Dentaltown August 2013 - (Page 76)

implants feature by Howard Katz, DDS Introduction This article will describe other options on how to make guided dental implant surgery an affordable and do-able option in certain implant cases using existing equipment and regular dental X-rays. This will reduce the exposure of the dental personnel and patients to radiation from CT scanners in the dental office, and the financial risk of buying expensive technologies that might seldom be used. Alternative technologies to CT scans offer dentists and patients an affordable treatment planning option with less brain radiation for many guided dental implant surgery cases. These technologies will reduce risk and costs preventing general dentists from doing implants, and make procedures safer for patients. This will satisfy the huge pent-up demand in the dentist and patient population. The Problem Technological improvements have made implants the best option for replacing lost teeth, and a better treatment option than 76 AUGUST 2013 » dentaltown.com many other dental procedures for compromised teeth. Implants will become the treatment of choice as patients figure out they are much more reliable and the better return on investment than multiple procedures to restore severely compromised teeth. This will impact the profitability of general dental offices that do not provide implants to their patients. In the U.S., general dentistry faces strong competition from implant centers and corporate dental offices that offer integrated cone beams, oral surgeons, implant specialists, prosthodontists and in-house labs for complete treatment and restorations. These onestop shops have large TV and radio advertising budgets that will lure many patients away from smaller practices that currently have to make multiple referrals to complete an implant case. General dentistry has to find ways to incorporate implants into the menu of treatments they offer, as well as retaining and attracting new patients to expand the implant side of their businesses. There are technical cost and liability barriers that prevent the average dentist from planning and placing implants. The liability http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown August 2013

Dentaltown.com Highlights
Howard Speaks: Dentists Are Still Doing Way Too Many Three-Unit Bridges
Professional Courtesy: Hire Slow, Fire Fast
Continuing Education Update
Second Opinion: Finally, One Adhesive that Can Do It All
All-on-4?
Intracornal Bleaching of Endodontically Treated Teeth
Product Profile: CAESY
Product Profile: ClearCorrect
Product Profile: DENTIS USA
Product Profile: Imaging Sciences
Corporate Profile: 123 Postcards
New Products
The Silent Killer of Dentistry
Industry News
Smile Design
Endo Versus Implants: Does Your Treatment Plan Pass the “Mama Test”?
Improving the Future of Overdentures with Small Diameter Implants and Locator Attachments
The Democratization of Dental Implants for General Dentistry
Single Tooth Implant Case
Continuing Education: The Dental CAD/CAM Evolution of 2013
Beatlemania Has Deep Roots
In This Issue: The Value of Saliva Testing
Perio Reports
Ad Index
Profile in Oral Health: Salivary Testing in the Office
Dentally Incorrect

Dentaltown August 2013