Expanding the Possibilities

Now that fall has arrived in all of its colorful splendor (here in the Northeast, at least), there is a crispness in the air and a buzz of excitement all around. The seasons have indeed changed, with summer now long behind us and cooler weather taking its rightful place. This also means that the Updates in Clinical Dentistry speaker series, conducted by CDEWorld, a sister organization of Compendium, has concluded for the year. This traveling conference program featured stops in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Illinois, and Southern California this past summer.

One of the premier topics of the UCD program was digital dentistry, a field that is near and dear to my heart. When interconnected and working together, the possibilities of digital technologies in dentistry seem endless. Among the great advantages of digital dentistry is its enhancement of not only clinicians' analytical capabilities but also communication proficiencies. When clinicians can corroborate more easily and efficiently, difficult interdisciplinary cases become more achievable.

This point is demonstrated in one of this month's continuing education articles, which presents a complex case involving esthetic rehabilitation. The authors illustrate the use of 3D-printed surgical and preparation guides that were made from the digital smile design and proved to be invaluable in improving the accuracy of the clinical intervention. The article also shows how modern CAD/CAM ceramic materials can be paired with adhesive bonding protocols to facilitate long-term functional and esthetic success.

In a related topic, our Special Report provides a thorough review of current adhesive protocols for indirect ceramic restorations. This is quite relevant, because as digital dentistry and CAD/CAM systems further permeate the dental landscape, clinicians and their staff are becoming more involved in the manufacturing process of indirect ceramic restorations. This article discusses clinical indications and adhesive protocols for a variety of materials.

There is plenty more clinical content in this issue of Compendium aimed at assisting dental practitioners improve their craft. Topics include the diagnosis and treatment of unseparated dental fractures, the coronectomy procedure, inter-implant site augmentation, and more. So pour yourself a hot cider, pull up a comfy chair by the fire, and settle in with your issue of the journal. What you learn just might expand your possibilities.

Sincerely,

Markus B. Blatz, DMD, PhD
Editor-in-Chief
mblatz@aegiscomm.com