By Raleigh F. “Sandy” Seay Historians tell us that plagues or pandemics or epidemics are not uncommon in the continuing narrative of the Long Debate. In the last two centuries, we have seen the Spanish Flu, the Asian Flu, the Hong Kong Flu, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and now, COVID-19.(1) COVID-19 has run rampant…
The National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL), National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology (NBC), and the Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology (FDLT) celebrate June as Dental Technician and Certified Dental Technician (CDT) Appreciation Month. Dental technicians bring significant experience and subject matter knowledge related to dental materials, technology, shade verification and restorative dentistry.…
We’ve come a long way since the mid 1980’s, when a Sleep Apnea appliance involved your tongue being held forward, protruding through your lips, and out of your mouth, all night long! Today’s appliances are smaller, sleeker, lighter, stronger, more adjustable, more biocompatible, more accurate, and more comfortable. This article hi-lights just how far we…
The excitement surrounding Digital Denture Technology is escalating throughout our industry. This technology is evolving at a rapid rate. But without prosthodontic principles and a deep knowledge of the science behind the digital design aspect, case success will be compromised. For years the removable side of the business has been pushed to the background and…
It wasn’t so long ago (2004 to be exact) when there was only one zirconia available on the dental market. Now there are dozens! While this is a typical evolution for a material substitution, the number of options makes deciding which one to use difficult. The original zirconia was chalky white and substituted for…
Implant denture prosthesis utilizing hybrid technology has become increasingly more popular and successful for clinicians. But accurate and successful case planning on these types of cases includes detecting any existing patient problems before the treatment has started. We must anticipate the final outcome before the patient starts their treatment. This includes the important collaboration between…
For dentists and dental laboratories, the raw materials and equipment/technology used in the delivery of dental services is regulated in some manner by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To help dentists, dental laboratories and patients understand elements of how FDA is involved, this blog is a primer on key questions that many people…
The coronavirus is a poignant example of why all states should adopt dental laboratory registration and disclosure so that all dental laboratories are accountable to provide written disclosure to the dentist of material content and point of origin of all dental restorations provided to the dentist. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) says it is…
There is a Big Elephant in the Room Lonni J. Thompson, CDT Unfortunately, the relationships between dental technicians and dentists are not team building experiences. There seems to be an “elephant in the room” that isn’t addressed; why are dental technicians not considered part of the dental team? We will be exploring some potential contributing…
To Glaze or Not to Glaze By Jim Emmons, CDT Why is polishing better than glazing when it comes to the finishing touches on your restorations? Surface glazing is a short-term shade correction solution. Polishing your restorations ensures a long-term beautiful finish. When using a polishing method over glazing, your restorations will withhold all…