and “all currently available dental laser instruments and their emission wavelengths have indications for use for incising, excising... oral soft tissue surgery”, contradict an observation illustrated here...

An Expression of Your Vision: High-Quality Photography
Digital photography is common in many of today’s dental practices, and high-quality dental images are paramount for laboratory communication and marketing dentistry. The purpose of this article is to define what a high-quality dental image is, and to give an overview of what these images are used for. In this article I will briefly go over all the steps involved in making these images and review in detail the equipment, camera settings, techniques, and post-production workflow using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.

Papilla Proportions in the Maxillary Anterior Dentition
Interdental papilla heights of maxillary anterior teeth were measured from the gingival zenith, along with clinical crown lengths.

Legal Considerations in the use of Cone Beam Computer Tomography Imaging
Cone beam computed tomography imaging represents a paradigm shift for enhancing diagnosis and treatment planning. Questions regarding cone beam computed tomography’s associated legal responsibility are addressed, including cone beam computed tomography necessity, recognition of pathosis in the scan’s entire volume, adequate training, informed consent and/or refusal and current court status of cone beam computed tomography. Judicious selection and prudent use of cone beam computed tomography technology to protect and promote patient safety and efficacious treatment complies with the standard of care.

Improving Diagnosis Through the Use of Digital Radiography
As aesthetic dentistry has gained in popularity among consumers, who are more aware of the potential it has to correct deficiencies in their smiles, practitioners are challenged to improve the nature of their treatment. Often, this entails providing treatment with a smaller associated expense, reduced treatment duration or expense, and with increased comfort to the patient throughout the procedure. Facing these imperatives, greater numbers of practitioners have opted to incorporate digital communications…

Utilization of Advanced Technology as an Instructional Tool
As the practice of dentistry has evolved, significant advances have been realized in the success and predictability of technical procedures, the efficacy of instrumentation, and the means by which information is distributed. Interactive CD-ROMs and videos that guide viewers through selected restorative techniques are currently being developed as instructional tools for contemporary medical and dental professionals. In coniunction with collegiate universities, pioneering dental operatories have been…

Improving Diagnosis Through the Use of Digital Radiography
As aesthetic dentistry has gained in popularity among. consumers, who are mare aware of the potential it has to correct deficiencies in their smiles, practitioners are challenged to improve the nature of their treatment. Often, this entails providing treatment with a smaller associated expense, reduced treatment duration or expense, and w ith increased comfort to the patient throughout the procedure. Facing these imperatives, greater numbers of practitioners have opted to incorporote digital communications…

Bisphosphonates and Their Impact on Patient Treatment
There has been increasing discussion concerning a variety of implications for patients who have been administered bisphosphonates, which are FDA-approved chemical agents used in the treatment of osteoporosis, metastatic cancer involving the bone, and Paget's disease. I The first report of the biological characteristics of bisphosphonates was published in 1968, when scientists discovered that bisphosphonates have a marked ability to inhibit bone resorption. Bisphosphonates suppress or reduce bone…

Patients Treated with Oral and IV Bisphophnates & Periodontal or Implant Care
When can patients who are being treated with oral and IV bisphosphonates receive periodontal, implant, and/or oral surgical care?

Implications of Bisphosphonate Use for the Dentist
The authors look into the research studies into bisphosphonates, the important classification of drugs for the treatment of bone diseases. Are bisphosphonates safe when used during or around implant treatment? The authors have some good news for us.

Antibiotics in Dentistry
The latest from the experts on which antibiotics to use for oral infections

Entropy in Dentistry
What’s the "trick" for dealing with life's difficulties and the effort that goes along with it?

Staff Nirvana
Learn to lead your staff and they’ll work like sled dogs and love you at the same time!

46 Top Tips
Some of the best tips and ideas from past issues of Dental Updates

The Lead Apron Dinosaur
Why is this outdated and useless piece of equipment in dental radiology still being used?

Oral Hygiene and Maintenance of Dental Implants
Long-term predictability of dental implants and their associated restorations has been demonstrated. As the number of patients treated with dental implants continues to grow, dentists must accept the challenges of maintaining these sometimes complex restorations. Proper monitoring and maintenance is essential to ensure the longevity of the dental implant and its associated restoration through a combination of appropriate professional care, evaluation, and effective patient oral hygiene. The value…

Intraoral Photography with a $299 Camera
High quality intraoral photos can be obtained without spending $1400 for a dental camera

Laser Dentistry Today
Courtesy of Dentistry Today

Prosthetic Considerations with Periodontal Root Resective Therapy Part 2
The treatment of advanced furcation lesions may require the removal of a portion of the crown and its associated root, or resection of only one root from a multi rooted tooth. This resective-type of therapy is a definitive treatment because it predictably enables clinicians to better access the remaining tooth structure for periodontal and subsequent prosthetic therapy. The morphology of tooth preparation for hemisective periodontal therapy is critical to facilitate the patient's ability to perform…

Guide to Diagnosing & Treating Endodontic & Periodontal Lesions
The gathering of diagnostic information using radiographs and conventional pulp vitality testing serves as the current foundation for milking uncomplicated endodontic diagnoses. Acquiring and investigating diagnostic information can be analogous to piecing together a puzzle. As each piece fits, a picture begins to emerge. but if the puzzle contains too many pieces and inherently becomes more complex, frustration mounts and elucidating the pIcture becomes more difficult. Therefore, the practitioner must…

Using Cross-Sectional Tomography to Perform Exploratory Radiography
Since osseointegration was first introduced by Branemark, dental implants have been used increasingly to replace missing teeth. The high predictability of implant success has been well documented. Unfortunately, there are numerous failures in implant dentistry. The primary failure on endosseous dental implants include improper diagnosis, treatment planning, and/or sequenceing; poor periodontal tissue management and/or maintenance; improper implant position at surgery; and aesthetic requirements…

Oral Pyogenic Granuloma in Pregnancy
An oral pyogenic granuloma can develop immediately following the first trimester of pregnancy. Usually an oral pyogenic granuloma is a slow-growing mass that does not, upon excision, leave a large defect in the periodontium requiring surgical repair. However an oral pyogenic granuloma often grows into a large mass in the gravid female, which generally emanates from a stalk, originating at an interdental gingival papilla. Although such lesions are commonly known as 'pregnancy tumors' or 'pregnancy epulides',…

Mental Neuropathy Associated with Malignant Disease
In the current report, we emphasize that mental neuropathy is often a sign of progressive or recurrent malignant disease, despite normal results of a mandibular radiograph in a diagnostic evaluation.

Laboratory Technology
Prosthodontic treatment ofthe edentulous cleft palate patient presents the dentist with numerous challenges for achieving a satisfactory result for the patient. A technique is described for prosthodontic rehabilitation of a completely edentulous cleft palate patient using bone augmentation procedures, root-form dental implants, and a removable maxillofacial prosthesis. Dental implants may improve prosthesis retention, stability, and occlusal function when used in carefully selected cases.

Masters of Esthetic Dentistry 1991
Building a perfect practice, an Interview with Dr. Ronald Goldstein and Dr. David Garber.

Lip-Generated Esthetic Treatment Planning
12 Steps to Creating Optimal Smile Esthetics

The Utilization of Advanced Technology as an Instructional Tool
As the practice of dentistry has evolved, significant advances have been realized in the success and predictability of technical procedures, the efficacy of instrumentation, and the means by which information is distributed. Interactive CD-ROMs and videos that guide viewers through selected restorative techn iques are currently being developed as instructional tools for contemporary medical and dental professionals. In conjunction with collegiate universities, pioneering dental operataries have…

Team Atlanta Esthetic Evaluation
Evaluation form for evaluating a patients' preferred esthetics

Digital Radiography: Asset for the Hygienist
The hygiene practitioner plays an integral role in the evaluation of the cosmetic, as well as the functional, needs of the patient. Since time is a valuable commodity for both patients and the dental team, it is imperative that the armamentarium available assists in obtaining an accurate diagnosis in the timeliest fashion. One of these tools—digital radiography—is changing the face of patient care, contributing to safer, faster, and more effective means of dental treatment. The incorporation of…