Improving the Patient Experience

Louis F. Rose, DDS, MD

As dentists well know, one of the greatest deterrents to patients seeking dental care is the thought of pain and discomfort. People generally don't like the prospect of a clinician poking around in their mouth looking for-and, worse, finding-trouble. If someone could patent a potion that guaranteed no dental pain, imagine how much easier life, for both dentist and patient, would be.

Until that time arrives, however, we'll have to rely on scientific advances, innovative minimally invasive techniques, and good old-fashioned ingenuity to improve the patient experience. That's what we're focused on in this issue of Compendium. In particular, a long-term case report demonstrates the use of a resorbable xenogeneic collagen-based matrix as a treatment alternative to the traditional autogenous epithelialized palatal graft for soft-tissue augmentation. Although effective for this purpose, the autograft has drawbacks regarding patient discomfort, including the need for a second surgical site. In this article, the authors showcase the porcine collagen matrix material as an option for treating intraoral mucosal deficiencies.

In our first continuing education (CE) article in this issue, we examine the use of dentin grinding for osseous defect treatment. The authors study an autogenous dentin graft for its healing potential specifically in osseous defects distal to second molars placed at the time of mandibular third molar extraction surgery. Prepared chairside, this cost-efficient approach proved biologically suitable for use in guided bone regeneration following this common extraction procedure.

Our second CE article discusses innovative methods for delivering silver diamine fluoride (SDF) to interproximal sites. While offering a historical perspective on the use of silver in medicine and dentistry, the article shows how to effectively apply SDF solution to saturate contacting proximal surfaces of teeth to protect against caries. Notably, no anesthetic is needed.

Dentists know the importance of accurate impression-taking, yet many factors can adversely affect seating of the impression coping. We present a clinical technique in which a novel verification guide is used that helps ensure complete seating, without the need for radiographic confirmation. Another article, a literature review, explores the question of whether antibiotics help reduce dental implant loss.

Implementing tools and techniques that improve patient comfort is crucial to improving the patient experience. At Compendium (compendiumlive.com), we're committed to helping clinicians succeed in this endeavor.

Sincerely,
Louis F. Rose, DDS, MD
Editor-In-Chief
lrose@aegiscomm.com