Top 10 Dentistry Articles 2016: Spear Digest

And another year comes to a close.

As is our annual tradition, we have compiled our top 10 dentistry articles for 2016. This is just a small sampling of the clinical and practice management articles we've published over the past year. In fact, by year's end we will have published 298 articles on Spear Digest!

We would like to thank our contributing authors, visiting faculty and faculty members for their dedication to providing high-quality content for our online publication. And we would like to thank you, our loyal readers, for your insights and suggestions, as well as for sharing these articles with your peers. We wish all of you happy holidays and a wonderful new year!

Here are the top 10 articles. Just click on the headline to read the full article.

1. 4 Ways to Use Plumber's Tape in Your Dental Practice
By Ricardo Mitrani​
Call it plumber's tape, PTFE tape or thread seal tape, dentists should keep this in their armamentarium.

2. 8 Considerations in Denture Relining
By Mary Anne Salcetti​
You can improve your denture relining techniques with these 8 steps to success.

3. Solving the Silent Epidemic of Cracked Teeth
​By Jeff Lineberry​
Cracked teeth may be an epidemic, but it can be difficult to diagnose and treat. Here are some tips on helping your patients with cracked teeth.

4. Should Dentists Use Kovanaze Nasal Spray?​
​By Andrew Cohen
A review of Kovanaze, looking at the research on this new dental anesthesia as well as the side effects and best practices.

5. Why Glutaraldehyde Is Not Just for Desensitization​
​By Courtney Lavigne​
Dentists use glutaraldehyde to desensitize, but did you know it could also make your bonds last longer? Here's how.

6. 5 Reasons Why Dentists Should Be Using a Microscope​
​By Gregg Kinzer​
​While magnification has revolutionized dentistry, many dentists are not using microscopes. Here's why they should.

7. 4 Steps to Simplifying TMD Diagnosis
​By Kevin Kwiecien​
Learn more about the TMJ in order to simplify TMD diagnosis.

8. The 'Customized' Posterior Composite Matrix
​By Gregg Kinzer​
Posterior Class II resin restorations can be difficult, but you can make it a little easier using this 6-step customized matrix technique.

9. 3 Techniques to Help Quick-trigger Gag Reflex Patients
​By Doug Benting​
As a dentist, it can be difficult to work with patients who suffer from severe gag reflexes, but these three techniques can help.

10. Caries Detection, Part I: What Do You See?​
​By Dave St. Ledger
An in-depth look at interproximal caries, including five case studies.