Dentaltown October 2015 - (Page 95)

practice solutions Practice Solutions explores how specific products and services can be of use clinically or in practice management. Don't Just Watch The Disease ... Manage It! by Parag R. Kachalia, DDS Dr. Parag Kachalia is the vice chair of simulation, technology and research at the University of the Pacific's Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. He is a fellow of the American Dental Education Association's leadership institute, is a researcher, and a published author in the areas of digital dental photography, digital fi xed prosthodontics, and financial management. He has lectured internationally in the areas of adhesive dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, photography, CAD/CAM technology, fi xed proshthodontics, and new concepts within local anesthesia and diagnostic technologies. He maintains a private practice geared toward restorative dentistry with his wife and fellow Pacific alum Dr. Charity Duncan. Case No. 1 Case No. 2 Each and every month in practices around the world, numerous patients hear the dentist say the word, "watch." Generally speaking, this term is used when a clinician sees an early cavitation or an area of erosion. The question should be asked, "What does the clinician expect to happen to the dentition during the watching period?" The clinician generally has the patient's best interest at heart, and does not want to surgically treat an area before he or she believes it is justified. In order to truly move dentistry forward, we must think critically about changing this watch-and-wait paradigm. Dentistry should move toward an active-management approach, in which clinicians-along with their team members-evaluate a patient as an individual and decide if surgical or chemical intervention is needed when a cavitated lesion or an area of erosion is discovered. Thankfully, products are on the market that allow remineralization of tooth surfaces. Historically, remineralization focused primarily on fluoride. However, today we can combine the advantages of fluoride with xylitol and nano-hydroxyapatite in a simple paste. VOCO's Remin Pro contains all three ingredients to allow for easy application by both members of the dental office as well as the patient. prevent caries and change damaged tooth structure into a more acid-resistant fluorapatite. Traditional enamel is demineralized when exposed to a pH of 5.5, and dentin demineralizes at a pH below 6.7. However, fluorapatite can take a more significant acid challenge and does not demineralize until the pH reaches 4.5 in the oral cavity. Remin Pro contains about 1,450ppm of fluoride compared to 1,000ppm in overthe-counter toothpaste. Key ingredients and benefits Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP) Fluoride Through numerous studies, fluoride has proven to be an agent that helps to both Xylitol Xylitol is a natural sweetener that tends to be more forgiving to the dentition compared to sugars such as sucrose. Over the years, the literature has been mixed as to whether xylitol can also aid in remineralization of enamel and dentin, and the literature has shown that approximately 6 grams of xylitol must be consumed per day to show remineralization benefits. Regardless of the efficacy of remineralization, the clear benefit of xylitol is that it decreases the growth of bacteria such as strep mutans-and possibly lactobacilli-and increases the production of saliva. This mechanism allows for less acid to be produced and creates a more favorable oral environment for sustained health. Nano-hydroxyapatite can be thought of as the special sauce in Remin Pro. The beauty of nHAP is that, because of its small molecular size, it has the ability to penetrate dentaltown.com \\ OCTOBER 2015 95 http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown October 2015

On Dentaltown.com
Howard Speaks: Don’t Go it Alone
Professional Courtesy: Great Patient Relationships? F.U.!
Continuing Education Update
Industry News
All on Four’d Out
A Direct Hit to the Jaw: Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw in Osteoporosis and Cancer Patients
Five Components to Team Synergy
Practice Solutions: Clear-Aligner Therapy
In Focus: Microphotography using the Dental Operative Microscope
Anesthesia Safety
The Practice that Perseverance Built
What Kind of Payment Plans to Offer?
Are You Providing Five-Star Service?
Am I Being Too Conservative?
You Should Know: Healthy Grid
The Benefi ts of Mini Dental Implants
Denture Stabilization with Small- Diameter Implants
Independence Day
Post-Treatment Management of Orthodontic Patients
How to Track True Treatment Acceptance
CAD/CAM as a Marketing Tool
New Products
Practice Solutions: Voco
Poll
Surgical Crown Lengthening
Product Profi le: Umbie
And Sealants for All
Ad Index
Human Herpesvirus Infections and What They Mean for Dentists
Quick, Conservative and Highly Esthetic Treatment Planning for Severe Anterior Tooth Wear
Dentally Incorrect

Dentaltown October 2015