Dentaltown April 2016 - (Page 50)

prosthodontics feature Breaking the Cookie Cutter Finding our way back to individuality with shape, form and texture Losing our individuality by Bill Marais, RDT Bill Marais is trained and has extensive experience in all aspects of dental technology, including crowns and bridges, neuromuscular dentistry, dentures, neuromuscular dentures and implants. He received his bachelor's degree in prosthetic science in Cape Town, South Africa. Marais is also a key opinion leader for GC America. 50 APRIL 2016 // dentaltown.com Years ago, my good friend Arian Deutsch, who is a tremendously talented removables technician, told me something profound. He said, "Cosmetic dentistry has hijacked individuality." Those words have never rung as true and clear as they do today. Our world is one of big business, global corporations and the vaporizing of the middle sector. Corporations' idea of accommodation is a one-size-fits-all mentality in which time and money are the only driving factors. What happened to time spent on analyzing the individual's needs, personality and character? We are seeing the absolute loss of individuality in all sectors of our lives, and sadly, that includes the world of dentistry and dental technology. But we don't have to let it happen, and we shouldn't. Dentists make huge investments in CAD/CAM, where monolithic restorations are the common production units in dental offices and in production-line labs. In dentistry, little thought is often given to patient education. Dental professionals are not striving to negate the media's warped portrayal of what makes a beautiful smile. Patients are not aware of what constitutes a natural smile. CAD/CAM may be a necessity in the advancement of dentistry and dental technology, but I am also not opposed to monolithic restorations. We must, however, spend time on placing individuality and a human "fingerprint" on monolithic restorations and those created via CAD/CAM. Continued on p. 52 http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown April 2016

On Dentaltown.com
HOWARD SPEAKS: Lessons from Asia
PROFESSIONAL COURTESY: Today’s Active Topics
Continuing Education Update
Industry News
Love It!
Poll
What Do You Use to Calculate Offi ce Metrics?
When’s the Last Time You Googled Your Practice?
How is My Curing Different From Pulse Curing?
OFFICE VISIT: Family Ties
Breaking the Cookie Cutter: Finding Our Way Back to Individuality with Shape, Form and Texture
Choose Your Weapon: Finding the Best Fluoride Option for Your Patient
(Your Own) Practice, Made Perfect
Braces vs. Aligners: The Science of Picking the Best Appliance
You Be the Judge: The Case of the Lazy X-Rays
Product Profile: Premier
Principles of Flap Design and Closure
Any More Tips on This Extraction?
Dentistry’s Great Marketing Untruths
Product Profile: CreoDent Prosthetics
Product Profile: Ivoclar Vivadent
You Should Know: Dental Planet
New Products
Ad Index
Bio-Minimalism: Trends and Transitions in Endodontics
Material Classifi cation and Shade Selection Protocol for All-Ceramic Restorations
Dentally Incorrect

Dentaltown April 2016