It’s been another extraordinary year for the Spear Daily Digest, the publishing platform of Spear, thanks to our insightful and passionate contributors and key educators. We’d also like to sincerely thank you—our valued readers. As always, we appreciate your insightful comments and thought-provoking questions. Below are the most read articles of 2014.
1. Restoring Discolored Endodontically Treated Teeth: Case 2
By Frank Spear
In this article I’ll discuss discolored endodontically treated teeth that have existing indirect restorations. This patient presented to me unhappy with the esthetic outcome of the veneers on her central incisors.
2. Why Watching May Be Negligent
By Steve Ratcliff
The image on the left is of a 28-year-old patient I saw for a routine exam. She was unaware that she had any wear on her teeth and also didn’t realize that she might be engaging in some parafunctional activity.
3. The Infamous Mandibular Block
By Kevin Kwiecien
Frustration with the lack of predictable mandibular blocks stimulated a great conversation with a lot of energy. We have all experienced the complication and embarrassment of attempting to finish a crown preparation.
4. Dealing With a Loose Implant Crown
By John Carson
Have you ever had to deal with a loose implant crown? Implants are being used more and more in dentistry and if you have not dealt with this yet, chances are so you will sooner or later.
5. Five Critical Criteria for Digital Smile Design
By Vivek Mehta
dults go through a change in the length of anterior teeth with age due to wear. Width stays standard throughout an entire lifetime more or less.
6. Implants: Screw-Retained vs. Cement-Retained
By Gregg Kinzer
When it comes to the restoration of implants, we typically have two treatment options: Screw-retained or Cement-retained.
7. Dental Insurance: Why You NEED to Stop Depending on It
By Imtiaz Manji
What started out as a boon to dentistry when it was first introduced and got people into dental chairs more regularly, has in many ways become more limiting than liberating, for patients and dentists.
8. Understanding Screw-Retained Implant Restorations
By Gregg Kinzer
In my own practice I have been increasing the number of screw-retained implant restorations for a variety of reasons but the main two are retrievability and eliminating the need for cement.
9. Socket Preservation 101: What Works?
By Jeff Lineberry
Once we realize that a tooth is going to be lost, there are a variety of methods and materials to help with socket preservation.
10. Is it a Good Idea to Repair Crown Margins?
By John Carson
We would always like to be able to repair crown margins that have developed recurrent decay for our patients; however, while this is possible in some cases, in others it can be risky.