Comprehensive Care

From the Editor

Markus B. Blatz, DMD, PhD

As a Compendium reader, whether a general dentist or specialist, you likely are committed to: (1) clinical excellence, (2) the lifelong process of learning, and (3) more specifically, enhancing your understanding of clinical practice. Moreover, you probably aspire to provide a more comprehensive and complete brand of care for your patients.

This approach is exemplified in this issue's Kois Center Case, which demonstrates a systematic approach to diagnosis and treatment planning. How often do patients point out a problem and want it fixed as quickly and painlessly as possible? There are easy "fixes" to most problems that will get the patient in and out and keep the schedule moving. But then there is the approach demonstrated in this case report, one that takes the time to study the situation and deliver not just the quickest solution but an elevated level of patient care. In this case, this included not only addressing the patient's esthetic concerns, but also using a systematic method to diagnose her joint pain while earning the patient's trust to complete the full treatment.

The concept of comprehensive care is also important when dealing with dental implants, as although implants have become a common and highly predictable treatment, their maintenance is critical to thwart peri-implantitis. In our first continuing education (CE) article, the authors describe a unique method of implantoplasty, which was used as a means to decontaminate the surface of a dental implant both below the crest of bone and supracrestally when performing regenerative therapy. Two cases are presented in which the goal was to create an implant surface that would be free of contamination to allow for reosseointegration and improved cleansability.

Our other CE provides insights into how clinicians can evaluate clinical trials published in dental journals to improve patient care. The authors describe the content that goes into a clinical trial as well as key statistical concepts to aid clinicians in appropriately discerning how the data from the study can be applied to patients.

As clinicians, we should have concern for our patients' overall oral health and not just the acute problem at hand. Adhering to proven, evidence-based methods and techniques, let's strive to consistently provide comprehensive care for our patients.

Sincerely,

Markus B. Blatz, DMD, PhD
Editor-in-Chief
markus.blatz@broadcastmed.com