So! You’ve done your research. You’ve learned that small diameter implants are minimally invasive, suitable for a wide variety of patients, and because they are affordable, can increase your practice revenues and profitability. And yet, something is holding you back. Let’s walk through the potential obstacles...

1. You need more education and preparation.

Not a problem! Sterngold offers a variety of in-person and remote training courses so you learn all there is to know about treatment options utilizing small diameter dental implants.

Check out our selection of Course offerings, and register today.

2. You’re not sure how to proceed.

Totally understandable! This is why we offer a free consultation. Our implant experts are ready to listen and respond to your questions in a one-on-one virtual appointment. They can navigate a path to show you how adding mini implants can change patient lives for the better and increase practice income. Call 1-800-243-9942 or send an email to customerservice@sterngold.com, for a quick conversation.
Also, consider investing in a MOR® small diameter implant starter kit!

3. You’re not sure if placing small diameter implants is right for your practice.

We get it! Not many service solutions have such a positive and immediate impact on your practice as small diameter implants. If offering the treatment is not relevant to you at this time, we hope you can share the message with your peers or simply refer them to info@sterngold.com, for assistance.

Just Remember...

Small diameter implant retained, tissue supported dentures can help you provide a better quality of life for edentulous patients. The procedure is affordable and simple. Your patients can eat better, gain more confidence, and gain significantly increased overall denture satisfaction. And Sterngold is ready and willing to help turn this treatment into a reality for you and your practice.

No matter how established you are, it’s important you never stop learning. Whether you’re a stockbroker, a shoemaker, or in the dental industry, there will always be some new idea or innovation just around the corner. Continuous education ensures you grow your skillset and your business.

The dental business has changed radically over the last 200 years. New innovations in dentistry will continue as long as technology marches onward, so it’s important to stay on top of the latest trends and developments.

Investing in Dental Continuing Education (CE) courses with Sterngold is an investment in your dental business. Unlike the traditional med school environment, it’s the quick and practical way to learn updated practices and the latest techniques. For example, instead of relying on traditional dental implants for your patients, learn more about the many benefits of MOR® mini implants.

Small Diameter Implants vs. Conventional Implants

Both conventional dental implants and small diameter implants replace missing teeth and use artificial tooth roots for stability. But this is where the similarities end...

Size and Versatility

Small diameter implants—as the name implies—are narrower than traditional ones. Standard implants can range from 3.5mm to 6mm, while small diameter implants usually measure between 2mm to 3.5mm. Since they’re narrower, small diameter implants create less impact on the jaw, and they require less bone to act as support. This also translates to less invasive procedures for patients, and unlike regular implants, small diameter implants don’t require preliminary treatments such as bone grafts for patients suffering from bone degeneration.

Fewer Parts

Conventional dental implants come in two parts: post and abutment. The post screws into the gum/jawbone, while the abutment joins the implant to the artificial tooth. In contrast, mini implants come as a single piece. The screw ends in a ball-shaped point above the gum line. Single-tooth and denture implants have holes that fit into the ball with an O-ring to secure the fit.

Easy to Work With

Traditional implants require at least two dental office visits to complete. The first visit involves drilling holes in the jaw for the implant posts. The second visit—which can only happen after the patient fully has recovered—is when the abutment is attached. A few months between the first and second appointment for the posts to fuse with surrounding tissue is not uncommon, prolonging the overall procedure.

In contrast, small diameter implants are immediate load implants. This means, the procedure requires only a single visit. A mini implant procedure is minimally invasive and can be completed in one to two hours.

Cost

Because they require a simpler implementation and use fewer materials, small diameter implants are less expensive than traditional implants. A mini implant costs between $500 and $1,500. Meanwhile, traditional implants range from $1,500 to $6,000.

Take Your Dental Business to The Next Level With MOR® Small Diameter Implants

It may seem counterintuitive... small diameter implants cost less and therefore bring in less money to your dental business on an individual basis when compared with traditional implants. However, considering your practice can service more patient types when you add small diameter implants to your arsenal of treatment options, you can earn more revenue. Additionally, the minimally invasive procedure means small diameter implants produce fewer complications, which in turn means less overhead.

Sterngold’s MOR® Implant System in particular offers the best dental business returns, as Sterngold carries some of the best small diameter implants on the market today. MOR® small diameter implants have a smaller diameter range, from 2.1 mm to 3.0 mm (compared to standard mini implants measuring up to 3.5 mm). This allows dentists to install smaller, more compact implants in tighter spaces—a win for patients who do not have the bone density required for regular implants. These small diameter implants allow for overdentures, single arch, or crown and bridge fixation even in the smallest of spaces. MOR® small diameter implants provide unprecedented affordability and quality for dentists and patients alike.

Your Dental Business’ Growth Starts With Sterngold Dental Continuing Education

Sterngold hasn’t maintained its status as one of the leading dental suppliers since 1897 just based on its comprehensive product catalog and customer service. Sterngold also provides additional learning opportunities—dental CE courses and webinars—to help dental businesses and professionals learn everything they need to know about new products and technologies.

Sterngold offers a number of instructional CE courses on using mini implants to provide complete lower denture (CLD) solutions. CLD is a complex procedure that produces some of the industry’s highest dissatisfaction rates. In fact, nine out of ten patients will find something wrong with the procedure once it’s completed. They often report problems with fit, retention, comfort, and chewing ability with new CLD implants. A mini implant option can help nip these potential problems in the bud before they arise.

These webinars are convenient educational opportunities for dental practitioners to learn about innovations in the dental business.

Grow Your Business by Learning More With Sterngold

Education is a never-ending quest. This applies to students and professionals alike. As a dental professional, improving your knowledge and growing your dental business don’t have to be mutually exclusive—in fact, the two should be inclusive goals. Sterngold not only provides the best value in dental supplies and equipment, but we also help you maximize these tools with continued education.

To reap the rewards of providing small diameter implant treatment in your practice, invest in the product and training today by visiting Sterngold.com.

An article titled "The Keys to Implant Success: Technology, Training, and Tenacity", in the latest issue of Dental Product Shopper (Vol. 18 No. 1), dives deep into the essentials of dental implants, opportunities for furthering your implant education and more. We are pleased to share a snippet from the article, featuring our very own TRU and PUR implants.

Combining the right tools with top-notch education unlocks the potential for successful implant procedures that give patients a truly gratifying experience.

A rookie ball player doesn’t win MVP overnight, just as novice actors suffer through stage fright and movie flops before coming a household name. Though never a guarantee, success in any endeavor requires a healthy dose of training and practice, and if you’re lucky, a few good mentors along the way. While many general practitioners are grateful to have mastered their craft, allowing them to provide exceptional everyday dentistry, adding a new treatment to their roster of service can feel as daunting as the first day of dental school.

“I started placing implants in 2007 after taking some basic courses, but it wasn’t until I purchased my own practice 2 years later that I really dove into implantology. My patients loved the results!” said Kaveh Ghaboussi, DMD, who owns Madison Smile Solutions in Madison, WI. “At first, it was just for dental stabilization. These patients had been suffering with dentures for such a long time that literally any solution would have been better. Even though they were happy with the results, I was so nervous doing those first 4 or 5 cases.”

To overcome his anxiety, Dr. Ghaboussi threw himself into hands-on continuing education. He added, “I also had two really great mentors: Dr. Ara Nazarian, who came to my office for hands-on implant training, and Dr. Arun Garg, whose implant continuum includes cadaver and live-patient courses. We were able to Identify existing patients who were missing a tooth or had extractions, flippers, partials, or dentures. All we had to do was talk to them about implants when they were in for their regular appointments. I was surprised that there were so many patients just sitting in my practice who needed and wanted implant therapy—I just needed to look!”

What also surprised him was that many of these implant candidates had been given­—but failed to follow up on—referrals to the oral surgeon.  “When I asked why they never followed up, these patients told me that it was a hassle for them to make an appointment somewhere else. Allowing them to have implants placed at our office was a great customer service for them.”

The Keys to Implant Success

Dr. Ghaboussi began his implant journey 15 years ago, at a time when few general dentists were placing implants in-house. While he admits being nervous to invest in the process, over time, he identified 3 key areas that dentists should focus on:

1. Taking high quality CE so you can feel confident in providing implants to your patients, as well as using technology to make implants a safe, effective, and efficient treatment.
2. Choosing the right implant placement kit, motor, and handpiece.
3. Using CBDCT imaging to ensure you will achieve an effective and safe result

“Today, it's a much better environment for general dentists who want to begin helping their patients with life changing implant therapy,” he said. “Thanks to pioneers like my mentors, implant placement is now very common among general dentists, and CE is easily available.”

The implant workflow has certainly evolved over the years, with each of Dr. Ghaboussi’s implant cases now beginning with both a CBCT and intraoral scan. “These scans are then used to design and 3D print a surgical guide. I find that when surgical guides are used, the implant process becomes very accurate, predictable, and efficient. This makes me confident that the procedure will be safe for my patients.”

Helping matters, he added, is the fact that CBCT is now the standard of care for imaging in many treatment areas, including implant placement. It's also widely available and can be found at many price points and with a variety of features—making the technology more easily attainable for the average dental practice.

And then, there are implants themselves. “Every implant company has its own placement kit, but before you choose one, I would suggest contacting these manufacturers and finding out what their support is like, Dr. Ghaboussi noted. “Do they have a rep in your area? Do they offer training on their system? Are they going to be there when you have questions or concerns? And, ultimately, are they going to be invested in your success?”

“My belief is that every general dentist has the ability to place implants with the proper training, Dr. Ghaboussi concluded. “I encourage everyone reading this to start on the implant journey it's something you won't regret.”

IMPLANTS

A key feature of Sterngold’s TRU conical hex and PUR internal hex connection implants is that restorative components are conveniently bundled with every implant at a low flat fee. TRU and PUR Implants are substantially equivalent to the leading conical and screw-vent connection implants in the market and available in a wide range of length and diameters. MOR Mini Implants, small-diameter implants ranging from 2.1mm to 3.0 mm, are designed to help clinicians provide an affordable alternative wherever smaller implants make sense.

Modern technology may have made our lives fast-paced and highly demanding, but it has also offered us many convenient developments we couldn’t live without. Dentistry is no exception. The field has vastly evolved since the days when pulling teeth was the only way to treat pain and damage. Thanks to modern restorative dentistry that focuses on teeth aesthetic and functional restoration, we can keep flashing beautiful smiles even when our teeth needed treatment.

Dentistry has an intriguing history. Here are 15 historical facts that will give you a new appreciation for modern dental healthcare and the restorative treatment methods available to us today.

Old Oral Hygiene Practices

Fact 1: The First Toothbrush

Before we had the luxury of choosing between hard bristle, soft bristle, or battery-powered toothbrushes, the humble twig kept teeth plaque-free. Chewing on the ends of small branches spread out the fibers, which cleaned teeth. Even though this sounds like a great eco-friendly and biodegradable solution, we would miss the minty-fresh feeling of our modern, well-polished pearly whites.

Fact 2: The First Toothpaste

Before the invention of modern fluoride toothpaste and rise of cosmetic and restorative dentistry, Ancient Greeks turned to pumice, coral powder, talc, alabaster, or iron rust. Other pre-modern forms of toothpaste included crushed oyster shells, pulverized brick, ground chalk, charcoal, lemon juice, and salt.

Fact 3: A Curious Cure

According to legend, the only way to get rid of a toothache in medieval Germany was to kiss a donkey on the lips. Although you may have temporarily forgotten about your aching tooth in the moment of repugnance, we’re not so sure about the long-term cure.

Fact 4: The Cause of Toothache

Before 1960, toothache was thought to be the cause of a tooth worm that lived in your gums. If your toothache subsided, the tooth worm was dormant or simply resting.

Dentists in Medieval & Colonial Times

Fact 5: Blacksmith Dentists

Before dentistry was a recognized profession, blacksmiths who made metal objects and horseshoes often doubled as dentists.

Fact 6: Barber Dentists

If you were a jack-of-all-trades, becoming a barber was the perfect profession for you in medieval times. Besides trimming hair and cutting beard, barbers also performed minor surgery and extracted teeth as a remedy for decay. They could also fill cavities and create false teeth using human teeth and cow bone.

In the 14th century, barber dentists began using a tool called a “dental pelican” and later a “dental key” to extract teeth. These tools were precursors to further developments of modern-day dental practitioner tools.

While inventive, barbers’ dental work focused largely on extracting infected teeth to relieve pain. Preventive oral care, much less restorative dentistry, was not yet a well-rounded concept for most people.

Dental Dentures Horror Stories

Fact 7: Daffy Dentures

Francis Wharton, a Canadian woodsman in the 1960s, found himself in need of tooth restoration. Without access to dental care in his remote location, he constructed his own tooth replacements.

The woodsman killed a deer and spent hours filing down its teeth until they resembled something he thought replicated human teeth. Using a combination of plastic wood filler and rubber cement, he implanted his own false teeth as a homemade restorative dentistry procedure. Later, Wharton cooked and enjoyed the deer for dinner using his new set of dentures. Unsurprisingly, he was known as the “bucktooth man” after that.

Fact 8: Superglue Dentures

Even today, many people have dental phobias, but Angie Barlow was so terrified that she intervened on her own behalf. For more than 10 years, Angie used superglue to put her teeth back into place when they fell out. Although she succeeded in creating homemade dentures, it was discovered that she lost 90% of the bone structure supporting the upper teeth when she finally got to a dentist.

Fact 9: DIY Crafts for Dentures

Crystal, a newly single mother, also resorted to using non-food-grade materials to forge her own dentures. After suffering severe pregnancy gingivitis, she turned to craft supplies. She restored her previously flawless smile with homemade polymorph bead dentures. It’s important to note that she ended up swallowing a few of them as well.

Interesting (and Confirmed) Teeth Trivia

Fact 10: Gum Disease and Diabetes

It makes sense that your mouth is the gateway to a lot of bacteria entering the body. Doctors and dental practitioners have discovered a connection between gum disease-causing bacteria and the inflammation associated with other diseases. Bacteria enter the bloodstream through the mouth and travel to other areas, contributing to complications in diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Fact 11: Heart Attack Warnings

A painful jaw combined with chest pain can signal a heart attack, especially in women.

Fact 12: Toothaches for the Rich

In ancient Egypt, the wealthy were more likely to experience toothaches. Sugary treats and honey were generally not affordable for low-class workers, who ate onions instead.

Fact 13: Children Without Tooth Decay

Sugar consumption is one of the main causes of tooth decay in children. Since sugar was not part of a prehistoric diet, there most likely was no tooth decay present in children.

Fact 14: Cheese for Dental Health

If you love aged cheddar, Swiss cheese, and Monterey Jack, you’re in luck. These types of cheese are among those beneficial to protecting teeth from decay.

Fact 15: You Have an Oral Fingerprint

In the same way that everyone has a unique fingerprint, everyone has a unique tongue print and oral construction. Each person’s teeth are entirely unique from the moment they are born. In fact, a baby’s teeth start developing six weeks after conception while in the womb.

The unique nature of every single tooth prompted the use of dental records as a method of identification.

Sterngold: Your Partner in Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry has evolved significantly and continues to do so. Thanks to modern dental sicence, technology, and a better understanding of oral health, patients can receive the appropriate treatment and oftentimes, have their teeth restored at treatment.

As a well-established provider of restorative dentistry products, Sterngold has been privy to advances in the field over the past 125 years. Sterngold helps dentists and dental technicians in their use of the most effective products and technology in providing dental care that result in increased patient satisfaction.

Chat with our Sterngold team today for information on digital dentures and the latest restorative dentistry developments.

Surgery is never fun. That said, some patients experience such crippling anxiety that they are liable to put off even critical healthcare procedures. Dentists tend to get the brunt of this negative reaction; many patients harbor irrational fear about dental implant surgery. Before any procedure, dentists typically try to ease a patient’s anxiety with reassurances, helping a patient to be more relaxed and calm.

Why Do Patients Get Nervous About Dental Procedures?

Anxiety and phobias don’t discriminate—they affect all ages. Children may develop dental anxiety from a bad experience. Alternatively, they may mimic an adult’s anxiety. But it’s not limited to the little ones. Adults with odontophobia struggle to grow out of it.

Dental anxiety and odontophobia may stem from any number of issues. These include mental health disorders, a previous traumatic medical experience, or trust difficulties. In addition, patients may feel that dental procedures invade their personal space, or they could simply be afraid of losing control. The media hasn’t helped either. TV shows and movies have hyped up fears surrounding dental treatments.

Whatever the cause, dental anxiety can feed into a vicious cycle. If a patient is worried about going to the dentist, they might put off routine checkups. And without these treatments, they’re more likely to develop serious dental problems that require invasive action—thus confirming their worst fears about dentistry.

Dental professionals are trained to recognize and manage dental anxiety. A few standard practices, mixed in with a good amount of empathy, help break the anxiety barrier. Taking care of relaxed patients saves both the practitioner and the patient treatment time and unnecessary stress during a procedure.

Easing Patient Anxiety Before Dental Implant Surgery

Here are five techniques dentists use that can help manage patient anxiety prior to dental implant surgery.

1. Explain the Procedure Step-by-Step.

The fear of the unknown, combined with a loss of control, can be a significant cause of dental anxiety. During the consultation for dental restoration, dentists always walk the patient through the procedure. Showing patience and empathy to a patient’s concerns helps them trust the process and the dentist, feeling more confident about the ease of the procedure.

A common anxiety-reducing technique is the “tell-show-do” method. First, dentists verbally explain the phases of the procedure (tell). Then they demonstrate (show) what will happen using visual aids (photos, models, video). Empathy goes a long way at these stages. Whether they are treating a child or a very inquisitive adult, dentists typically adapt the explanation to the patient’s level of understanding and appreciation.

Lastly, all dentists are expected to conduct the procedure (do) exactly as they have explained it.

2. Removing All Doubts

Establishing the dentist as a qualified professional engenders trust. A patient is, after all, looking to the dentist as the expert. A good dentist is not offended if a nervous patient questions their expertise, as anxiety is often irrational. They will typically talk patients through their concerns and appeal to their more logical side, which usually settles them down. Highlighting their dental education, experience, and success rates in dental implant surgery is another surefire method dentists use to get the patient to fully buy in. Not to mention, emphasis on the surgical outcome by showing pictures of successful cases is a very convincing strategy.

3. Offer Distractions

Headphones or Bluetooth eye masks can be very useful in soothing patients’ nerves before dental implant surgery. With headphones or Bluetooth eyemasks, patients can listen to music, enjoy an audiobook, or listen to a podcast. Some practices have high-tech video glasses that play select movies and shows. Since most dental procedures require the patient to be awake, distraction can be a powerful tool to help them cope with their dental anxiety. In addition to drowning out the stressful sounds of dental tools, audio input can also fix the patient’s attention on something other than the procedure. Notice how your dentist and the dental assistant carry conversations around you while you are on the chairs?

The Science

Audiobooks and video glasses let patients dive into the plot. When their attention is focused on a story, it’s easier to ignore what’s going on around them. This equipment truly pays off when the patient is immersed in the story/screen instead of a dentist’s every move. Music is an effective stress reliever. Music is not only a distraction; listening to soft, relaxing music has physiological effects: lowering blood pressure and decreasing cortisol levels.

If your practice does not have these distractions--

Recommend that your patients have a selection of media on hand—or encourage them to bring in their own device. During the dental consultation, suggest preparing a playlist or downloading a show to enjoy during the upcoming appointment. Instead of an hour of stress, they can reframe the appointment as an hour of self-care where they get to relax.

4. Prescribe Medication

Over and above the local anesthetic applied during restorative dental procedures, medication can help calm the patient’s nerves with varying levels of sedation. For patients that experience more severe levels of dental anxiety, medical solutions may be necessary to manage the phobia. Prescription medication to treat anxiety depends on the specific needs of the patient and the intensity of the procedure. Some of the medicines used to treat dental anxiety are listed below.

• Nitrous Oxide, also called “laughing gas” or “happy gas,” promotes relaxation. During dental treatment, the patient feels relaxed but awake, and most people find the sensation very pleasant.
• Anti-anxiety prescriptions include oral medications like temazepam or diazepam, which may be prescribed in anticipation of dental implant surgery. These medications should only be prescribed in small, short-acting doses taken within an hour of the appointment. Patients must have support driving to and from the appointment because of the sedative effects of the drugs.
• Conscious sedation sees the patient receive medication through an IV drip that keeps them in a light state of consciousness. The patient may drift off but should respond to verbal cues.
• General anesthesia isn’t always the first choice. However, putting patients fully under may be necessary for more invasive surgeries.

5. Try Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy can reduce a patient’s stress during a dental procedure. As previous negative experiences may be triggered by sense memory, restructuring the sensory composition of the dental environment can limit exposure to stressful stimuli. The sense of smell, in particular, is most closely tied to memory.

The Science

Odors have a direct path to the limbic system, which controls memory and emotional responses. The metallic smells of antiseptics and eugenol can trigger a patient’s anxiety. Diffusing pleasant odors in the ambiance of the dental office has a two-fold benefit. In addition to masking the triggering scents, certain herbs and spices can also produce a calming effect. According to a report from Medical News Today, lavender, lemon, thyme, and geranium all reduce stress-related symptoms.

What to Do

Run essential oil diffusers throughout the office, making sure the oils are cold-pressed without any irritating chemical additives. There are diffusers made with dental offices in mind to attach directly to an HVAC system, so you don’t need to worry about finding shelf space.

Consider Your Implant Treatment Options

Many patients experience elevated levels of anxiety prior to dental implant surgery. With some compassion and intentionality, dentists are able to ease these fears, allowing the patient to feel the sense of regaining control, and minimizing, if not eliminating, triggering sensory inputs.

For implant treatments, dentists can offer an option to conventional implant surgery with the minimally invasive MOR mini implant. Reach out to Sterngold today.

The dental lab you partner with will have a direct impact on the quality of your patient care and the profitability of your practice. Ideally, with the right partner, you’ll develop a mutually beneficial relationship that lets you better meet your patients’ needs. However, it’s important to be mindful of who you’re working with. An inconsistent dental laboratory can have a lasting negative impact on your practice’s reputation and services.

Before partnering with a lab, you must review their credentials and credibility. After all, in some ways, their on-the-job conduct will determine your reputability too.

Do your research before you establish a relationship with a dental lab. Specifically, you’ll want the answers to these three essential questions about their procedures and methodologies.

1. Is the Dental Lab Using ADA-Compliant Materials and Technology?

Dentistry is always changing and improving to better serve the public. Staying competitive requires practitioners to embrace new technology. Of course, patient safety comes first, so it’s critical to source new tech from reliable suppliers.

Restorative dentistry, bone replacement, composite materials, and dental implants increase the care options you can offer your patients. However, many of your competitors might already be implementing new tech. Standing out is a challenge, but working with esteemed manufacturers like Sterngold Dental can set you apart.

Start your search for a dental lab by evaluating the materials and technology it uses. A lack in this area could severely impact the productivity of your partnership, so it’s important to make sure every lab you consider is using accredited tech.

Luckily, you don’t have to be an expert. All you need to know is that the dental lab you’re considering is recognized by or implementing any of these three key acronyms: ADA, QS, and GMP. Doing so can tell you a lot about the reliability and reputation of a potential partner, so let’s learn more about them.

American Dental Association

To be stamped with the American Dental Association (ADA) seal, a product must submit demonstrable evidence of its efficacy and meet category requirements. Evidence can come in the form of data, laboratory studies, or clinical studies. The ADA’s Council on Scientific Affairs reviews submitted products to determine if they’re up to standard.

Products that pass the rigorous qualifications are affixed with the ADA seal for a period of five years, after which they must again qualify with updated data. The thorough qualification process for products displaying the ADA seal gives consumers a high degree of confidence. Practitioners and patients alike can trust ADA products to be safe, effective, and overall beneficial to their oral health.

It’s critical that any dental lab you consider working with uses ADA-compliant technology and equipment. That way, you’ll know you’re providing the best service to your patients. You’ll also bolster your reputation with the ADA seal.

Quality System and Good Manufacturing Practices

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the use of a quality system (QS) to ensure the continuous safety of products produced by dental labs. A lab’s QS and good manufacturing practices (GMP) work in tandem to meet required specifications. As a practitioner, a dental lab supplier’s QS/GMP offers multiple benefits to your practice:

• Compliance with governmental regulations
• Demonstrable consistency in product quality and efficacy
• Optimized internal production for increased productivity
• Better cost management
• Credibility and transparency in production
• Streamlined communication and administration processes

2. Is the Dental Lab Following All Standard Health and Safety Protocols?

Your dental lab partner’s adherence to health and safety regulations reflects on you, so make sure it’s following state, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and FDA guidelines. For instance, the FDA ranks medical devices from class I-class III based on their risk levels, with each consecutive class requiring stricter oversight. If your lab isn’t adhering to these standards, you could potentially find yourself treating patients with faulty devices.

You would never compromise your patient care standards, and the lab you work with shouldn’t either. This is why FDA registration is required for any establishment producing medical devices.

Dangerous materials are often present in the production of medical devices, and there are additional rules and regulations for work environments that use them. For instance, your lab partner should be following these additional safety regulations when utilizing any applicable materials:

• Hazard Communication Standard (HCS or Haz-Com) and Chemical Hygiene are OSHA-based standards. The goal is to ensure both the safety of employees and the careful handling of a wide array of potentially harmful substances or working conditions.
• Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (BPS) is a set of best practices designed to prevent workers from inadvertent exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
• Emergency Action Planning is a critical component of crisis management and essential for any well-run laboratory.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be standard for all dental lab employees.
• Compressed Gases can be highly dangerous. There should be strict procedures in place when handling pressurized gas.

3. Does the Dental Lab Enforce Necessary Guidelines Related to COVID-19?

COVID-19’s disruption of dentistry continues to cause an increased need for hygienic vigilance. The dental lab you choose to work with should at least be following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state guidelines surrounding disinfection, personal protection, and social distancing.

In addition, laboratory employees should be trained in reducing the risk of viral infection spread, including a specific review of respiratory hygiene. Ask to see documentation of this training before engaging in a partnership, and get an outline of their precautionary procedures. A robust plan will include measures aimed at hand hygiene, disinfection, PPE, managing sterilized instruments, and social distancing.

An unexpected outbreak can cause significant disruptions in your partnership, so make sure your partner lab is practicing proper risk minimization.

Partnering With a Reputable Manufacturer

Your partner can either hinder or propel your practice’s growth, so it’s important to choose carefully. Established manufacturers like Sterngold Dental have existing partnerships with vetted dental labs that produce high-quality, up-to-date technology that help practices offer competitive services.

Sterngold provides state-of-the-art devices for restorative dentistry procedures, including tooth reconstruction and restoration. Plus, it continuously expands its offerings based on the latest tech like digital dentures, mini-implants, or holistic medicinal options such as CBD cream for TMJ discomfort. Because, when it comes to patient care, it’s best to go with a trusted option.

Dental implants can provide a permanent solution to the problem of tooth loss. However, the invasive and often time-consuming nature of implant procedures may be off-putting to many nervous patients. Thankfully, innovations like computer and AI advancements are making guided surgery a practical, less time involved, and more accurate option for dental implant placement, and can serve to assuage fear of the procedure from patients.

An increasing number of dental practices employ guided surgery to perform implant procedures with greater precision and accuracy. How might guided dental implant surgery benefit your practice?

The Principle of Guided Surgery

Guided dental implant surgery leverages modern technology to assist in correctly placing and angulating dental implants. This computer-aided implantology (CAI) may include tools such as digital x-rays, 3D imaging, computerized topography (CT) scans, computer aided design (CAD), and computer aided manufacturing (CAM).

The technology has come a long way since 1999, when the first digital, bone-supported guides were used to treat wholly edentulous patients. Tomodensitometric x-rays have immensely improved accuracy since then, allowing for better differentiation of bony areas from soft tissues. Fast-forward to 2022, and now fully-digital lab models and intra-buccal impressions are streamlining implant surgery like never before imagined.

The goal of guided dental implant surgery is to improve patient outcomes through more accurate and less invasive techniques.

Modern Imagining Technology

Modern guided surgery relies on the latest hardware and software, with machinery and imaging technology generating highly accurate anatomical information. This results in minimally intrusive procedures, delivered over much-reduced timelines.

Technicians superimpose and integrate radiological images (produced by a scanner or cone beam x-ray) and clinical data (via intraoral digital impressions of the patient’s mouth and surgical implant site) with 3D implant planning systems to produce a detailed surgical guide. When synchronized with a virtual wax-up of the prosthetic element, these tools allow for a now 100% digital planning process!

3D imaging technology and CAD software fabricates models of the prostheses. From these models, the dental lab can then design restorations utilizing CAM software. The crowns are then placed on the implants with digital x-rays taken to aid their proper placement.

The surgical guide provides a digital replication of intraoral surfaces to help dental surgeons drill into bone with extreme accuracy. Once placed, the device’s cylindrical titanium sleeves assist in directing the surgical instruments and correctly positioning the implant.

Surgeons have their pick of various surgical guides, including those supported by teeth, soft tissue, or bone. The type of guide chosen depends on the patient’s specific needs and treatment plan.

Freehand vs. Guided Implants

Whether you opt for freehand or guided dental implant surgery is largely determined by your patient’s unique circumstances. Factors such as anatomical features, bone density, the number of implants required, and the practitioner’s experience all play a part in the decision. Further, the type of surgery chosen will impact a variety of aspects, from treatment planning and diagnostic evaluation to cost and patient comfort.

Both freehand and guided procedures have their place in current dental implant practice. For example, freehand placement is optimal in single-implant cases performed by an experienced practitioner. Meanwhile, guided surgery is more appropriate and can improve precision for operations involving multiple implants.

Guided Dental Implant Surgery

Implant positions—including precise depth, angulation, and the buccal-lingual location of the implant osteotomy in the bone—are pre-planned in guided surgery. This offers maximal accuracy and control, and ensures that the ideal site is chosen relative to other teeth, the tongue, and the lips.

The degree of planning that goes into the procedure renders the surgery quicker to perform. Moreover, the added focus on providing a perfectly positioned and angulated implant is likely to deliver a more aesthetically pleasing outcome.

Guided surgery is particularly suitable for complex cases with limited anatomical space (for example, tight positioning of the patient’s sinus, adjacent teeth, or inferior alveolar nerve).

Freehand Surgery Procedures

Like guided surgery, a freehand procedure involves some pre-planning—such as x-rays and impressions—as well as cone beam CT to create 3D images of the intraoral space. However, more traditional methods such as physical molds may not provide as high a degree of accuracy for the placement, size, and shape of the implant and crown. No matter how skilled the practitioner, without up-to-date imaging technology, gauging the best positioning for implants and crowns can prove difficult.

Although freehand surgery is historically the more cost-effective approach, technological advances have resulted in guided approaches becoming markedly more affordable. What’s more, while freehand might suffice for straightforward procedures, it’s highly advisable to consider guided surgery in cases where there are potential complications.

The Benefits of Guided Dental Implants

Once relegated to only the most complex procedures, guided implant surgery is now a viable option across a variety of treatment plans. Guided dental implant surgery offers many benefits, for both practitioner and patient. From quicker operational time, to heightened accuracy and better long-term fit, guided surgery presents many advantages that make it the clear next step for dental implant installation.

Less Time in Surgery

Surgical guides created from detailed 3D scans and radiography provide dental practitioners with a clear plan of action. This in turn allows for a smoother, faster procedure. Moreover, flapless surgery is less invasive, and therefore leads to less trauma, quicker recovery times, and reduced post-operative swelling and discomfort.

Lower Risk

Digital imaging provides a comprehensive picture of the patient’s tooth, jaw, and tissues, allowing practitioners to view vital anatomical structures accurately. This boosts placement precision and improves the safety of the procedure, minimizing the possibility of complications during surgery. Better placement also leads to increased implant longevity.

Improved Placement in Jawbone

Computer-aided technology generates high-quality 3D images of a patient’s jawbone. This information is vital when dealing with bone that has atrophied and decreased in volume as a result of long-term tooth loss. Depicting the available bone faithfully optimizes the placement of implants and is critical to restoration success.

Better for Multiple Sequential Implants

When performing several implants in quick succession or an extraction followed immediately by implant placement, accuracy is essential. For this reason, fully or partially edentulous patients can benefit immensely from guided surgery.

Flexibility to Manage Difficult Placements and Existing Implants

Having a complete picture of the planned restoration allows practitioners to make adjustments—such as using custom abutments—to place implants in suboptimal locations. Further, guided dental implants are the best choice for patients with existing implants or other teeth in close proximity to the planned operating site.

Some Myths Regarding Guided Dental Implant Surgery

No matter how impressive the technology, the most important consideration for dental implant surgery is the final result. Guided surgery makes leaps and bounds in accuracy over older, freehand methods. Despite this, however, a number of myths continue to circulate about the efficacy of guided surgery.

Myth: There is little difference between guided and traditional techniques

Despite some common elements, the two methods use vastly different tools and equipment. For example, specialized instrumentation and materials required for guided dental surgery include specialized trays, implant mounts, drill stops, burs, and even the implants themselves. Guided surgery relies more on computer imaging in order to enhance accuracy.

Myth: Guided surgery decreases overall chair-time for the patient

Actual surgery time is quicker with a guided procedure. However, the treatment path takes longer overall, because of the time involved in digital imaging, impression taking, specialized tomography, and planning.

Myth: Guided surgery is easier than freehand surgery

Guided surgery is more accurate, not easier. Far from being a simple technique, it requires a skilled and experienced surgeon because of the complex processes and organization required.

Myth: Guided surgery is only for difficult cases

Although guided surgery was once reserved for fully edentulous patients and other tricky cases, today there are a number other reasons such surgery may be preferred. As discussed above, this depends on a variety of factors, including the need for quick recovery from surgery as well as the lower risk profile of guided implant surgery.

Myth: Implants don’t work for older people

Age is not an issue that determines whether or not a patient is a good candidate for implant surgery. More important factors include jawbone strength and health of the gum tissue.

Myth: Implants are painful

The implant surgery occurs while the patient is under anesthesia or sedation, or even with the help of nitrous oxide. Although patients may feel a little post-op tenderness, this is usually successfully managed with pain medication.

Optimizing Your Outcomes

Your patients might not be dental experts, but they understand the advantages of a surgical procedure that’s less invasive, offers faster recovery, and results in lower levels of discomfort overall. Depending on their particular clinical circumstances, guided dental implant surgery might offer them the best possible outcome.

As the uptake of guided implant surgery increases, Sterngold is ready to meet the moment with an ever-widening range of dental products. From dental implant systems, instruments, and tools to custom trays, restoration materials, and laboratory products, Sterngold is here to make guided dental implant surgery a viable and accessible option for all patients.

As pioneers in dental restoration since 1897, we at Sterngold Dental pride ourselves on providing the best dental tools, procedures, and products for dental practices and labs. With extensive continuing education courses, we also aim to ensure practitioners are experts in the field—on top of having the best products. Reach out to Sterngold to find how our range of competitively-priced implant products and treatments can enhance your practice today!

When it comes to implant surgery, increased advances in dental technology in recent years have further enhanced operational procedures. In particular, guided surgery for dental implants have helped to provide increased precision in outcomes. The most successful results are enabled through the combination of high-quality, 3D anatomical images and accurate prosthetic model fabrication.

Thanks to this combination, dental lab technicians can create hyper-specific implant guides for dental surgeons, helping ensure the best possible restorative results. Have you started incorporating guided surgery into your practice?

What is “Guided” Dental Implant Surgery?

Guided dental implant surgery leverages the latest imaging technology and tools to achieve optimal results in dental restoration. In non-guided implant placement, a skilled prosthodontist can achieve success using conventional panoramic x-ray imaging for case planning. However, this method has its limitations.

Guided surgery is far more precise, and substantially reduces the risk of human error—especially in more complex cases, where challenges such as bone loss or low sinus cavities, make for particularly complicated procedures. Likewise, guided surgery can prove particularly useful for patients requiring multiple implants or bridgework, as well as implants for retained dentures.

By creating a detailed digital model pre-surgery, the dentist can calculate the ideal position for the implant, and then place it with utmost control and precision. On top of being more precise, this is also a faster, less invasive technique, which moderates post-operative discomfort and swelling.

Technicians gather data from a dental cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) scan and a digital impression of the patient’s mouth. Technicians superimpose these digitized models over a 3D representation, guiding crown fabrication and abutment placements. CAD software and computer-aided manufacturing then generates a digital surgical template for the operation. Usually made from clear acrylic, the guide is fitted over existing teeth and/or gum tissue.

Process and Workflow

The process of guided dental implant surgery begins with the very first patient consultation. At this stage clinical assessments and thorough oral examination determine whether implants are even an appropriate treatment. This decision may also hinge on the patient’s overall health, medical history, and any associated risks.

The patient’s mouth is scanned with CBCT, and the resulting 2D images are converted into a 3D digital model. These scans and models include important information about the intraoral anatomy, such as the position of teeth, jawbone, gingiva, sinus cavities, nasal passageways, and key nerves.

After scanning comes the planning. Virtual implant planning software allows prosthodontists to rotate these images, zoom in for greater clarity, and identify any potential problems prior to surgery.

Once given the all clear, it’s time to create the guide. Produced either in-office with 3D printing technology or in an outsourced lab, the surgical drilling guide provides a road map for the operation, enabling accurate implant placement, depth, and angulation.

The subsequent visit is for the surgery itself. The surgical guide is indispensable here: once fitted over the mouth, it shows the surgeon exactly where to secure the implant with minimal trauma. Once the implants are embedded, temporary replacement restorations are fitted. Permanent crowns are then attached once the gums have healed from surgery.

Essential Tools for Guided Implant Surgery

Guided dental implant surgery comes with its own particular set of tools. Specialized drills, stents, taps, sleeves, drivers, software, pins, and other supplemental parts—it truly is its own classification of operation, and requires its own prep from planning through operation.

At the planning stage, guided implant surgery relies on a host of advanced imaging technologies, including CBCT, digital radiographs, optical extra- and intraoral scanners, computer aided design (CAD), implant planning software, and accumulated data in the form of digital wax-ups. Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) systems then assist in the fabrication of the customized surgical guide.

When it comes time for the procedure itself, there are different types of drilling templates available, depending on the specific surgical technique. For example, in addition to fully guided methods, one can also find surgical adjustment guides for use with a pilot drill alone. The diameter of a guide’s cylinders may also vary.

Surgical guides fall into one of three categories: bone-supported (the most invasive option), tooth-supported, or mucosa-supported. Of the three, the tooth-supported model enables the greatest surgical precision and is most suitable for a wide range of guided surgery needs.

However, wholly edentulous patients will likely be recommended a mucosa-supported guide, which facilitates minimally invasive, flapless surgery. This system requires an occlusion key and a stabilization screw—and possibly fixation pins or screws as well, unless there are temporary implants to assist with positioning. Different sleeve diameters are available, depending on anatomical requirements. A tissue punch kit is also essential tool when performing flapless surgery, in order to minimize physical trauma.

Guided Dental Implant Surgery: Advantages and Challenges

Guided surgery offers a number of advantages over more traditional models and proves a sounder choice on nearly every metric. Technological advances have enhanced our abilities to perform exacting surgery with minimal trauma. As every stage of the surgical journey is pre-planned and visualized, treatments are safer with fewer chances of complication.

Customized guides also result in more exact implant and prosthesis placement, delivering more functional and better outcomes. Patients require fewer visits pre-surgery, and the actual surgical procedure is a lot quicker too.

Compared to more traditional alternatives, guided surgery is also infinitely less invasive. Incisions are smaller, which means less pain, reduced tissue trauma, and quicker healing times. Further, the accuracy of the detailed 3D imaging means lower probability of needing a bone graft down the line.

Guided implant surgery is extremely accurate, improving upon the existing success rate of more than 90% in healthy patients.

That said, guided surgery comes with its caveats. Anatomically, it is difficult to place implants in the posterior areas of the mouth. Access becomes especially problematic when a guide is used and a drill needs to be inserted via the sleeves. Further, a guided approach does not necessarily make the implant procedure easier. Planning and surgical protocol remain highly technical, and its success is wholly reliant on the skill of the practitioner.

Can Guided Surgery Elevate Your Practice?

Dental implants are important not just for aesthetic considerations; they preserve and stimulate bone strength and minimize bone loss. As guided implant technology becomes both more sophisticated and more affordable, it is an increasingly appropriate choice for restorative surgery. Dental implant instruments and tools, implant abutments, impression copings, surgical motors, segmented bridgework, overdentures and partial dentures, temporary crowns and bridges, custom trays, and a variety of materials and laboratory products are all helping to make guided implant surgery more widely available.

Sterngold Dental’s TRU and PUR implant system includes Guided Surgery. The wide range of implant, surgical, and restorative products that we offer provide unmatched performance and value. At the forefront of restorative dentistry since 1897, Sterngold is here to make your practice shine.

Let’s discuss how Sterngold’s restorative products can help your dental practice or laboratory today.

Dentists today practice during the peak of innovation. With remarkable technology and a better understanding of oral health, modern dentistry offers state-of-the-art diagnostics and pain-free treatments. But dentistry wasn’t always this accomplished.

The earliest evidence of dentistry dates to around 7500 BC in Egypt. This ancient civilization was also the first to use replacement teeth to compensate for missing ones. Although the early prototypes of crowns and modern dentures weren’t quite as flawless as they are today, these practices laid the foundation for dentistry through the ages.

Here, we’ll take you through the intriguing “firsts” in the field of dentistry. We look at how these pioneers contributed to breaking new ground, bringing us to where we are today.

Firsts in the Field of Dentistry

First Dental Practitioner: Hesy-Re (2600 BC)

Historians have identified Hesy-Re, who lived in Egypt in the third dynasty, as the world’s first dentist. The Egyptian civilization was the first to dedicate specialists to oral health treatment. Their dentists also developed scaling instruments and executed some of the first bridgework by securing teeth with silver and gold wire. In addition, Egyptians invented the first toothpaste by combining rock salt, mint, black pepper, and flowers.

First Dentistry-Related Professional Association: Guild of Barbers (1210)

During the Middle Ages in Europe, dentistry was part of general medicine and not recognized as a profession itself. Besides general physicians advising on dental problems, Medieval barbers performed extractions and treatments to clear tooth infections.

Barbers began to develop their skills and training. In 1210, the Guild of Barbers was formed in France. The association evolved into two groups. Some undertook complex operations as surgeons, while lay barbers performed only extractions and routine hygiene.

Father of Modern Dentistry: Pierre Fauchard (1723)

Also known as The Surgeon Dentist, Pierre Fauchard (1678 to 1761) played a significant role in establishing dentistry as a profession. Fauchard worked to move dentistry away from mythical assumptions toward trustworthy scientific reasoning. With his microscopic observations, he disproved the prevalent tooth worm theory, suggesting that sugar was the cause of dental caries as opposed to a worm.

In 1723, Fauchard compiled the first complete scientific description of dentistry. This text was a collection of dental knowledge and techniques of the time, with descriptions of what worked and what didn’t. It also included scientific descriptions of oral anatomy and pathology, methods for decay removal and tooth restoration, and information on orthodontics, periodontal disease, and endodontics.

First Dentist to Practice in America: John Baker (1760)

Barber surgeons came with early colonists from Europe to America and began to establish their trade within growing settlements and colonies. As colonies expanded, surgeon dentists and trained dental operators brought further skills and knowledge to the US. The Englishman John Baker was the first medically trained dentist to practice in America. He and other European practitioners served as mentors to the next generation of American dentists.

First American Dentist: Isaac Greenwood (1760)

Isaac Greenwood was the first American dentist. He passed his profession on to his children, who also established dental practices. His son, John Greenwood, later became a dentist to America’s first president, George Washington. Greenwood created four sets of dentures for the president to help alleviate his dental difficulties.

First Dental Chair: Josiah Flagg (1790s)

Well-known American dentist Dr. Josiah Flagg designed the first dental chair. He did this by modifying a wooden chair with a headrest and adding an arm extension to house dental instruments.

First Dental Publication: Richard Skinner (1801)

Richard Skinner was responsible for the first dental publication in America—A Treatise on the Human Teeth. Over the course of its 26 pages, Skinner summarized dental anatomy, treatments, and diseases. As a passionate advocate of public health, he produced the pamphlet to promote oral health, prevent disease, and educate the general public in an informative yet simple way.

Skinner was also the first dentist appointed to a hospital, and he established the first dental clinic for the underprivileged, where dental services were provided free of charge.

First Dental School: Horace Hayden and Chapin Harris (1840)

During the early- to mid-1800s, dental practitioners acquired qualifications through medical schools, where dentistry formed only a part of the curriculum. Graduates had to acquire skills through apprenticeships.

Horace Hayden, who was also instrumental in the formation of the first national dental society (The American Dental Association), believed that practitioners required more specialized education. Together with Chapin Harris, he established the world’s first independent dental school—The Baltimore College of Dental Surgery—which launched in 1840. The pair also established the DDS degree based on the teachings of Pierre Fauchard. In 1923 the school merged with the University of Maryland.

Several schools offering specialized DDS and Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry programs emerged thereafter.

First Woman to Practice Dentistry in the US: Emeline Roberts Jones (1855)

Emeline Roberts married dentist Dr. Daniel Jones when she was 18. Although she displayed an interest in her husband’s profession, he was not in favor of her practicing. Dentistry at the time was not considered a suitable profession for females. Nonetheless, Emeline secretly pursued her interest.

After she filled and extracted several hundred teeth behind the scenes and displayed her ability to her husband, he permitted her to work on some patients. She eventually joined him at his practice, where she became a partner. After the death of her husband in 1864, she moved and established a successful practice where she worked until her retirement in 1915.

Emeline Roberts Jones' career spanned six decades and she received numerous awards and prestigious honors for her work.

First Female Dentist to Earn a DDS Degree: Lucy Beaman Hobbs Taylor (1866)

Lucy Hobbs Taylor was a pioneer for women in dentistry. She relentlessly pursued her path to practice dentistry despite multiple rejections from dental colleges. Her determination and hard work not only earned her a doctorate in dental surgery but also sparked new educational opportunities for women.

In addition, Lucy Hobbs Taylor trained her husband as a restorative dentist and became one of the most respected dental professionals in history.

First Black Dentist: Robert Tanner Freeman (1869)

Robert Tanner Freeman was a graduate of Harvard University Dental School in 1869. His classmate, George Franklin Grant, graduated soon after and joined the faculty to become the first African American dental educator. Freeman and Grant both paved the way for increased dental service delivery to African American communities.

First Black Female Dentist: Ida Gray Nelson Rollins (1890)

Ida Gray graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 1890 as the first African American woman to receive a dental degree.

Legacy of the Pioneers of Dentistry

The dental solutions we have today are a culmination of centuries of “firsts” and the pursuits of passionate pioneers. In the late 1890s, with just two staff members, Sterngold received credit for manufacturing the first specialized alloyed dental casting golds.

Now, more than a century later, Sterngold continues to innovate and serve dental practitioners and labs as a leading source of modern restorative dentistry products. Sterngold assists practices and labs to enhance workflows and adopt new technologies with integrated educational support.

Contact our Sterngold team today to embrace modern solutions that benefit your practice, your patients, and your bottom line.

Dental problems aren’t new, but dental solutions as we know them, are. The field of dentistry took thousands of years to find its place in the medical world, while the search for relief has driven the gamut of impractical and bizarre remedies alike. In rare cases, brilliant and revolutionary solutions emerged, pioneering modern solutions in the restorative dentistry industry.

The first known dentist was an Egyptian scribe from 2600 BC, named Hesy-Re. His tomb read, “The greatest of those who deal with teeth, and of physicians.” The Middle Ages brought a period of trial and error to dentistry—and a painful one at that, thanks to European barber surgeons. The pivotal moment for legitimizing dentistry came in 1728, with Pierre Fauchard’s defining work, Le Chirurgien Dentiste, ou Traité des Dents. He gathered support from the scientific and medical communities, turning the 18th century into an era of discovery and innovation in dentistry.

Notable Figures in Restorative Dentistry

The long, twisted history of restorative dentistry has been marked by the breakthroughs of notable figures. We rely on them to this day. Here is a timeline of some of the pioneers who changed history.

1746: Claude Mouton

In 1746, Claude Mouton devised a method to lace people’s crowns with white enamel to improve their appearance. He helped to modernize the teeth restoration field with his development of a post and gold crown for root canals.

1790: John Greenwood

Dr. John Greenwood is most remembered for being George Washington’s personal dentist. Throughout his practice, Dr. Greenwood would design four different sets of dentures for Washington, each carved from hippopotamus tusk. In 1790, his lasting contribution to restorative dentistry was the first foot-powered drill, which he called the ‘dental foot engine’.

1825: Samuel Stockton

The use of porcelain for teeth restoration began in the late 1700s. In 1825, Samuel Stockton was the first to commercially manufacture porcelain dentures in the US. His family founded the S.S. White Company in 1844, which would then work to further improve the design and quality of porcelain dentures. Even though today’s dentures are usually plastic or ceramic, they’re a direct result of Samuel Stockton’s processes.

1833-1850: The Crawcours Brothers

Dental amalgams—created from a mixture of several metals, including mercury, silver, tin, and copper—were first introduced to the United States in 1833 by the French Crawcours brothers.

Amalgams became the center of a heated controversy in the dental community, as some strongly denounced the use of mercury in fillings, while others embraced the cost-effectiveness and durability of the design. While half of all fillings in the mid-1800s were made of mercury, the American Society of Dental Surgeons (ASDS) formed an alliance against their use. The controversy over mercury in amalgams is still ongoing.

1839: Charles Goodyear

Charles Goodyear discovered the vulcanization process for hardening rubber and patented the design in 1839. Vulcanite is an affordable resulting rubber that is easy to mold to a patient’s mouth, making for an ideal base for false teeth.

1864: Sanford C. Barnum

Dr. Sanford C. Barnum developed the rubber dam in 1864. The dam is a piece of elastic rubber that fits over a tooth using weights to isolate the tooth from the oral cavity during procedures. Before Dr. Sanford C. Barnum’s invention, tooth reconstruction procedures came with a high risk of contamination from saliva and bacteria. This would then lead to needing further procedures and the eventual loss of the tooth.

Barnum further improved his design in 1882 with changes that would evolve into the modern clamps used in restorative dentistry today.

1875: George Green

George Green revolutionized dentistry when he patented the first electric dental drill on January 26, 1875. For thousands of years, people had been drilling into teeth with manual drills. Thanks to George Green’s creation, the process is safer, more enduring, and more accurate—improving both the ease of operation for the dentist and the outcome for the patient.

1896: C. Edmond Kells, Jr.

Known as New Orleans' most famous dentist, C. Edmond Kells became the first dentist in the US to take x-rays of a living patient. This breakthrough is still a significant part of restorative dentistry today, as it continues to help identify weaknesses in gums and the roots of teeth. X-rays are also used for fitting crowns and bridges.

1903: Charles Land

Dr. Charles H. Land introduced the porcelain jacket crown (PJC) in 1903, providing the world with the first natural-looking, full-coverage tooth restoration. Firing platinum foil in layers over porcelain created a finished PJC that could be cemented in place. While PJCs were far from perfect, they were an important stage in the development of what was to come.

1907: William Taggart

The history of restorative dentistry has been riddled with challenges. Making casts to accommodate precise tooth fillings was no exception. When molten gold was poured into small molds, it would fail to fill the small, fine details of the cast required for a quality filling. William H. Taggart’s ‘lost wax’ casting machine, invented in 1907, solved this lingering issue with centrifugal force. He fashioned the heavy force to push the molten gold down into every last crevice. Talk about thinking outside the box.

1949: Oskar Hagger

Oskar Hagger is often referred to as the ‘Father of modern dental adhesives’ because of his 1949 breakthrough—the Sevriton Cavity Seal. He devised this as the first system of bonding acrylic resin to dentin. The acidic adhesive would actually bond to the tooth at a molecular level. New generations of adhesives using this acidic bonding characteristic have continued to perfect Hagger’s discovery over the years.

1962: Rafael Bowen

Rafael Bowen developed a thermoset resin complex in 1962, called Bis-GMA, which we still use in composite restorative materials today. Sterngold’s InstaTemp Provisional Crown & Bridge material is a shining example of Bowen’s work. It’s a two-component, bis-acryl composite used for fabrication, contouring, and polishing in restorative dentistry.

Their Legacy in Modern Restorative Dentistry

Today’s invaluable field of restorative dentistry rests upon the shoulders of great thinkers and their discoveries. Nearly 300 years of their inventions and ingenuity have provided us with more natural and robust materials, better practices, and safer procedures.

These historical figures in dentistry developed sound concepts that have withstood the test of time. Likewise, Sterngold is dedicated to helping preserve your dental health with restorative solutions that will also stand the test of time.

Get in touch with us today. We’d love to help you provide wider smiles for patients with the best restorative products for your practice or for the dental lab.

A popular choice for the placement of fixed restorations, dental cements are the bedrock of dental restorations. But thanks to new advancements, resin cement has elevated restoration placement further—and Resiment® Ready-Mix® is at the forefront of these advancements. This Sterngold product makes restoration placement easier, stronger, and more aesthetically-pleasing. The resin cement also provides better flowability, making handling uncomplicated.

What Is Self-Curing Dental Resin Cement?

Dental resin cements have been used in restorative dentistry for years. These powerful adhesives are what give restorations their strength and longevity, enhancing and restoring your patients’ smiles with ease. Dental cements are engineered to resist occlusal pressure and tooth decay, to ensure a long-lasting solution. And for those concerned about their appearance: never fear! The cements are virtually invisible under tooth-colored restorations, creating a natural appearance.

For the best results, use Sterngold’s Resiment® Ready-Mix® for all of your dental resin cement needs. Designed with the dentist in mind, Resiment® Ready-Mix promises an incredibly user-friendly and cost-effective experience for your practice.

Resiment® Ready-Mix is a permanent Bis-GMA self-curing resin cement that works for most cementation needs. Developed particularly for the cementation of crowns, bridges, implant prosthesis, inlays and onlays, Maryland bridges, pins, and posts, this polymerized dental resin cement is designed to adhere to tooth structure, forming an extremely secure bond. (Resiment® Ready-Mix® is specially formulated to provide optimal strength with titanium components.)

Its enhanced physical properties guarantee the deep final cure necessary for the cementation of light-transmitting fiber posts. An auto-mixing delivery system and accelerated setting time (a working time of approximately one minute at 22°C, and three minutes at 37°C) further set Sterngold’s Resiment® Ready-Mix® apart from other dental resin cements on the market.

What Are the Benefits of Using Resiment® Ready-Mix?

Resin cements have made restoration placement easier, stronger, and more visually-pleasing than dated cementation options such as zinc phosphate and glass ionomer. As dental cements continues to evolve, Resiment® Ready-Mix® offers an auto-curing, filled, and multi-purpose cement solution with a number of benefits. Once you’ve made the switch to resin, you’ll never turn back!

An Easy Auto-Mix Delivery System

Gone are the days of manually mixing your dental cement. No longer will you experience the frustration of uneven mixtures and stubborn air bubbles. With Resiment® Ready-Mix®’s auto-mix delivery feature, your cement comes ready to use at the perfect consistency!

Resiment® Ready-Mix® Is Extremely Versatile

This multi-purpose, self-curing resin cement can serve a wide range of restorative procedures. As mentioned earlier, Resiment® Ready-Mix® excels as a solution for implant prostheses, bridges, crowns, inlays, Maryland bridges, periodontal splinting, pins, posts, pit, and fissure sealant. Applications include ceramic, zirconia, and metal to metal restorations.

Additionally, Resiment® Ready-Mix® can adhere to dentin, enamel, composite, or metal, applicable for most patient needs.

High-Quality Aesthetics

Naturally, dental patients want long-lasting and durable restorations, but they are also concerned about the way the restoration looks. Fortunately, Resiment® Ready-Mix® is here to deliver on appearance. The resin cement comes in a wide range of shades, affording dentists and patients the best possible outcomes for their unique needs. You can also select between varying levels of translucency, so you can find the right opaqueness to prevent darkness and imperfections from peeking through.

Superior Strength

The popularity of Resiment® Ready-Mix® as a restoration cement stems predominantly from its phenomenal strength. Compared to glass ionomer and zinc phosphate cement, resin cement has double the tensile strength, and offers increased stability in the face of environmental pressures. Your patients will be able to enjoy their favorite food without worrying about damaging their restoration and feel confident that their procedure will last (and look good) for years to come.

Ideal for the Oral Environment

Resiment® Ready-Mix’s hydrophobic properties make it perfect for dental operations. Since Resiment® Ready-Mix® is not water-soluble, you can trust it to hold up in the moist environment of the mouth. Its polymer-based features allow dental resin cement to withstand the effects of water and maintain stability.

User-Friendly Handling

One way to distinguish bonding agent quality is by assessing how well the products handle. Clinicians need to be able to place cement with ease and predictability to achieve optimal results.

Resiment® Ready-Mix® delivers the best conditions for restoration because its viscosity makes it very user-friendly to handle. The cement flows with a consistent low film thickness, ensuring that it seals thinly enough to not interfere in the restoration’s seating. This level of reliability in quality allows for the best restorative outcomes.

As a dentist, you need products that are predictable and reliable. You can rest easy knowing that Resiment® Ready-Mix® is the cement of choice for many implant clinicians.

How Do You Use Resiment® Ready-Mix?

Resiment® Ready-Mix® comes with step-by-step instructions for usage, care, and storage. It is a simple process, but you want to get it right! Let’s take a closer look at directions for use, so you can feel confident utilizing our resin cement for your dental practice.

Initial Preparation of the Dual Barrel Syringe

As with all auto-mix delivery systems, it is important to check for homogenous and simultaneous expression before use. To do this, remove the cap from the unused syringe and slowly express it from the base and catalyst components. Depress the plunger until a minimum amount of equal portions express evenly and simultaneously from their respective syringe orifices. When the resin looks suitable, you’ll know that the system is ready for use.

Next, secure the mixing tip onto the dual-barrel syringe, making sure to align the notch of the tip with the groove on the attachment fixture. Twist the tip one-quarter of a turn to lock it in place. (Exercise caution to ensure that base and catalyst components do not cross-contaminate!)

After use, be sure to dispose of the used tip and replace it with the original cap. Should you lose the cap, however, the mixing tip can remain on the syringe until the next use.

Directions for Ceramic Restorations to Teeth

1. When you are ready to use the cement, attach an unused mixing tip to the syringe.
2. Place the etched ceramic restoration in acetone or ethanol in an ultrasonic cleaner for approximately one to two minutes.
3. Apply a silane coupling agent on the internal surface of the porcelain restoration.
4. Acid etch (per the manufacturer’s instructions) or clean the smear layer of the tooth. Use a non-fluoride prophy paste or flour of pumice.
5. Prepare the tooth for bonding with the enamel and dentin bonding system of your choice.
6. Inject the auto-mixed Resiment® cement into the restoration. Keep the mixing tip immersed in the expressed cement to avoid any air entrapment or bubbles.
7. Gently seat the restoration in place on the tooth and hold it in place for approximately one and a half minutes, or until the Resiment® Ready-Mix® reaches its initial set.
8. Immediately following the initial set, quickly remove any excess cement using an explorer, brush, or scaler. (DO NOT wait until the final set to remove the excess cement.)
9. Light-cure the restoration for 40 seconds. Final set will occur after about three and a half minutes.

Zirconia Restorations to Teeth

1. Try in the restoration and verify margin fit, interproximal and occlusal contacts. Make final adjustments if necessary.
2. Prepare the intaglio surface of the zirconia restoration by sandblasting with 50 micron aluminum oxide, clean surface with air and water.
3. Prepare intaglio surface of restoration using an MDP containing priming agent.
4. Thoroughly dry surfacing using air.
5. Light cure primer inside of restoration. (Optional). Cover crown until ready to seat.
6. Apply same primer to tooth surface. Dry with air and polymerize.
7. Fill restoration wit Resiment® Ready-Mix® with Fluoride.
8. Fully seat restoration with pressure and verify margins for complete seating, have patient bite into cotton roll and hold in place until Resiment® reaches initial set. (Approx. 1.5 minutes.)
9. Remove excess cement IMMEDIATELY after initial set, using explorer, scaler, or brush. Do not wait until final set (3.5 minutes) to remove excess cement.

Metal-to-Metal Restorations

Metal-to-metal restorations include implant prosthesis and crown-on-post procedures.

1. Before applying the Resiment®, use an air abrasive system (sandblasting) on all metal surfaces that will be exposed to the resin cement. Roughen the metal with a bur or a micro-etcher.
2. Apply a metal priming system of your choice, if desired.
3. Prior to cementation, remove any debris from the metal surface and clean posts or abutments with non-fluoride pumice.
4. Apply the auto-mixed Resiment® cement into the restoration, then set the restoration in place on the tooth. Hold it in place for approximately one and a half minutes, or until the Resiment® Ready-Mix® reaches its initial set.
5. Immediately following the initial set, quickly remove any excess cement using an explorer, brush, or scaler. (DO NOT wait until the final set to remove the excess cement.)
6. Light-cure the restoration for 40 seconds. Final set will occur after about three and a half minutes.

Precautions for Safe Handling

Always store Resiment® Ready-Mix® in its original container in a well-ventilated area. Store at room temperature (20-25°C / 68-77°F) and no higher, and be sure to keep the container tightly closed when not in use. Avoid interaction with strong bases, strong acids, sources of ignition, direct sunlight, and extremely high or low temperatures.

When using the product, avoid all unnecessary exposure by wearing protective gloves, chemical goggles or safety glasses, and suitable protective clothing. Uncured dental resins may cause skin sensitizations in susceptible persons. In the event of contact, thoroughly wash and dry the affected skin areas with mild soap and water. Never eat, drink, or smoke while using Resiment® Ready-Mix®.

After using Resiment® Ready-Mix®, thoroughly wash your hands and any other exposed areas with mild soap and water before eating, drinking, smoking, or leaving work. Remove any contaminated clothing and wash before reuse, and do not bring any contaminated clothing home with you after work.

Ensure that your process area has suitable ventilation to prevent vapor formation—only use this product outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Or, if ventilation is inadequate, be sure to use proper respiratory protection. Avoid breathing in any mist or vapors from the dental resin cement.

Frequently Asked Questions About Resiment® Ready-Mix Use

What is a dentin bonding agent?

A dentin bonding agent serves as the link between the dentin and the Resiment® resin cement. This encourages the filling agent to adhere to both dentin and enamel. Once the dentin surface has been etched or conditioned, the layer of dentin becomes more receptive to the adhesive.

Is a dentin bonding agent necessary?

Yes. This is what makes Resiment® so strong and durable! A dentin bonding agent can also reduce tooth sensitivity.

Should I acid etch the tooth before applying a dentin bonding agent?

Yes. This will clean the smear layer of the tooth and make it more susceptible to cement adhesion.

Does Resiment® Ready-Mix® require exact mixtures of base and catalyst?

Sterngold: at the Forefront of Restorative Dentistryo easy to use. J.L. Blosser, creator of the product, shared that “tests conducted at Loma Linda University, CA, revealed that either base or catalyst component could be off by 1/3 and this will anot diminish the strength.”

Sterngold: At the Forefront of Restorative Dentistry

Dental resin cement has been the leading adhesive in restorative dentistry for years because of its ease, strength, durability, and aesthetic value. You deserve an uncomplicated, effective product while your patients deserve the best treatment outcome. Provide quality restorations with Resiment® Ready-Mix®!

As a key player in restorative dentistry, Sterngold Dental offers products, conitnuing education, #ReadyNow customer service and technical support to help your practice and dental lab deliver thoughftully. To purchase Resiment® Ready-Mix, contact Sterngold today or visit the product page.

Dentistry has been around for centuries. It’s a respected profession with a long and illustrious history. That said, it has also seen its fair share of bizarre—and spooky—dental trends. As the practice of repairing, restoring, and enhancing teeth evolved, it spawned a range of unique and colorful dental traditions and curiosities.

Today, we value our teeth for both practical and esthetic reasons. However, teeth also have profound cultural significance in terms of health, status, and beauty throughout history. Although the current forms of dental restoration and tooth adornment might seem shocking, unnatural, and even comical, it’s really nothing new.

Humans have been fascinated by all things weird for millennia! For instance, the Mayans—one of the first civilizations to flourish in Central America—used to practice teeth filing. The results varied from squared-off to filed-down to very small teeth. They also underwent strange dental procedures for religious purposes.

Peculiar yet widely followed dental traditions persist across the globe, even today. These practices range from blackening the teeth to dressing them up with “grills.” The latter is an extravagant fashion statement where gold, silver, and other precious metals are shaped to cover a person’s teeth.

In 2022, we’re still just as fascinated by unusual dental traditions and the many peculiarities that are catching our eye. Here are some of our favorite weird, wacky, and simply off-the-wall dental trends from around the globe.

Faux Brace

Faux braces—also called false braces—are now a dental must-have among teens. Like genuine orthodontic braces, the faux braces also use brackets and pieces of wire. But that’s where the similarity ends, as they are entirely lacking in any practical function.

Teens in some countries believe that getting braces is as cool as getting an edgy haircut or a tattoo. And because real braces can cost up to thousands of dollars, with Lingual braces being the most expensive ($5,000–$13,000), faux braces have become a status symbol.

Faux braces cost less than $100. Granted, the price difference is huge. However, the price you pay for using them is even bigger. In fact, wearing faux braces comes with a number of health risks. For example, poisoning from toxic materials, choking, inflammation and infection of the gum, tooth decay and discoloration, and the improper shifting of teeth.

These problems arise for all the obvious reasons. Fake braces are made from substandard materials, they’re not specifically designed for an individual’s teeth, and they are not fitted by a licensed orthodontist. Though cheap now, faux braces will definitely cost a lot in future dental restoration. As dental traditions go, this is definitely one to be avoided!

Vampire Fangs

Our fascination with vampires began with Bram Stoker's classic 1897 novel, Dracula, followed in the 1920s by the iconic horror film, Nosferatu. Today, vampire fangs are part of popular culture, and an essential ingredient in many a spooky Halloween costume. Even famous celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Bebe Rexha have worn these fake fangs. Admittedly, they are one of the more common dental traditions. But what’s the big deal?

First, they’re a symbol of youth. Second, fangs can be sexy. And third, they look deliciously dark and gothic. So, if you want to look sexy, youthful, or vampish, grab yourself some vampire fangs. The longer, the better!

This trend might seem like fun, but it’s not a favorite among dentists. That’s because the fangs are usually glued to the teeth with nail glue, which can be poisonous if swallowed. Plus, removing the glue from the teeth can be problematic, even resulting in tooth damage.

LED Teeth

An LED mouth guard gives you the power to literally light up the room! The Japanese craze of “Yeaba" (meaning “double tooth”) is stylish and fun for teens. As an accessory, it’s definitely become one of our most bizarre dental traditions.

The LED teeth work when you smile. The wearer can change the color of the insert; for instance, from a jolly red to bright green. And while most LED teeth are a temporary accessory, they can also be made permanent.

The LED trend was hyped up by advertising, typically in malls. After all, it’s new, fun, and tech. So people believe that it’s a definite must-try.

Rainbow Teeth and Tooth Paint

Humans have colored their teeth since time immemorial. Blackening the teeth is one of those peculiar dental traditions. As odd as it may seem, people loved it!

Another up-and-coming dental trend is rainbow teeth. From being club-appropriate to a fashion statement in the workplace or everyday life, rainbow teeth and tooth paint set the wearer apart.

Rainbow teeth are simple to create. A paint formula that can last up to 24 hours is applied to the teeth. It’s a good makeup staple for costume parties, Halloweens, and clubbing because it’s guaranteed to capture people’s attention. This nail polish-like paint is also smudge-proof, so it will stay on even after chewing a meal or drinking. The downside is potential discoloration of the teeth.

Tooth Gems

Tooth gems are an offshoot of grills, which were popularized by rappers in the '90s. Surprisingly, this trend is resurfacing as one of the hottest looks of 2022.

Precious stones or metals like gold, jade, or turquoise are placed on the teeth. Here, they add that element of bling to the wearer’s smile. The jewels are firmly bonded to the tooth using a type of acid. They’re minimally invasive and relatively easy to apply. Even top celebs like Hailey Bieber, Katy Perry, and Bella Hadid are raving about them. However, they can still cause complications and may result in tooth discoloration.

Sterngold’s Dental Traditions and Solutions

Jumping on the bandwagon with one of these bizarre but trendy dental traditions might seem like fun. Do remember though that they are potentially dangerous and can cause long-lasting damage. If you’ve already tried one of them and are suffering in the aftermath, consulting a dentist will help with the restorative process.

With Sterngold Dental products, your dentist can help can restore your pearly whites. Sterngold provides both dentists and lab technicians with a range of restorative dentistry products, ranging from dental implants, impression materials, teeth shade for crowns, all the way to digital dentures.

For dentists and dental lab owners: Learn more about how Sterngold can help your dental practice grow even bigger.

Lucy Hobbs Taylor was a pioneer for women in the dental profession. Her determination and relentless pursuit to forge a career in restorative dentistry opened not only new doors in the industry but also educational opportunities for women.

In 1866, Lucy Hobbs Taylor became the first woman to earn a doctorate in dental surgery. After walking a long and hard road to attain professional recognition, she proved herself as one of the most successful and well-respected dentists of her time and throughout history.

How Lucy Hobbs Taylor Became the First Female Dentist

Despite being denied access to two of the most prestigious dental schools in America in the mid-1800s, Lucy Hobbs Taylor continued to pursue a career in dentistry. This is her story.

1859

With limited professions available to women at the time, then-Lucy Beaman Hobbs decided to break the mold. After several years of teaching, she started pursuing a career in healthcare. Both the Eclectic Medical College in Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as the Ohio College of Dental Surgery, denied Hobbs’ admission to their programs. Despite previously accepting some female students, they had reversed their policies.

An educator at the Eclectic Medical College, Charles A. Cleaveland, agreed to tutor Hobbs in the field of medicine. He suggested she pursue a dental degree after seeing her natural inclination to the field.

1861

Two years later, the dean of the Ohio College of Dental Surgery, Jonathan Taft, tutored Hobbs privately. He then helped her secure an apprenticeship with a recent college graduate and practicing dentist, Samuel Wardle. Once her apprenticeship was complete, she reapplied for a formal dentistry qualification. The college again denied her acceptance into their program.

Wardle advised Hobbs to start her own practice, which she opened in Cincinnati.

1862

Hobbs relocated to Bellevue, Iowa, where she practiced from late 1861. She then moved to McGregor, Iowa, where she could serve more clients, and practiced there until 1865.

1865

By July 1865, Hobbs’ perseverance had earned respect from colleagues, and the Iowa State Dental Society elected her to membership. In November, she was finally accepted as a senior at the Ohio College of Dental Surgery.

Due to her extensive previous education and experience along with the Society’s influence, she only had to attend only one semester to finally earn her Doctorate in Dental Surgery.

1866

Hobbs graduated as the first woman in the world with a Doctorate in Dental Surgery in February 1866. In May of the same year, she married a Civil War veteran, James Myrtle Taylor.

1867

Now known as Lucy Hobbs Taylor, she tutored her husband in restorative dentistry until he also earned his Doctorate in Dental Surgery.

The couple moved to Kansas and opened a practice together. With Lucy (also known as Dr. Lucy by her patients) catering to the women and children and James catering to the men, their practice was one of the most successful in the state. Lucy now also specialized in tooth reconstruction and false teeth.

1886

After almost 20 years of practicing together, James M. Taylor died. Lucy continued to see patients on a small scale, going into semi-retirement as she spent most of her time participating in women’s rights campaigns and charitable work.

1895-1910

After a life of dedication to restorative dentistry, Lucy officially reopened her practice in 1895 and continued serving her community until her death in 1910.

Contributions and Accomplishments in the Field of Restorative Dentistry

Lucy Hobbs Taylor not only forged her own path to becoming a dental professional, but she also paved the way for many women to follow in her footsteps.

Not only was she the first woman to receive a Doctorate in Dental Surgery (DDS), she was also the first woman in American history to be recognized by a statewide medical body, earning membership in both the Iowa and Illinois State Dental Societies. Additionally, she was the first woman sent as a delegate to the 1865 American Dental Association convention and invited as a lecturer at a state dental association the following year.

These accomplishments opened the door for other women to enter the field of restorative dentistry and general medicine. By 1880, 61 female dentists practiced in the United States. Twenty years later, the number stood at nearly 1,000. The Women's Dental Association of the United States was formed in 1892, and in 1896, Dr. James Truman introduced a resolution against gender-based discrimination to the ADA.

Taylor’s legacy lives on in numerous ways. For example, the American Association of Women Dentists honors outstanding women in the industry with its most prestigious recognition, the Lucy Hobbs Taylor Award. Lab coat and scrubs manufacturer Medelita also designed and named a lab coat in honor of Taylor.

Taylor was remarkable in her openness and recognition of the changing nature of orthodontia. As a restorative dentist, she also specialized in false teeth, seeing them not only as a mechanical operation but also as an art.

Personal Life of Lucy Hobbs Taylor

Lucy Hobbs Taylor was no stranger to hard work and dedication, even as a child. Born on March 14, 1833, she was the seventh of 10 siblings. Her parents, Benjamin and Lucy (Beaman) Hobbs died early, requiring her to start working at a young age to help support her siblings.

From 1845 to 1849, she attended Franklin Academy in Malone, New York, and worked as a teacher for 10 years before pursuing a healthcare career.

Lucy and James had no children, but they practiced dentistry together for just under 20 years before he passed away. After his death, Lucy continued dedicating her life to restorative dentistry and died in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1910. She is buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery.

Restorative Dentistry for Modern Patients

We believe Lucy Hobbs Taylor would beam with pride if she could see how dentistry, specifically preventive care, teeth restoration and reconstruction, and esthetics, have evolved. Taylor’s specialization in false teeth in 1867, helped launch the field of restorative dentistry.

Celebrating its 125th year in 2022, Sterngold has been part of the continuous evolution of the dental industry. With just two staff members in the late 1890s, Sterngold was credited with manufacturing the first professional alloyed dental casting golds. Since then, Sterngold has continued to develop and make available, restorative products that position itself as a leading source for restorative dentistry.

Modern denture technology has revolutionized the way dentures are made; case in point: digital dentures. The process is faster, more accurate, and the dentures, more natural looking.

Contact our Sterngold team today for more information on our restorative products that include dental implants and attachments, digital solutions, as well as consumables.

Life has changed significantly over the past few centuries. Dentistry, too, is a vastly different practice. Just take, for instance, the evolution of the dental impression technique: from the use of wax and plaster of Paris in the 1700s to today’s intraoral scanners.

In 1787, a dentist in New York advertised a new service. Patients could take their own wax dental impression at home, send it to the dentist, and receive custom-made dentures in return. Granted, these DIY homemade impressions probably didn’t reach the dentist in the same condition they left home. Considering temperature changes and mail handling, the wax likely changed shape somewhere along the line. Though not quite as revolutionary as say, being able to order dentures online, it was nonetheless an impressive development for the time.

The building blocks of modern dentistry were laid on some unconventional (and questionable) foundations. Despite the unusual methods and materials used, these new approaches to impression-taking set the dental profession on the path of progress and innovation. As a result, restorative dentistry has undergone an impressive (pun unintended) transformation, marked by improved accuracy, safety, comfort, functionality, and patient satisfaction.

Dental Impression Materials

Although archaeological evidence shows Etruscan prosthetics requiring dental impressions from as early as 600 BC, there is no surviving evidence for how they took these impressions to carry out the work.

The earliest documented impression materials date to the mid-1700s. The following are some important touchstones in the dental industry’s evolution.

Sealing Wax

Dr. Philip Pfaff (1713–1766), a German dentist to the King of Prussia, developed one of the first-known techniques to take a dental impression using sealing wax. At that time, wax was largely used to seal envelopes and important documents because it softens with heat and hardens quickly. On hardening, it forms a strong and rigid bond and maintains its shape well.

Dr. Pfaff took impressions with sealing wax softened in hot water and molded to the teeth. He poured plaster of Paris into the impression to form a rigid cast.

Beeswax

Beeswax was another type of wax and became popular as a dental impression material. John Greenwood, a pioneer of 18th-century dentistry, developed some of the best-fitting upper dentures of the time using beeswax. From the beeswax dental impression, he made a die on which he shaped a sheet of gold. Greenwood used this method to create dentures for George Washington.

Plaster of Paris

Traditionally used as a casting material, plaster of Paris was also used as an impression material from the mid-1800s. Despite offering accuracy of detail and dimensional stability, its original formulation wasn’t fast setting. This made impression-taking a messy and time-consuming ordeal.

Plaster of Paris also lacks elasticity and is a particularly brittle material to work with once set. Dentists had to use a mallet to tap it out—leading to material distortion and fragmentation—and then reassemble the impression outside the mouth. Moreover, excessive salivation during the setting process would negatively affect the accuracy of the impression. Nonetheless, plaster of Paris remained a commonplace choice for dental impressions, even up to the 1950s.

Impression Compounds

Beeswax and plaster of Paris were the only dental impression materials available until 1856 when Dr. Charles Stent began utilizing a natural thermoplastic compound derived from the Malaysian gutta-percha tree. However, like plaster of Paris, the material became too rigid after setting and couldn’t reproduce undercut areas with precision. Restorative dentistry needed a better solution. The answer was to develop moldable impression compounds using a material sufficiently elastic to remove from the mouth without distortion.

From the late 1930s until the 1950s, two highly-elastic derivatives of algae—agar and alginate—gained prominence. However, they also had disadvantages, including dimensional instability and low tear strength, and were succeeded by other, better-performing materials. These included polysulfide rubber in the late 1950s, polyethers in the 1960s, condensation and addition silicones, and vinyl poly siloxane (VPS).

Today’s modern compounds are moldable plastic when heated to 149°F (65°C) in a water bath. When inserted into the mouth in an impression tray, they set at body temperature. Further, because of their low degree of thermal expansion, dimensional change is minimal, and there’s no adherence to oral tissue.

Dental Impression Tools

Impression Tray

Impression trays are as important as the materials being used. From the 1800s to the present day, trays have evolved from metal and porcelain types to thermoplastics. Current water-cooled impression trays have an interior lining. When capturing an impression, cold water moves through the lining, helping to cool and set the material. These trays are especially effective with reversible hydrocolloid impression materials.

Impression trays aren’t necessarily one-size-fits-all; dentists can customize them for individual patients. A tailormade tray ensures that the impression material distributes more accurately, resulting in a better fit.

Intraoral Scanner

Even with today’s modern materials, taking a dental impression can be error-prone, time-consuming, and uncomfortable. Intraoral scanners overcome these limitations by creating a digital impression of the oral cavity.

With the integration of CAD/CAM technology, the handheld scanner captures and processes a full 3D oral imprint to a touch screen in real time. High quality, accurate details of hard and soft tissue ensure excellent results

The use of intraoral scanners is growing, thanks to benefits such as more intuitive workflows, shorter lab turnaround times, improved case acceptance, greater precision, and easier treatment planning.

Dental Impression Simplified With Sterngold

The evolution of dental impression materials and tools has resulted in greater restorative accuracy. For patients, this means better oral health; for dentists, it translates into significant time and money savings.

With digital solutions now available to solve traditional problems, there are fewer manual errors such as tears, voids, and bubbles. Dentists can offer completely customized solutions at lower costs while decreasing patient chair time and improving outcomes.

Sterngold has been part of the evolution of the dental industry for more than 125 years. As a leading source of restorative products, Sterngold continues to assist practices and labs in enhancing their workflows and services by embracing modern methods and technologies.

Having a reliable dental supplies partner—providing restorative products from medical device, equipment, provisionals, and yes, dental impression material —helps clinicians and lab technicians minimize disruptions to maximize productivity.

In addition to the extensive range of restorative dental products, Sterngold delivers a consistently great customer service experience and expert continued education. Chat with a Sterngold team member today to get your practice to the next level.

Adding implant dentistry treatment to your practice benefits patients and practitioners alike. Dentists consult with potential dental implant patients daily in their offices and don’t even realize it. When it comes to dental restoration, it is important for practitioners to enlighten their patients about the benefits of dental implants—and the limitations of conventional treatment plans.

If you are a General Dentist about to make implant treatment modality available to your patients, or have just recently made dental implant treatment a part of your options, the course: “The Complete Guide to Implant Dentistry (6-Module Course)” by Dr. Bobby Grossi, is perfect for you. This comprehensive, six-module, ADA CERP and PACE accredited implant dentistry course will equip you with a holistic toolkit of information covering the clinical, technical, and business/marketing aspects necessary to attract the right patients and secure case acceptance. It is a deep dive course covered in 6 modules, broken up in 6 weekly, 1-hour courses, that will teach you everything you need to know to properly introduce implant dentistry into your practice’s suite of dental services.

Implant Dentistry Course Objectives

In order to successfully incorporate implant dentistry into your practice, you need to also train your administrative team on all aspects of implant procedures. The comprehensive structure of this course equips you and your key members with information from the basics of fee structures, to the technicalities of implant placement.

You’ll also learn how to screen and qualify patients for implant dentistry and how to create effective, patient-specific treatment plans. The course covers a range of different treatment options—and how to offer them to your patients.

A staff culture of consistency and compliance is an essential part of running a practice, especially when introducing new procedures. The course includes expert advice on ensuring a remarkable experience for every case, and fostering consistent communication between staff and patients.

Modules Included in “The Complete Guide to Implant Dentistry”

Module 1: Patient Screening and Treatment Planning

Module 1 covers the ins and outs of proper patient research, where Dr. Bobby Grossi will guide you through patient analysis and show you how to qualify a candidate for implant dentistry treatment. This is one of the most important elements in achieving practice growth.

The module includes various types of treatment plans, alternative options for unqualified patients, and differences between options. After completion, you’ll be able to create effective treatment plans for patients, handle concerns, and gain their commitment to proceed.

Module 2: Small Diameter (Mini) Implants

Mini implants offer a number of advantages compared to their traditional counterparts—but they also come with their own unique concerns. Module 2 covers proper patient selection and requirements for mini implant case acceptance. You will be able to suggest the treatment with confidence and scientific knowledge to offer your patient a personalized solution.

Module 3: Conventional Implants

Module 3 covers proper patient selection and requirements for conventional implant case acceptance. It’s essential that your patient knows exactly what the treatment entails and to prepare them for the procedure; you’ll learn protocols for conventional implants that will set your patient at ease and streamline the entire process—from patient analysis to implant completion.

Module 4: Staff Involvement and Fee Scheduling

Appointment scheduling, fees, and effective time management are the bedrock of any successful dental practice. To maximize the benefits of adding implant dentistry to your practice’s dental restoration services, the entire team needs to be on board. Module 4 covers smart scheduling and fee protocols to maximize revenue while providing the patient with the most affordable long-term solution.

Module 5: Patient Experience and Office Communications

Communication is the foundation of all patient experiences, and their experience impacts your bottom line. Research shows that clinician communication skills can influence patient safety practices and clinical outcomes. It also impacts adherence to medical advice and treatment decisions. Clear, honest, and compassionate communication is a strategic necessity in restorative dentistry.

Module 6: The Complete Roadmap of Adding Implants to Your Practice

Your journey to offering implant dentistry as part of your practice starts here. We conclude the course with practical step-by-step actions you can commit to, giving you a road map to enhancing patient experiences and delivering predictable, high-quality outcomes with every consultation.

Break New Ground In Your Practice with Implant Dentistry Offerings

If you are still on the fence, know that adding implant dentistry to your treatment modalities can have a significant impact on your practice growth. Offering an expansive set of treatments to patients provides you more control on the quality of care, over and above the opportunity to generate a new revenue stream. ns to patients positions you as an industry leader, enhancing your credibility and increasing patient trust.

Considering the increasing popularity of dental implants, more and more patients are curious as to how the treatment can help improve their quality of life vs. more conventional methods of treatment.

Since you have decided to provide this standard of restorative care, it is best to go out into the patient market armed with best practices from a seasoned implant practitioner and educator, who has the proven success based on personal experience.

This Implant Dentistry virtual course can easily be accommodated into your busy professional schedule. Dental practitioners will develop a strong foundation of dental implantology concepts and learn the necessary principles required for successful screening, treatment planning, and procedure completion. By committing fully and getting your entire team on board, implant dentistry is certain to be the exciting and rewarding addition you have thought it to be. One that benefits your professional stature and also rewards your practice.

Sign up today—you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

Dental lab technicians work with dentists and dental specialists to create restorative prosthetics, such as dentures, crowns and bridges, and orthodontic devices. As a career, dental technology offers an appealing combination of creativity, technology, and medical science. An ideal skillset commonly includes an interest in technology, attention to detail, manual dexterity, and good hand-eye coordination.

Most graduates from dental lab technician schools work in commercial dental laboratories, hospitals, or dental offices. Some choose to take teaching positions in dental schools, work in research or sales for dental manufacturers, or become owners/managers of dental laboratories.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) puts the median pay for dental laboratory technicians at $47,320 per year, as of May 2021. However, factors like level of education, further skills training, certifications, and experience all play a role in determining salaries. With great credentials, candidates can aim to earn in the range of $71,740 (90th percentile).

Employment prospects are looking good for the coming years. The BLS expects job opportunities for dental technicians and related occupations to increase by 12% between 2020 and 2030. This is a significantly faster rate of growth than the overall average job growth forecast.

U.S. Dental Lab Technician Schools and Programs

A variety of community colleges and universities, vocational and technical schools, and hospitals offer dental laboratory technology programs. Areas of specialization include partial dentures, complete dentures, ceramics, crowns and bridges, orthodontic appliances, and implants.

Here, we’ll look at some of the better-known dental lab technician schools offering certificates, associate degree programs, and bachelor’s degrees.

CUNY New York City College of Technology

City Tech’s Dental Laboratory Technology program is the largest and most well-known of its kind in the US. It was the first accredited dental technology program in the country, the first to become a Certified Dental Lab (CDL), and the first to purchase and integrate computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technology into the curriculum.

In addition to the usual requirements for admission, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, and math. Those wishing to transfer from another college require a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better.

Dental Laboratory Technology is a 64-credit course over four semesters. Successful students receive an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree with a major in Dental Laboratory Technology.

To become a Certified Dental Technician (CDT), successful students are eligible to take exams administered by the National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology (NBC). Written exams are followed by a practical exam in one or more specialties, after gaining proficiency through experience in the field.

Florida National University-Main Campus

Dental Laboratory Technology is a 75-credit course, offered in both English and Spanish. Sixty of the required credits comprise core technical training and theory in full and partial dentures, crown and bridge, and porcelain. Students who are not computer literate must take an additional four-credit course in computers. Graduates receive an Associate of Science Degree from FNU.

Durham Technical Community College

Durham Tech has the only Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accredited dental laboratory technology program in North Carolina. It is an 18-19 month, 69-credit program that rewards participants with an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree. Thereafter, successful graduates may take the NBC exam for certification.

Admission prerequisites include a US high school minimum GPA of 2.8 and satisfactory scores on the ACT, SAT, GED, HiSET, NCDAP, COMPASS, ASSET, or ACCUPLACER. A transfer college credit for English and math, an associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree are also accepted.

The curriculum includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical rotation training. Specifically, this entails fabricating dental restorations—such as complete and partial dentures, metal or porcelain crowns, and bridges. Students use specialized hand instruments and equipment, work with various dental materials, and gain practical experience through real lab work.

Certificates awarded within the AAS degree include Dental Ceramic Techniques (8 months), Cast Partial Denture (8 months), and Crown and Bridge Techniques (10-11 months).

Bates Technical College

Bates College offers dental lab technician programs accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA)—the only such fully accredited program in Washington state. Successful completion of the program fast-tracks graduates to achieve their CDT.

The course covers aspects of traditional and digital restorative dentistry, as well as the design and fabrication of dental prostheses using hands-on and CAD/CAM techniques. This entails dentures, orthodontic appliances, gold and porcelain crowns, and bridges. Second-year courses emphasize work-based learning credits.

A one-year, 65-credit course culminates in a Certificate of Competency. Alternatively, students may choose the two-year, 115-credit curriculum that leads to an AAS degree. Requirements for enrollment are a high school diploma or GED, placement tests, and a dexterity and hand-eye coordination assessment.

Pasadena City College

The two-year Dental Laboratory Technology program at Pasadena City College leads to a Certificate of Achievement in Restorative Dental Technology, followed by employment in a dental laboratory. Graduates of this CODA-accredited course are eligible to take written and practical NBC exams to earn CDT status.

The program is approved by the Dental Board of California. Furthermore, it prepares students for the Dental Assisting National Board Examination to become nationally recognized and the Registered Dental Assistant Examination to become state-certified.

The curriculum emphasizes fundamental laboratory procedures and advanced instruction in all six specialized areas. Students may also work toward an associate’s degree in Health Sciences, which requires additional general education.

Continuing Education in Dental Lab Technician Schools

After completing dental lab technician studies, graduates have plenty of opportunities to continue their education in this highly technical field. There are various schools and academic institutions that offer post-graduate programs for certified dental lab techs, including the universities mentioned above.

There are also organizations that provide scholarships and grants to students and universities wanting to pursue further education in dental lab technology. Many of them have support from the National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL), including the Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology.

Foundation For Dental Laboratory Technology (FDLT)

The FDLT is dedicated to making quality education accessible in the field. They offer a wide range of grants and scholarships for students who want to pursue or continue their dental laboratory technology education.

The Foundation was and continues to be backed financially by the National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL). Thanks to their generous $200K contribution, the FDLT is able to provide up-to-date, comprehensive courses on dental laboratory technology.

Today, the Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology works with the NADL in their shared responsibility to the future of dental lab tech education. Numerous members of the NADL and industry professionals, including Sterngold Dental, are proud contributors to The Foundation, funding educational grants and student scholarships alike.

How to Become a Dental Lab Technician?

Typically, dental lab technician schools are open to graduates with a high school diploma or the General Educational Development (GED) equivalent. Remember to check whether your chosen school requires a minimum GPA.

Additional coursework in math and/or English may need to be completed before being accepted into a program. High school subjects like math, science, computer programing, and art are a good fit for students looking to study dental laboratory technology.

It’s vital to select a program accredited by the ADA, which ensures high-quality training that meets or exceeds industry standards. Certificate courses tend to be shorter—around a year—while an associate’s degree will take two years or longer. A four-year bachelor’s degree in dental laboratory technology is also available.

Certification in dental technology is not compulsory. Some graduates choose to hone their skills with on-the-job training. However, becoming a Certified Dental Technician in Dental Laboratory Technology will help kickstart your career—as well as boost your earning potential.

The certification process entails the completion of three exams over four years—a general exam followed by written and practical specialty exams. Keep in mind that certificates are only available to those who have taken an accredited program or worked in the field for a minimum of five years.

Using the Best Restorative Products and Equipment

Restorative dentistry is a rewarding career path. Dental laboratory technicians combine creative flair with an aptitude for science and technology to design and fabricate dental prostheses. Advancements in digital technology—such as 3D printing, CAD, digital imaging, new materials, and more—cement dentistry as a forward-thinking and stimulating occupation.

It’s worth noting that dental lab technicians aren’t necessarily restricted to fabricating prosthetics in a commercial or state-run laboratory. Graduates can also work toward specialized positions in hospitals, manufacturing (research and sales), education, or even managing or owning a dental prosthetics laboratory.

Restorative dentistry relies on top-quality yet affordable dental products and services, which are key to the quality of patients' care and staff's continuing education. Sterngold is a trusted, leading source for implants, attachments, materials, equipment, and digital solutions. Contact Sterngold for all your treatment, practice, and patient needs today!

In today’s digital age, it seems like you can do everything from your computer. Technology is revolutionizing every industry, and dentistry is no different. Advanced digital technology can drive better outcomes across the spectrum when it comes to dental care. Dental practices and labs that adopt a digital workflow can benefit from quality dentistry solutions, faster processes, and lower costs.

Digital dentistry solutions enhance the scope of restorative procedures and lead to a more consistent final outcome, on top of making for a more collaborative and manageable workflow. For example, with computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), dental technicians can digitally design a dental restoration—such as a crown— and then fabricate it with a 3D printer.

From dental prosthetic design to diagnostic wax-ups, many of the restoration processes that technicians previously handled with analog processes can now benefit from digital imaging solutions. While a lab technician’s skill and artistry remain invaluable—particularly in complex cases—tools such as digital smile design software can help them efficiently design and manufacture accurate and consisted results.

Rather than replacing a lab technician, these digital tools are here to broaden opportunities, while also increasing productivity. Technicians can copy analog processes to the digital domain to streamline workflows, and quickly scale work to reach a wider client base.

Why Should Dental Labs Adopt a Digital Dentistry Workflow?

The future of dentistry is digital. As technology becomes more mainstream, early adopters will be in a much stronger position to provide competitive restorative solutions. From digital impressions, crown and bridge, and denture design to new production techniques and workflow options, the opportunities abound. Intraoral scanners, CAD software, CAM systems, 3D printers, and other digital tools are becoming increasingly more affordable as technology advances, making this the prime time to integrate them into your business.

Digital dentistry reduces the chances of human error, increases consistency thereby ensuring a more regular and reliable workflow and better outcomes. Cutting-edge equipment and software gather accurate and comprehensive data, and can even fully automate some processes. This heightened accuracy and reduced labor results in a new range of customized, affordable, and high-quality prosthetic offerings.

For lab technicians, the ability to allocate the time spent performing conventional techniques to digital workflows and technology, boosts productivity and reduces time spent per job. As a result, production can run more smoothly and efficiently than ever before.

Sterngold’s Digital Dentistry Workflow: Better Dental Outcomes

A digital workflow brings a variety of interconnected systems and platforms into your dental practice. Equipment may range from the ultra-sophisticated and complex to simpler, less-costly systems; while it’s vital that these devices communicate with one another, you can choose digital dentistry tools to suit your needs, depending on the particular workflow of your lab or practice.

Here are just a handful of ways you can use digital technology to ensure better patient outcomes.

Treatment Planning

Proper and careful treatment planning involves considering all the diverse and complex needs of an individual in order to manage their dental issues appropriately. The best plan is clearly mapped out, centered around a patient’s needs and desires. Digital treatment planning software assists in achieving these goals by helping patients, laboratory technicians, clinicians, and other specialists collaborate in the initial stages.

Digital prosthesis planning combines a variety of modalities, from 2D radiography to 3D imaging, to plan and create a successful plan. For example, digital representations of dental arches can combine with detailed jaw scans to assemble a comprehensive treatment strategy, from prosthetic design to implant surgery. In this way, technicians can accommodate and assimilate both prosthetic and surgical perspectives into the digital plan.

Digital workflows facilitate preoperative planning, and improves communication between the dental technician, clinicians and patient.

Data Acquisition and Data Import

To design and position implants virtually, you need an implant planning software system. Every treatment plan begins with data acquisition. The more complete the data you can gather, the better the outcome will be. Use radiological and CBCT data to capture detailed anatomy, while virtual dental models depict the mucosal surface and existing teeth. Once you have all these models composed, you can import the data into the design software and create the digital proposal.

A specialized digital design software package (CAD/Computer Aided Design) will be used to create the prosthetic setup, implant placement, and drill guide design. Finally, using the CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) process of choice, the prosthetic pieces can be manufactured—including processes for drill guide production, milling, and 3D printing.

Implant Planning

Implant dentistry has benefited enormously from the upsurge in new dental technology. Digital intraoral scanners and other radiographic image-capture tools have revolutionized the practice, leading to more reliable and detailed treatment plans. Digitized 3D tomography scans have further transformed dental implant techniques and outcomes, as detailed images of key structures take the guesswork out of appropriate implant placement.

Today, technicians can combine these resources with prosthesis scans to provide a holistic view for treatment planning, including fabricating surgical guides. It determines the correct implant design, length, and diameter. Indeed, a digital workflow to guide implant placement is invaluable in your dentistry practice!

Surgical Guides

Implant surgery is reliant on digital imaging—not to mention surgical guides themselves, which are today an essential element in most successful implant dentistry. At the time of surgery, these detailed guides are placed over the teeth and gums, locked in place with customized anchors to ensure accurate implant placement. Technicians - and clinicians- can also manufacture these guides quicker and more cost-effectively, thanks to 3D printing advances.

Surgery

Digital surgical guides improve accuracy and speed while protecting teeth, blood vessels, and soft tissue. The planned nature of the workflow provides a clear pathway for the correct execution of all aspects of the surgery and implant placement. They also assist the clinician in making minor but extremely precise incisions, reducing necessary oral trauma to gum tissue. As a result, patients experience less associated pain, swelling, and discomfort, and recovery times are a lot faster.

Try-In and Final Prosthesis

The final steps a surgical and restorative procedure is the try-in and completion and placement of the final restoration. The design of both the try-in and final prostheses via CAD software, technicians can provide an accurate final result. The manufacture of these prosthetic pieces then involves either 3D printing or the milling of a pre-polymerized PMMA puck. These are rapidly replacing traditional wax try-ins, and provide a better final solution.

Conventional workflows for restorative or orthodontic procedures are prone to inaccuracies and extended time-tables, not to mention all the repeat appointments, uncomfortable physical impression-making, and multiple try-ins . Advances in digital technology can revolutionize your workflows by elevating your practice or dental lab and ensuring more efficient results.

Digitization not only makes the development, fabrication, and installation of dental restorations more efficient, it also raises product and care quality, giving patients a more positive experience in the chair, as well as improved restorative comfort and aesthetics.

As a longtime global player in restorative dentistry, Sterngold offers a wide range of quality, precision-engineered, yet affordable dental supplies and digital solutions. Since our founding in 1897, Sterngold has strived to empower dental practices and laboratories with the products they need, helping them achieve a competitive edge in the constantly changing landscape of restorative dentistry. Contact us today and find out how we can help your practice or lab achieve a digital workflow.

Estimates suggest that Americans over the age of 65 will comprise nearly 20% of the population—some 72 million—by 2030. As such, the 65+ demographic makes up an ever-greater proportion of patients seeking dental treatment. Many of them are excellent candidates for restorative dental solutions—and can especially benefit from the improved functionality, aesthetics, and convenience of digital dentures.

Thanks in part to this rapidly-growing population, nearly 200 million people in the US are expected to be edentulous by 2036. As a result, dental practices and laboratories are scaling up their treatment processes, skills, and output to meet current and future patient needs. Digital dentures, workflows, and the wider field of digital dentistry in general offer practitioners an array of new opportunities.

Conventional Dentures: Common Issues and Challenges

The traditional reverse image process for dentures has remained much the same over the past 90 or so years. It involves taking multiple impressions of the patient’s mouth—manufacturing a custom impression tray and contoured bite rims, and setting up and waxing teeth to create optimal gingival contours. Technicians then use these impressions to fabricate a detailed prosthesis. They mix, press, and cure the acrylic material, followed by hand-finishing and polishing the completed product.

Even basic dentures can cost between $600 and $1,000; top-quality, customized models might set patients back between $4,000 and $8,000 for a complete set. And unfortunately, insurance generally only covers around 50% of the total cost.

Fabricating dentures is a time-consuming process for patients, dentists, and technicians alike. Multiple appointments, meticulous work, attention to detail, and exceptional precision are needed to ensure a good fit. If the impression isn’t accurate, the dentures won’t function properly and might be painful, even leading to sores on the gums and tongue. Errors can occur at any stage, compounding into larger problems down the line.

Dentures may even need remaking if they have an inaccurate or inadequate bite registration. Positioning relative to the lower jaw is vital for chewing food and speaking. But attaining accurate measurements—as well as interpreting these measurements correctly—can prove a challenge.

The patient’s overall health is another consideration, including whether there are issues that might affect the dentures. Medications, age, and even skin conditions can all influence how the patient will adapt.

Prosthetics can bring life-changing benefits to the edentulous. Nonetheless, the various procedures for fitting and manufacturing conventional dentures take time. It isn’t a comfortable process, and more time in the dentist’s chair means higher costs for the patient—and fewer patients for the practitioner.

Digital Dentures: The Future of Restorative Dentistry

Digital dentures have transformed restorative dentistry for dentists as well as patients. Thanks to innovative technology, software, and equipment, the resulting workflow is a massive time-saver and productivity booster. Technicians can work much faster, patients spend a lot less time in the chair, and the overall results are equally good (and often better).

Digital dentures last longer, fit better, are reproducible and more comfortable than conventionally made dentures. By using light-cured liquid resin, a top-quality and very durable material, dentures are less likely to break and require less maintenance. Further, you can also easily customize gum tissue and teeth shade.

Digital dentures still require the craft of skilled technicians. However, compared with conventional dentures, these dentures involve a more straightforward process. While one can convert physical impressions to a digital file, in a 100% digital procedure, lab technicians use scanned intraoral images and bite registrations to create and customize virtual dentures via computer-aided design (CAD). Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) can assist if implant surgery is needed. Accurate data and workflow automation makes the process substantially more comfortable and streamlined for dental patients.

Digital manufacturing equipment—such as 3D printers or milling machines—delivers a range of quality, customized products and prostheses with superior fit and consistent results. This increases both patient and clinical acceptance, resulting in fewer errors and adjustments while also lowering costs.

From here, dental technicians can fabricate and modify 3D models as needed, after a “try-in” with the patient. After adjusting tooth position and/or shade, the dentures are then manufactured via either additive 3D printing or subtractive 3D milling. The end product is an exceptionally accurate and realistic restoration with consistent results done in record time.

Getting Started with Digital Dentures and Workflows

Digital solutions are transforming every aspect of restorative dentistry, increasing productivity and efficiency in denture design and manufacturing.

Granted, the equipment—software and hardware, including CT intraoral scanners, digital X-ray machines, and more—constitutes a sizeable financial outlay. However, a faster and more accurate work process, higher throughput, more consistent output, better prosthetic acceptance rates, and clinical outcomes, all make the investment in digital dentures more than worthwhile. As this innovative technology becomes increasingly affordable, there are new opportunities to upgrade equipment and software while improving the standard of patient care.

However, not every practice that offers complete prosthetics needs to pivot immediately from an analog to a digital setup. A number of integrated treatment solutions are currently available for edentulous patients. For instance, practitioners can start small by introducing basic scanning, design, or production tools, moving some processes in-house, and then scaling up over time.

Some of the simpler applications include 3D printers, clear aligners, and surgical guides for improved flexibility and capacity. Thereafter, an intraoral scanner makes another good addition to a dental practice, while a lab may benefit more from a desktop optical scanner.

Before making a purchase, compare physical samples of the final milled or printed product. When it comes to design software, the same applies—though in the form of a product demo in this case. Also, any software package needs to be compatible with your chosen equipment.

Present systems and workflows make it easier for dentists to learn new procedures and incorporate them at their own pace. Sterngold can help your dental practice to achieve a modernized workflow and assist in the seamless transition toward digital denture processes on your timeline.

Sterngold Dental’s tiered entry program into digital dentures, fits just the bill. Sterngold can meet the dental lab or clinician at their readiness level in order to help them provide digital dentures more immediately; even the next day*.

Embrace the Shift to Digital

A shift to digital dentistry makes for a natural progression for dental professionals involved in developing restorative prostheses. Further, it highlights the overriding importance of simplicity and predictability in production workflows.

As your dental practice transitions to a digital workflow, you’ll need a reliable partner along the way. Sterngold is a trusted source of restorative dental products and services—a leader in the industry with an in-depth knowledge of what the transition takes. Reach out to Sterngold for expert digital denture technology support, products, and education as you start your switch today!

Dentistry is a growing profession, currently ranked among the leading career paths in the US and scoring an 8/10 for work-life balance. Not to mention, the median annual wage for dentists was $163,220 in May 2021. This makes dentistry the country’s 11th best-paying job.

Dentistry also offers multiple options for specialization—one being restorative dentistry, where prosthodontics is a particularly highly rated occupation. In fact, with a median pay of $208,000 per year, it offers one of the top average salaries in the dental industry and the 8th most generous across all jobs.

Employment opportunities in the dental profession are forecast to rise by 8 percent between 2020 and 2030. This is according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, which anticipates 5,000 additional annual openings for the next decade.

Thanks to exciting technological advances, restorative dentistry is constantly evolving to offer new or updated procedures. This opens the door for prospects looking to continue their education, as dentists can specialize or expand their practice to offer the latest devices and techniques.

U.S. Restorative Dentistry Schools and Programs

Here is a selection of dental schools and programs available in the US, with a focus on restorative dentistry. Unless otherwise stated, applicants need to have completed a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), or equivalent dental school degree.

Boston University: Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Programs

The Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental medicine offers both predoctoral and postdoctoral programs. Their DMD has both the traditional four-year program as well as a two-year Advanced Standing program for internationally trained dentists. Additionally, there are numerous advanced certificates and degrees designed to place professionals among the best practitioners and researchers in dental medicine.

Their Restorative Sciences and Biomaterials department offers programs in Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry. Both programs can be taken in Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS), Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD), and Doctor of Science in Dentistry (DScD).

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine: Postgraduate Programs

Tufts School of Dental Medicine offers a large variety of postgraduate programs, along with an internship and several Certificate of Achievement Programs for residency and Fellowship.

TUSDM also provides ADEA-accredited advanced education programs in various fields of restorative dentistry, which includes the following:

Prosthodontics. In this 36-month Advanced Specialty Education program, students are awarded a Certificate of Achievement in Prosthodontics, with the option of combining with a Master of Science program. The program emphasizes the didactic, clinical, and laboratory facets of prosthodontics and provides sufficient training for examination and certification by the American Board of Prosthodontics.

Endodontics. This two-year program leads to an ADA-accredited certificate, which fulfills requirements for examination by the American Board of Endodontics. Its multifaceted approach provides clinical training and preparation for students who want to pursue a career in research or academics. Coursework involves intensive training in biomedical sciences, clinical sciences, and core endodontic courses.

Periodontology. TUSDM’s three-year program includes intensive coursework in biomedical and clinical sciences that fulfills the standards set by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Students are given comprehensive training in clinical periodontology, implant therapy, clinical research sedation, oral medicine, and teaching skills, which prove them the necessary skills needed for board certification.

Implant Dentistry. Tufts offers a new 24-month program that awards students with a Certificate of Achievement in Implant Dentistry which they can combine with a Master of Science degree. The curriculum includes training in treatment planning, advanced implant surgical procedures, and long-term maintenance and aftercare of advanced cases.

University of Michigan–Ann Arbor: Graduate Restorative Dentistry Program

The Rackham School of Graduate Studies’ three-year Master of Science (MS) in Restorative Dentistry comprises academic, clinical, and research elements. These include advanced clinical training in direct and indirect esthetic restorations, crown and bridge, and implant rehabilitation. The curriculum has recently been updated to incorporate current advancements in digital dentistry, chairside CAD/CAM technology, and smile design.

In addition to the MS degree, successful graduates receive a certificate of program completion from the university’s School of Dentistry and a certificate of training completion in Computerized Dentistry and CAD/CAM.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Graduate Program in Operative Dentistry and Biomaterials

The graduate program at UNC’s Adams School of Dentistry emphasizes teaching, patient care, and research. It prepares students for careers in dental education, clinical or technical research, consultancy services for insurance providers, public health policy organizations, and more.

The curriculum includes general as well as restorative dentistry courses. For example, it offers treatment planning and smile design, CAD/CAM restorations, restoration of fractured anterior teeth, implant planning and restoration, and digital dentistry.

Graduates receive an MS in Operative Dentistry and Biomaterials and a Certificate in Operative Dentistry. Students who are not graduates of an American Dental Association (ADA)-accredited dental school must complete a simulation exam.

Harvard University: Advanced Graduate Education Programs

The Harvard School of Dental Medicine offers programs leading to a Master of Medical Sciences (MMSc) or Doctor of Medical Sciences (DMSc) degree, as well as a certificate in a specialty field. Programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), thus meeting licensing requirements in all fifty states and the District of Columbia.

Advanced graduate programs in the field of restorative dentistry include those in:

Implant Dentistry. This two-year program rewards you with a certificate in implant dentistry. MMSc or DMSc opportunities are considered upon request but do require an additional time commitment. In addition to the usual requirements, applicants must have at least two years of advanced graduate education in a specialty or a minimum of three years of professional experience.

Prosthodontics. This three-year program awards graduates with an MMSc in Oral Biology and a Certificate in Prosthodontics. There is also an optional four-year DMSc degree for students aiming to pursue a career in academics or research. Coursework requires competency in fixed, removable, implant, and maxillofacial prosthodontics, materials science, laboratory technique, periodontology, and implantology, among others. The program is designed to satisfy the guidelines for certification by the American Board of Prosthodontics.

Endodontics. This three-year program rewards students with an MMSc in Oral Biology and a Certificate in Endodontics, or a four-year DMSc degree. Students are thoroughly prepared for careers in specialty clinical practice, research, and academics. The program satisfies the certification requirements of the American Board of Endodontics.

Periodontology. This interdisciplinary academic and clinical program leads to proficiency in the diagnosis and treatment of all forms of periodontal disease, implantology, and regenerative medicine. Residents are required to complete an advanced degree in conjunction with the periodontology certificate. This involves either a three-year MMSc or a DMSc, the latter taking between 45 and 57 months, depending on student research.

Orthodontics. This program offers a three-year MMSc or four-year DMSc, both in Oral Biology and running concurrently with a Certificate in Orthodontics. Equal emphasis is placed on clinical ability, research skills, and leadership capacity. The program in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics is accredited by CODA.

Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine: DMD & Postgraduate Degree Programs

Penn Dental Medicine provides postgraduate programs in various areas of restorative dentistry, namely:

Endodontics. This is a specialized two-year curriculum consisting of lectures, seminars, demonstrations, conferences, and clinical training. It covers all modalities of endodontic treatment, conventional and surgical, and includes the use of the surgical operating microscope and CBCT 3D imaging. The program is fully accredited and meets all ADA requirements. Successful graduates are awarded a certificate in endodontics and qualify for board certification by the American Board of Endodontics.

Orthodontics. This fully ADA-accredited, 35-month program ends with a Certificate in Orthodontics and an MS in Oral Biology. Ph.D. options are available. The curriculum provides a solid foundation in prosthodontics, periodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, craniofacial anomalies, temporomandibular joint disorders, and orofacial pain. All graduates are required to take the American Board of Orthodontics written exam by the end of the program.

Prosthodontics. This multifaceted academic and clinical program focuses on patients with complex restorative needs. This covers fixed and removable prosthodontics, implants, and maxillofacial prosthetics. Close interaction with postgraduate programs in orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and oral and maxillofacial surgery exposes students to integrated treatments. Three-year residency leads to an ADA-accredited certificate, which fulfills requirements for examination by the American Board of Prosthodontics.

Periodontology. This course combines clinical training in periodontics with an advanced specialty program in periodontics. It leads to an MS in Oral Biology or DScD, which can be earned concurrently. This training makes up more than half of the program and provides students with experience in hard and soft tissue grafting, regeneration procedures, and the placement of osseointegrated dental implants. Graduates are eligible for examination by the American Board of Periodontology.

University of California, Los Angeles: Restorative Dentistry Advanced Clinical Training Program

This two-year program delivers clinical training in operative and restorative dentistry.

First-year subjects include operative dentistry, fixed prosthodontics, aesthetic dentistry, and restorative implant dentistry. It emphasizes developing technical skills in restorative procedures—such as direct restorations, gold, and ceramic inlays and onlays, 3/4 and 7/8 gold crowns, ceramic crown and bridge, porcelain veneers, CAD/CAM restorations, and more. Preparatory clinical courses offer more hands-on training.

The second-year curriculum puts the spotlight on direct patient care, under the guidance of the UCLA Restorative Dentistry clinical faculty at the Wilson-Jennings-Bloomfield UCLA Venice Dental Center. Restorative procedures include direct and indirect restorations, fixed dental prostheses, bonded ceramics, anterior and posterior veneers, CAD/CAM scanning, milling of lithium disilicate, and zirconia implant restorations.

Successful students receive a certificate equivalent to a two-year Operative Dentistry or Restorative Dentistry Program. Although not a CODA-accredited program, some states may allow graduates to get licensed.

How to Specialize in Restorative Dentistry?

A career path in dentistry begins with admission to a dental school. That means earning a solid college GPA and passing an admission test. Make sure that the school and degree you choose are accredited by the American Dental Association.

Most schools require students to have completed a bachelor’s degree (focused on science and dentistry-related subjects) before enrollment. After dental training school, successful graduates earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) degree. Students also need to pass board exams to qualify for state certification and receive their dentistry license.

From start to finish, the process can take up to eight years—four for the bachelor’s degree and four more for the doctoral degree. However, there are opportunities for hardworking, committed students to enroll in an undergraduate degree and a dental school program simultaneously. This can shorten that period considerably.

General dentistry is a rewarding career choice. Further study in a specific field of interest can be even more worthwhile. Restorative procedures encompass various areas of specialization in dentistry, such as prosthodontics, orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, and implant surgery. The time commitment required can be anywhere from an additional two to four years plus residency. Typically, this leads to an MS degree or certificate, depending on the area of specialization studied.

A Specialized Career Choice

A career in dentistry can be extremely fulfilling, both from a personal and professional standpoint. Salaries across the dental industry are also among the highest of any.

Restorative dentistry is an appealing career choice for several reasons. The profession is well-respected, financially rewarding, and overflowing with purpose. Furthermore, there are many different areas of specialization to choose from. And thanks to constant innovations in the field, it’s also exciting and challenging—with ample opportunity to continue dental education.

As a leading supplier of restorative products and services, Sterngold is committed to improving the affordability and accessibility of dental treatment. Their mission is to enhance patients’ confidence and quality of life. Visit Sterngold’s website and learn how their expertise can help increase your patient satisfaction and treatment effectiveness!

As the US continues to age, the country’s edentulous population is on the rise. Approximately 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth—and 36 million are completely edentulous. Naturally, many of these edentulous Americans are part of the geriatric population, who are twice as likely to suffer from tooth loss.

The consequences of missing teeth are multifold: coronary artery disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes; the list of associated risks goes on. Not to mention esthetic issues, such as alterations in facial structure. Together, these factors have driven an increasing demand for restorative treatment, along with an increased preference for dental implants. Notably, this trend is not just limited to the elderly—it’s seen across the entire adult population.

A Rising Demand for Dental Implants

While dentures and bridges once reigned supreme, dental implants are an increasingly popular alternative to replace missing teeth. According to the American Dental Association, 5 million implants are placed every year in the US. This number continues to rise—by some half a million every year.

This surge in demand has spurred a growing number of dentists to expand their range of services to include implant procedures. In fact, today around 33% of all dental implant procedures are carried out by a general dentist.

Dental Implants: Benefits to Dentists and Dental Patients

Dental implant-supported dentures provide a number of advantages. They better mimic the appearance of natural teeth and are more comfortable and stable.

With implants, there is decreased sensitivity and a lower risk of cavities and endodontic problems in adjacent teeth, as well as improved maintenance of bone at the site, with a high success rate (the latest data puts their 10-year success rate above 97%).

Clinicians can select from a wide range of dental implant diameters and lengths based on needed osseointegration, among a number of other factors.

The availability of new technology—such as advanced imaging, intraoral scanning, guided surgery, and 3D printing—have further broadened the apeal for dental implants. Meanwhile, there are small diameter implants or mini implants, that come with shorter and less-invasive procedures, quicker recovery times, and reduced discomfort.

New Options for Implant, Surgical, and Restorative Components

The market for dental implants topped $4 billion worldwide in 2021. In North America alone, the market was worth 1.3 billion in 2021. This growth will only escalate going forward, as forecasts suggest a compound annual growth rate of 7.6% between 2022 and 2028.

Considering the surge in popularity, practitioners need to start planning their own strategies to deliver high-quality dental implant procedures. Implant cases require a comprehensive set of restorative and surgical tools. It’s important to maintain adequate supplies in stock and—at the same time—keep purchasing costs under control.

Sterngold, a leading producer of restorative dentistry supplies, has the implants, attachments, and surgical kits to help your practice deliver. Sterngold’s high-quality US-manufactured dental implants measure up to higher-priced implants, backed with an intuitively designed Surgical Kit, featuring a comprehensive, easy drilling sequence, color-coded for handpiece and ratchet drivers.

True Value and Pure Performance

Sterngold TRU® and PUR® dental implants are bone-level implant offerings that help the clinician deliver esthetic outcomes for patients. If your practice is already placing implants, they can serve as your implant of choice, or supplement your current system as a value-added option.

The TRU® internal conical hex and PUR® internal hex stand up to any competitor implant, with strong stability and mountless delivery. Available in a range of diameters (including 3.5, 4.3, 5.0, and 6.0 mm) and lengths (8, 10, 12, and 14 mm), these Sterngold offerings can provide quality results for a wide range of procedures.

Alongside the TRU® and PUR® implants themselves, you can also purchase an intuitively designed surgical kit to aid in the surgical process. The TRU®/PUR® surgical kit features a comprehensive and easy drilling sequence and is color-coded for hand-piece and ratchet drivers.

Outstanding Design and Material

TRU® conical and PUR® screw vent implants have a self-tapping screw-type design that allows for easy threading into a pre-drilled hole in the jawbone. The apical end of the implant taps into the hole, where it is pressed and rotated. The double lead thread pattern and micro threads help the implant achieve immediate stability.

The material used in these implants is vital to osteoblast adhesion and bone growth. TRU® and PUR® implants utilize pure grade 4 titanium alloy, known for its high strength, inertness, and biocompatibility. Sandblasting—followed by an acid-etch bath—increases the surface area of the implants, improving interlocking between implant surface and bone, as studies suggest that rough surfaces enable faster osseointegration and bone formation.

All-In-1 Convenience Bundle

Sterngold’s TRU® conical hex and PUR® internal hex connection implants come complete with five restorative components. The all-in-one bundle offers convenience and cost-effectiveness to your dental practice. Practitioners interested in an analog case can expect the set to include healing abutments, an impression coping device, straight abutments, the analog tool, and prosthetic screws. Alternatively, the digital case features a healing abutment, scan body, Ti base, analog tool, and Ti base prosthetic screw.

Providing Quality and Affordable Access to Dental Implants.

Dental implant surgery is on the rise. As demand grows, more and more general dental practices have added implants to their treatment offerings. Is your practice providing this treatment modality?

As demand grows, the pressure to drive down the cost of the procedure is imminent. With Sterngold’s TRU® and PUR® All-in-1 convenience bundle, you can increase case acceptance without absorbing much of the associated costs to provide the treatment. Manufactured in the US to ISO standards, these dental implants cover both digital and analog workflows, and are substantially equivalent to the Nobel Conical connection implant and the Zimmer Tapered Screw-Vent®*. 

Sterngold is a leading product provider in restorative dentistry for over a century, delivering affordable dental solutions since 1897. Reach out to Sterngold today to find out how these products and solutions can best serve your practice.

* Nobel is a registered trademark of Nobel Biocare™ and Screw-Vent® is a registered trademark of Zimvie (formerly Zimmer Biomet).

Dental implants have been available since at least the 1880s. However, the prototypes of this oral health solution were uncomfortably big and made with materials that lacked long-term viability. Over the next century, different materials were tested—and in 1965, the first titanium implant revolutionized the industry. Since then, dental implant solutions have drastically improved across the board, from materials and surgical processes to overall quality of care. The development of mini dental implants (MDI) or small diameter implants (SDI), have further provided restorative options for patients needing tooth replacement.

Sterngold—one of the country’s leading dental implant manufacturers- is the largest manufacturer of mini dental implants under the MOR® system. Sterngold has made it very easy to gain confidence and acquire the dental tools and equipment not just to start placing mini implants immediately, but to have the primary resources at the ready. Using their MOR® Starter Kits, the practitioner can have the necessary set of mini implants and restorative components. Additionally, the Starter Kit also comes with the marketing resources to convince the patient to say “yes” and to announce the treatment availability in the practice. There are two options: MOR® 10 and MOR® 20.

Expanding Your Practice with Small Diameter Dental Implants

Offering dental implants to patients in need of an implant crown or overdentures —can be pivotal for growing your practice Typically, conventional implants have larger-sized screws with installation platforms to mount a crown to. However, larger-sized implants can be problematic if a patient has too much crowding in their mouth or smaller jaw size. With traditional implants, patients must have at least 6mm of jaw bone available for the surgery to be successful. Facial collapse, caused by lack of support from missing teeth is a major concern, so some form of implant is necessary to prevent this. Bone deterioration can also cause complications with traditional implant surgeries. However, most patients are hesitant to accept conventional dental implant treatment for cost and inconvenience, and even for fear of the procedure. With MOR® small diameter implants, patient worries can be a thing of the past. The smaller diameter implants-- 2.1mm, 2.4mm, and 3.0 mm-- are designed to help clinicians provide an affordable alternative to wherever smaller implants make the most sense: overdentures, single arch, or crown and bridge fixation in tight spaces. MOR® is minimally invasive, immediate load, and is a true option without the high costs typically associated with conventional implants.

Small diameter dental implants fit in narrow spaces and don’t require as much bone for surgical placement. Small diameter implants are also a great option for patients who don’t need their implant placed in a high-pressure chewing location. In cases where the prosthetic is damaged, using mini dental implants allows for faster and easier restoration. Small diameter implants are also immediate load so there is no long wait for healing before the prosthetic is attached. This means that most patients get to leave their operation with a fresh new set of prosthetics and can eat with them the very same day.

Get More Patients with MOR® Starter Kits

Sterngold’s MOR® Starter Kits are out-of-the-box toolkits for small diameter implant treatment. Bundled with the mini implants is the surgical kit and the simple, minimal tools and restorative components to complete a case. In the MOR® 20, analogs and the popular pickup material, EZPickUp®, is included.

For dental practices looking to expand their patient offerings more immediately, mini dental implants are proving to be a great additional stream of revenue. By securing MOR® Starter Kits in your practice, you can hit the ground running with cases involving a less invasive option for crown installations, bridge fixations, and full denture corrections.

As for the education pathway, Sterngold has multiple, year-round courses to help dentists appreciate the treatment and gain both the skill and confidence to provide mini implant treatment at their practice.

Conclusion

The benefits of mini dental implants for both patients and practices, are evident. Smaller diameter implants make for less invasive surgery, resulting in less discomfort and a shorter recovery time. Less recovery time enables patients to return to their activities much faster, enjoying an improved quality of life-- with a healthier, fuller smile!

The affordability of mini dental implants compared to conventional implants, is a major factor. Averaging between $500-$1,500, mini dental implants are far more affordable than regular-sized implants, which can cost anywhere from $1,500-$6,000. When you take the initiative to cut costs at the source, you pass those savings onto your loyal clientele. They will surely thank you for it!

As the leading source for restorative dental care, Sterngold is improving patient care and satisfaction with their small diameter dental implants. Start your pathway to this treatment today and remember to get a MOR® Starter Kit! Visit Sterngold to learn more today!

Overdentures supported by dental implants or natural teeth offer one of the most successful dental prosthesis solutions on the market. Implant abutment systems ensure the stability of the overdenture, keeping it secure and allowing the patient to eat, talk, and smile with confidence.

This solution serves patients better than most alternatives for a number of reasons: it improves chewing function, offers a more natural appearance, and enhances jaw health and preservation. Moreover, as the denture simply cannot press down hard on gingival tissue, it’s optimized for comfort.

How exactly does it work? An overdenture abutment or implant attachment connects the implant or tooth to the denture. The abutment snaps firmly onto the top of the implant, keeping the prosthesis locked in place. However, these attachments are also easily removable for cleaning and maintenance purposes.

Abutment and attachment systems are a mainstay of overdenture treatment solutions. There are a variety of abutments available, depending upon a patient’s specific restoration needs. That’s why it’s important to do your research and find overdenture abutment offerings that are top of the line—like Stern Snap®.

Why the Stern Snap® Overdenture Abutment?

When shopping for overdenture abutment attachment systems, there’s a few must-have qualities to look for. Above all, you want an attachment system that prioritizes versatility, wearability, reliability, predictability, and affordability. Sterngold’s Stern Snap® delivers on every front, making it the smart choice for dentists, dental labs, and dental patients alike.

Stern Snap® is compatible with all major implant systems—more than 120 in total! It comes in collar heights from 1 mm to 4 mm, similar to (and compatible with) most popular attachment systems. However, Stern Snap® also features a number of enhancements that set it apart from its peers on the market.

What Makes Stern Snap® Shine

There are two styles of Stern Snap® implant overdenture abutments. You can choose between the zero-degree one-piece abutment, which screws directly into the implant, or the angle correction abutment—a two-piece version, comprising an abutment base and screw-in attachment.

Both versions are extremely versatile. You can use them as stand-alone retentive caps, or process them directly into an overdenture for more restorative space. Alternatively, you might even opt for metal housing.

Retentive caps made from polyurethane also improve durability, unlike the competitors’ nylon-based alternatives. This helps make Stern Snap® a long-term wearable option. While reports show that nylon housings fail at around 60,000 cycles, Stern Snap® polyurethane caps hold up successfully for as many as 250,000 cycles—and even at this point, test cases didn’t wear out and could feasibly have carried on much longer.

Stern Snap® offers multiple strength retentive cap options, in 1-pound (green), 2-pound (yellow), and 3-pound (brown) levels. The lowest, 1-pound level of retention works best for patients with multiple attachments, or those experiencing reduced manual dexterity. Meanwhile, the 2-pound cap functions as a standard weight, and the 3-pound offers the most strength.

A true (combined) angle correction of up to 60°—while maintaining maximum retention—also makes Stern Snap® the preferred choice of many dentists. In contrast, retention often reduces and causes increased wear as angle correction increases with competitor systems.

Finally, the Stern Snap® overdenture abutment system is much more affordable than most others on the market. Made in Massachusetts, its price is approximately a third less than many competitor systems—while still offering an American-made product.

Chairside Pickups Have Never Been Easier

The Stern Snap® overdenture abutment streamlines the chairside pickup process. The procedure is simple and straightforward.

First, choose the correct abutment interface and cuff height for your clinical situation. Affix the snap abutment to the implant with a standard .050 hex driver and torque wrench, tightened to 20 N-cm. Relieve the denture, and prepare the pockets for the caps.

Apply Sterngold EZ PickUp light-cured varnish to the prepared pockets and then cure. Place a block-out spacer over each abutment to ensure that they don’t touch the pickup material.

Place the caps onto the snap abutments and check that the denture fits passively. One effective approach is to make a bite registration before beginning the process with the denture to be retrofitted. You can then use this bite registration for verification at this stage.

Express a small amount of EZ PickUp to the top of each cap and fill each pocket of the overdenture to about two-thirds full. Seat the denture over the caps and assist the patient in positioning the overdenture into the bite registration.

Hold in place by supporting the patient’s chin until the acrylic polymerizes. After the recommended set time, remove, clean up, and seat the final overdenture.

Sterngold: The Smart Choice

Serving dental practitioners since 1897, Sterngold has been a leading manufacturer and distributor in the restorative dental industry for over a decade. With an array of products engineered, manufactured, and quality-assessed in-house stateside, you know you’re always buying quality.

Sterngold’s precision-engineered yet affordable products, plus attentive customer service, empower dental practices and laboratories to offer effective solutions, improve patient satisfaction, and increase business growth. Contact Sterngold today to find out how our restorative dental products and solutions can help your practice achieve its goals.

Did you know that 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth—and 36 million are completely edentulous? Here are some more surprising statistics:

• 23% increase expected in dental implant procedures by 2026
• 33% of all dental implants placed are now by a general dentist
• 69% of adults aged 35-44 have lost at least one permanent tooth
• 50%-80% of crowns successfully last over a 10-year period
• 97% of all implants have a 5-year success rate, far exceeding that of bridges and dentures

In fact, 1.2 billion is the estimated market value for implants in the U.S, and that could increase even more as the general population continues to age.

How We Can Help

More than 5 million implants are placed each year by dentists in the United States, and this number continues to grow by a whopping half million each year. In response to the growing number of patients interested in dental implants, more and more general dentists are starting to expand their treatment modalities to include placement of implants.

When it is time to restore a dental implant case, less invasive, more convenient, and more affordable options reign supreme. Do you have all the necessary prosthetic components?

With TRU® conical hex and PUR® internal hex connection implants, your restorative components are conveniently bundled with every implant, at a low flat fee.

Our Convenience Bundles: Restorative Components Included With Every Implant

What’s in it for you?

• Simple, Flat Fee Pricing: All-in-1! TRU® or PUR® plus restorative components.
• Performance: TRU® and PUR® implants are substantially equivalent to the leading conical and Screw-Vent® connection implants in the market.
• Enhances Current System: TRU® and PUR® can be your implant of choice OR added into your current system as a value option.

You get implant, surgical, and restorative components at one affordable price. It’s that simple!

More Details About TRU® and PUR® implants

TRU® Internal Conical Hex

• Substantially equivalent to Nobel Biocare™ Conical Hex
• Simple, predictable, reliable
• Quality at true value
• Provides strong initial stability
• Mountless Delivery
• Diameters: 3.5mm, 4.3mm, 5.0mm, 6.0mm
• Lengths: 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm

PUR® Internal Hex

• Substantially equivalent to Zimmer® Tapered Screw-Vent® Hex
• Simple, predictable, reliable
• Quality in pure performance
• Provides strong initial stability
• Mountless Delivery
• Diameters: 3.2mm, 3.5mm, 4.3mm, 5.0mm, 6.0mm
• Lengths: 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm

What Does the All-in-1 Convenience Bundle Include?

• TRU®/PUR® Implant
• Healing Abutment
• Impression Coping OR Scan Body
• Analog
• Straight Abutment OR Ti Base
• Prosthetic Screw

Why Sterngold?

• Intuitively Designed Surgical Kit: An enhanced surgical kit featuring a comprehensive, easy drilling sequence, and a color coded for handpick and ratchet drivers.
• SGE Surface Treatment: The precision manufacturing for TRU® and PUR® features SGE surface treatment for expedited osseointegration.
• Made in the USA: Manufactured under the strictest quality control processes at Sterngold Dental’s US manufacturing facility.

Sterngold has served as a restorative dentistry authority for over a century, delivering affordable dental solutions since 1897. Reach out to Sterngold today to find out how these products and solutions can best serve your practice.

Dentistry has come a long way from a humble extra service your barber performed when you came in for a haircut and beard trim. What started as an add-on barbershop operation is now a highly technical and specialized field. Today, dentistry is a branch of medicine with restorative and cosmetic dentistry at the core.

Although restorative and cosmetic dentistry have much in common, their key difference is in the purpose of treatment. The primary aim of the restorative dental industry is to restore natural functionality: alleviating uncomfortable symptoms, pain, and repairing damaged teeth and the TMJ area, to restore the ability for chewing and/or speaking properly.

Cosmetic dentistry, on the other hand, is essentially restorative dentistry with a primary focus on aesthetics: altering the color, size, shape, and alignment of teeth to improve your smile, as well as facial contour.

However, aesthetic concerns carry over from cosmetic into restorative dentistry. While function is primary, practitioners want patients to be happy with their new smile owing to looking and feeling good.

Restorative surgery includes:

• Dentures
• Veneers
• Crowns
• Bridges
• Inlays
• Onlays
• Dental implants
• Root Canal Therapy
• Fillings

A combination of patient expectation, insurance coverage, and available technology, are influencing the aesthetic leaning of restorative dentistry.

Patient Expectations

For many patients, a beautiful smile is just as important as a functional set of teeth. With this in mind, restorative dentistry has moved beyond focusing on restoring function to mindfulness of an aesthetically-pleasing outcome right from the beginning.

Interestingly, it appears that patients of different ages value a beautiful smile differently. One study of patients ranging from 24 to 76 revealed that younger patients are the least satisfied with their smiles, and most likely to undergo cosmetic treatment. Meanwhile, older patients are generally more satisfied, the study found, and less likely to pursue aesthetic surgery.

Despite age discrepancies, the bottom-line result is that dental cosmetic surgery is popular. Eighty-six percent of the entire study group was eager to undertake this type of treatment. However, the time required, potential discomfort or treatment complexity, and financial cost, deterred many from proceeding.

Placing aesthetics as an important subset of restoring function makes sense. After all, it’s easier to get someone in the chair for a restorative procedure if they know they’ll also walk away with a better smile.

Insurance Covers Restorative Procedures

Most traditional medical insurance in the US do not automatically include dental insurance. It is a separate coverage.

Dental insurance coverage comes with a caveat; covering only essential work. Whether you have a dental indemnity, PPO, or HMO plan, odds are that you still have to pay significantly for cosmetic dentistry work.

On the other hand, restorative dentistry procedures are typically covered.

The Contribution of CAD and CAM Technology

Computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacturing (CAM) have become an integral part of successful dentistry, especially helpful in achieving process efficiency and highly esthetical restorations. CAD/CAM technology condenses the amount of time involved in design and output. The ability to capture scanned images directly into a computer software and manipulate as needed (desired shade, occlusion, proportion), then create the output, enables the production of more natural looking, aesthetically-pleasing results.

Before You Go

As a key player in the restorative dental industry for 125 years and counting, Sterngold Dental offers high quality, in demand restorative products for clinicians and dental technicians, plus digital dentistry support services to dental labs to help provide patient satisfaction.

Sterngold helps deliver more smiles all around by providing the supplies, tools, and select equipment needed for the best restorative resuts- one that incorporates aesthetic outcomes starting from the impression taking stage. Patients don’t have to choose between function and form. They can have both. Reach out to Sterngold today.

For as long as humans have been repairing teeth, precious metal alloys have played a fundamental role in the dental restoration industry. Whether it’s gold, silver, platinum, or more modern solutions like titanium, these minerals are the bedrock of modern (and historic) dentistry. Thanks to their compatibility and ease of use in ceramometal bonding, these alloys continue to stock the shelves of dentists worldwide.

Sterngold has been a pioneer in the dental restoration business since the 1890s, when gold was the name of the game. In fact, Sterngold fashioned the first consistently formulated and alloyed dental casting golds! As the company’s manufacturing capacity grew, it continued to devote its efforts to the production of fine precious metal products, including attachments, STERN golds, and solders.

While gold ruled in the Gilded Age, other metals have since found their way into the business. Silver, platinum, palladium, titanium, and other metal alloys now find applications across modern dentistry.

Why Do Dentists Use Precious Metals?

Putting precious metals in your mouth is nothing new. In fact, evidence for metal alloys like gold in dental applications dates as far back as the Etruscans in Bronze Age Italy. Artifacts unearthed seem to suggest that the Etruscans fashioned gold bands to serve as retainers, stabilizers for loose teeth, or anchors for replacements. Across the Mediterranean, from Italy to Egypt, gold seems to have been a standard dental restoration alloy.

Ancient Mediterranean dentistry turned to precious metals for the same reasons we do now: their ease of manipulation, non-reactive nature, and biocompatibility. Nonferrous or “noble” metals (such as gold, platinum, palladium, and iridium) interact with oral environments, food, air, and water without wearing or rusting.

Just like our ancestors, we use these noble metals today for restorative applications such as inlays, onlays, crowns, and bridges by lost-wax investment castings. However, we’ve since discovered that combining metals can create a product that plays to each metal’s strengths. For example, pure gold is soft and malleable, which is not the most suitable texture for crowns. But mixing in just 10% copper can increase tensile strength and hardness fourfold! For this reason, most metals employed in dentistry today are alloys.

Gold and Silver in Dentistry

Gold alloys dominated the dental precious metals market until the late 1960s. The deregulation of open market gold prices then scrambled the long-running situation; the next three decades saw an abundance of alloys introduced as lower-cost substitutes for gold alloys.

Thanks to the proliferation of these new metals, the use of pure gold is not particularly common in modern dentistry. Gold typically finds use in mixtures nowadays, as part of dental alloy that often contains silver, copper, zinc, and other metals; due to cost, pure gold is generally only used for small cavities.

Gold-based alloy, however, remains popular for dental crowns, since it seals well. Gold is highly resistant to corrosion and wear and is very biocompatible, requiring minimal removal of healthy tooth tissue in comparison to other metals. For all these reasons, gold has persisted since the earliest days of dentistry to the present. Even as cheaper, stronger metals proliferate, gold remains an integral part of the industry.

Despite past uses and current assumptions, silver in its purest form does not have a place in modern dentistry. While a precious metal, silver is not a “noble” metal—it can and will tarnish over time. As such, substantial use of silver in oral applications can cause tooth discoloration and irritation. However, silver compounds are still used in the industry to a limited degree, as they are effective in preventing and impeding dental caries. Silver’s antibacterial properties makes it useful in small amounts in alloys.

Other Precious Metals in Dental Alloys

While the primary driver for a switch to other metals might have been the rising cost of gold, that’s not the only reason. These other base metal alloys (think nickel, zinc, chromium, beryllium, and copper) have also become popular due to their higher resiliency.

Today, stainless steel alloy mostly sees use in short-term crowns. Medical-grade stainless steel is also very tissue-friendly, another plus. However, since these replacements see large-scale production with a limited number of shapes, they don’t necessarily allow sufficient customization for a long-term restorative seal.

Cobalt chromium is another popular alternative, due to its strength, durability, corrosion-resistant properties, and low cost. It bonds well to porcelain, which makes it a common choice for porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns. Extended biocompatibility is still in research, but it seems a promising option for long-term installation.

Although nickel-chromium alloys are famously strong, they have also been linked to hypersensitivity. Ongoing studies to assess toxicity when the alloy is presented in large quantities have thus raised new biocompatibility concerns.

The Present and the Future: Titanium in Dental Products

While various newer metal alloys and metal-free alternatives have all had their moment in the sun, titanium is rising above as a superior implant material for restorative dentistry.

Noble metal alloys are expensive, while some base metal alloys pose potential health risks. Meanwhile, all-porcelain applications chip and fracture easily, and thus are not suitable for long-term solutions. In comes titanium. Extremely resilient, yet lighter than gold alloy, titanium in both pure and alloy form is quickly rising to preferred status for dental prostheses and oral implants. Titanium also has a very high success rate, providing a comfortable and secure dental restoration. Surface activation of titanium also allows for faster healing and shorter treatment, further improving implant therapy and biological integrity.

Although titanium has been used in dentistry for five decades now, there is still room for improvement. However, titanium’s clear advantages make it the likely next step in dental restoration advancement.

Restorative Dentistry That Stands the Test of Time

Sterngold knows a thing or two about dental history, having been in the industry for over 125 years. From the golden days, through the tests of alternative alloys, and into the titanium shift, we’ve been at the helm of restorative dentistry every step of the way.

Today, Sterngold continues to provide dental alloy products, such as gold for alloying and platinum foil, while using titanium for its dental implants. Contact Sterngold today for dental restoration materials that stands the test of time.

The US healthcare industry is facing unprecedented worker shortage and it’s getting worse. These critical shortages are now being acutely felt across the sector and having a negative impact on both healthcare providers and patients. From neurosurgeons and heart specialists to nurses and dental industry staff, crucial aspects of patient care must be addressed.

Demand for high-quality healthcare practitioners was already much higher than supply before the onset of the COVID crisis. The pandemic merely accelerated this development. In testimony during a congressional hearing on addressing the dire healthcare workforce shortage, Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) CEO David J. Skorton, MD noted that the issue of increasing clinician burnout has been intensified by the pandemic and could prompt doctors and other health professionals to cut back their hours or even fast track retirement plans.

More than two out of every five active physicians in the US will be 65 or older within the decade, and their retirement decisions will significantly affect the scale of national workforce shortages. The AAMC projects that the US could experience an estimated shortage of 139,000 physicians by 2033, with shortfalls in both primary and specialty care.

These projections in tandem with the current scenario shows just how dire the healthcare situation is. It can be even worse when considering this caveat from the AAMC. If marginalized minority groups, rural communities, and people without health insurance had the same healthcare needs and use patterns as population segments with fewer barriers to access, up to an additional 180,400 physicians would be needed now.

According to the AAMC, primary care (general pediatrics, family and geriatric medicine) has a shortage range prediction of between 17,800-48,000 physicians and nonprimary care specialties between 21,000-77,100 professionals. These are, indeed, startling estimates, and the dental industry is not immune, with figures showing that—as in other areas of healthcare—the country is also in the midst of an acute dental labor shortage.

Poll data from the ADA Health Policy Institute supports this:

• 35.8% of dental practice owners are recruiting dental assistants
• 28.8% are seeking dental hygienists
• 26.5% are looking to hire administrative staff
• 13.1% are in search of associate dentists

These dental practices owners are also finding the current job market to be far more competitive than pre-pandemic, making the task of recruiting and retaining staff more challenging than ever. Given the overall lack of qualified dental staff, the ADA reports that headhunters and competitor practices are wooing away team members with better job offers, which creates a higher turnover and, ultimately, a less unified practice and less satisfied patients. The general increase in dental staff salary has also hit practices hard given that many are still recovering from the low patient volume experienced during the pandemic and higher overhead costs.

Finally, most people develop more health problems as they age. So, if you add to the mix that the overall population of the United States is expected to increase by 10.4% in the next 15 years—with the number of people over 65 forecasted to rise by 45.1% over the same period—this means fewer dental workers taking care of more dental patients. The specter of increased burnout among dental providers looms large.

Is “The Great Resignation” Real?

The simple, but very resounding answer, is yes. Figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that 4 million Americans quit their jobs in July 2021. In November, resignations climbed in several industries, with the largest increases registered in healthcare and social assistance; hospitality; as well as in transportation, warehousing, and utilities.

In an in-depth global analysis of more than 9 million employee records from more than 4,000 companies across a range of industries, HR strategist Ian Cook and his team determined two key trends:

– resignation rates were highest among mid-career employees between 30-45 years
– resignations were highest in the tech and healthcare industries

Expanding on these, Cook points out that 3.6% more healthcare workers quit their jobs than in the previous year (2020), while in tech, resignations were up by 4.5%.

“In general, we found that resignation rates were higher among employees who worked in fields that had experienced extreme increases in demand due to the pandemic, likely leading to increased workloads and burnout.”

At the beginning of the pandemic, many workers lost their jobs as businesses shut down because of the lockdowns and firms laid off employees amid falling revenues. As the world gradually comes to terms with the new normal, the question is: can companies fill all of the new positions that have been created in the previous two years, as well stop the flood of resignations?

Even amid the resignation epidemic, it’s not all doom and gloom. Workers aren’t just quitting their positions and exiting the workforce completely, but switching jobs. In many instances, these new positions are even in the same industry, but simply in a different location or with another company. And the kicker? There are currently 1.5 jobs for every unemployed person in America.

Instead of seeing it as a one-time employee exodus, some choose to be more positive and rather look at it as the great reshuffle. Even better, the Great Resignation can be turned into the Great Retention if employers develop smart strategies to keep their best and brightest.

How It Affects Recruitment and Retention in the Dental Industry

Labor shortages have long plagued the dental industry, but against the backdrop of the Great Resignation, tackling this problem is taking on a new sense of urgency. In the current climate, dental industry experts expect labor costs to increase along with other overhead expenses such as hiring and onboarding new employees.

Dental practices, no doubt, will need to establish or improve programs for employee retention. This could include stay interviews to gauge employee sentiment, ensure teams feel appreciated, listened to, and are given the proper tools to fulfill their roles, competitive pay and benefits, and reconfiguring training programs. Regular performance reviews can add another layer to career development while positive feedback can help improve morale and motivation.

Cook believes organizations should adopt a data-driven approach to improve retention strategies and proposes a three-pronged solution. First, employers should quantify both the problem and its impact on key operational areas. Next, identify the root causes that are pushing workers to quit. Finally, he says, employers should implement targeted retention campaigns that directly speaks to specific issues dental industry employees are struggling with the most.

Challenges Faced With a Reduced Workforce

When positions are left open, it triggers an inevitable snowball effect that leads to morale issues, affects the way dentists and their remaining team members operate, and, very possibly, results in subpar levels of service for patients.

It becomes a vicious cycle where employees are left feeling overworked, overwhelmed, overlooked. Some may even consider quitting. Even day-to-day dental practice functions could become increasingly difficult to execute with short staff. With so many dental assistants, hygienists, and specialist positions staying open longer, patients may experience longer wait times for procedures or even routine checkups. This can affect the entire dental practice, as patients (current and prospective) may look elsewhere.

Then there’s the very real possibility that already under pressure employees operating in understaffed practices could be subjected to increased stress, anxiety, and head for burnout faster.

Leveraging dental industry technology to make processes easier will help stop workers from getting swamped. A quick and easy way to drive down stress levels in understaffed dental practices is by automating tedious, repetitive tasks. Using online scheduling platforms and AI chatbots, for example, lessens the burden of front-desk staff and streamlines the patient experience. If routine tasks aren’t digitized or automated, then the stress that administrative staff experience could build up fast, and lead to resignations.

Why You Should Worry About Employee Burnout

Another phenomenon is playing out amid the labor shortages and ongoing global pandemic, and healthcare, again, appears to be at the epicenter.

Burnout—it has been found—is the primary driver behind the mass employee exodus in 2021. According to a Limeade survey of 1000 full-time US workers who started new jobs, the No. 1 reason why employees left their previous employers was burnout (40%), followed by organizational changes at the company (34%), not feeling valued (20%), and insufficient benefits (19%).

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as a syndrome triggered by chronic workplace stress that has not been effectively managed. It’s characterized by three aspects: exhaustion, lower productivity, and increased mental distance from one’s job.

There are several contributing factors driving the rapid rise of stress among health workers. Of these, prolonged and excessive job demands, lack of resources, individual vulnerability, and poor work organization can be directly attributed to high levels of work stress, and consequently, burnout.

Excessive amounts of work, even over short periods, can lead to chronic fatigue, absenteeism, high staff turnover, patient dissatisfaction, and, critically, increased diagnosis and treatment errors. When an office of 5 people is taking on a workload that 10 people should be sharing, then all 5 employees are at risk of experiencing burnout.

So, burnout is real and its impact on the dental industry is damaging, detrimental, and debilitating.

The first step to tackling burnout in a dental practice is to acknowledge it's happening in the first place. Then, what’s urgently needed are proactive interventions to mitigate the psychological impact that stressful workplaces can have on employees.

Of course, every dental practice is unique with specific needs, but some universal preventive measures include:

• Check in regularly with with employees – Make time to ask employees how things are going, personally and professionally. In other words, make them feel secure. This way, employers hone in on the pain points and can intervene accordingly. Have conversations rather than talking down to them. And, importantly, listen, really listen to employees.
• Get better organized – Reduce job strain by optimizing workloads and working times, ensuring safe staffing levels, encouraging regular breaks and having flexible schedules. Rethink shift lengths to avoid fatigue, and consider shift rotation.
• Encourage time off – Downtime allows team members to recharge and invest in their own physical and mental well-being. This will help build morale and translate into a more healthy dental practice.
• Focus on team-building – While work is serious business, nurturing positive relationships through fun activities will help create a better, lighter atmosphere for all. Scheduling such activities encourages team members to know and understand each other better on a personal and professional level, and will build camaraderie.
• Invest in office technology - Patient schedule setter and automated reminders can reduce the administrative workload. Surveys post-service can also raise morale or identify improvements that can be immediately made without straining staffing resources. Finally HIPAA-compliant telemedicine solutions can make virtual dentistry a viable option for treating patients and reducing employee burnout.

Focusing on the well-being of employees can translate into raised productivity and higher profits. In fact, WHO reports that every $1 spent on workplace strategies for better employee mental health will yield an ROI of $4.

An ongoing commitment to make employee mental health a priority by mitigating or eliminating workplace stressors while promoting meaningful change in organizational practices will demonstrate to employees that employers care and are sympathetic to the stresses they feel. Remember, if one employee feels overwhelmed and decides to quit, it can easily spread across the team. And if multiple workers resign, the idea of quitting can quickly build into a mighty avalanche.

Telemedicine: Saving Your Practice, or Asking for More Visits?

When patients find it hard to access in-person services, the obvious alternative is to bring services to the patient. Telehealth was already on the rise before the pandemic, but has now become more pronounced across the dental industry. A study by FAIR Health found that telehealth claims to private insurers increased by 4,347% from 2019 to 2020. As demand for telehealth options rise, healthcare professionals will need to be agile enough to adapt.

That said, a University of Michigan study has found that 10.3% of the patients first seen through a direct-to-consumer telehealth visit ended up having an in-person visit in the next week, compared with 5.9% of those who had their first visit in person. Another FAIR Health report, meanwhile, shows that though telehealth applications are gaining traction, it is far lower than growth seen in March 2020. What this indicates, according to mHealthIntelligence, is that though telehealth is shaping up to be a key part of the care portfolio going forward, providers have yet to figure out how best to integrate it with other types of care delivery.

"I think of virtual care and virtual visits as a channel in a multichannel strategy," says Gurpreet Singh, health services sector leader at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. "What I mean by that is, think of it less as an on-or-off replacement of therapies that can't be handled in person, but rather a channel or a tool in the portfolio of options that the health system or even physicians have."

Amid the talent shortage, workforce planning becomes a key consideration even with virtual care options. It comes down to more analytics, Singh adds. “It's basically trying to get ahead of where these surges might occur. Some are trying to predict when the demand flows are going to change and how that might affect your supply, if you will, of nurses, the staff that you need, and the staff that's required in both [in-person and virtual settings]."

Improving Quality of Life

The stated reasons for workers walking out on their jobs were percolating long before the pandemic... The global health emergency was simply the catalyst for this trend to become a crisis. With businesses in a state of flux, now is an opportune moment to proactively address these triggers that have kept dental industry workers unfulfilled, frustrated, and restless.

“People reached their limits,” says Limeade’s chief science advisor Laura Hamill of the Great Resignation, who then offers a most apt interpretation of the phenomenon.

“There was a societal breakdown when it came to the ecosystem of work, home and wellbeing.”

Great employee experiences create workplaces where people want to be, and employee wellbeing is the watchword going forward. Remember, your team is the most valuable resource of your dental practice. Improving employee experiences—every interaction a worker has with an employer from the very first touchpoint through the exit—are going to be key in retaining talent.

Training and development is a big part of creating great employee experiences which, in turn, has proven to put a dent in staff turnover rates. From CE-credited seminars to free live and on-demand webinars, Sterngold Dental offers dental professionals and their teams the ability to stay abreast of rapidly evolving developments in restorative dentistry which can yield more loyal employees and build more resilient practices.

By enlisting the support of practicing Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) as well as leveraging internal expertise in the areas of mini and convetional implants and attachments, digital dentures, as well as alternative pain management prescription, Sterngold provides your entire dental team with the knowledge and understanding to enhance patient care outcomes.

Our mission is to help dentists provide an enhanced quality of life to patients so they can do more, enjoy more, smile more, with access to our quality and affordable products. 2022 presents a brand new opportunity to grow.

According to a University of Michigan poll on aging, an overwhelming 98% of senior patients say their oral health is important to them. That’s excellent news since keeping teeth healthy becomes ever more challenging with age, as receding gums and bone loss make teeth less stable. Even more importantly, 98% of those surveyed were also aware that oral health problems can cause other health problems, from malnutrition to cardiovascular issues.

It’s clear that the majority of senior patients are ready and eager to benefit from better oral healthcare—they just need the opportunity. As a dental practitioner partnered with Sterngold Dental, you can achieve a sizable cost savings on your restorative treatments that can be passed on to the edentulous patient.

The Realities of Dental Care for Those 65 and Above

With 54.1 million Americans now over the age of 65, the population of aging Americans not receiving dental care represents a huge opportunity for dentists to gain more market share.

As a patient ages, their prognosis for dental problems, lack of care, and the potential for edentulism, increases. And yet, while they are most at risk, senior patients over age 80 are among the most likely to forgo dental care. Often this is due to obstacles involving lack of transportation and cognitive decline.

Even sliding scale-fee health centers often prove just a band-aid. These clinics can help a limited number of seniors living in their service areas; however, since they are not widely available, it’s not enough to help the growing number of patients as the country ages.

Other Medical Issues and Quality of Life

A lack of dental care also exacerbates pressing concerns regarding a senior’s overall healthcare. Oral hygiene problems can lead to increased risk for stroke, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Other milder problems among untreated senior patients can include dry mouth, infections, inflammation, and mouth sores. Gum disease can also loosen teeth, allowing bacteria to enter the body.

There’s also the embarrassment and social factor. Teeth are important for eating, smiling, speaking, and kissing. Problems with oral health can also lead to depression and anxiety for the edentulous patient. These are all factors that lead to a lower quality of life and increased health care costs.

The Medicare Coverage Debate

Despite an increased need for diligent dental care, people over the age of 65 often struggle to obtain insurance. Currently, dental insurance is not part of Medicare. In fact, around two out of three Medicare recipients (nearly 37 million people) do not have access to dental care.

Overall, only 53% of older adults report having dental coverage, and cost is the leading factor for those who don’t have insurance. That 53% who are covered? A good portion of them get their coverage through a current (or former) employer or their spouse’s employer. Those who don’t have access to coverage via this avenue are stuck footing the bill on their own, and living on fixed income, the average Medicare beneficiary only has about $26,200 in annual income. Allocating money for dental insurance is frequently set aside for more pressing problems.

As a result of these disparities, 93% of Americans aged 65-80 are in favor of adding dental to federally-offered Medicare benefits (though the number decreases to a still-robust 59% when asked if they’d be willing to pay more accordingly).

Lawmakers will likely debate adding dental coverage to Medicare again soon. Already this year, the Biden Administration has endorsed increasing access to dental coverage in the 2022 federal budget. However, the opposing political party has unanimously objected to the expansion of federally funded dental coverage.

The issue remains controversial among healthcare professionals, with the American Dental Association (ADA) urging lawmakers not to support Medicare dental care. They argue that any Medicare coverage would be far too little to make any kind of notable impact. In contrast, both the National Dental Association and the AARP are in favor of adding dental care to Medicare.

Dental Insurance Options for Older Patients

If a senior can afford dental health insurance, these plans can address many of the issues associated with oral hygiene and aging. For example, most senior plans will cover 100% of preventative and diagnostic care, including exams and x-rays.

But overall the plans often don’t cover enough for the aging or endentulous patient. Dentures, fillings, root canals, extractions, and oral surgery are usually not included. On top of that, most plans have an annual maximum benefit.

For a higher cost, more comprehensive plans including coverage for services like fillings and orthodontics are available. But depending on the level of care needed, the edentulous patient may still feel burdened by other out-of-pocket costs.

Different Types of Coverage Plans

Dental coverage, like any medical plan package, can take a variety of forms, each with their own stipulations.

• Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). In a PPO plan, seniors save money when they see a network of dentists that provide services for a set fee. In contrast, using an out-of-network dentist results in higher fees.
• Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO). Under a DMHO, participants can see dentists within network at little or no cost per service. Dentists participate in the plan in exchange for a set fee per patient, per month.
• Direct Reimbursement Plan. In a direct reimbursement plan, patients can see any dentist they choose. Participants pay a dentist directly, then submit a receipt to the insurance company for reimbursement. As such, these prove less viable for those who cannot afford an upfront out-of-pocket fee.
• Discount Plans. Not technically dental insurance, participants who opt for this coverage can receive dental care at a discounted rate from select dentists who agree to reduce fees. With no need to file a claim, patients will pay a dentist the discounted rate directly.
• Schedule of Allowances Plan. Under this type of plan, the insurance company will pay a set amount for each type of dental work. After that, the patient must pay the difference between the insurance amount and what the dentist charges.

In addition to the generic plans through insurance providers listed above, additional Medicare coverage is available for purchase. A Medicare Advantage plan offers options to pick up dental, vision, and hearing coverage. Unfortunately, however, the reality remains no matter what plan seniors choose, serious care is likely to develop into a problematic expense.

Sterngold Total Smile™: Your Total Solution for the Edentulous Patient

No matter what insurance plan they have—if fortunate enough to have any—the fact remains that dental care costs are prohibitive for many seniors. In recent years, 19% of Medicare beneficiaries spent more than $1,000 on out-of-pocket dental care costs. This may be a significant portion of their limited earnings, given that most of those individuals are living on a fixed income.

As a dental health care provider, you can help provide a remedy to these cost barriers. With the affordable solutions under Sterngold Total Smile™, dentists can positively impact the quality of life for aging Americans with very limited insurance coverage, to none at all.

Sterngold has combined its implant and attachment selections with the advanced capabilities of digital dentures to offer the Sterngold Total Smile™ package. Reduce costs and create a natural-looking smile for patients by ordering the best materials available, from a single source.

A winning solution for all, STS™ can help dental practices reduce fees by reducing the cost of acquisition for a combination of products to many treatment modalities, allowing them to pass savings down to an edentulous patient struggling to afford care, whether they have insurance or not.

Providers also bolster their professional credibility for patient care and concern. With one partner for all your related restorative needs, your practice can avoid negotiating with multiple suppliers. Instead, you’ll find what you need all in one reliable, quality-controlled, convenient place.

Enhance your patients’ quality of life by helping them afford that confidence building smile and supporting a still active and healthy lifestyle. Ask about Sterngold Total Smile™: Reach out to Sterngold today or download the information here.

The mouth is one of the most important parts of the body. We use our mouths, gums, and teeth to speak, chew, swallow, and taste. They are an integral part of the face you present to the world and the tool you use to communicate with those around you. So it stands to reason that for those facts alone dental health (and a regularly scheduled dental visit) should be top of mind for everyone.

But many people don’t know that oral health is also an indicator of overall bodily health. Conditions like diabetes, osteoporosis, immune disorders, and certain cancers often manifest in symptoms such as gum disease, tooth loss, and dry mouth.

Perhaps even more importantly, problems in your mouth can negatively affect your state of wellness as a whole. The mouth is full of bacteria, and while many of these serve beneficial functions, they can also cause tooth decay and gum disease—particularly if you don’t practice proper oral hygiene. In addition, gum disease has been linked to serious health risks such as cardiovascular disease, endocarditis, and pneumonia.

In short, dental health is essential to the body’s overall state of wellbeing, both physical and mental.

A Healthy Smile Improves Confidence

Of course, dental health isn’t only about disease prevention. A healthy mouth means you can smile without feeling self-conscious or worrying about your appearance. And the more you smile, the happier you’re likely to be, since smiling triggers those feel-good chemicals in your brain, reducing stress and improving mental health and immune system response.

A smile is one of the first things people notice, and an engaging smile can be a huge confidence booster. After all, smiling, friendly-looking people naturally draw others to them. You’ll appear more approachable and trustworthy, and feel more comfortable socializing as well. And since fresh breath is a natural byproduct of good oral hygiene, you can also look forward to more pleasant conversations!

Keeping your smile intact also helps to maintain the literal shape of your face. Missing teeth lead to bone loss around the jaw and sunken facial features, which age you prematurely. Yet another reason it’s so important to practice good oral hygiene and dental care.

But if you don’t have that perfect smile, remember it’s never too late to get one. Sterngold has a range of restorative dental products, including implants and dentures, which can help you regain that beautiful grin even after losing a tooth or two.

Your Regular Dental Visit and Good Oral Health Helps Prevent Dental Diseases

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that oral disease affects close to 3.5 billion people worldwide. If left unchecked, it can lead to serious health issues, some of which may be irreversible. While dental diseases are preventable if spotted soon enough, many go undetected in the early stages.

The most common dental health problem today is tooth decay. Also known as a cavity, tooth decay affects an estimated 2.3 billion people globally. Cavities occur when bacteria on the surface of the teeth turn sugar into acids, destroying the tooth’s calcium and minerals.

Gum (periodontal) diseases, caused by an accumulation of plaque and tartar on the teeth, are the second most widespread oral health condition, according to WHO. Starting with inflamed and bleeding gums, known as gingivitis, gum disease can develop into acute periodontitis if untreated. Acute periodontitis is characterized by shrinking gum tissue, bone damage, and even eventual tooth loss.

Tooth abscesses are another side-effect of cavities, gum disease, or a cracked tooth, resulting in an infected tooth and an accumulation of bacteria and pus. If not attended to promptly by a dentist, you could lose the tooth or even develop an infection in the surrounding bone. Dental visits are also helpful in diagnosing oral cancer, a condition that may not be picked up by a general medical practitioner.

Diseases such as diabetes, as well as smoking, medications that inhibit saliva flow, excessive alcohol intake, genetics, and hormonal changes can all increase susceptibility to oral health problems. For example, teenage girls are more prone to swollen gums and mouth sores. Fluctuating hormones can also sometimes lead to periodontal diseases during pregnancy, as well as burning mouth syndrome (BMS) post-menopause. Oral cancers, particularly of the lip, mouth, and oropharynx, are more prevalent in men and older people.

In order to maintain a healthy mouth, it’s important to understand its anatomy, and how to take care of the individual parts. In addition to regular dental checkups and appointments with a dental hygienist, this includes brushing teeth at least twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush, as well as flossing every day and using a mouthwash to help control plaque and keep your breath fresh.

Your Dental Visit Might Lead to Detection of Other Diseases

Time spent in the dentist’s chair isn’t only about oral health. Infections in the mouth can also be a clue to problems elsewhere in the body. These oral symptoms are often the first manifestations of conditions such as HIV, leukemia, and diabetes, and their detection can facilitate early diagnosis and improved outcomes.

Many of these common, but potentially serious conditions manifest strikingly particular oral symptoms early on. Here are some of those oral indicators:

• Diabetes: tooth decay, serious periodontitis, dry mouth, cold sores, oral thrush, bad breath
• Cancer of the head, neck, mouth or throat: ulcerations, red or white spots, lumps, abnormal swelling
• Leukemia: swollen and bleeding gums, corrosion of teeth linked to reflux
• Kidney disease: dry mouth, bad breath that smells like urine
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease, Celiac disease: dry mouth, bad breath, mouth ulcers, corroded tooth enamel
• Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease: mouth ulcers
• HIV: oral thrush, dry mouth, cold sores, gum disease, HPV-related warts
• Autoimmune disease: mouth ulcers, difficulties swallowing, and changes in taste (lupus); swelling in the jaw (rheumatoid arthritis); dry mouth (Sjogren’s syndrome)
• Osteoporosis: loose teeth and receding gums that present in the absence of gum disease
• Anemia: pale gums and tongue

Optimal Dental Health Requires the Right Partner

Brush up on your dental health with a tip-top oral hygiene regimen and frequent visits to the dentist—every six months, or more often if recommended! Regular thorough examinations, followed by a scaling and polishing session with a dental hygienist, are vital to maintaining optimal oral health.

But dental health professionals also need a partner who’s invested in helping them achieve their goals. Pairing with the right manufacturer can help increase patient satisfaction, treatment effectiveness, and practice growth, and maximize competitiveness within the changing landscape of dental technology.

Continuing your dental education is key to helping you retain your current patients and attract new ones. When patients trust you—when they sense that they are not just numbers to your practice—they become loyal patients who are likely to refer you to family and friends. That’s how to grow a dental practice.

Why Continuing Education Is Essential for Dental Practices

As a professional, you’re responsible for providing the best possible dental care for your patients. To keep pace with the best practices and techniques in oral health, continuing education (CE) is a must. Moreover, every state has established minimum continuing education requirements for maintaining professional dental licensure.

The CE process gives dentists a way to keep up with new techniques and trends, learn about exciting new developments, expand their knowledge on the best dental practices and current technologies, and increase their service offerings to best meet the needs of patients and grow their practice.

There are numerous benefits of continuing dental education online, but the here are the Big 4:

1. Improved complex care - While dentists may already have a sound knowledge base, building on this foundation will bring immense value. Continuing education allows dental professionals to grow and gain a better understanding of complex care, such as overdenture, and other implant procedures involving oral surgery.
2. Professional growth - CE affords opportunities to connect with other dental professionals. You’ll meet others in a similar circumstance and create meaningful connections with instructors who can become valuable members of your personal and professional network. These contacts can prove helpful your professional career, so creating and nurturing these professional network, is crucial.
3. Elevated patient care - The level of care you can provide to your patients is a direct result of the CE options you pursue. By keeping yourself informed of the latest advances in treatment modalities and dental technologies, you’ll be better prepared to provide high-quality care and build a growing and loyal patient-base, as well as provide treatment that helps build your practice.
4. Convenient and flexible - Although there are excellent CDE opportunities available, many busy professionals have difficulty finding wiggle room in their schedules to attend. Online continuing education courses held via live or on-demand webinars can be taken from anywhere in the world (distance/remote learning). Technology has revolutionized the face of dental education, making CE as convenient and flexible as possible for busy professionals.

To get the most out of CE, though, consider these factors. Is it affordable, convenient, and with insights that you can immediately apply in your profession or practice? What are the reviews saying about the course? Is the instructor a true expert in the field, with relevant and recent experience? Make sure the course has been approved by the American Dental Association or the Academy of General Dentistry, through the CEUs awarded.

Top Dental Continuing Education Topics

Continued education means continued growth for you and your practice. That said, it’s important to choose your courses wisely, investing in skills and knowledge that support in demand patient care that drives growth. Here are several of the most popular subjects for CDE (continuing dental education):

1. Trends in the dental industry - Perhaps the most popular CE options are those that dive into current trends in the dental industry. These include artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing technology, digital dentistry, tooth remineralization, augmented reality (AR), and teledentistry: patient-centric technologies that are projected to grow the most in 2022. Dentistry was a $15.57 billion industry in 2020, and it is predicted to double by 2027. One of the most significant drivers of growth is an increased demand for new patient-centric technology.

2. Patient engagement - It is important for dental professionals to learn how to better engage and interact with their patients to create pleasant experiences. While not a new concept, we’re in an era of ever-evolving patient demands and expectations. More meaningful connections, through patient-centered care, will significantly help in patient retention, and by extension, practice growth.

3. Patient communication – When you talk to your patients instead of at them, they will feel truly part of the decision around their dental treatment options. Provide as much information as necessary for the patient to consider. Post-treatment, make the request for a referral and a review, an standard part of your team’s patient conversations.

4. How to minimize team stress - Creating a less stressful work environment can be challenging for any dental practice or laboratory, with 79% of dentists saying staff stress management has been a challenge over the past 19 months. Stress affects the staff and this directly impacts their patient intake and communication experience. Clearly, an area that needs intervention.

5. Anesthesia and sedation - Anesthesia and sedation are broad subjects in the dental industry, making them excellent CE course considerations.

6. Dental radiography - Increase your knowledge of radiographic interpretations and promote radiation safety. Here, you’ll stay up-to-date with current FDA recommendations for ordering x-ray examinations while minimizing radiation exposure.

7. Oral surgery - Meet your patient’s oral surgery needs confidently, efficiently, and safely. These courses are designed to teach minimally traumatic tooth extraction techniques, grafting concepts, pain management, suturing techniques, dental implant installation, patient aftercare, and more.

8. Infection control and OSHA - We’re in a pandemic era so protocols must be rigorously enforced. Beyond that, each member of your dental team must understand how to protect themselves from exposure to other potentially infectious agents in the workplace. CE courses on infection control and OSHA demonstrate ways to reduce risks in your practice.

9. Practice management - Encompasses numerous subjects surrounding the skills of running a business, including financial management, HR, marketing, diversity inclusion/cultural competence, training and development.

10. Implant dentistry - A modality that is consistently evolving so it is essential to keep yourself informed on the best possible practices and latest developments. Topics typically cover conventional and mini (small diameter) implant placement, extractions, suturing, bone grafting, sinus lifting, and more.

11. Social media marketing - Learn how to leverage the immense power of social media platforms to engage, attract, and retain patients while driving practice growth.

12. Online review management - Monitor and respond to every review—the good, the bad, the downright ugly—and look for ways to improve.

13. Pediatric dentistry - CE courses dedicated to pediatric dentistry including helping children accept dentistry, behavior management, pediatric special needs patient care, trauma and pain management, as well as identifying and reporting child abuse.

Want to Gain Ideas on Growing Your Practice Sooner Than Later?

From CE-credited seminars to free live and on-demand webinars, Sterngold offers dental professionals the ability to stay informed of best practices in restorative dentistry, as well as practice building ideas. These courses are not limited to the clinician but also includes a few for the entire practice team.

We help you achieve professional growth by leveraging the expertise of practicing Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), who use our products with success, as well as internal experts who have vast experience and knowledge in the areas of implant, digital dentures, and dental supplies and equipment.

Check out the list of courses we offer here.

Sterngold: The Best Partner in Growing a Dental Practice or Laboratory Business

At Sterngold, we believe in affordable access to a better quality of life by staying relevant, pursuing excellence, and helping practice and dental lab owners stay up-to-date on rapidly evolving developments in restorative dentistry. Through our dental continuing education courses, your dental laboratory business can continue to thrive and exceed the expectations of practice clients. We enable you to stay competitive in the changing landscape of dental technology by providing courses on digital workflows using existing products. Our CE courses are delivered either live or on-demand, to be taken at your convenience. Be sure to check out our courses on digital dentures, attachments, and more.

Whether you are planning to take CE courses for skill improvement or for business or practice building, Sterngold Dental has a course for you.

Thanks to major advances in dental implant design in recent years, dental implants have become the preferred solution for edentulism. No more bizarre and wild substitutes from centuries past—now, dental implants can enable natural looking and highly functional restorative outcomes.

It’s more than aesthetic. Dental implants deliver permanent tooth restoration. Considering the high success rate for newer implants (above 97% over 10 years), dental implants have the potential to last a lifetime, leading to a better quality of life.

More and more, patients are convinced of dental implant surgery as they understand how it works and price becomes less of a prohibitive factor. Considering procedure cost and the implant’s longevity compared with other restorative options, patients readily realize their cost-effectiveness.

In response to the growing number of patients interested in dental implants, more and more general dentists are starting to expland their treatment modalities to include placement of implants. Partnering with implant manufacturers like Sterngold enables the clinician to offer a value alternative. Sterngold Dental’s TRU and PUR implants are US made conical and internal hex connection implants offered at a $99 all-in-one bundle that includes all prosthetic components with every implant. Sterngold also has the largest share of the mini (small diameter) implants market. These implants are immediate load and involve flapless surgery.

But innovation is always the goal. Robots, nano dentistry, stem cells: these are just a few of the avenues being explored.

Robot-Assisted Dental Implantation

Robots performing dental surgery? It’s not science fiction. Many advances in digital technology—such as digital workflows and dentures—have already integrated into the industry. Little wonder robotics has entered the space. By the end of 2020, there were already more than 50 dental robots in use across the US.

Robotics brings some significant benefits to dental implant procedures, including improved precision and less invasive surgery. No matter how experienced a prosthodontist, periodontist, or oral surgeon is, free-hand surgery is unlikely to match a robot’s three-dimensional accuracy and efficiency. Think of the robot as a dental assistant who can provide exact, explicit, and detailed guidance throughout the procedure.

Guided surgery procedures have already gained traction throughout the industry, as technology such as 3D imaging, CT scans, and x-rays work in tandem to map out unique solutions and engineer precise implants for patients. Computer-guided implant surgery makes for more accurate surgery and a faster procedure. What might have required several appointments can now be truncated into just one.

Researchers and clinicians are also embracing 3D printing as another technology with significant implications for the future of dental health. Scanning technology can create exact replicas of the jaw and teeth, which in turn allows for more accurate dental implants and prostheses. Implants are then manufactured using reduction printing, sculpting ceramic blocks into perfectly rendered, natural-looking implants for dental restoration. The technology is evolving fast, so get ready for new applications, enhanced design, quicker manufacturing, and superior materials.

Sterngold is a leader in restorative dentistry. It is also at the forefront of the digital denture revolution, using 3D printing and milling—using premium quality materials—to produce dentures with exceptional fit and longevity.

Nanodentistry and Dental Implants

The burgeoning field of nanotechnology has huge implications for the healthcare industry. The application of nanotechnology in dental implant surgery—increasingly used to optimize outcomes in implant procedures—is particularly exciting.

Studies have shown that modifying surface roughness on a nanoscale enhances bone-to-implant contact. This is critical to the long-term clinical performance of implants, improving adhesion, bone formation, and antibacterial capabilities. In addition, patients can look forward to less lengthy treatments and shorter overall healing times.

At present, there are several implants with nanostructured surfaces available on the market. While some are created via grit blasting, anodization, or acid etching, others use different kinds of nanocoatings. While we don’t yet fully grasp the science behind it, some researchers believe nanoparticles mimic the natural structure of human molecules, which in turn stimulates bone cells proliferation around implants.

Organic Dental Implants Using Stem Cell Technology

Stem cell technology is yet another application that shows promise for the dental industry. While the technology might still be in its infancy, imagine a future where you could use stem cells to regrow a missing tooth!

Stem cells are primitive cells with the ability to grow into many different cell types with specialized functions; such as muscle cells, brain cells, and more. Stem cells are present in embryos as well as most body tissue (albeit less abundantly), teeth included, and have the ability to reproduce themselves.

While the technology isn’t yet developed enough to engineer organic dental implants in humans, important progress has been made in animal studies. Research on mice at the University of Illinois implanted stem cell treated molars into rodent tooth sockets and found the stem cell generated implants were able to establish stable attachments between bone and tooth. Further, teeth have been grown successfully at King’s College in London from human gum cells combined with stem cells from mouse embryos. These approaches could one day be used to replant teeth lost as a result of trauma.

The Future Is Now

Seemingly sci-fi technologies like dental robots, nano dentistry, and stem cell engineered implants are closer than you’d think. But even as we wait for those technologies to round the corner into widespread functionality, there are advancements already in implementation that dentists everywhere should take advantage of.

Even if we’re still waiting for robots to do all the work one day, the mapping tools and even dynamic 3D navigation products to give turn-by-turn guidance already provide an invaluable assist to dentists in the workforce today. Whether on the field or for training purposes, guided surgery is a technological game-changer.

Likewise, digital molds can streamline the work process. Sure, we may not have perfected growing identical teeth just yet. But dentists can use 3D mapping tools to construct impossibly detailed models ahead of operations, so as to minimize uncertainties and create an implant as close to the original tooth as possible. Even if it’s not literally a patient’s own tooth yet, we can produce implants nearly indistinguishable from!

Whether it’s 3D modeling and printing now, or stem cells and nano-implants in the future, the point is that it’s time to embrace digital workflows and technology in the dentist’s office. The future—and present—is full of exciting innovations in dentistry we could have only dreamed of a decade ago. It’s time to integrate them into the workplace, to better both your and your patients’ lives.

Start Your Journey into the Future, Now.

Dental implant technology is evolving at a rapid pace, with a number of promising solutions on the horizon. The development of cutting-edge technologies is leading to enhanced outcomes, improved aesthetics, faster procedures, better fitting implants, extremely durable prostheses, and rapid recovery times. But today, there is a patient base looking to you for implant treatment.

General dentists currently place more than half of all dental implants in the US—approximately 500,000 per year—aided by helpful tools using CAD/CAM technology. Considering the number of dental implants they perform a year, the smart choice is to partner with a leader in restorative dentistry. Partnering with a dental implant company like Sterngold offers dentists a full range of quality, precision-engineered, yet affordable restorative dentistry products.

Offering conical and internal hex connection implants, small diameter implants, attachments, digital dentures, digital solutions, restorative supplies and equipment, Sterngold is the right partner for dentists looking to expand their practice. Under its umbrella solution STS™- Sterngold Total Smile™, practice and dental lab owners can find the right combination that can get their practice to the next level.

Mention cannabidiol (CBD) and you likely think of its anxiety-reducing benefits, anti-inflammatory properties, and total body wellness attributes. But there’s another area of the CBD industry that’s growing in popularity: CBD for dental use.

CBD is the compound found in cannabis plants that do not produce ‘highs’ like its cousin tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Instead, CBD works with the body’s natural endocannabinoid system (ECS)—a network of receptors responsible for regulating processes such as sleep, appetite, pain, immune response, memory, mood, and stress response—and is considered to have immense medicinal value.

CBD's health benefits are delivered by bonding to the body's endocannabinoid receptors that are found in the brain, nervous, and immune systems. This means a major impact on your oral and overall health when it’s included in your daily routine.

What Is Cannabidiol (CBD)?

With the rise of natural, plant-based, and more gentle medications, CBD has become more prevalent. But along with the prevalence comes confusion, hence the critical need for CBD education.

CBD is one of the most common cannabinoids found in cannabis and hemp, and it is a non-toxic, water-soluble, natural chemical compound with a wide range of applications. As it relates to cannabis and industrial hemp, CBD is known for its strong antioxidant effects. So, then, what does that have to do with anything dental? Quite a lot.

Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive, meaning it does not get you high. Because of this important distinction, CBD has been gaining popularity as more studies show its many health benefits. Given that marijuana can be used to treat a wide range of medical conditions, it should come as no surprise that CBD is carving a growing niche in dentistry and oral health care.

This makes CBD an effective option to relieve dental discomfort. From a legal perspective, though, it’s important to understand that hemp-derived cannabinoids with no more than 0.3% THC are considered safe and legal. And even though hemp-derived cannabidiol and marijuana-derived cannabidiol are the same molecules, hemp is legal in all 50 states, while marijuana-derived CBD is not.

When deciding to incorporate CBD application into your dental practice, it’s imperative to source medical-grade CBD. This ensures that the CBD being administered is of high quality. CBD as a supplement specifically is not widely regulated. This means that the potency of CBD can be higher or lower than you’d expect. This could result in applications that are too strong or not strong enough. Sourcing medical lab-grade CBD means no contaminants and ensures you receive a product with integrity.

Cannabidiol Use Via TRC Cream

The application of TRC cream is relatively straightforward: massage a small amount of transdermal CBD cream onto the area of discomfort, which typically involves the body of the masseter muscle. This means fewer side effects and discomfort relief can be felt in as little as 10-15 minutes. This is much quicker than traditional methods. When discussing CBD education with patients and practitioners, faster relief times are important aspects to point out.

Additional, but positive CBD side effects include improved sleep and less anxiety, all of which help facilitate the recovery process after a dental procedure. For patients that experience anxiety or apprehension before dental procedures, CBD applications in cream or oil form may be worth considering to create calm.

If you are expecting, let your doctor know before using the application of CBD oil for relieving dental discomfort. For practitioners, this is an important point to disclose as part of CBD education. “We don’t know the effect of CBD on the developing fetus or breastfed newborn,” cautions the FDA. The jury's also still out as to whether long-term continued use of CBD has a negative impact on male fertility.

The Body’s Interaction With CBD Must be Considered Part of CBD Education

Cannabidiol interacts with the body via the ECS. According to Harvard Health, “The CB2 receptors exist mostly in our immune tissue and is critical to helping control our immune functioning, and it plays role in modulating inflammation.” Less inflammation means less discomfort. Since CB2 receptors are targeted instead of CB1, you get relief from dental discomfort without the concerns of a medicinal high.

The effectiveness of cannabidiol applications should be highlighted as part of CBD education. Forbes Health reports: “When applied topically, CBD interacts with neuroreceptors in your endocannabinoid systems which send signals between your cells to help regulate your movement, mood, homeostasis, and immune system.”

Patients and practitioners looking for a more gentle option to relieve dental discomfort may want to consider the application of topical cream. “Topical CBD is more localized and treats [discomfort] in a certain area. Since it is more direct, it may have a more pronounced effect.”

As with any discomfort relieving medication, there are side effects. CBD education is critical to helping both patients and practitioners understand the uses, side effects, benefits, and applications.

Enjoy the Benefits of CBD With TRC

Sterngold Dental provides medical-grade CBD for the dental community in the form of Transdermal Relief Cream (TRC). Developed by dentists for dentists, TRC is a safe and holistic alternative to manage TMJ and neck pain associated with:

• Jaw joint soreness
• Extraction and other dental work
• Post-operative surgical relief after implant placement
• Long open mouth procedures
• Soreness or initial pain from wearing of dental appliances (mouth guard, braces)

Sterngold’s medical-grade strength, 2.5% CBD TRC provides targeted relief that works in minutes and lasts for hours. Patients can get this cream as part of a procedure or by prescription for procedure aftercare and recovery.

Long-Lasting Therapeutic Effects Without Psychoactive Side-Effects

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are a group of conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the joints and muscles that control jaw movement. There are three major categories of TMJ disorders: myofascial pain, internal derangement, and degenerative disorders.

Myofascial centers on the muscles that control jaw movement. Internal derangement of the joint means misalignment in some parts of the jaw, including a displaced disc, dislocated jaw, or injured condyle (a protuberance in a bone that helps connect it to another). Degenerative joint or bone disorders can affect the TMJ, such as arthritis. All three of these major categories have been tested with cannabidiol applications or TRC cream with high effectiveness.

Researchers in Poland have discovered that patients with TMJ disorders reported less muscle tension and reduced discomfort after applying topically-prepared CBD to the affected areas. Patients that applied this CBD dental pain treatment reported a 70% reduction in jaw discomfort. In contrast, a control group that used a placebo reported only 10% pain reduction.

Research further shows that transdermal CBD has the potency to combat pain and reduce inflammation through pro-neurogenic effects and by diminishing pro-inflammatory cytokines (small secreted proteins released by cells). Researchers have noted that reducing joint inflammation is an important reason to use medical-grade, dentist-approved CBD for TMJ discomfort. In a video testimonial, a patient shared that she normally gets 2-5 hours of relief, sometimes all day relief using this CBD oil-based TRC, and that she highly recommends the treatment to other patients.

Do you have anxious patients before procedures? Would any of them be open to a more natural and gentle sedation alternative? Several dental practices have used applications of CBD oil extract in order to help reduce patient anxiety. Many patients who have used CBD during or after the procedure have expressed less or no need for opioids, Tylenol, or ibuprofen to remedy post-procedure dental discomfort and swelling due to inflammation.

Periodontal treatments like scaling and root planning can create a lot of inflammation. Some clinical studies have shown that CBD “may also be useful for relieving inflammation caused by gum disease and controlling inflammation after periodontal treatments like deep cleanings (scaling and root planning).”

Relief From Dental Discomfort During Procedures

Installing small diameter implants is a common yet painful procedure. Many practitioners prescribe traditional dental discomfort relief options. These typically include heavy sedation or strong after-care prescriptions.

“Adding in the use of CBD to my dental practice has been a complete game-changer. As an adjunct or sometimes stand-alone treatment, it offers tremendous benefits with no unwanted side effects. It is one of the missing links to overall patient care.” – Kathleen Carson, DDS.

Instead of relying solely on opioids for pain relief, CBD-based remedies are gentle, natural, and less invasive. This can help lower pre-procedure patient anxieties as well as treat post-procedure pain.

Upgrade Your Knowledge With CBD Education

By continuously exhibiting their powerful pain-relieving properties, cannabinoids are rapidly shedding any negative connotations and reinforcing their enormous promise as an alternative and holistic treatment option to oral analgesics, opioids, and steroids.

While there are tremendous opportunities to grow, CBD education will definitely be key to your success. How does CBD work? Is CBD legal? What are the benefits of CBD? When and where can I use it? CBD is an evolving industry and continuing your CBD education has benefits for both patients and practitioners. The more knowledgeable a dental professional is about cannabinoids, the better the patient experience will be with this new treatment method. Informed patients will feel safe while dental practitioners will gain added confidence in industry knowledge and patient care.

A global player with a rich and celebrated history in the dental community, Sterngold Dental regularly offers continuing education courses by opinion leaders and other expert dental professionals (live or on-demand) to help practice and dental lab owners stay ahead of rapidly evolving developments in the dental industry.

Whether it's attachments, implants, provisional or impression materials, and other restorative products, at Sterngold Dental, affordable dental access that leads to enhanced quality of life is our driving force. We do this by pursuing excellence and leveraging the synergistic power of our extensive product lines, dynamic partnerships, and unparalleled technical expertise.

Get in touch with the Sterngold team today and let us help you bring dental discomfort relief and confident smiles to your patients through reliable, quality, and affordable dental products.

The Gilded Age was era of rapid economic growth, especially in the Northern and Western United States. This unique period saw significant urbanization (by 1900, nearly 40% of Americans lived in major cities) as well as astounding advances in technology, transforming America into an industrial powerhouse. Starting with the end of the Civil War, this remarkable growth spurt was driven—in large part—by bold and ambitious “captains of industry” including notable figures like J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and Cornelius Vanderbilt. Sometimes called “robber barons” by the less fortunate, these men were the brains behind some of the century’s most well known monopolies and oversaw incredible developments, including the first transcontinental railroad and steel factory mechanization.

Meanwhile... It was during this time period that Mr. I. Stern founded the original company, “I. Stern & Company, Inc.” with one employee by his side: Mr. Samuel Newman. Originally located near Union Square (at that time the center of New York's dental supply trade), the firm confined its products to the dental field for the first half of its existence.

1890s

The late 1800s is an important period of innovation in the field of dentistry. In Micro-Organisms of the Human Mouth—published in 1890—Willoughby Miller describes the microbial basis of dental decay. What followed is a sudden but persistent interest in oral hygiene. In fact, a global movement is quickly established to promote daily toothbrushing and flossing, hitherto considered an optional part of a person’s usual routine. Then in 1896, a well-known dentist—C. Edmond Kells of New Orleans—takes the first dental x-ray of a living person in the United States. By 1899, the different types of malocclusion have been identified and orthodontics becomes a dental specialty.

Meanwhile, at Sterngold... In the 1890s, the core business of I. Stern & Company, Inc. involved fabricating precious alloys. In fact, our company was credited with the production of the very first consistently formulated and alloyed dental casting golds. All work is done by just two staff members—founder Mr. Stern and his right-hand man, Mr. Newman—at the plant’s original headquarters near Union Square in New York.

1900-1920

The porcelain jacket crown is invented, as is the local anesthetic which would later become Novocaine. In 1906, Herman Chayes develops the T-shaped precision attachment, and by 1912 he refines his model and produces the Chayes attachment. In 1907 William Taggert devises his “lost wax” casting machine, thereby giving dentists the ability to craft precision cast fillings, while in 1908 , the leading reformer and educator of American dentistry—Greene Vardiman Black—publishes his Operative Dentistry. Comprised of two volumes, this massive tome would be the definitive dental text for clinicians for the next fifty years. In 1913, the man often referred to as the “Father of Dental Hygiene”—Dr. Fones—established the very first school of oral hygiene, and becoming a licensed “hygienist” became a reliable and sought after line of work. Then, in 1918, the Ney Company sold the first dental attachment.

Meanwhile, at Sterngold... In 1906, the I. Stern & Company, Inc. factory moves from Union Square to 116th Street. By 1918, the staff numbers 15, of whom one, Mr. H. James Stern, served in the Army, others not being of military age. At this stage of the company’s evolution, the core focus is still the manufacturing of precious metal dental alloys.

1921-1940

The American Board of Orthodontics—the world’s first dental specialty board—is established in 1930. Just prior to 1940, two important developments are introduced to the world of dentistry: screw based implants and the synthetic toothbrush. In 1936, an orthopedic surgeon named Charles Venable invents a biocompatible implant metal and calls it Vitallium. The following year (1937) a dentist named Alvin Strock uses this new material to create and insert a dental screw implant on a patient. And in 1938, oral hygiene is changed forever when the nylon toothbrush (the first to use synthetic fibers) is introduced to consumers.

Meanwhile, at Sterngold... In 1921, Sterngold produces our first dental attachment, the Type 7, which is very similar to the Stern Latch. Throughout the 1920s, Sterngold evolves into a leading manufacturer of dental implants and dental attachments. (As the Ney Company is no longer in business, that currently makes Sterngold the oldest existing dental attachment company in the world!) In 1926, the factory moves to West 40th Street in New York and activities are extended to include fabrication of precious materials for the jewelry trade, electrical sector, and other industries. In 1940, the factory is moved again, this time to 233 Spring Street.

1941-1960

In 1945, cities begin treating their water with sodium fluoride and in 1950, the first fluoride toothpastes are introduced to market. In 1948 President Truman establishes the National Institute of Dental Research which secures ongoing federal funding for dental developments and innovations. In 1949, a process for adhering acrylic to dentin is developed by Swiss chemist Oskar Hagger, and then in 1955, the use of acrylics in dentistry is further evolved by the invention of the acid etch technique. Discovered by Michael Buonocore, this process increases the bond of acrylic fillings to enamel, making tooth-colored fillings (as opposed to metal ones) ever more popular and practical. Meanwhile, in 1952, Swedish physician Per-Ingvar Brånemark discovers titanium can be fused with bone, and he would later develop the modern dental implant. By 1960, sit-down high speed dentistry that uses four hands and high speed drills for shortened treatment time becomes the norm.

Meanwhile, at Sterngold... In 1947, I. Stern & Company, Inc. celebrates its 50th anniversary. The staff consisted of approximately 140 men and women divided into groups of trained craftsmen, engineers in metallurgical and other branches, sales, and office personnel, etc. A Group Insurance and a Retirement Plan are installed for employees, and the plant moves from New York City to 320 Washington St., Mt. Vernon, NY, where over 60,000 feet of manufacturing space is devoted to fabricating fine precious metal products, including STERN golds, solders, and attachments.

1961-1980

In 1962, Rafael Bowen patents Bis-GMA. This thermoset methacrylate monomer complex becomes the go-to choice for most modern composite resin restorative materials and is still widely used in dental work today. Then in 1965, Per-Ingvar Branemark places his first titanium dental implant into a human volunteer—a man named Gosta Larsson suffering from severe facial and jaw deformities for whom the operation proves life-changing. Dr. Branemark finally secures financing for his project in the 1970s and later details the process and techniques for the osseointegration of titanium dental implants, forever changing the field of implantology.

Meanwhile, at Sterngold... Still located in Mt. Vernon, by 1971, the manufacturing of precision and semi-precision attachments becomes a major focus for the company. Modern equipment, precise quality control and constant research, backed by over 50 years of close cooperation with the dental profession, are the reasons why leading dentists and technicians prefer the STERN Gold line.

1980-Present

Thanks to several developments, aesthetics take center stage in American dentistry: restorative practices and procedures now focus just as much on form as function. The introduction and proliferation of tooth-colored acrylics and veneers as well as bleaching techniques mark a new obsession with restoring an attractive smile. The digital transformation also evolves the practice of restorative dentistry, including the introduction of digital dentures. In 1983, Andersson develops the Procera system and in 1985, Mörmann introduces the CEREC system. Maeda and his team first use CAD/CAM technology to develop dentures in 1994.

Meanwhile, at Sterngold... In the 1980s, an additional field office for sales and marketing is established in Stamford, while in 1984, the Mt. Vernon factory is relocated to 23 Frank Mossberg Drive, Attleboro, Massachusetts. In 1985, Sterngold advances dental technology once again by manufacturing ERA resilient attachments and by 1991, Sterngold Dental has introduced the still popular ERA overdenture magnetic system.

In 1993, APM-Sterngold acquires ImplaMed, effectively expanding the business into the mini implant market. The Stern EX (external hex Branemark style root form implants) are our company’s first foray into implant manufacturing, and the Stern IC (single stage ITI compatible prosthetic connection) follows soon after. In 1997, Sterngold celebrates 100 years in business, starts selling consumables (such as EZ Pick Up and InstaTemp® Max) under the SternVantage™ purview in 1998, and officially launches its ecommerce website in 1999.

The Future Is Golden for Sterngold Dental

In the first two decades of 21st century, we have developed several new and enduring products. The 2.2 ERA implant was introduced in 2002, and the 3.25 ERA implant in 2003. Our TRU® conical and PUR® internal hex connection implants were introduced in 2015, providing a value option for implantologists. In 2016, we introduced our MOR® mini implants (aka small diameter implants), providing an affordable and minimally invasive implant option for dental patients. In 2019, Sterngold partnered with Merz Dental AG and began distributing digital denture solutions.

Today, Sterngold remains committed to the continual evolution of dental technology by frequently developing new product offerings, providing continuing education for dental practitioners, transforming with its customers to sustain growth, thrive, and win together.

Sources:

• https://www.adea.org/GoDental/Health_Professions_Advisors/History_of_Dentistry.aspx
• https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/ada-library/dental-history
• http://www.historyofdentistry.net/dentistry-history/timeline-of-dentistry/
• https://blog.ddslab.com/the-history-of-dental-implants
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_implant#History
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4040928/
• https://www.ipinnovative.com/media/journals/APRD_3(1)_6-9.pdf
• https://decisionsindentistry.com/article/digital-dentistry-for-complete-dentures/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5661720/

Restorations requiring a provisional or temporary crown are an integral part of crown and bridge treatment plans. Ideally, you want these temporary restorations to be functional, practical, accurate, and predictable—as well as attractive to look at, simple to use, and affordable. To craft the perfect restoration, you need the right materials. Paying inadequate attention to your supplies can result in serious consequences for your patient down the line—from broken temporary restorations, to gingivitis, and compromised occlusion and inadequate final restoration. Make sure you use only superior quality products, like Sterngold’s InstaTemp® Max.

InstaTemp® Max is a self-cure bis-acryl composite resin, formulated for a direct provisional technique (meaning you can safely place material in the mouth using a matrix). Odorless, tasteless, and self-curing, InstaTemp® MAX promises and delivers an easy and high-quality finish.

InstaTemp® Max Delivers Superior Results

A combination of low exothermic and high biocompatibility characteristics—along with fast setting times—makes Sterngold InstaTemp® Max the ideal material. Its primary setting time is about three minutes.

The dispensing guns are autoclavable, with smaller mixing tips that reduce waste. The auto-mix system eliminates the need for hand mixing, and you can apply the material directly into the impression/matrix without the risk of air bubbles.

How to Use InstaTemp® Max

Using InstaTemp® Max is also a fairly straightforward process.

First, place the cartridge into your dispensing gun. Choose a mixing tip and attach it to the cartridge. Then, express the InstaTemp® Max into the tooth form for your impression. To prevent bubbles, fill from the deepest point outwards, and make sure to express enough material to fully capture the prepared margins. The excess material may flash around the adjacent teeth, but is easily removed.

Next, insert the impression or clear matrix filled with InstaTemp® Max into the mouth. Hold it firmly in place for a setting time of about two-and-a-half to three minutes before removing. Monitor the curing process closely—removal is only possible during this rubbery phase! If a correction is needed after, simply place a new tip on the cartridge, express more InstaTemp® Max material onto the recently-polymerized deficient area, re-insert, and allow the material to polymerize for another three minutes.

When the process is complete, remove the provisional restoration from the impression matrix. Allow the material an additional three minutes to cure before attempting to trim and contour the crown or bridge. Remove the soft, sticky inhibition layer with an alcohol wipe, and polish the restoration. For a high-luster finish, we recommend using SternVantage® Varnish, which is a light-cured one-component surface coating material.

Finally, cement the restoration in place. Use your temporary cement of choice—but we recommend automatically-mixing temporary cements like TempoLok™.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do the InstaTemp®dispensing gun and mixing tip work with InstaTemp®Max? Unfortunately, the two products are not cross-compatible. Different cartridge and dispensing gun shapes make the products impossible to intermix. Further, the old InstaTemp® guns and mixing tips will not work with the Max cartridges, and vice versa.
• Can I remove the slide from the InstaTemp®Max dispensing gun? Slides in the safety guns are not removable. You need a 4:1 ratio gun to use InstaTemp® Max. The cartridges will not work if the slide is a different size/ratio.
• How long does the self-cure material take to set? The rubbery phase lasts from two to three minutes. While you should remove the impression from the mouth after three minutes, please be advised that the material will take seven minutes to fully cure. Note that differences in temperature and humidity can also affect setting times.
• Can I use other materials for the PTT technique besides InstaTemp® Max?Yes. While Sterngold InstaTemp® Max and Composite LC shades are most recommended, you may use any shade, type, and brand of composite.
• What is the sticky oxygen inhibited layer? You will find that restorations accrue a very thin layer of uncured resin after curing. This layer always forms on composite material, due to an interaction with oxygen in the air. Remove this with alcohol before finishing and polishing or applying SternVantage® Varnish.
• How many restoration units can one cartridge of InstaTemp®Max produce? On average, a cartridge comprises approximately 50 units.
• Is it possible to use reinforcement to strengthen long-span temporaries? Yes. Reinforced fiber materials, such as Construct from KerrLab, can be placed in the middle of the provisional for increased strength.
• Is InstaTemp® Max radio-opaque? Yes. InstaTemp® Max has added barium glass as a filler. This not only increases its strength, but also makes it radio-opaque.

We’re living in a golden age of innovation, where new technologies are developing at a rapid pace and transforming every industry—dentistry included. New developments in dentistry are improving precise diagnosis potential, increasing accessibility, and expanding treatment options. These advancements improve the quality, dependability, and efficiency of your dental lab partner; but only if they adapt to meet the moment.

For example, digital dental technology is replacing traditional techniques with solutions that offer more accurate treatments, while also trimming time and costs. Dental laboratories who are not investing in, and making use of digital solutions, will quickly fall by the wayside in a competitive market. After all, clinicians are searching for the best quality and most advanced treatments at the most affordable cost so they can pass these benefits onto their patients and grow their dental practice.

New Technology Increases the Product and Service Value of a Dental Practice

New technologies are transforming every stage of the dentistry workflow. One of the most significant recent advancements in the dental world is 3D printing technology. 3D printing improves dental labs’ model-making, surgical guides, and wax-ups, influencing the cost, speed, and accuracy of dental services and products. A lab that produces high-quality products while minimizing costs empowers dental practices to offer increased benefits to their patients.

Additionally, robotics are making an increased mark on the industry. The first robot designed specifically for dental implant surgery was endorsed by the FDA back in 2017, and since then robotic additions have become more and more prevalent. These surgical robots—specifically designed to allow more precise control over surgeries—enable less invasive procedures and precipitate healing.

Ultrasound technology, while not new to the medical field, offers a radiation-free alternative to many 2D and 3D imaging solutions common in modern dentistry. Although resolution and accuracy capabilities required for 3D images of the teeth and jaw in dentistry still lag somewhat, advancements in ultrasound technology hold incredible promise for safe imaging solutions.

If you thought virtual reality was just for video gaming, think again. VR is poised to revolutionize dental education and training. You will soon be able to use VR systems to hone skills and test the latest techniques and technology under the guidance of an expert without live patients. VR promises immense dental training capabilities, operating essentially as a virtual lab.

Quality Management Systems Ensure the Efficiency of Dental Laboratory Services

Dental labs deal with a range of complex operations every day. Thus, quality management systems and workflows are integral to business operations. Good management ensures that a dental lab can handle partner demands without sacrificing quality, accuracy, reliability, or timeliness.

Dental laboratories need to reduce inaccurate measurements and tests to an absolute minimum—but this is no easy feat. A 99% accuracy rate may sound impressive at first. But in a system where even the smallest slip-up can have drastic outcomes, a 1% error at any point in workflow could be significant enough to cause major harm. That 1% of mistakes can spawn unnecessary treatment or diagnostic testing, complications, delays in diagnoses, or failure to provide required treatments.

From organizational structures to process controls to customer service, an effective quality management system should involve all aspects of lab operations.

Expand Treatment Offerings With the Latest Dental Products

On the heels of a challenging year across industries in 2020, a full two-thirds of lab operators reported an increase in sales and profitability in the first half of 2021. As a dental practitioner, one of the best ways to expand treatment options within your practice and increase case acceptance rates is to partner with a dentla lab that has access to current technology and can deliver relevant services using cost-effective products.

When patients are comfortable with case recommendations, they are more likely to accept and receive the care they need. Using the latest tools and products streamlines dental care and contributes to your practice being viewed as a modern provider. State-of-the-art technologies offer an increased range of solutions and allow practitioners to provide reassuring care to patients.

Manufacturers like Sterngold Dental combine the latest dental solutions with cost-effective options, allowing labs and practitioners to expand treatment offerings and retain clients. Sterngold's Dental Lab Partnership Program, for example, enable the dental lab to extend a reasonable implant supported crown service fee that practitioners can pass on to their patients.

Why Pairing With the Labs That Have Current Technology Is Key.

Partnering with a dental lab that embraces current dental technologies can both increase patient satisfaction and boost your practice reputation. Seek out labs that have access to current dental technologies such as intraoral scanners, digital dentures, 3D printing, and guided surgery. Sterngold Dental can be a provider of all these. Contact Sterngold today and ask about dental laboratories that can work on acitvely getting your practice to the next level.

Do you take very good care of your teeth? If you regularly brush, floss, rinse, and visit your dentist regularly, then you’re well on your way towards keeping your teeth healthy for years to come. However, sometimes dental extraction is inevitable.

While maintenance makes it less likely, no matter how well you take care of your teeth, certain conditions may arise that require a dentist’s intervention. If left untreated and allowed to worsen, these conditions can compound so much that dental extraction is required. This is more common than you would think—26% of Americans between the ages of 20 and 44 have untreated dental cavities as of 2018. Many of these cases eventually worsen to the point of needing extraction.

Fortunately, there is still hope for a beautiful smile and great dental health after an extraction thanks to dental implants.

The Benefits of Dental Extraction

While it may seem like an intimidating procedure—and indeed usually only occurs when the tooth is unsalvageable—dental extraction can have many benefits. It can mitigate unnecessary chronic pain, prevent infection from spreading, helps the rest of your mouth stay healthy, and more. Plus, with new dental implants that look and function just like a tooth, you don’t have to compromise your smile.

Pain Relief

Many patients are driven to dental clinics in search of pain relief. Of course, some of the causes of this pain—such as lodged objects or early-stage tooth decay—are easily remedied. However, sometimes it can be something more serious causing the discomfort. If a patient has allowed an infection to grow and reach the tooth roots, the pain can be severe. At this point, tooth extraction is the only option for pain relief.

Dental Extraction Protects the Rest of Your Teeth

What affects one tooth can affect them all. Cavities, infections, and impacted teeth can have detrimental effects on neighboring teeth if left untreated. Dental extraction is necessary in some cases not only to remove the affected tooth, but also to keep the surrounding teeth safe. Dealing with a condition that has spread to other teeth is not only complicated, but also expensive.

Compensates for Overcrowding

In some cases, dental extraction would be recommended even though the tooth in question is healthy. In an overcrowded mouth, teeth do not have the space to move and realign as needed, which can result in crooked, overlapping, or painful teeth. An extraction creates room for your teeth to adjust, relieving discomfort and aligning your smile.

Treats Irreparable Damage

Once tooth decay reaches the pulp at the center, a tooth passes the point of no return. Infection is soon to follow as the bacteria causing the decay spreads to the pulp. Sometimes, a root canal can help treat the infection. However, if the infection has reached a severe level, extraction is the best option to treat pain and prevent the infection from spreading.

Tooth Replacement Options

Dental extraction is not the end of the line for your smile. After the procedure, there are a number of options you can consider to replace your tooth. Newer dental technologies can recreate almost your exact smile with implants and dentures.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are a form of prosthetic dentistry that also deliver cosmetic benefits. These implants are synthetic tooth roots that provide support for extracted tooth restoration. By acting as roots, dental implants prevent jaw bone loss, provide strength for chewing, and continue to support facial features in absence of the original tooth.

Mini implants are one of the most popular solutions. These smaller implants are less invasive and more affordable than their conventional counterparts. They are also loaded in just one day, while regular dental implants take at least two sessions.

But while mini implants are a great alternative where appropriate, conventional dental implants are the standard, making them more suitable for crown and bridge placement. Whatever kind of dental implant your case needs, it’s important to secure them from a trusted and reputable supplier.

Partial Dentures and Overdentures

A partial denture is a natural-looking and removable dental prosthetic that acts to replace missing teeth by restoring both form and function. These dental appliances work against the imbalance caused by a few missing teeth.

An alternative to partial dentures are overdentures. There are a few differences between a conventional partial denture and an overdenture. Overdentures are an alternative to bridges, and rest on implants. What is best for you is up to you and your dentist, but as always, remember to make sure your dentures are from a reliable manufacturer.

Fixed Dental Bridges

A fixed dental bridge is a permanent, custom-made replacement that fulfills the function of missing teeth. A dental bridge is cemented in place by attaching it to the crowns of the teeth adjacent to the gap. As such, only a dentist can remove them. A bridge permanently restores bite function, keeps the natural shape of your face, and provides stability similar to your natural teeth.

When evaluating your options to see if a dental bridge is for you, make sure you consult your doctor to find the best quality bridgework for your needs.

Ensure Your Dental Appliances Are the Best

Naturally, the best thing you can do for your teeth is to take care of them properly so they stay healthy as long as possible. However, no matter how much careful maintenance you do, an extraction is inevitable for many of us. As such, it’s important to understand the benefits of extraction and your options to replace teeth after.

Dental implants, dentures, and bridges are important after a dental extraction to make sure you keep your bite, alignment, and appearance. When consulting with a dentist regarding your plans after extraction, ask if they use products from a trusted restorative partner such as Sterngold Dental.

As a leader in restorative dentistry since 1897, Sterngold produces some of the best dental products on the market, including implants, dentures, and more. Operating globally and guided by a philosophy that marries quality with affordability, there are few better choices than Sterngold out there today.

Want to make a good impression? When it comes to successfully fabricating restorations and prostheses (both removable and fixed), having accurate and quality impression trays and record bases is essential. Supplies like our SternTek® Custom Tray and Baseplate Material can be a game changer for restorative dentistry operations.

Visible-Light-Cured Custom Tray and Baseplate Material

A restoration is only as good as the materials it’s made from , and SternTek® provides the optimal solution for a first-class outcome with urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) based dental resins. Visible-light-curable UDMA-based dental resins are among the most reliable composite acrylic materials for restorative procedures today, especially when it comes to custom impression tray and record baseplate production.

In addition to their affordability, SternTek® custom tray and baseplate materials also offer the following advantages:

• Low shrinkage percentage
• High elasticity and malleability, as the finished custom tray is able to withstand flexing, and is easily adaptable and trimmable
• Stability—the act of making an impression does not distort the material
• Uniform 2-millimeter sheet thickness—optimal toughness without being brittle
• Odorless material
• Compatible with most standard disinfectants
• Economically presented in prefabricated sheets
• Extra material is reusable
• Compatible with standard elastomeric impression materials
• No extra support needed for tray handles
• Quick curing with UV or halogen light allows for adequate working time
• Three-year shelf life from date of manufacture (if stored properly)

The UDMA resin’s user-friendliness, reliability, dimensional stability, uniform thickness, and strength make it a go-to solution for manufacturers looking to provide the correct substrate for an accurate impression or denture setup. Trays are available in blue and rose-colored sheets, while the baseplates come in translucent pink.

Making Your Custom Tray and Baseplate

First, prepare your dried models and mark them as necessary. Apply a thin layer of separator to the model. Remove a sheet of tray material from the sealed box. (Be sure to reseal the box tightly right away.) Gently form the sheet of material around the model, using your fingers or the end of a wax spatula—start in the center and push it into the palate. Be careful not to stretch the material too much!

Carefully fold the material over the edges, pushing into the area at the border of your tray. Trim away the excess from the designated borders—you can store this extra material for later use, or use it to make the tray handle.

You should be left with a comprehensive oxygen-inhibiting coating: this is the sticky, resin-rich uncured layer covering the surface of the model. While you could remove this layer with careful finishing and polishing, it’s more efficient to apply an oxygen barrier—the SternVantage® Varnish LC is a light-cure, one-component surface coating material that will do the trick. The varnish will also produce a hard, high gloss, solvent- and stain-resistant, ultra-dry finish after polymerization.

Optimal Curing Using Sterngold’s Light Polymerization Unit

Now that you’ve shaped your mold, it’s time to cure the material. With a UDMA-based resin, this is as simple as prepping it with ultraviolet A (UVA) or halogen light.

If you chose not to apply an oxygen barrier, be sure to clean the resin with alcohol or acetone prior to curing. To begin the curing process, simply set the timer on your light polymerization (light cure) box for two minutes and let the light do its work.

The tray should be set after two minutes of curing. However, the space under the handle may not be done yet. Be sure to check, and if this is the case, take the tray off, flip it over, and return it to the light unit for another minute or so.

Use a lathe or a burr to smooth off any rough spots: the best way to tell if you've done a good job is to run your finger along the edge. If you need to make any additions, simply roughen the area, apply a SternVantage® Varnish LC primer, incorporate the additional material, and repeat the light-curing cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I be concerned if the tray material lifts away from the model during the curing process?

No. There is always some minor shrinkage with this material as it cures and polymerizes. This may be visible as the tray pulls away from the model, especially in the palatal areas. Minimize shrinkage by fitting the tray material as close as possible to the model and avoiding excess material in the palatal region. Shrinkage depends mainly on the filler percentage and resins used, not the curing light intensity.

Is the tray material self-adhesive prior to polymerization?

Yes. This helps secure your tray handle, as metal supports (such as paperclips) won’t be necessary to keep it from slumping.

How do I achieve a smooth surface on the custom tray?

The simplest way to achieve a smooth, high-gloss surface on your custom tray is with SternVantage® Varnish LC. Apply a thin coat of varnish to the outside surface of the tray and cure to produce a glossy, patient-friendly surface.

Trust Sterngold Dental for All Your Restorative Dentistry Supplies

To deliver the best restorative output, you need high quality products. For an accurate fit, trust our SternTek® Custom Tray and Baseplate materials. Our affordable, easy-to-use, dimensionally stable and strong materials will create an excellent impression.

Do you know the whole tooth? Didn’t think so! Tooth anatomy is complex and your chompers play an important role in your day-to-day quality of life. Just ask anyone who’s had to replace their teeth with a full set of dentures... Despite their importance, many people take their teeth for granted: more than one in four adults in the United States live with untreated tooth decay.

Your teeth are there for so much more than just chewing—they give structure to the jaw, provide tissue support, and are essential to forming words. If it’s been a while since high school science class, here’s a short and sweet rundown of tooth anatomy.

Parts of a Tooth

In simplest terms, the tooth is made up of three distinct parts: the root, the neck, and the crown.

Root

The root, making up approximately two-thirds of the tooth, is the largest part. It primarily exists below the gum line, acting as an anchor to hold the tooth in place. The root has several different components within it:

• Cementum: Also known colloquially as cement, this bone-like tissue encases the root. It works together with the periodontal ligament to anchor the tooth to its socket.
• Nerves and blood vessels: Nerves connecting the tooth to the jaw control chewing force, while blood vessels supply nutrients to the periodontal ligament.
• Root canal: This is a corridor running through the root that contains pulp (blood and nervous tissue).
• Periodontal ligament: This tough ligament, connected to the cementum, also houses nerves and blood vessels, and helps hold teeth in place.

Neck

The neck, also referred to as the dental cervix, is a dividing area where the crown meets the root. It has two main parts:

• Gums: Gums are connective tissue attached to the cementum and the neck of the tooth. The gums form a tight seal around the tooth, keeping it in place while protecting against bacteria.
• Pulp Cavity: As the name implies, this is an internal space stretching into the crown that houses pulp—a collection of blood and nervous tissue.

Crown

The crown is the visible part of the tooth, and what most people are immediately familiar with. The crown consists of:

• Anatomical Crown: This is the uppermost and only visible part of the tooth.
• Enamel: This is the hardest tissue in your body. The enamel acts as an outer barrier to protect the tooth from bacteria and the pressure of chewing. However, since enamel contains no living cells, it cannot repair itself from damage. As such, only dentists can correct enamel damage.
• Dentin: Dentin is the layer of tissue located directly under the enamel, to protect the tooth from heat and cold. When enamel wears away and exposes the dentin, acidic or cold food can stimulate the nerves, causing discomfort.

Types of Teeth

Not every tooth has the same exact shape. While all teeth have the same general structural components, you have a variety of different types of teeth, each with their own specialized purpose.

• Incisors: Your front-most teeth, for example, are called incisors. The incisors have a wide, chisel-shaped appearance, and are designed to help clamp down on and cut up food. These are usually the first teeth to appear in young children.
• Canines: Just after your incisors come the canine teeth. Also sometimes referred to as eyeteeth, canines take their name because their pointy shape resembles dog fangs. As such, their purpose is to grasp and tear food apart.
• Molars: Moving further back yet, one finds the premolars and molars. The premolars are transitional teeth, guiding food down from the canines backwards through the mouth. Each premolar has two points that help you grind and mash food. They are then followed by the molars, which are our largest teeth and are strong enough to withstand the force of chewing and grinding food. Molars have multiple points on their surface to help process bolus. Most adults have 12 molars.

How Many Sets of Teeth?

The average human will go through two sets of teeth in their life—one transitional in their youth, and then another permanent set in adulthood.

The first set is known variously as children’s, baby, milk, or primary teeth. They are temporary, destined to be replaced by a permanent set. Until then, however, they help young children chew food, shape the way their jaw grows, and assist in the forming of their first words. This first set consists of 20 teeth, divided into four incisors, two canines, and four molars in each jaw.

Sometime between the ages of six and twelve, these begin falling out, supplanted by so-called permanent or secondary teeth. This set contains 32 teeth—four incisors, two canines, four premolars, and six molars in each jaw. Adult teeth are larger, less pointed, and more resistant to wear and tear than their younger counterparts.

The final four teeth to emerge are called wisdom teeth. These are a set of four molars that erupt in the furthest corners of your mouth. While once useful, human diets have evolved in such a way that jaws are becoming smaller, and wisdom teeth are no longer functionally necessary. As such, many people experience intense discomfort when these teeth break through the gum line, and often have them removed.

Common Painful Tooth Conditions

While our teeth are essential, and some of the strongest parts of our bodies, they also require a good bit of care to stay in tip-top shape. Any number of chronic conditions can impact the integrity of your teeth, such as:

• Cavities: Cavities are holes formed by a prolonged buildup of acid and bacteria on a tooth’s surface. Cavities can cause sensitivity, infection, pain, and even tooth loss if left untreated and allowed to bore deeper into the tooth. Proper dental hygiene, including dentist appointments, is important to prevent cavities.
• Chipped Tooth: A chipped tooth is the most common type of dental injury, as it can be caused by sudden accidents both big and small. Treatments include dental crowns, resin bonding, or even a root canal followed by a veneer.
• Cold Sensitivity: If you notice cold food begins causing discomfort, then you may have developed cold sensitivity. Cold sensitivity is usually symptomatic of an underlying problem. To resolve this, a dentist would first need to find the cause of the sensitivity, which may include cavities, worn enamel, gum disease, exposed roots, or fractured teeth. Depending on the cause, treatment may include a filling, root canal, or gum treatment.
• Impacted Tooth: An impacted tooth occurs when the mouth is overcrowded and there isn’t enough space for a new tooth to emerge. As such, the standard treatment is to just remove the problem tooth.
• Gum Disease: Gum problems come in several forms, including bleeding, tenderness, or pulling away from the teeth. These symptoms are usually caused by plaque buildup. Avoid gum disease by constantly practicing proper dental hygiene, such as brushing, flossing, and making regular visits to the dentist.

Don’t Take Teeth for Granted: Visit a Dentist

It’s important to take dental health seriously, and the best care begins at home. Proper dental care includes regular brushing, flossing, antibacterial rinsing, and regular visits to the dentist. If you suspect you may be developing a condition in need of treatment, it’s important to consult with a dentist right away so that the issue does not worsen.

But all is not lost should your teeth need replacement. The best restorative dentists work with the best products and treatment modalities available, which is why Sterngold has been the partner of choice for dentists and clinics since 1897. A leader in the art of restorative dentistry, Sterngold provides products to dentists and dental lab technicians to help them restore a beautiful smile. Check to see if your dentist uses Sterngold products today!

Attleboro, MA,   November 30, 2021–    Sterngold Dental reveals  a new reason for general dentists, oral surgeons, and dental laboratory owners to smile more:  it’s called STS™ .  

STS™  is the short reference for Sterngold Total Smile™ , a comprehensive solution for restorative dentistry,  made possible by Sterngold’s deep heritage and foothold in the industry, along with its suite of quality yet affordable products spanning the dental implant and attachments, dental supplies, and digital solutions categories. STS™ means a better handle on cost, time, and quality concerns, while delivering a swifter restoration of a beautiful smile for patients. Simply put, STS™  is a single source solution for a beautiful smile.

STS™  brings cost-effectiveness and higher margins for the practice, along with a range of new, affordable treatment opportunities for its patients. It also supplies the widest range of implant and attachment selections with the advanced capabilities of digital dentures. How is this possible? Gordon Craig, President of Sterngold, answers the question:  “What we’ve done is combine our multiple implant systems, such as the $99 All-in-1 TRU^® and PUR^® conventional implants and the MOR^®  mini implants, with our immense range of attachment options, and added in our digital solutions. The result is a full suite offering composed of seven customary services plus the ability to provide a custom solution. One of the popular programs utilizing STS™  is our Dental Lab Partnership initiative, taking off on STS™ : Implant-to-Crown option.”  (For a full list of STS™  options, download the flyer.)  

Ultimately, STS™  means smiles all around, especially for the patient, who is expected to benefit from the price differential of the quality treatment and prosthetic outcome. The segment that will derive the most from STS™  is that of the small to medium sized, independent practices and dental laboratories, who are vying for access to top tier quality and more affordable pricing. Adds Gordon:  “Because we are independent like those in this segment, and manufacture our implants, prosthetics and the majority of the components housed within the STS^TM package, we are able to pass on unrivaled savings to our customers. STS™  has been developed during the pandemic, recognizing our capabilities and an unfulfilled need among our customers for a single source with affordability as the differential advantage. We started  by sharing this concept in select  industry events and sales consultations with clinicians and dental labs. The overall response was really positive, so we have now rolled it out globally. We would like to let those in this segment know that they now have access to the package.”  

Find out more about STS™  and how it can really help you achieve your growth targets.  Email info@sterngold.com or call 800-243-9942 to speak with a Customer Service Representative or set up a short consultation. You may also visit:  https://www.sterngold.com/sterngoldtotalsmile
 

About Sterngold Dental 

Sterngold Dental aka Sterngold is a  global player with a rich and celebrated history in the dental community for 125 years. Sterngold believes in providing affordable access to a better quality of life by staying relevant, pursuing excellence, and delivering enhanced smiles.  This purpose is lived out daily through the delivery of high quality, yet affordable, restorative dentistry products and solutions, which empower practices and laboratories to remain competitive by providing advanced treatments and the opportunity to generate an excellent rate of return. 
Current product offerings include implants and attachments, digital solutions, consumables, and equipment, backed by  expert educational, technical, and customer support networks. 

Full-arch reconstruction using implant-retained overdentures has proven to be a highly effective, safe, long-term treatment option for edentulous patients. Successful overdenture treatment is based on a number of a factors, most specifically the number, size, and positioning of the implants as well as abutment selection.

At Sterngold, providing quality and affordable products for restorative challenges, is our purpose. Case in point: the versatile Stern Snap® Implant Abutment system delivers reliable results, stabilizing overdentures for an extended period.

Your Stern Snap® Options for Stabilizing Overdentures

#1 - STERN SNAP® ONE-PIECE (Zero Degree angle)

If the total divergence of the implants is less than 28 degrees (or less than 14 degrees on any one implant) from the desired path of insertion of the prosthesis, the Stern Snap® One-Piece Implant Abutment system is an excellent choice for stabilization. These low profile, one-piece abutments are compatible with ALL major implant systems and fits most attachment systems, available in various tissue cuff heights: 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, and 4mm.

In fact, the Stern Snap® One-piece is a smart option for dental professionals as a quality and affordable overdenture implant abutment that is substantially equivalent to the Locator®.

Locator® is a registered trademark of Zest Dental Solutions®. Sterngold also carries the Locator® under its Implant Abutments selection.

#2 - STERN SNAP® ANGLED CORRECTION TWO-PIECE

This two-piece solution can perform true angle correction without relying on a hinging attachment. It can correct up to, and including, 17 degrees on any one implant, for a total of 34 degrees between two divergent implants. (In fact, because of the flexibility of the caps in the overdenture, using the Stern Snap® Angled Abutments can actually resolve about 62 degrees of divergence between two implants.) Much like its Stern Snap® One-Piece counterpart, it is compatible with ALL popular implant systems and fits most attachment systems.

Durable, Economical Choices for Retention

Both Stern Snap® options have a low profile of 2.5mm in height and their metal-free maximum durability retention caps come in three levels at 1lb (yellow), 2lbs (green), and 3lbs (brown). Because no metal housing is required, this makes the Stern Snap® system more economical. Attachment males of other systems will also fit the 3.8mm wide abutment head. As a substantial equivalent to the Locator®, it can accommodate the line’s retention inserts.

You do, however, have a metal retention option with CM LOC® retention caps—pink colored titanium housing that fits high performance Pekkton® polymer inserts. Choose from four insert retention levels: 1 lb (extra-low), 2 lbs (low), 4 lbs (medium), and 6 lbs (strong).

Both Stern Snap® options are specially engineered to provide edentulous patients with optimal overdenture stability and retention at a reasonable cost.

How to Use the Stern Snap® System

• If the implant divergence is 28 degrees or less (14 degrees per abutment) from the desired path of insertion of the prosthesis, the straight Stern Snap® Abutments may be used. Screw the one-piece abutments onto each implant. Tighten the abutment into the implant to 20 Ncm using a .050” hex driver.

• If the total divergence of the implants is greater than 28 degrees (or greater than 14 degrees on any one implant) from the desired path of insertion of the prosthesis, the Angle Correction Stern Snap® Attachment should be used. Select the proper abutment base that matches the prosthetic platform of the implants being restored. Screw the appropriate tissue cuff height abutment base into each implant. The abutments are tightened to 30 Ncm using a flat bladed screwdriver.

• While holding the Stern Snap® Handle, insert the .050” hex driver through the slot in the Stern Snap® Alignment Post and engage the head of the screw.

• Position the attachment onto the hemispherical occlusal surface of the abutment and begin to turn the screw into the abutment.

• Using the Stern Snap® Handle, move the attachment until the alignment post aligns with the desired path of insertion of the prosthesis. Hand tighten the screw.

• Gently pull the alignment post off of the attachment. While holding the handle to prevent movement, torque the screw to 20 Ncm. Unscrew the Stern Snap® Handle.

• Any exposed parts of the abutment must be blocked out. Block out spacers or a thin rubber dam can be very effective.

• Place a Stern Snap® Retention Cap onto each attachment. No metal housing is needed with this new, special, long lasting plastic cap. The yellow cap provides light retention (1 lb.). The green cap will be most often used (2 lbs.). The brown cap provides stronger retention (3 lbs.). Or place a CM LOC® Titanium Housing and Blockout Spacer onto each attachment. A white processing insert comes inside the housing. The Pekkton® inserts provide 4 levels of retention, yellow (extra low), red (low), green (medium), blue (strong).

• Prepare a recess in the denture over each retention cap or housing. Create mechanical undercuts in the side walls of each recess.

• Use SternVantage® varnish to prime the recesses and light cure.

• Add composite (EZ Pick-Up®) over the top and sides of the retention caps or housings. Place additional resin in the recesses of the overdenture. Passively seat the overdenture, ensuring that the tissue is not displaced. Fill any defects with resin. Excess EZ Pickup® may be easily removed from the unvarnished areas.

• The retention caps can easily be changed when necessary. The Stern Snap® Insertion/Removal Tool is a double ended tool. The removal end has the longer neck and has sharp edges. The removal tool is pushed into the retention cap. Pull back to remove the cap from the denture. The cap may be removed from the tool by bending the tool sideways.

• Place a new cap onto the insertion end of the tool, which is shorter and smooth. Push the new cap firmly into the recess in the denture and pull the tool back out. The cap will remain in the denture.

• The Pekkton® retention inserts can easily be changed using the CM LOC® Multi-tool. Place an appropriate colored Pekkton® insert onto the end of the tool marked “IN” and push the insert straight into the housing until it clicks. The other end of the tool is marked “OUT” so to remove an insert, lightly press the “OUT” end just inside the circumferance of the metal housing until the insert disengages. Pull straight out.

Sterngold Makes Stabilizing Overdentures and Correcting Divergent Implants a Snap!

At Sterngold, we are always focused on evolving and enhancing our product offerings to ensure our valued customers have the highest-quality and most reliable dental technology in the industry. With our Stern Snap® Overdenture Implant Abutment System, stabilizing overdentures and providing patient satisfaction is a snap!

One of the most important decisions you can make as a dental practitioner is choosing the right lab partner. According to studies, 33 percent of dentists regularly change labs, with inconsistency ranking as the most common reason. Practitioners rank quality and consistency highly when selecting a dental lab partner, as well as turnaround time, good communication, and a lab’s reputation.

If you’d like to stop shifting between labs, it’s imperative to evaluate your potential lab partner from the start. When choosing to partner with a dental laboratory, the following questions can serve as a helpful baseline:

1. Are the Dental Lab Materials ADA-Approved?

Having an American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Approval gives users and consumers confidence that the products they use meet dental product standards, technical specifications, and safety standards, and that promotional claims are truthful.

Products with the ADA Seal of Approval undergo a rigorous process of testing and review to ensure all product ingredients, manufacturing practices, packaging, and labeling comply with quality standards. Products also undergo clinical studies that verify promotional claims, safety, and effectiveness.

Once they meet the necessary criteria, labs earn a stamp of approval for five years at a time. Updated versions of already approved products also need to undergo the process, as the seal indicates the updates or changes made also adhere to compliance standards.

While also important, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval does not require similarly extensive testing of products and manufacturing. This makes ADA approval a more trustworthy overall quality guarantee when it comes to in-depth standard specifications and criteria.

2. Which Compliance or Regulatory Standards Do You Follow?

Dental laboratories in the United States typically follow a set of OSHA standards to ensure operational safety and high quality products and services. Some of the OSHA standards applicable to dental laboratories include:

• Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) and Chemical Hygiene: These safety standards cover protocols for the management of physical hazards, including flammables, corrosives, and harmful dust, as well as health hazards such as skin irritation and lung damage.
• Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (BPS): Exposure to bloodborne pathogens poses a risk of life-threatening illness. This safety standard helps protect lab employees from exposure to potentially infectious substances and objects.
• Emergency Action Planning: Every facility must have a plan of action that identifies and covers a variety of potential emergencies, including chemical spills, medical emergencies, and fire.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): OSHA standards require workers to wear appropriate protective equipment as applicable. This can include eye and face, hand, respiratory, and head and foot protection, as well as electrical protective equipment.
• Compressed Gases: Due to the pressure and gas content, compressed gas cylinders are highly hazardous and can pose a safety risk. Set strict procedures for the safe use of compressed gas cylinders, flow control valves, and attachments.
• Now, add CDC-guided COVID-19 safety practices to the list. How are they handling materials and interaction in the lab? Is there social distancing? What is the policy on wearing masks? Is there an updated material handling guideline in place? Are they using COVID-19-effective cleaners such as HOCl?

3. Can I Visit Your Dental Lab?

A dental lab inspection allows prospective partners to make their decision based on first-person insight into the lab's operations, standard compliance, quality, and professionalism.

Your first impression of the should give you an indication of whether you feel the lab reflects your own standards. Would you feel comfortable sending your clients there if necessary?

Technician professionalism, attire, organization, and cleanliness are all important to take note of during the lab visit. Ensure that the facility has the production capability you need. Don’t forget to inquire about continued training for lab technicians and clients, as well as how the facility stays abreast of the latest technologies. Identifying these details will provide insight into the lab's technical and communication standards.

4. What Types of Equipment and Technology Do They Use in the Dental Lab?

It is important to know that your dental lab meets the demands of present and future technology. A fully-equipped lab gives you confidence that they can provide all the products needed by your practice.

This should include basic materials like ceramic, composites, and metal-supported ceramics, to analog tools and equipment including ceramic and press furnaces, casting machines, dental stone mixers, and denture base injectors. Do they have digital denture capabilities in-house or do they work with a reputable partner that enable them to have this technology?

A leading dental lab is one standing at the forefront of technological advancements in dentistry. Future-proof digital tools and equipment such as digital cameras, shade determination software, CAD and CAM software, milling and 3D printing machines are imperative for labs to stay on-trend.

5. How Will You Help Me Grow My Dental Practice?

Your lab partner can help you grow your business by offering not just skilled service but pricing and products that both expand your treatment options and reduce your costs. Those reduced costs can then be passed on to patients to encourage patient retention.

Find out if the lab you are considering offers incentive discounts, or any other beneficial programs. For example, Sterngold’s All-in-1 Implant Bundle is an implant value bundle that includes digital and analog restorative components with every implant, for a flat fee. This enables the dental lab to charge more reasonably for an implant-to-crown case and pass on the savings to your practice (check out their Lab Partnership Program).

Find out whether the dental lab has a relationship with a secondary source in case their primary facility cannot handle an assignment. Additionally, a dental lab committed to embracing technological advances will be able to offer increased—and most likely better—products and services.

Choosing Your Potential Partnership Well Is a Key Step

Partnering with a dental lab that has access to a reputable dental supplies and equipment manufacturer will help you keep up to speed with the latest dental technology.

For example, Sterngold Dental is one of the leading US-based manufacturers and distributors of restorative dentistry products. Sterngold carries US-made mini (small diameter) and conventional implants, attachments, consumables (SRS products), lab supplies and equipment, enabling practices and labs to quality and affordable treatment and services. You can be certain any lab that paired up with Sterngold is well worth your consideration.

To empower practices and technicians to increase patient satisfaction and treatment effectiveness, Sterngold also regularly offers continuing education courses on developments in restorative dentistry, presented by industry experts. Sterngold provides product lines, partnerships, and technical expertise as a holistic source for your dental business growth.

Reach out to Sterngold today to get insight on potential lab partners or to learn more about their for quality and affordable restorative products.

While every dentist aims to deliver a perfect fit, dentures will occasionally require some fine-tuning or fixes to minimize patient discomfort. Even your favorite patient—the one who maintains a perfect oral health routine daily—will notice the shape of their mouth changing over time. It’s simply inevitable.

Denture relining is usually preferable to replacement when possible and can solve a variety of patient issues; from sores, irritation, and general discomfort, to problems chewing and denture-related speech difficulties. It’s also a less expensive investment for your patient than an entirely new set of dentures.

Based on your patient’s specific needs, you can opt for one of two relining techniques:

Hard Relining - This approach uses conventional processed acrylic resin that adapts to the original denture to reline the prosthetic. The end result usually lasts longer than soft relining, but may be less comfortable than its silicone counterpart. The other potential drawback to this procedure is the time investment: while it’s possible to complete a hard relining procedure in a single patient visit, it often requires sending a new impression to the dental laboratory for the processing.

Soft Relining - This approach uses a silicone material to reline the denture, providing a softer, more comfortable base for the prosthetic. It’s often the better option for patients suffering from thin, sensitive gums or gum recession. In general, however, the silicone material tends to be less durable than the acrylic resin, requiring more patient visits for additional relining. On the other hand, the procedure can almost always be completed in a single patient chairside visit.

Introducing QuickLine®: A Long-Term Soft Relining Material

If you want to combine the long lasting benefits of a hard resin with the comfort of a silicone material, then QuickLine™ from Sterngold Dental is your best bet. This addition reaction vinyl silicone is suitable for any and all PMMA acrylic based prosthetics, and it has many advantages over your standard soft relining material, including:

• More Resiliency & Increased Tear Strength: Unlike many soft relining materials, QuickLine® provides long-term viscoelastic durability and is more resistant to tearing, with a life expectancy of 1 to 2 years.
• Easy Finish: It also finishes well when grinding.
• No Taste or Odor: Enhance patient experience using this tasteless, odorless material during chairside procedures.
• Affordability: QuickLine® is reasonably priced, costing much less than many competitors.

How to Use QuickLine® for Relining Dentures and Much More

There are actually multiple applications for this unique, self-curing, soft relining material:

• Permanent soft relining for complete and partial dentures
• Removal of pressure areas in the lower or upper jaw
• Support for healing processes in implantology (cushioning of implants and overdentures)
• Better adaptation and adhesion to the post-palatal area and flabby ridges
• Improved comfort in undercut areas at the alveolar ridges
• Elastic functional ridge on upper jaw dentures for improved adhesion
• May also be used as a soft tissue reproduction material on models

Additional benefits? QuickLine™ from Sterngold Dental can be used for both the direct and indirect method, and the auto-mix cartridge delivery system ensures a fast, easy and mess-free application. The self-curing silicones allow for easy working, either using a direct or indirect lining procedure. Finally, QuickLine™ is biocompatible (no methyl methacrylate), color stable, and has a 3-year shelf life.

QuickLine® Chairside Application Steps

1. Prepare the denture by removing any old soft reline material and allow two millimeters for your new material. Grind a small trough, just medial to the periphery, for added retention.

2. Apply QuickLine® primer to the entire area, especially under the lateral area of the periphery, to prevent delamination of the border-molded QuickLine® material. Allow to dry.

3. Express the QuickLine® material, covering the entire surface of the denture onto the denture border.

4. The total working time is 90 seconds, so with the patient sitting upright, insert the filled denture no later than one minute after expressing the QuickLine™ material into the denture.

5. Guide the patient into CO and through the border movements within the working time. Allow the patient to continue gentle functional movements for five minutes and remove after seven minutes. Allow to set an additional 10 minutes outside the mouth prior to adjusting and finishing.

6. Remove any excess material and finish with a silicone burr. Now you can finalize and seal the reline by using the QuickLine™ varnish.

Common Questions About QuickLine®

1. Approximately how times can one cartridge be used for relining dentures?
Placing a generous amount of material in the denture (approximately 6.5g), you could do about 8 mandibular relines with QuickLine. An upper arch prosthesis would require more material and yield at least about 6 applications.

2. How long will the material last?
The product has been designed as a permanently soft relining material. This does not mean that it is a permanent material, but will remain soft during its lifetime. Relines using this type of material have a life expectancy of 1 to 2 years. Normal procedure would be to reline again in shorter intervals of time.

3. Is the purpose of the Varnish to prevent staining of the QuickLine?
The varnish does not influence the staining of the material but rather help to protect against bactericidal growth on rough surface areas.

4. How easily can the material be removed from the denture? What is the procedure? Removal is done by roughly cutting away with a sharp instrument like a scalpel and further removing with the trimming tool supplied.

5. Any other helpful hints or information?
When preparing the denture, cut mechanical retention into the peripheral borders of the denture. You may cut keyways, or a small trench along the periphery. This will aid the soft liner’s adhesion to the denture base along the borders where the liner will flex. It is important to apply the primer with special care at the edges and to avoid sharp angles (because it makes application of the primer difficult—a question of surface tension) and the patient may feel these edges through the soft relining material. Apply the varnish to completely dry and clean surfaces only.

Relining Dentures? Sterngold Offers Quality Solutions

Want to get started with QuickLine™? Try our Introductory Kit, which includes

• 1 cartridge (50 ml) QuickLine
• 12 mixing tips
• 2 bottles (10ml) (base and catalyst)Varnish
• 1 bottle Primer (5 ml)
• 25 brushes
• 1 mixing palette

We also sell QuickLine® cartridge (with mixing tips), QuickLine® primer and QuickLine® varnish refills separately, so you can restock your supply of each one as needed instead of being forced to buy the entire bundle each time.

Dentistry has been around for thousands of years. Many cultures see tooth health as a reflection of a person’s overall status. As a result, attempts to improve, fix, or adorn teeth became a thriving practice that led to colorful dental traditions and innovations all over the globe.

From blackening teeth to fashion braces, many people turn their teeth into something more than an instrument for biting or chewing food. Teeth become a means to display wealth, status, or beauty. Among the most notable practices recorded in history include the following entries of unusual dental traditions and trends from around the globe.

Grills Pop In and Out of History

Grills are one of the most extravagant ways to dress up teeth. This accessory is more of a fashion statement than an actual device that can help teeth. Using gold, silver, or other precious metal, dentists shape the metal over the person’s teeth to create a decorative cover. Grills are usually snap on, but it’s not uncommon for people to have procedures that permanently attach them.

The latest grills renaissance came at the behest of the famous rappers of the early 2000s. Nelly created a rap tribute to jeweled teeth entitled “Grillz” and shot an accompanying music video that featured more than 70 close-up shots of gold and diamond-studded teeth. This led to a cultural upheaval where many hip-hop fans, celebrities, and of course, rappers, began displaying grills as part of everyday fashion. Fifteen years later after “Grillz” came out, many Americans still continue the tradition.

However, grills aren’t a new phenomenon at all. They originated thousands of years ago as part of the dental traditions of Etruscans, who flourished between 200-800 BC. Rich females were the first to sport grills. Unlike today’s grills, Etruscan women paid a bigger price for the privilege. They often had their front teeth removed in order to insert a gold band holding replacement teeth. Dentists have no role in this fashion statement, but rather goldsmiths. While definitely eye-catching, the Estruscan grills didn’t do much in the biting and chewing department.

Teeth Blackening in Different Parts of the World

The majority of cultures worldwide find white, straight teeth a testament to perfection. However, there are some cultures that find value in the practice of blackening their teeth. Apart from projecting an image of beauty, maturity, and refinement, teeth blackening can help teeth survive into old age. The blackening compound, usually a mixture of iron fillings and vinegar, acts as a modern dental sealant that prevents the formation of cavities.

Blackening, known as ohaguro in Japan, is also held in high esteem in many Southeast Asian and Oceanic cultures. Blackened teeth also became popular in certain tribes in Peru and Ecuador. However, its practice during the Meiji period in Japan is where blackened teeth made the biggest impression among westerners. Many of the earlier Western visitors to Japan during the Edo period mistakenly thought ohaguro disfigured women deliberately, and thus helped them avoid premarital relationships. In truth, Japan loved the color black in nature, and ohaguro signaled the transition of a carefree, single young woman into a responsible, married woman.

Yaeba, The Trend of Crooked Teeth

Japan continues its counterculture ideas with this next entry in our guide to dental traditions around the world. In stark contrast to many cultures paying money to have their teeth whitened and straightened, Japan celebrates Yaeba, or the beauty in imperfect teeth. According to beauty blogger Michelle Phan, “It’s not like here, where perfect, straight, picket-fence teeth are considered beautiful. In Japan, in fact, crooked teeth are actually endearing, and it shows that a girl is not perfect. And, in a way, men find that more approachable than someone who is too overly perfect.”

To say Yaeba is popular in Japan is an understatement. Men find it an endearing quality in the opposite sex, while celebrities revel in having crooked teeth. If you’re still not convinced about its popularity, consider the fact that some Japanese women pay dentists to modify their straight teeth into something more crooked. This effect is achieved by creating and placing plastic fronts on real teeth.

TikTok and The Resurgence of Vampire Fangs

Popular social media app TikTok is known for its many, oftentimes crazy challenges. While the challenges usually involve dancing to a handpicked song, they can also include some genuinely crazy stunts. This includes the corn cob challenge, where rapper Jason Derulo famously lost a tooth trying to eat corn attached to a spinning drill bit.

One TikTok challenge that made the rounds in 2020 was the DIY Vampire Fangs challenge. Inspired by the upcoming Halloween celebrations, this challenge involved users gluing costume vampire fangs to their teeth. The compelling part about the challenge is watching the challengers struggle to remove the vampire teeth after the stunt. Many people found out to their dismay that super glue or nail glue will put up a fight before giving up their adhesive strength. Needless to say, many dentists condemned the trend. Many advised against the challenge, saying nail glue is not only poisonous, but it also won’t come off.

The Rise of the London Gap

Similar to the Japanese Yaeba look, the London Gap also celebrates teeth imperfection via people proudly displaying their tooth gaps. This trend is inspired by celebrity models Georgia May Jagger and Lara Stone, who sported the “London Look” that featured their gap-tooth prominently. Since then, many 20-something women have rushed to their neighborhood dental office to sign up for cosmetic services to enhance tooth gaps.

Known medically as diastema, gaps often appear between the two upper front teeth. This results from a mismatch between the size of the jaw bone and the size of the teeth, which forces the teeth to spread out further. Whereas a few years ago, patients wanted their gaps closed, many are now visiting their dentist for help in making their gap more prominent. Why do people find it beautiful? Gaps enhance the natural look, which many trendy people find more acceptable socially than an obviously fake enhancement job.

Teeth Sharpening

Many cultures file their teeth for spiritual and identification purposes. Countries such as Indonesia, Mexico, and Congo include this body modification process as part of their dental traditions. In Bali, a ritual called Potong gigi involves filing down canines of Balinese teenagers. They believe that the procedure eliminated negative ideas such as anger and jealousy: in essence, filing them reduces the chances of feeling them. Filing teeth is also believed to spiritually separate a person from their ancestors and shield them from animalistic tendencies. Having filed teeth is often the indication that young Balinese have completed their coming of age ritual. This means they are now adults ready for marriage.

In other cultures, filing teeth into shaper versions enhances the beauty of the wearer. The Herrero tribe believes that a woman will have a more difficult time attracting a lover if she does not undergo teeth sharpening. The Mentawai tribe, also from Africa, also agrees with beautification through teeth sharpening. If the tribe members do not perform their ritualistic modifications, their souls might find their bodies unattractive and leave abruptly.

Dental Tattoos

Running out of spaces to get a tattoo? If this is the case, would you consider a tattooth? Also known as dental stain tattoos, it’s a growing trend among the younger set where body tattoos aren't enough. The procedure isn’t as painful as regular tattoos, and not everybody can get a dental stain tattoo. It’s reserved for patients who are about to have a dental crown fitted. For an additional fee ranging between $75 to $200, patients can opt to have their design etched or inked into the dental crown prior to fitting. Dentists won’t allow a normal inking procedure directly applied to teeth for fear of permanent damage. Besides, tattoos work by staining the underside of the skin with pigment. The same procedure won’t work with teeth enamel.

For those unwilling to part with additional money or unsure if they want a tattoo by the next day, they can opt to purchase temporary stickers, designs, or jewelry that sticks to the tooth. It’s not the same thing, which is a good idea compared to permanently scarring your enamel with a permanent tattoo.

Fashion Braces

Fashion braces are one of many dental trends that won’t receive a recommendation from any sane dentist. This is because it consists of selling cheap knockoff braces adorned with popular culture designs. Original orthodontic braces already carry a risk of tooth decay, decalcification, or bacteria buildup if not properly taken care of. That risk gets magnified a hundredfold when a person wears fake braces installed by sales staff.

Fashion braces are illegal, unauthorized, and unsafe. However, Thai teenagers blew the craze up into epic proportions. They want these fashion braces for two reasons: they want to emulate their celebrity idols who wear braces, but they cannot afford the real thing. Apparently, the demand is so great that manufacturers began producing fake braces designed with popular characters. Sadly, some teenagers already died from wearing this fad. The Thai government has already made moves to ban the product. Like everything else that received a ban, a bustling black market has opened up to sell these dangerous faux braces.

Dental Traditions or Cosmetic Dentistry?

There you have it. These dental traditions range from enhancing the spiritual side to a full-on scam to make a quick buck. Before considering any procedure that can permanently alter your teeth, consult your trusted dentist if the procedure you want is safe, effective, and won’t subject you to unnecessary risks.

If improving your appearance is something you want to consider, your dentist can make the proper recommendations on how to enhance your smile or improve your bite. Ask them if they carry Sterngold products, one of the most trusted names in restorative dentistry. This way, you can be assured that any procedure uses high quality, safe, yet affordable products. Visit the Sterngold website or contact them to learn more.

Why Choose an ERA® Attachment System?

The original ERA® overdenture partial denture attachment system has been the choice of dentists everywhere since its development in 1991, and it remains the standard in the industry today. Before the introduction of the ERA® concept, patients and dental professionals alike were frequently frustrated by cost (other options were too expensive), complexity (other options were difficult to fabricate, implement or maintain) and most important, resiliency (which has been unreliable for long-term patient use in other systems).

ERA® attachments consist of a metal female component, which is intraorally fixed, and a replaceable, high density nylon male anchored in the denture base. Smaller and more resilient, the ERA® attachment delivers much greater overall performance than any of its competitors.

Why Is the ERA® Attachment the Superior Choice?

Directing more force away from the implants or attachment side, the ERA® allows the prosthesis to remain tissue supported, generating less wear to both the attachment as well as the insert. This means greater comfort, stability, and ease of use for the patient.

As clinical studies have proven the longevity and reliability of these attachments over several decades, Sterngold now offers green and purple retentive inserts for the ERA® RV partial denture attachment system.

ERA® Male Attachments - Levels of Retention

Every attachment procedure begins with the black processing insert. This insert has a built-in spacer so it sits rigidly on top of the female. When you’re ready to remove and replace the black male insert, you have a multitude of options, each one increasing in retention. For many years, your ERA® male attachment insert options were limited to the following:

• White (least retentive)
• Orange
• Blue
• Gray
• Yellow
• Red (most retentive)

Now Sterngold is offering even greater retention with two additional ERA® male attachment options:

• Green
• Purple

If more retention is what you've been looking for, you now have the option. However, always remember that you should choose the lightest retention necessary depending on the clinical requirements of the prosthesis and the physical capabilities of the patient.

How Do the ERA® Male Attachments Work?

There are four types of ERA® males: partial denture - ERA® RV, Micro ERA®, ERA® Overdenture, and Micro ERA® Overdenture. In any case, all ERA® males are mechanically anchored in the denture base, providing both vertical resiliency as well as universal hinge movement.

To implement an ERA® RV attachment, you can purchase all the materials you’ll need in our Stern ERA® RV Starter Kit. This kit includes:

• 2 attachments
• 2 metal jackets
• 2 processing jigs
• 1 core cutter bur
• 1 seating tool
• 1 paralleling mandrel

Additionally, the process of removing and replacing ERA® males is super easy. Worn out males can be removed with a specially designed bur and the new ones simply snap into a metal jacket that’s been permanently processed into the denture. Simply follow these steps:

1. Use the core cutter trephine bur to remove the center post of the male.
2. Pop the remnant of the male out with the ERA® extraction tool.
3. Put a new male on the seating tool.
4. Snap the new male into the metal jacket or denture acrylic.

Why Do Male Attachments Wear Out and Need Replacement?

While the ERA® System by Sterngold is well known in the industry for its resiliency (and many other benefits), there are situations that can cause wear and tear for attachments with nylon components and eventually require the replacement of worn out males. This includes:

• Patients who consistently bite the overdenture into place instead of inserting the prothesis using their fingers.
• Patients who oversoak their prothesis in denture cleaner. Many patients will leave their prothesis soaking overnight when most denture cleaners recommend only five to fifteen minutes.
• Patients who chew tobacco as the juice can prove very abrasive.
• Patients who aggressively brush with an abrasive toothpaste. Patients should remove all traces of toothpaste after brushing and before inserting their prothesis.
• Creating greater than the recommended amount of angle correction which can cause undue wear to the insert and abutment as well as decreased overall retention.
• Dentist professionals who choose the wrong male attachment. Remember to select the least amount of retention necessary.

View ERA® educational videos here.

Trust Sterngold for All Your Partial Denture and Overdenture Needs

Resiliency, dependability, and budget-friendly, the ERA® attachment system is the obvious choice for removable partial denture and overdenture treatments. The addition of new retention inserts only expands the number of patients who can now be considered for this proven treatment method.

To better understand why MOR® mini implants for implant secured overdentures can be an ideal solution for your patients, it is important to first explore the target demographic.

The population in the United States is aging rapidly: 10,000 baby boomers—those born after WWII, between 1946 and 1964—are retiring every day. More than 36 million Americans are fully edentulous, and the vast majority of those are unhappy denture wearers. Because wages are stagnant while the cost of living continues to increase, people have less expendable income and are looking for more affordable treatment options to satisfy their overdenture needs.

Many of these patients have been provided a treatment plan option for an implant secured overdenture using conventional dental implants, but will not accept the treatment. For reasons usually tied to cost, fear, and time, these patients have said “no” to this treatment plan and continue to suffer daily with their unsecured denture. It impacts their diet, self-esteem and overall quality of life.

The MOR® mini dental implant system puts the tools in your bag to effectively treat these patients by providing more affordable options they can say “yes” to. MOR® mini implants from Sterngold Dental provide a minimally invasive and cost-effective solution. You, as a clinician, can feel confident by providing an implant-retained and tissue-supported removable overdenture, which will stop the further deterioration of bone and substantially improve your patient's quality of life.

Attachment Pickups Made EZ

Creating an overdenture may be one of the best things you can do for your denture patient and choosing the correct attachment is paramount. No one provides more options for overdenture attachments than Sterngold. Sterngold has also made it easy to do chairside pickups of overdenture housings with Sterngold EZ PickUp®, continually voted the best and most trusted pickup material available on the market today. Here's why:

• It's an auto-cure Bis-acryl composite.
• It’s strong, able to pick up any attachment housing in a PMMA base.
• Its convenient auto-mix cartridge causes no messes, and no dispensing gun is needed.
• It won't irritate soft tissue.
• It's odorless and tasteless.
• It has a low exothermic reaction temperature.
• It's highly accurate: less than 1% polymerization shrinkage.

If you like hybrids, it's the best tool ever for doing chairside hybrid conversions. It has a 2 minute and 15 second overall working time with a 7 minute final cure time. It's easy cleanup, no wasted materials, but most of all, easy work steps.

How Does EZ PickUp® Work With Sterngold MOR® Mini Implant Housings?

• STEP 1: Once you have prepared the housing pockets and ensured passive fit with at least one millimeter clearance around the housings, condition the area with light cured SternVantage varnish. Apply a thin coat over the entire area to receive acrylic.
• STEP 2: Light cure for 40 seconds. (Depending on the light, it could require up to 90 seconds.)
• STEP 3: Place the block-out spacers and housings on top of the implants.
• STEP 4: When you're ready, dispense a small amount of EZ PickUp® on top of each housing.
• STEP 5: Now dispense the EZ PickUp® material inside the prepared pockets of the denture, but not too much to avoid wasting material.
• STEP 6: Now seat the denture gently over the housings and confirm occlusion. It's important not to allow the patient to bite firmly as this may displace some of the tissue and attachment housings.
• STEP 7: Allow the EZ PickUp® material to polymerize. You'll have an initial working time of 45 seconds and it can be removed from the mouth in 2 and a half to 3 minutes, depending on the temperature of the material. (The cooler it is, the longer the set time.) Final polymerization time is 7 minutes.
• STEP 8: Using an instrument or handpiece, remove any excess material and finish the area. Fill in any defects as needed. You may choose to apply a thin layer of varnish to the finished area for a glossy finish.

MOR® Mini Implant Blockout Shims

Clinically speaking, creating an overdenture over the MOR® mini implants can be one of the quickest, most simple procedures to offer. To make the chair’s height pickup of the MOR® mini implant housings even easier, neater and nearly fail-proof, use the MOR® blockout shim.

Instead of white spacer rings (which are still available and are an excellent option when doing a chairside pickup) the MOR® blockout shims improve the process by creating a more precise adaptation of the EZ PickUp® material to the denture and implant housing and ensures no run over of EZ PickUp® material into the housing, which also means less cleanup, better tissue adaptation, and easy access for the O-ring replacement.

How to Use MOR® Blockout Shims

• STEP 1: Made from FDA approved silicone tubing, simply place the MOR® blockout shim over the implant ball all the way down to the tissue level.
• STEP 2: Using a scissor or scalpel, trim to the appropriate length as to expose the entire implant ball, at approximately one-half millimeter below the ball. This will allow the O-ring to engage the implant.
• STEP 3: Continue the pick up process using EZ PickUp®.
• STEP 4: Following polymerization, remove the overdenture while the MOR® blockout shim remains on the implant.
• STEP 5: Trim and finish the area and deliver the overdenture.

MOR® Mini Implant Latch Driver Captive

Making surgery easier and more efficient is always a good thing. As the leader in many dental implants, we at Sterngold are very sensitive to the needs of our customers and are always looking for ways to enhance the features of the MOR® mini implant system. The MOR® latch driver captive simplifies the MOR® mini implant workflow: used in coordination with the MOR® insertion tool, the wing driver and the MOR® implant driver latch, the new MOR® latch driver captive allows you to carry the implant from the packaging directly to the implant site and begin the insertion procedure.

The MOR® latch driver captive is similar in design to the MOR® implant driver latch with one exception: it has a retentive element which engages with the ball head of the implant and allows transport from the packaging to the implant site in the same way the MOR® insertion tool functions.

How to Use the MOR® Latch Driver Captive

After you've prepared for the procedure, insert and lock the MOR® latch driver captive into your surgical motor. Capture the implant inside the latch driver captive, and then remove it from the titanium delivery tube. Now carry the implant to the implant site, position it and begin the implant insertion process.

Grow Your Business with MOR® Mini Implants

Mini dental implants have been used by dentists for over two decades and peer-reviewed scientific research studies supports their continued use. Mini dental implants deliver long-term results: many cases cite 20 plus years of success and are still going strong.

There is significant business growth opportunities with MOR® mini implants for a patient demographic who traditionally won't or cannot accept implant secured overdenture treatment using conventional implants. Clinicians can charge an average of $2,900 per four unit case, not including the profitability of a new denture. Practices can easily convert a minimum of four lower denture cases per month resulting in $11,600 per month or $139,000 per year in incremental revenue, plus the denture revenue. Due to this life-changing treatment, many of these patients are your best referrals, which can also contribute to the growth of your conventional implant practice.

The MOR® starter package includes an assortment of MOR® implants and restorative components, surgical cassette, EZ PickUp®, patient education tri-folds, and a complimentary mirror so your patients can see their new smile. Begin to increase case acceptance, grow your practice and improve your patients' lives today with MOR® mini implants.

Sterngold Total Smile™ is your single source solution for restorative case challenges.

When it comes to dental treatment, especially restorative procedures, many patients fear the price tag more than the procedure itself. For dentists, providing patients with quality and affordable restorative dentistry is a challenge. Often, they have to deal with multiple vendors just to put together an attractive package for the patient. For dental labs, on the other hand, their profit continues to be squeezed by larger entities who have the muscle to control their costs and service rates.

What if you could offer your patients affordable rates for restorative procedures? How about not having to negotiate with multiple suppliers just to purchase implant and prosthetic components? Imagine having easy access to industry experts before and after purchase. You can with Sterngold Total Smile™ (STS™).

Sterngold Total Smile™ is also a winning solution for dental labs. For instance, by providing an implant to crown service for less than $500, you can differentiate your lab from competitors, attract new customers, and grow your prosthetic business. You can complete your digital overdentures or fixed hybrid prosthesis or conventional denture on natural tooth root or on bar, sourcing all your components from Sterngold Dental.

Sterngold Dental is an industry leader in restorative dentistry, with a sterling reputation that reaches back 125 years. Sterngold has always believed that cost should never be a barrier for patients seeking the best dental solution to improve their quality of life.

As the largest single provider of dental attachments and mini implants in the industry—offering more restorative options than most competitors—Sterngold has combined its multiple implant and attachment selections with the advanced capabilities of digital dentures, to bring forth the Sterngold Total Smile™ (STS™) solution. With STS™, you can a have a better handle on your cost, time, and quality concerns while delivering a swifter restoration of a beautiful smile for patients.

Let’s have a look at a few case scenarios where STS™ has helped restore the patient’s smile (and confidence!) without breaking the bank, helped the practice increase case acceptance, and enabled dental labs to demonstrate true partnership with the practice.

Investing in the Future With a Better Smile

Meet Megan, a recent college graduate who is ready to make her mark in the world. In preparation for entering the professional workforce, she’s looking to invest in her future with increased confidence, starting with an esthetically enhanced smile.

Megan has agreed to accept a dental implant treatment. Knowing she’ll need to factor in her student loan debts into her budget, she inquires about discounted options for the dental procedure, a common scenario for many young adults.

How can Megan’s dentist make sure she gets that beautiful smile to boost her confidence at a price to fit her budget?

Answer: Sterngold Total Smile™ (STS™). STS™ is an end-to-end solution that will allow Megan to afford the treatment, one she considers to be an investment for a promising future. Whether using MOR® small diameter implants or TRU® or PUR® implants at an amazing all-in-1 bundle price, her dentist is passing on significant savings to Megan.

New Chapter, New Smiles

Say hello to Howard, a 38-year-old powerlifting gym manager who has spent his best years working out and helping others get in shape. The pandemic, however, forced many gyms across the country to close shop and he was among one of the unfortunate individuals faced with job loss. Luckily, Howard pre-planned an emergency fund, regularly saving back a portion of his income. Smart man! He’s also been putting aside money for his long-standing goal: to get dental implants for some lost teeth.

Howard realizes the longer he delays the procedure, the more it will likely cost him down the road. In his initial consultations, it’s been determined that he doesn’t have enough bone to support a crown, so he needs an implant. The implant to crown treatment costs more than he anticipated, and as he eases his way back into his gym manager role after returning to work, the cost factor weighs heavily on his mind.

Howard’s dentist is thrilled to find a dental lab hooked into Sterngold Total Smile™ and has decided on the STS3: Implant-to-Crown option. The dental lab has assured Howard’s dentist that they can deliver an implant-to-crown for less than $500. This is quite a reduction from the typical cost for this type of service. Now, Howard can get his long-planned treatment done, just in time for his return to the workplace. The dentist, who is very happy with the dental laboratory which extended this amazing service rate, has decided to bring more business to this partner. The dental lab is thrilled to be able to prove, as always, that they are true partners to clinical practices. Smiles all around!

Balance Treatment Acceptance and Affordability with STS™ Implant-to-Crown Solution

When you source all your dental procedure materials from a single source—Sterngold Dental—the total cost of prosthetics and supplies are naturally much lower compared to acquiring them from multiple sources. In addition, no time and extra energy are wasted on a distributed effort.

With Sterngold Total Smile™, dental professionals get complete access to affordable, ISO-quality, US made implants, implant attachments, digital and conventional dentures, plus restorative supplies, enjoy a healthy profit, while being able to pass on savings to patients. It’s a win for everyone.

Enjoy Retirement and a Juicy Steak With a Smile

David, a retired Marine sergeant, hails from the Midwest. He’s been on multiple tours overseas and is now settled into civilian life, stateside. His military maneuvers, however, have come at a cost: tooth loss has complicated life for this steak loving sergeant.

David hopes to receive the proper dental treatment: a fixed prosthesis with implants. The procedure is rather costly, but the result will provide an enhanced quality of life. David can enjoy food like he used to with a more secure and better looking prosthesis.

As a senior and military retiree, David has access to Medicare, but the coverage is limited, so he’ll still need to ensure he can get the procedure he wants without the co-pay expense eating into his pension.

So, how can David ensure he enjoys his golden years by getting the procedure he needs while on a limited budget? His dentist has picked STS5: Fixed Hybrid option. The treatment utilizes the $95 All-in-1 bundle of TRU®/PUR® implants which sets the tone for affordability while using high performance quality implants. With this solution, David’s dentist can help the retired Marine enjoy more of life at retirement. That includes sinking his teeth into a juicy piece of prime steak!

Fixed Hybrid: TRU® or PUR® Implants + Fixed Prosthesis

Balancing Cost and Quality Dental Treatments

As a dental lab owner, you need to maintain the delicate balance between artistry, reliability, and cost. In an increasingly competitive market, it is imperative that you distinguish yourself by providing true value to your partner: the dentist. With the price of prosthetic components and other lab supplies at a premium and technical skills at near parity, creating a competitive difference to turn a healthy profit, has increasingly been challenging.

One way to substantially slash costs without sacrificing quality is by partnering with Sterngold Dental. Under the Dental Lab Partnership program, with the STS3: Implant-to-Crown option under STS™, your lab can provide dentists with the ability to pay for an implant-to-crown service at less than $500. Full prosthetic components are included with each implant: healing abutment, open/closed tray impression coping, analog, straight final abutment, and prosthetic screw. When you provide significant savings to your dentists, they pass on the savings to their patients. You are simply demonstrating that your dental lab is an invaluable partner to the dental practice.

The Sterngold Total Smile™ Solution

Sterngold Total Smile™ (STS™) is a 1+1=3 solution, powered by all the products and services the company has made available to grow value for dental practices and dental laboratories. In other words, grow value for clinicians and dental lab owners. What this brings:

• Affordable, new treatment opportunities for dental patients.
• Cost effective solution and higher margins for the dental practice.
• Widest range of implant and attachment selections with the advanced capabilities of digital dentures.

Sterngold’s mission is to provide affordable dental access for an enhanced quality of life; STS™ is the embodiment.

What Sterngold has done is combine its multiple implant solutions (TRU®, PUR® and MOR®) with an immense range of attachment options (SNAP®, LOCATOR®, and RC Housings), and digital products, to create one, single solution. With 7 options and room for customization, STS™ is poised to address the most common implant and prosthetic considerations of the dental community.

Here’s a rundown of the options in combinations of implants, attachments, digital and conventional dentures, and other restorative products, that power STS™:

• STS1: Implant Retained Digital Overdentures. BDS Digital Dentures + TRU® or PUR® All-in-1 Implants
• STS2: Mini Implant Retained Digital Overdentures. BDS Digital Dentures + MOR® Mini Implants
• STS3: Implant-to-Crown. TRU® or PUR® All-in-1 Implants + Custom abutment and lab supplied crown
• STS4: Implant Retained Conventional Overdentures. TRU® or PUR® Implants or MOR® Mini implants + Attachments + Conventional Dentures
• STS5: Fixed Hybrid. TRU® or PUR® Implants + Fixed Prosthesis
• STS6: Digital/Conventional Denture on Natural Tooth Root. TRU® or PUR® Implants + ERA® Direct
• STS7: Digital/Conventional Denture on Bar. TRU® or PUR® Implants + Hader/OCAD/Custom Milled Bar
• STS8: Custom solution. Sterngold can come up with a version that fits your need based on its suite of products.

Affordable Dental Care Access = Improved Quality of Life

How can Sterngold Dental offer lower prices and maintain quality? Simple: US Ownership.

Sterngold has been manufacturing its dental implants for over 30 years right in the USA. There is no importation of product, no partial or full process contracting from another supplier or country. Sterngold manufactures its own implants and attachments, is the primary distributor for the BDS digital dentures*, and is the manufacturer on record for its most popular restorative products. (*BDS is short for the Baltic Denture System, product of Merz Dental Germany.)

Don’t let prohibitive costs and laborious coordination due to distributed sources, prevent your dental practice or dental lab from fully taking off. There’s a clear solution: Sterngold Total Smile™ (STS™).

Contact Sterngold Dental today to learn more.

Since ancient times, people have been obsessed with their teeth. Apart from their value as instruments for daily mastication, some ancient cultures revered teeth as a symbol of beauty, health, and strength. Some cultures modified their teeth to show status or class, mark a milestone, or provide ornamental value. In the course of using teeth for religious, ornamental, or aesthetic purposes, many fascinating examples of creative dental practices found their way into the history books. So, before you dismiss the following as weird teeth, check out their ancient backstories.

10. Ancient Humans Didn’t Brush Their Teeth

While the earliest humans emerged between five to seven million years ago, the earliest records of dental cleaning implements date back to only 3500 BC. Given the million years gap, how did ancient humans managed to keep their teeth healthy and strong? It turns out that early humans used small sticks to help clean their teeth. Researchers pointed out the discovery of tiny side holes in ancient fossil teeth. These holes called interproximal grooves are likely caused by repeated cleanings with sticks. Also, researchers pointed out that chimpanzees, a relative of humans, still use sticks and leaves of grass to help clean their teeth and the spaces between.

Despite the primitive dental tools, early humans didn’t show signs of having weird teeth. On the contrary, they seemed to possess stronger, healthier teeth with no sign of cavities. Many believe the major reason was diet, as they only ate unprocessed food with little to no sugar. Bacteria that caused plaque and tooth decay only started thriving on teeth when sugary, processed food started to appear as well.

9. Ancient Egyptian Dentistry

Ancient Egyptians were one of the earliest recorded civilizations to practice a form of dentistry. For example, the Edwin Smith Papyrus (17th-century B.C.) documented the types of treatments for some dental issues, and the Ebers Papyrus (16th-century B.C.) lists around 11 medications aimed to help dental issues. This includes filling agents for loose teeth. A CT scan of a 2,100-year-old Egyptian mummy showed some teeth had cavities filled with linen dipped in fig juice or cedar oil.

Other ancient documentation of dentistry includes the “Doctor of the Tooth,” Hesi-Re. The physician and scribe lived during the Third Egyptian Dynasty in 1600 B.C. One of his best claims to fame is being a pioneer in recognizing gum disease. Mummies during this period show evidence of oral reconstruction through primitive bridges that connected actual teeth with donor ones. It’s not clear, though, whether the dental work was done during the person’s lifetime, or performed as part of his preparation for the journey to the afterlife.

8. Mayan Cosmetic Dentistry

The Mayan civilization flourished in Central America between 1000 BC and AD 900. Their civilization was considered very advanced, as they established a network of independent states that featured both farming communities and urban centers. Historians believe that dentistry was a highly skilled practice among the Mayans. However, the evidence they left behind suggests that their dentistry objectives were not limited to oral health, but rather ritual and religious means. This makes them early practitioners of cosmetic dentistry. Included among these practices were some procedures that produced what some might call “weird teeth.”

Among the common procedures regularly performed by the Mayans was teeth filing. The finished work comes in many forms: notched, squared off, or filed down to smaller teeth. Surprisingly, this practice isn’t just reserved for the elite. Most of the population had access to this procedure.

7. The Legend of the Tooth Worm

Much like an apple with holes in it, medieval dentists believed a worm of some sort wreaked havoc on people’s teeth. During this time, medical officials believed that there are four major body fluids (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile) and that a person’s health depends on the healthy interaction and balance between the four. Any imbalance among the four can cause some parts of the body to rot. Toothaches and cavities in particular are caused by the stagnation of the cold and wet phlegmatic humors. Medieval physicians likened the state to that of rotting fruit, which often has worms in it. They believe that a similar type of worm also eats away at teeth.

Tooth worms also figured prominently in Babylonian literature. Supposedly, a cuneiform tablet tells the story of “The Legend of the Tooth Worm.” This creature supposedly resides in the teeth and eats the roots and drinks the blood. A similar account also appears in Popol Vuh, or Mexico’s ancient text. Accounts point to a resident worm that eats into the teeth. In both cases, incidences of cavities and periodontitis were attributed to the mythical creature.

You might be asking why the worm personification became prominent universally? Some research holds a clue to these seemingly weird teeth. Modern veterinary findings show that the tooth’s necrotic pulp tooth has a wormlike appearance when extracted intact. A University of Maryland Baltimore study also came up with similar findings. Micro images of a dissected molar revealed worm-like structures. While definitely not caused by worms, these structures may have led to the mistaken belief that worms live in the mouth.

6. Ancient Etruscan Grills

According to Jean MacIntosh Turfa, co-author of the book The Golden Smile: The Etruscans and the History of Dentistry," this ancient culture was the authority in golden dentistry. Co-author Marshall Joseph Becker confirmed the assertion, saying that wealthy Etruscan women were the pioneers of wearing grills. Not just any grills of course, but ones made of gold.

"Certain high-status Etruscan women deliberately had [front teeth] removed in order to be fitted with a gold band appliance holding a replacement, or reused, tooth," Becker writes. However, goldsmiths rather than dentists did the jobs back then, which also makes the Etruscans among the first to explore cosmetic dentistry (like the Mayans). In fact, these gold grills are a bit delicate, and the wearer “couldn't bite an apple with these."

5. Bejeweled Mayan Teeth

Early Mayan dentists manually bore a small hole in the front of a tooth using a copper tube. Afterward, the hole would be fitted with a small gemstone, usually jadeite, iron pyrites, hematite, turquoise, quartz, serpentine, or cinnabar. Incredibly, the Mayans managed to fit the inlays perfectly within the hole. In addition, they likely used herbs to mask the pain during the process, while tree sap was used as ancient glue to adhere the jewel to the tooth. These works of art remain today, as you can view skulls with inlaid front teeth at the Mexico City museum and other historical institutions.

4. Vikings Filed Their Teeth

As if the Vikings weren’t formidable-looking enough in their battle gear, it seems that that the Nordic civilization also filed their teeth into elaborate patterns. Anthropologists discovered dozens of human skulls in Dorset, England in 2018. Crosschecking the known history in the area, they determined that the skulls belonged to Viking raiders that lost the Battle of Maldon. Careful examination of the teeth showed carefully finely made horizontal cuts in the front teeth. There were too many of these cuts and they were too expertly made to attribute them to natural causes.

Not only did the Vikings file their teeth but they also put pigment into the designs so they would show up brightly. While filing teeth is a widespread practice in Africa, this was the first instance of the practice found in Northern Europe. Whether the Vikings filed their teeth to intimidate others, or did it for fashion’s sake, the exact purpose remains unknown.

3. Japanese Black Teeth

In another example of interesting early dentistry, Japan popularized the practice of dyeing teeth black. Called Ohaguro (which means blackened teeth), 19th century Japan considered it a hallmark of beauty. To achieve the perfect darkness, the Japanese prepared a drink called Kanemizu, which consisted of iron fillings soaked in tea or sake and mixed with vinegar. Practitioners would drink this concoction once a day, which then stained the teeth and caused them to blacken permanently.

Ohaguro came about because of another local practice: whitening the face. However, a very white complexion often makes the teeth look yellower than usual. Instead of trying to compete with the whitening face powder, the Japanese thought of a novel solution. They started staining their teeth black to show contrast. Other cultures engaged in teeth blackening throughout Southeast Asia and parts of the Middle East.

2. Dentistry in Ancient China

Given their remarkable history as an Eastern powerhouse of medical knowledge, China also practiced advanced dentistry even during their earlier years. As early as 6000 BC, tooth extractions were commonplace in Ancient China. They also practiced acupuncture to treat pain from tooth decay. They also experimented with arsenic as a cure for toothaches. Ancient Chinese dentists showed remarkable knowledge in treating oral cavities and pioneered the use of silver amalgam as teeth filling.

In addition, the Chinese also practiced a rudimentary form of oral surgery. Extensive information can be gleaned about their studies of the abscesses of teeth and other oral structures. They also wrote about the various surgical techniques they employed.

1. Pulling Out Teeth to Indicate Social Status

This last practice isn’t about weird teeth, but more a curious practice that made sense during its time. The Jomon culture in the Japanese Archipelago, dating from 350 B.C., practiced teeth ablution, or removal of healthy teeth, for ceremonial purposes and as rites of passage. The practice continued until the end of the Jomon period and carried on into the early Yayoi period. During this time, around 90% of the population practiced ablution. Later during the Yayoi period, adults and mature Japanese continued the practice.

So why did the earlier Japanese voluntarily remove their otherwise healthy teeth? For the Jomon, commemorating certain milestones in life necessitated the removal of certain teeth. In addition, the missing tooth gave a visual clue to others about your place in the social class in the area. With a simple smile, Jomon culture made it possible to tell if a person is an adult, single, with children, or if they lost a loved one. As such, the need to ask these questions became unnecessary.

Modern Dentistry = Happy Teeth

There you have it! What you call weird teeth may have had different meanings for other cultures and time periods. These weird teeth were either a means to improve appearance, health, or may have held powerful religious or ritual significance. It’s best to keep an open mind when reading up on various practices of cultures, even in matters such as dentistry.

Today, leaders in modern dentistry, such as Sterngold Dental, make it easier for dentists and dental technicians, to deliver the perfect smile. With nearly 125 years in the dental business, Sterngold is committed to continuing the tradition of providing only the best dental products for restorative dentistry and continually expanding its product line based on the latest technological advancements and treatment options. Whether it’s providing digital dentures and mini implants or distributing holistic, prescription-strength CBD cream to treat TMJ discomfort, Sterngold Dental is here to help you grow your dental practice.

Humans have been on the hunt for dental replacements ever since we first started losing our teeth. Since the introduction of agriculture—thanks to the increased grain from agriculture, increased carbohydrates, and increased bacteria that like to process those carbs—we’ve been dealing with cavities and tooth loss. And with colorful innovations from antibacterial chewing weeds to modern dental implants, we’ve been experimenting with solutions for about just as long.

The most common modern solution is dental implants—permanent teeth replacements, which offer a superior durability to bridges, dentures, and other prostheses. Dental implant-supported dentures are less likely to accidentally fall out of the wearer’s mouth. Additionally, dental implants can help prevent jawbone recession. Jawbone deteriorates over time without teeth, changing facial features, shifting remaining teeth, and can lead to other oral health complications. Placing implants can help address this.

But modern dental implants are the result of a long and colorful evolution dating back to the earliest days of dentistry. Before titanium screws and precision jaw mapping, earlier dentists made do with whatever nature provided.

Ancient Dental Implants

Dental implants have been around in some form or other for millennia. As far back as 4,000 years ago, Chinese dentists carved bamboo pegs to fill gaps created by missing teeth. The pegs were meticulously carved to perfectly fit the bone. Evidence of similar techniques have been found by historians in Ancient Egypt, where royal embalmers hammered copper pegs into pharaohs’ jaws some 3,000 years ago, and in 2,300-year-old Celtic graves in France (this time with iron pegs).

Because these materials are not biocompatible with human gum and bone, historians believe ancient technicians installed these implants post-mortem, as part of funeral arrangements. While these recurring ritual installations show humans have had their teeth on their minds from the earliest days of civilization, it took some time for these dental implant operations to make the jump to living humans.

Experts believe some of the first dental implants for a functional, rather than purely ceremonial, purpose were invented by the Maya. In 1931 archeologists in Honduras discovered the remains of a Maya woman with three missing teeth replaced by bits of shell. Careful examination showed that the woman’s jawbone grew around the shell fragments, which meant the shell implants happened while she was alive. This also proved a rudimentary understanding of osseointegration—surgical integration of bone and artificial material, which is key to modern dental and joint surgery.

A Titanic Shift in Dental Implant Technology

While these first advancements in dental technology were surely revolutionary, the science then plateaued for centuries. Humans experimented with metals, cadaver teeth, and porcelain, but these all lacked the right bonding properties or the longevity to be meaningful.

Then along came the Greenfield implant system in 1913. Featuring an iridium-platinum alloy implant capped with a gold crown, Greenfield implants could last for several years. Since the alloy offered a degree of biocompatibility unseen in earlier materials, bone would grow around the implant.

In 1952 another landmark advancement occurred. Swedish orthopedic surgeon Dr. Per-Ingvar Brånemark discovered that the titanium cylinder implants he inserted in patients seemed to fuse with surrounding bone. This discovery confirmed an earlier study by researchers R.F. Bothe, K.E. Beaton, and H.A. Davenport on the osseointegration properties of titanium. These earlier researchers found that titanium encouraged bone growth, like the shell fragments did for our earlier Maya woman. Eventually, armed with this new knowledge, Brånemark performed the first titanium dental implant in 1965.

However, it was not until 1981—after 30 years of meticulous research—Brånemark finally published his findings. This laid the foundation for the modern titanium-based screw-type dental implant. Approximately seven million Brånemark implants have made their way into patients since that first attempt in 1965.

Dental Implants Today and Tomorrow

While today’s dental implants still rely on Brånemark’s basic principles, technological advances have made the process faster and more accurate, pushing the boundaries of the science further. For example, the use of plastic drill guides to install implants is slowly being retired. Modern computer and robotics technology can help position the drill better while gauging sensory reactions. From x-rays to automatic drill positioning, modern technology is helping to make dental implant procedures quicker, safer, and maybe even less painful.

Advances in dental implant technology are helping push the boundaries further. For example, the use of plastic drill guides when installing dental implants is slowly being retired. Modern computer and robotics technology can help position the drill better while gauging sensory reactions.

Other advances in dental implant technology include:

Roughened Titanium Posts

Instead of traditional smooth titanium posts, newer versions feature a rougher appearance to make the post feel more natural, akin to the texture of bones. With a more natural feel, bones fuse better, making the implant more stable. The posts’ rougher texture also reduces chances of the body rejecting the implant.

3D Printing Technology

The 3D printing industry has exploded in the last few years. So it’s no surprise that dental offices have taken advantage of the boom by printing custom dental surgery components. 3D printers can now produce crowns and other prosthetics to follow patients’ custom specifications. What's more, 3D printing performed at local dental offices means implant processes can finish in a single session instead of multiple visits.

Improved Treatment Planning

Digital x-rays, MRIs, and CAT scans can plumb the human body deeper than any camera. This allows dentists to map a person’s entire mouth area in fine detail, allowing for more accurate planning and placement of implant holes.

Smaller Dental Implants

Dental implant posts used to come in a single thickness: approximately 5 millimeters. But modern technology now allows longtime restorative dentistry manufacturers such as Sterngold to offer thinner and smaller posts, even under 3 mm! This allows patients with smaller jaws or receding gums to still qualify for treatment. Apart from additional sizes or thicknesses, digital manufacturing technology also helps with the creation of custom implants.

Dental Implant Development at Sterngold

In 1993, Sterngold Dental expanded into the dental implant market. The first Sterngold dental implant was the Stern EX, followed by the Stern IC. In the early aughts, Sterngold introduced the 2.2 ERA implant in 2002 and the 3.25 ERA implant in 2003. Fast forward to 2015, when TRU® conical hex and PUR® internal hex connection implants, were developed, furthering the goal of providing a complete restorative solution to dental practices. This was followed a year later by the manufacture of small diameter implants, MOR® mini implants, designed for minimally invasive, more affordable option for qualified dental implant patients.

Dental Implants Have Come a Long Way

Dental implants have come a long way from our famous Maya woman who installed some shells as replacement teeth. With modern technology bolstering an already-reliable dental implant system, only better, faster, safer, and less painful procedures await.

When getting advice on dental implants, make sure your dentist carries Sterngold dental implants a value option. Whether it’s a simple, standard procedure or a complex custom case, Sterngold makes dental implants both available and affordable, while keeping at the forefront of dental implant technology.

If you are a candidate for dental implants, ask your dentist if they carry Sterngold implants.

Continuing education (CE) is essential to the sustainability of any dental practice.

To keep your dental license up-to-date and to gain exposure to new techniques, trends, and technologies, you must routinely take new courses and attend seminars and webinars regularly. Staying on top of your learning opportunities with dental CE courses will also ensure your earning potential continues to grow.

With 72% of Americans paying closer attention to their oral care habits and 93% planning to visit a dentist in 2021, dental professionals must strive for excellence if they wish to gain new business in a demanding market. Otherwise, prospective patients will seek out the latest and greatest from neighboring dental practices.

In today’s ultra-competitive world, dentistry must be equal parts business savvy AND skilled trade. One effective strategy dental practices can do to remain competitive in the dental industry is to form a professional connection with a dental lab or dental manufacturer. Since these enterprises often have access to the latest research, product, equipment, and technology in the industry, they typically also offer dental CE courses.

New knowledge empowers dentists to remain ahead of the curve across their services for preventive measures, diagnosis, and treatment. Dental CE courses present excellent opportunities for dentists to expand their knowledge base, learn new skills, and diversify their dental practice offerings.

Stand Out with Mini Implants (aka Small Diameter Implants)

Another effective strategy to gain a competitive advantage in the dental industry is to stand out from the crowd. Traditional services will always have a place in any dental practice, but to remain competitive you must overcome parity/sameness by adding a unique differentiator to your treatment options.

MOR® mini implants are a substantial alternative to conventional solutions such as traditional dental implants, dentures, or bridges.

Instead of the 3-piece traditional dental implant, mini implants (aka small diameter implants) come in a one-piece design in diameters of 2.1 mm, 2.4 mm, and 3.0 mm.

With MOR® mini implants, patient concerns about conventional implant-retained dentures can be overcome. These narrow-diameter implants are affordable, immediate load, and are a sound alternative wherever smaller implants make the most sense. They can be used in single or full arch overdentures, or crown and bridge fixation in tight spaces.

Key Benefits of MOR® Mini Implants

The best advantage of mini implants over standard implants is the ability to use them on patients who do not have enough bone to allow for full-sized implants to be placed. Mini implants are also ideal for patients who cannot withstand the rigors of conventional implant surgery. As an immediate load option, there are fewer visits involved after initial implant placement. More important, mini implants are the perfect recommendation for patients who are seeking a lower-cost option vs. traditional implant treatment.

The popularity of MOR® mini implants stems from their affordability, simplicity, versatility, and high potential to deliver patient satisfaction.

Grow Your Dental Practice by Providing Mini Implant Treatment

Balancing excellent dental service and a lucrative practice is a challenge. One way this can be managed is by thinking of ways for the practice to continue to thrive. Upskilling yourself with CE courses and looking at this exercise as an investment to practice growth, is a major step.

On this note, investing in mini implant know-how is smart. For reasons stated earlier, having the ability to provide this treatment modality in your practice can help you gain new patients. By introducing a unique treatment offering into your dental practice you stay ahead of the competition. Adding MOR® mini implants—as a faster, less invasive, and less painful alternative solution for the edentulous patient.

Taking regular dental CE courses that enhance and upgrade your knowledge and skills can ensure dental practice growth. Now that’s smart!

Begin Your Success with Sterngold Dental’s Continuing Education

Providing mini implant treatment for your patients will help them to enhance their quality of life, while simultaneously increasing your dental practice revenues. It’s a win-win!

Sterngold is the leader in the mini dental implant market, thanks to the MOR® Implant System. Start learning about mini implants to grow your practice.

From CE-credited seminars to free live and on-demand webinars, Sterngold offers dental professionals the ability to stay abreast of rapidly evolving developments in restorative dentistry and use them for practice and business building.

Register now for your next dental CE courses! Sterngold Dental’s virtual learning series begins in September.

Dental Continuing Education (CE) courses keep dental professionals at the forefront of dental practice. It is an active dentist’s duty to keep up with changes in the profession and updates in technology, materials, and practices—especially considering the rapid pace of innovation today. In fact, some states require dentists to complete a minimum number of dental CE courses credits every year as a prerequisite to maintaining a license to practice. If you can’t keep up, both you and your patients lose out.

Ultimately, enrolling in dental CE courses leads to better care for patients. Access to better practices and newer technologies means better diagnoses and treatment for patients. Accordingly, it’s not surprising that a majority of dentists look to dental CE courses to further their professional growth.

Investing in Dental CE Courses

It helps to look at dental CE courses as an investment in your dental practice. Better treatment methods can mean more patients, which translates in turn to growing the business in terms of scale and revenue. In simpler terms, better treatment means happy patients who will more likely remain loyal to your practice and help it grow through patient referrals. Learning advanced methods and utilizing cutting-edge technology also increases a clinic’s operational efficiency. Streamlined operations mean more room for patients. And then there’s the learning credits that come with completing dental CE courses, which many need for license renewal in order to practice at all.

These courses shouldn’t just be about business operations, however. Dental CE courses also introduce dental professionals to the latest FDA-approved products and practices, which allow your office and your patients more options. Certain courses also provide the practical experience needed to master newer treatment methods, which builds technical knowledge and confidence.

Whether pursued as part of a state requirement or just for career growth, dental CE courses are a very worthwhile investment. Implementing new, more efficient practices and technologies properly can lead to improved efficiency, more satisfied patients, and better profits.

Where to Find Dental CE Courses

Many dental schools offer further learning opportunities. One can often find postgraduate continuing education courses and certificates available online that come with educational credit. Many business leaders, like Sterngold Dental, also offer these CE courses through partnerships with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs).

As a longtime leader in dental supplies and equipment in the U.S. and an American Dental Association (ADA) CERP Recognized Provider, Sterngold supports the products it carries by developing instructional courses discussing the latest developments in restorative dentistry products and new technologies in detail. ADA CERP is a service identifying quality providers of continuing dental education.

Sterngold’s educational resources range from hands on experiential workshops to live and on-demand webinars, all carrying continuing education (CE) credits, as well as instructional videos. About 80% of these CE courses are free. The instructors and speakers featured are some of the most respected names in the industry. Sterngold educational resources also feature many active Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) with proven records as power users of Sterngold products. Check out these two popular Sterngold courses to get a feel for the breadth of knowledge and expertise they offer:

Learn Techniques in Maxillary Overdenture Procedures With “Clinical Guidelines for Implant Overdenture Treatment Options”

Dental implants are currently the standard accepted solution among dental professionals to replace missing teeth. However, not all implants are created equal. Experience tells us that providing implants on maxillary edentulous patients poses more difficulties compared to those with mandibular arches. “Clinical Guidelines for Implant Overdenture Treatment Options” provides prosthodontic, practical, and functional viewpoints on how to successfully integrate maxillary overdenture treatment options into your practice.

The course is led by Dr. Matthew Hallas, DMD. Dr. Hallas was a 2010 resident of the University of Illinois’ Advanced Specialty Education Program in Prosthodontics. He is a regular lecturer on dental implant planning, placement, and restoration protocols and procedures throughout North America, and has conducted several webinars on implant overdenture therapy.

This instructional course (worth educational credit) features products from Sterngold’s implants line, namely TRU® conical hex and PUR® internal hex connection implants. They are featured and used as a value option for implantologists, but the valuable course content is brand agnostic.

Improve Surgical and Restorative Success in Mandibular Overdenture Therapy With the “Retain It” Series

Also presented by Dr. Matthew Hallas, “Retain It: Part 1” is the first module of a five-part series overviewing multiple surgical and prosthodontic procedures. The course emphasizes evaluation, classification, and treatment guidelines specific to mandibular implant overdentures, with an aim to enhance attendees’ knowledge in surgical and restorative aspects of implant overdenture therapy. It also features diagnosis and treatment planning for dental implant and restorative attachments.

Each module in this five-part series carries one educational credit, and by the end of the course attendees will be experts in diagnosis, treatment planning, performing medical history reviews, and determining treatment options for edentulous patients and earn a total of 5 CEs.

Take Your Dental Practice to the Next Level With Sterngold Training

Sterngold Dental is a first-rate manufacturer and distributor of high quality dental implants, digital solutions, supplies, and equipment— who aims to provide top-notch dental education that support their products through a variety of dental CE courses.

Continuing education means continued growth. Whether fulfilling licensing requirements or embarking on professional skills enhancement, Sterngold’s dental CE courses keep you at the forefront of the dental profession. Visit Sterngold Dental for a list of available dental CE courses today.

Inside Dental Technology
August 2021
Volume 12, Issue 8

Offering the highest levels of service is critical in today’s environment as dental laboratories seek to differentiate themselves from the competition. To help them do so, Sterngold Dental offers the Lab Partnership Program, which allows laboratories to bundle implants and restorative components with their custom restorations at a competitive price. Inside Dental Technology spoke to Sterngold Dental President and CEO Gordon Craig to learn more about the program.

Inside Dental Technology (IDT): What was the genesis of why Sterngold decided to create the Lab Partnership Program?

Gordon Craig: It was a combination of both the impact of COVID-19 and the challenges we are seeing in the dental laboratory space. Laboratories are constantly pressured; competition is becoming even more intense. We are seeing the industry continue to compress through consolidation as well as retirements. We decided to define this program that would allow dental laboratories to focus on growth, be able to combat pricing pressures, and really have a competitive edge to remain viable, improve profitability, and offer expanded services to their customer bases.

IDT: What sets Sterngold apart from other implant manufacturers in terms of the ability to do something like this?

Craig: The biggest thing is we control the supply chain on our products. We manufacture dental implants and dental prosthetics, and we reach the customer directly, so no other channels are applying increased pricing. We decided to partner with the laboratories to provide that incentive to help them grow their dental implant businesses, expand their customer bases, and generally differentiate their laboratories. It is not a one-size-fits-all program; we have different levels of engagement based on the focus that each laboratory wants to project for themselves. In many cases, laboratories do not need to redefine themselves to take advantage of this program. The most significant benefits are the integrated workflow options. For example, a laboratory could choose to utilize a workflow arrangement whereby the materials are drop-shipped directly to the dentist from Sterngold. There are so many different options like that.

IDT: That ability to customize the arrangement seems to fit a trend we have observed of laboratories offering personalized service to their dentists. How important is that?

Craig: Laboratories that focus on the service metric are the ones surviving and growing. A lot of companies offer really great products; that is the entry level for being in business. What differentiates good businesses from great businesses is that higher level of service, whether it is personalization or just a more efficient level of service that creates better dialogues, more efficiencies, and fewer headaches. We designed the Lab Partnership Program to streamline workflows from beginning to end on a case-by-case basis and provide a wonderful experience not only for the dentist but, ultimately, for the patient. We have designed this program to really encapsulate focal points on making sure the service levels are highest all the way through that chain. That turns into a win-win-win-win scenario, because we all have an eye on making sure the patient is satisfied, and if the patient is satisfied then so are the dentist and the laboratory. If those three are all satisfied, then we are satisfied. The key is making sure the entire chain is intact.

IDT: Can you paint a picture from a laboratory’s perspective of how exactly this program works?

Craig: What brings everything together is the All-in-1 bundle; using single-site implant crowns as an example, Sterngold provides all the materials needed to create an environment for the laboratory to place its crown into the workflow. There are multiple levels of variations, so we can work with dentists and laboratories using either analog or digital methods. In simple terms, Sterngold is a manufacturer of dental implants, attachments, and prosthetics; we manufacture everything here in Massachusetts with our own machinery. So, we can provide the implant, cover screw, healing abutment, either an impression coping (analog) or scan body (digital), and either stock abutment (analog) or Ti base (digital), all for one bundled price. Usually, the cost of the components cuts into the laboratory’s margins, but this allows the laboratory to maintain those margins. They can really capitalize on the ability to offer an implant, restorative components, and a crown for less than $500. This is a huge differentiator in the marketplace and allows for a tremendous amount of growth at all levels. Most importantly, we are creating a chance for everyone to take a bite of the apple, but, ultimately, we want the patient to have the most affordable solution that gives them a better quality of life. The driving force is our belief that many underserved patients need implants and cannot afford it. This program fills that void. It is not a matter of devaluing other solutions on the market; it just provides the dentist, through the laboratory, another option to offer to try to get the patient to accept a level of treatment that will give them a better quality of life.

IDT: What has the initial feedback been from laboratories and dentists?

Craig: The feedback we are getting is very good. I would encapsulate it this way: We are taking somebody who has a pretty good-sized paintbrush, and now we are making that paintbrush wider. You are painting with fewer strokes and covering more. Most importantly, dental professionals now can have a predictable case cost that is affordable and reduce overhead all around. Having an implant-to-crown total cost of less than $500 allows the dentist to offer an affordable solution to the patient while maintaining their profitability. Where this plays really well is in the realm of DSOs and group laboratories; everyone knows the goal of these organizations is to drive costs out of the network. The idea of our program is to develop a solution that increases the efficiency of consultations by increasing acceptance rates. We are targeting the large percentage of patients who, to this point, have been declining dental implant treatment. This is where the industry is going, and we have just decided to get there faster than anyone else.

IDT: What other support does Sterngold offer as part of the Lab Partnership Program?

Craig: We educate and work with laboratories to help educate clinicians. We have integrated educational programs—both virtual and live—that the clinician (and laboratories) can utilize to become fully capable and experienced on how to use these products. We also provide marketing support for the laboratories in the form of digital collateral and communication templates the laboratory can use to create custom flyers with their pricing and their logos. We want to help them promote and grow their prosthetic business. It is an all-encompassing program that has a tremendous amount of value built into it all the way down the line.

IDT: What else should dental professionals know about the program?

Craig: We talked about single-tooth implants, but we also have packages for removables and fixed hybrid solutions as well. For all  the package variations, it is really easy to get started. Next year, Sterngold will celebrate 125 years in business, and we are a company that stands behind our products and is always here to support our customers. That is the driving concept behind the Lab Partnership Program.

Trying to decide if dental implant surgery is right for you? Considering the high success rate and longevity of dental implants, it remains one of the most effective and affordable dental solutions for people suffering from tooth loss. However, careful understanding and personal preparation is the key to a successful procedure.

The first stop on your journey to restoring a normal quality of life and to a bigger and brighter smile will be your dentist. Your dentist can assess the nature and extent of your current dental health, tooth loss, and determine the most suitable type of dental implant. The procedure will vary from patient to patient depending on whether you’re getting conventional implants or mini implants (aka small diameter implants).

Mini implants are smaller diameter implants (between 1.8 mm to 3.0 mm), making them suitable for a wide range of patients who aren’t ideal candidates for conventional dental implants (between 3.2 mm and 6 mm). This includes individuals with potentially poor bone density or resorbed ridges.

Preparing for Dental Implant Surgery

The first step in the process is to provide a comprehensive record of your health history that you can then discuss with your dental provider.

Apart from any chronic ailments, it is important to consider any allergies you may have or any habit which may potentially interfere with proper healing and to avoid infection which could lead to the failure of the implant. Your dentist is also required to review a complete list of your medications—both prescription and over-the-counter- as some medications can increase the risk of dental implant failure. At the end of this step, your dentist will determine whether you are a suitable candidate for dental implant surgery.

Next your dentist will schedule you for digital scans. These will provide a clearer understanding to the dentist of the overall condition of your current dental situation and health. Based on the results, your dentist will create a model of your jaw and teeth and design an individualized treatment plan taking into account your overall oral and physical health, the condition and quality of your bone, the possible need for bone graft and determine the type of implants that will be best for you. In the meantime, your proposed restorations will be created for your surgical visit.

Your dentist may or may not have been trained in implant placement surgery. If not, you will be referred to an oral surgeon, periodontist or prosthodontist, a dental clinician specifically trained in implant surgery. Following the procedure, you would return to your regular dentist for the final restoration.

The Surgery - A Breakdown

Implant surgery can either be completed under local or general anesthesia. Typically, you will have your surgery appointment and then return in 4-6 months for final restorations. This recovery phase provides the required time for proper healing of the implant and bone graft if required.

The dentist or oral surgeon will first prepare your jaw bone, which involves completely removing the damaged tooth including the root. This is followed by creating access to your jaw bone through the gum tissues. Once the jaw bone is exposed, the surgeon uses a series of precisely sized drills to create the planned cavity into the bone that will receive the implant. The implant will then be screwed into the bone. Depending on the overall treatment plan, the implant will either be permanently restored at the time of oral surgery (immediately loaded in the case of mini implants) or the implant will be covered and allowed to heal for a period of time before final restoration.

If the treatment plan is for an overdenture, at the time of surgery, you will be provided with a temporary denture while the implant osseointegrates into the jaw bone (i.e., the bone grows around and fully integrates into the implant and becomes part of the jaw). The next phase is to wait for the gums to heal and for the implant to osseointegrate. The permanent restoration is not immediately placed to avoid interfering with the implant healing process. It will typically take 4 - 6 months for this to occur. However, there are some implant techniques which allow for immediate loading of the final restorations. Your dentist will review these options with you, prior to surgery. There is normally little to no discomfort associated with the implant in the bone; the gums may remain sensitive until the soft tissue is healed. Over-the-counter pain medications are usually indicated.

Following the healing period and the dentist has determined that osseointegration, confirmed by examination and X-rays, has occurred and the gums have healed properly, steps will be taken to prepare the final restoration.

Potential Reasons for Dental Implant Placement to Fail and Adverse Affects

Dental implant surgery is proven and safe. Properly trained dental professionals follow strict surgical protocols to ensure dental implants are placed under sterile conditions and according to regulatory requirements. It is extremely important to follow the strict guidelines for maintenance and care of your implant and surgical site in the mouth as set forth by your dentist in order to avoid any adverse affects including infection and ultimate implant failure. There are extremely rare instances where there may be an allergic reaction to some aspect of the surgical procedure and this will be discussed by your dentist with you beforehand, considering your health history. All potential risks would be considered by your dentist in the pre-treatment planning, for mitigation.

Careful attention must be taken to properly care for the implant sites to ensure proper healing and to avoid infections. Peri-implantitis can occur as time goes on and this can induce other potentially worse conditions including bone loss, the failure of a graft to integrate, and the overall failure of the implant. This can occur at any time in the future after the placement--even after healing and final restoration is completed-- and proper dental hygiene practice. Many situations and hygiene practices that caused the need for a dental implant to begin with, once improved, can help prevent implant failure. It is important to understand that most of this relies on the patient’s willingness to properly maintain the area.

ln certain instances, there may be abnormal bleeding. If this occurs, make sure to consult your dentist for the best treatment to control.

Post-Operative Care

Carefully follow your dentist’s post-care instructions. Most patients will only experience mild discomfort following the procedure. Over-the-counter painkillers and analgesics can help deal with post-operative pain and swelling. Cannabidiol or CBD medication for Temporomandibular joint or jaw pain (TMJ) may be considered as an alternative, holistic relief option. In some instances, your dentist may pre-treat you with antibiotics to hedge any potential infection.

Remember, the success of your dental implant surgery also largely depends on your positive dental hygiene routine after the procedure is completed.

Life Changing

Dental implant can be life changing. They can restore your ability to savor what you once loved to eat, regain confidence in your smile, and most of all, improve your quality of life.

Speak to your dental professional if dental implant treatment is the right option for you.

Written by Noah Levine and published on focus magazine, FDLA, 2021

The latest digital removables materials, processes, and workflows such as the Baltic Denture System available via Sterngold are making denture production more efficient and simpler.

The digital dental revolution has already firmly cemented its place at the center of fixed restoration production, but the adoption of digital denture workflows and products has progressed at a slower pace.

Fixed and removable production can reap benefits from digital technologies and the materials they process. Still, the shift to digital production of removable dental appliances is happening at a more measured pace. This pace is due to many factors, but a big one is the learning curve and the full scope of actually creating a denture or other removable appliance. A single crown is fairly straightforward but shifting from designing it in wax to designing it on a computer screen is a leap, yet not always a gigantic one. However, removable appliance cases may involve multiple teeth and gingival tissues, and doing this digitally involves a bigger analog to digital transition, but that transition is well underway, according to Gene Peterson, CDT, director of Technical Development and Learning for Sterngold Dental.

“Through the last 9 years, there’s been a lot of advancements. Some people have said it’s been a revolution. Some people say it’s still evolving. I think it’s kind of both. I think it’s a revolution that’s evolving,” he says.

Today digital dentures are a reliable and viable option for many situations, Peterson says. The latest materials and systems can produce appliances that provide great fit, function, and esthetics to meet the needs of patients. These digital denture solutions offer far greater production efficiency and can drastically reduce the number of dentist appointments for the patient. Still, the move toward digital denture production remains a slow shift for the industry.

Peterson says removables technicians looking to shift to digital workflows often struggle to translate their skills and experience from the benchtop to the desktop. Although the essential steps of creating a denture remain the same, transitioning from the tactile analog process to the virtual digital process is the biggest hurdle for many clinicians.

“The idea is to find that harmony where you can bridge that gap easily and see the symbiosis between the 2, so they come together,” Peterson says. “You have to be able to say, ‘OK, this is what I did in the old world, and this is what I do in the new world, and now I do it with a mouse instead of a handpiece, and I’m good to go.’”

Peterson admits that digital dentures may not be the best match for every lab, every technician, and every practice. It’s a technology that should be embraced, and the technician should start thinking digitally. It’s been an excellent tool for the technicians, labs, and dentists who are truly engaging with the technology.

Digital Dentures Today

A variety of digital denture systems and materials are currently available. Some systems feature milled or 3D-printed denture bases with the denture teeth placed and bonded using longstanding analog techniques. Other systems offer a monolithic denture by milling the appliance from a special material composed of both gingiva and teeth.

Peterson noted that some systems require a large upfront investment in equipment and materials from the dental lab, whereas others can be leveraged with a minimal initial investment. Early printed denture bases have been criticized for lacking in characterization, but digitally produced dentures can all be customized to provide whatever level of esthetics are designed for that case.

Although the workflow used to get to the finish line is vastly different between analog and digital denture workflows (and even among the workflows of other digital denture systems), as with any case, success with digital dentures depends on having good information about the case at the start.

Peterson says creating a perfect digital denture requires accurate clinical information, including detailed impressions, an accurate bite, the midline incisal edge, proper lip support, the plane of occlusion, the tooth size, and the central height. As long as those measurements are accurate, digital denture design applications should provide a guided process to fabricate a digital denture that will be a perfect fit for the patient.

The highly accurate information captured in a digital impression is a great starting point, but the clinician should provide accurate measurements for all the details of the denture to turn a denture case into something akin to a crown appointment when the patient comes in once for prep, scanning, and design, and then returns for seating the final restoration. With accurate starting measurements, Peterson believes digital dentures can be the best and most efficient option for many patients, and clinicians can be sure of their measurements when they measure at least twice to make sure their numbers are repeatable.

“When they’re accurate, it’s going to go right in the mouth,” he says. “You’re going to have that 2-appointment denture, and that’s a key to digital dentures.”

Optimal Efficiency With Workflow Flexibility

Sterngold recently partnered with Merz Dental which provides the Baltic Denture System (BDS), a versatile digital denture solution that standardizes parts of the design and fabrication to make the production process as simple and efficient as possible. The solution includes ^BDCreator® PLUS, a customized software application that guides technicians through the design steps. The designs are then milled from special ^BDLoad® discs, which come preformed with denture teeth set up in an optimized lingualized occlusion. This allows the system to go directly from design, to milling, to finishing without the need for multiple try-ins or a lengthy setup process.

“It’s a milled premium denture,” Peterson says. “It’s a monolithic final denture that looks beautiful.“For a premium denture, you’re getting a lot for your buck,” he continues. “In fact, in its simplicity, it will exceed your expectations because what you’re getting and what you’re able to do with this software and the final product is something that nobody else is really doing at this price point.”

Peterson has experience working with multiple digital denture solutions and working for companies behind the scenes. He likes the BDS because it offers both simplicity and versatility. The solution can be used for denture sets or single arches and can even be used for immediate dentures. Because it offers clinics the benefit of faster-finished dentures at a lower cost, labs can jump into the solution in multiple ways.

Labs with a compatible mill are ready to do everything on-site and can invest in the full solution to create their digital dentures completely in-house. Those without a mill or looking to start smaller can design in-house and send files to Sterngold for milling. Alternately, labs can take on any of the steps in-house and outsource the rest of the process. In the end, all the paths lead to digital dentures being delivered to the prescribing clinic.

On the materials side, the ^BDLoad pucks are manufactured from highly esthetic, high-impact PMMA, which can be characterized and finished like any standard denture. The preset teeth are affixed using a process that creates a true chemical interface between acrylic used for the gingiva and the material used for the teeth. This process creates a monolithic denture with distinct teeth and gingiva, and virtually eliminates the risk of teeth debonding and needing replacement.

“You’re not going to have pop-outs,” says Peterson. “You’re not going to have fracture failures because there’s no mechanical bond to break.”

The Future of Digital Dentures

The way Peterson sees things, digital dentures are fully ready for primetime today, and the only things holding them back are trust in the process from the clinicians and buy-in and training from the technicians. He adds that solving the first challenge is going to be easier than the second.

Getting clinicians on board with digital dentures should be achievable. When done correctly, the quality of digital dentures can meet the demands of most dental practices. Convincing dentists to commit to milled digital dentures rather than printed dentures, for the time being, is part of achieving this goal. Although Peterson says printing will be the industry standard when printers and materials improve enough to surpass the quality of milled dentures, he thinks milled restorations are the best option today.

With quality no longer a barrier, clinicians really only need to be convinced that they can get equal quality dentures in far less time by embracing a digital process. In fact, Peterson believes digital dentures could be just the thing to get clinicians excited about providing dentures for their patients.

“It’s my passion to get doctors to the point where they’re comfortable and consistent making the records, and they enjoy making dentures again,” Peterson says. “If you can get some basic consistency down in your record making, you’re going to have a lot of enjoyment out of making dentures, and it can be a hugely profitable aspect of your business.”

Unfortunately, increasing the number of digital denture technicians will be a bigger challenge. Peterson says the barriers on the lab side are more challenging because they are institutional. There is a declining number of schools and educational opportunities for new technicians, and many established removables technicians are not interested in learning a new approach to their craft.

According to Peterson, a key to breaking down this barrier is setting technicians up for success when they start learning the digital denture processes. They need to not only understand the software workflows but also how to identify when inaccurate data are causing problems with the denture design. Digital denture technicians need to be ready to coach the doctors and drive home how accurate information at the start leads to efficient production and dentures that fit right the first time. With an automated digital workflow, the problems that might arise will rarely originate at the lab.

“With digital dentures, they can’t blame a technician anymore because [they are] just putting in information that they give [them],” Peterson adds, once again noting the importance of accurate scans and measurements from the dentist.

Labs often face a barrier to entry into new digital platforms due to the cost. Peterson says this led to innovations like BDS where a lab can embrace it 1 piece at a time and build up enough business to generate a quick return on investment by automating production step.

When it comes to the need for more digital denture technicians, Peterson says it may take time. He does not expect the established generation of denture technicians to shift to digital in large numbers. They’re largely comfortable with the way they work and don’t have immense pressure forcing them to make a switch.

However, the next generation of lab technicians will be trained in a digital environment and might learn digital techniques before or in lieu of analog workflows. Even though they will enter a much more automated industry than previous generations, they will still need to learn the same key details about the engineering, chemistry, and design of dental restorations, whether they work at a bench or a keyboard.

Peterson says he’s excited about how far digital dentures have come and looks forward to being a part of the continued development of the removables side of digital dentistry. The tools and materials required to make dentures will evolve, but the core knowledge at the heart of designing a removable dental restoration will remain the same.

“I’ve been in this for 10 years, and when I first got into doing this, people would say, ‘You’re going to make my grandma’s dentures with a computer? Are you kidding me?’” Peterson says. “The format is different, but the details remain the same. Technicians, per se, aren’t going to go away. They’re just going to be doing different things.”

Dentures have become so ubiquitous in the 21st century that we take their present form for granted. Like many other inventions, dentures underwent a number of innovations before we got to where we are today. Along the way, a number of extraordinary dentures graced the mouths of those looking to solve health issues or find cosmetic improvements for their smiles. Let’s review some of the weirdest dentures developed throughout the history of dentistry.

Ancient Bling Bling

Long before rap became a popular music genre, many cultures had already adopted the practice of wearing gold grills on their teeth.

Among the ancient proponents of decorative dentures was a woman unearthed in an ancient Celt burial site in La Chêne, France who wore an iron pin implant in her mouth. The pin likely holds a decorative tooth in place, especially given it was part of the front teeth that needed replacing. Experts suggest that the missing tooth was made of gold: the Etruscans (of what is now modern Tuscany) were in the habit of sporting decorative gold teeth, and Celts traded extensively with them.

The practice of using gold teeth continues to this day in many cultures. In many areas in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus Regions, gold teeth remain a status symbol for wealth and power. In some cases, people get their healthy teeth filed or extracted to get a replacement made of gold. Of course, many hip-hop artists sport grills made of gold to show the world they’ve made it. In fact, rapper Nelly released a single “Grillz” which extolled the virtues of wearing gold caps on your teeth.

The Truth About George Washington’s Teeth

Washington’s legendary exploits and leadership as the first president of the United States showed his strength and fortitude, but—like many of his time—dental issues plagued him throughout his life. His extensive diary included many entries of aching teeth and gums and the many procedures done to save his smile.

One of the more famous stories about Washington is that he relied on wooden dentures. However, many historians now believe this is likely false. While he did not use wooden dentures, the ones he did use would certainly be considered weird by our modern standards. The president used a wide range of materials, ranging from actual human teeth to cow and horse teeth. There were also reports of him using elephant ivory, lead-tin, copper or brass, and silver alloy.

Wood You Wear Wooden Dentures?

Even if George Washington didn’t wear wooden dentures, that doesn’t mean they didn't exist. In fact, some of the oldest dentures were made of wood, but they’re more common in the eastern part of the world.

Japan gets credit for inventing wooden full dentures, carved meticulously by Japanese craftsmen. Softened beeswax was placed inside a patient’s mouth to make an impression. This would serve as the basis for the wooden carvings that conformed to the patient’s mouth. While the earliest versions were made entirely out of wood, later models incorporated human teeth, soapstone (or pagodite), ivory, and animal horn. They were remarkably form-fitting, utilizing broad bases and adhesion principles to keep them in place.

Wooden dentures gained popularity in the 16th century. It was said to be a popular enough industry that many woodcarvers switched jobs from sculptor to denture maker.

Pearly-White Ivory Dentures

What better way to mimic the look of your original teeth than using ivory for your falsies? This was the thinking behind ivory dentures, which were the standard in American dental care starting in the 1700s. As noted above, George Washington himself was a fan of the ivory denture.

Generally harvested from elephants, hippos, or walruses, this tusk material was then carved into two separate pieces: an upper and a lower denture with ivory “teeth” for maximum authenticity. While different materials were commonly used to affix the pieces together, one ingenious craftsman opted for piano wire springs! Partial dentures would often be tied to remaining teeth using silk threads or wire.

In fact, ivory remained the denture material of choice—even if it was only used for the base rather than the “teeth” themselves—well into mid 1800s. The downside? Ivory proved difficult to clean and it would deteriorate over time, sometimes producing an off-putting odor to boot. Hard to believe it was only the wealthiest members of society who could afford the privilege of sporting smelly, dirty dentures!

Second-Hand Teeth Were All The Rage

Given the lack of alternatives at the time, it was common to use teeth extracted from animals such as cows or horses—and even humans! Animal tooth dentures already existed around 2500 B.C., and ancient Egyptians and Etruscans made modifications by introducing dentures made from bone, wire, and carved animal and human teeth. Centuries later, human tooth dentures became sought after during the 17th century. A burgeoning but macabre market for second-hand teeth became its own industry in 18th century France. In fact, historians say that patients wanted replacement teeth primarily for cosmetic purposes. Wealthy French aristocrats, in particular, made up the bulk of the market for used teeth. Fashionable? Maybe. Among the weirdest dentures in history? Definitely.

By and large, human teeth looked better and were more comfortable than false teeth carved from bone, ivory, or animal teeth. This is why dentures at the time consisted of second-hand teeth mixed with other falsies. Soon, the market for dead men’s teeth grew to the point that people scrounged fresh battlefields for teeth from dead soldiers. “Waterloo teeth” came from the historic French defeat, where a record number of canines, cuspids, and molars were harvested. Despite the moniker, human teeth were already en vogue even before Napoleon lost this particular battle.

Porcelain Dentures for a Whiter, Brighter Smile

A combination of ivory and human teeth remained the denture material of choice until porcelain was introduced in the late 1700s. However, the first foray into porcelain dentures—spearheaded by an enterprising man named Alexis Duchateau—was not a resounding success. Not only did the dentures chip quite easily, but the whiteness of the material was actually off putting for many would-be wearers. Yes, back in those days a bright, white smile was considered unnatural.

It wasn’t until the 1840s that porcelain became more widely accepted in denture development. It was a second-generation goldsmith by the name Claudius Ash who managed to solve the earlier issues with porcelain dentures. His unique approach was to carve porcelain “tube teeth” which he then set into a base made from gold. He also used gold for the denture springs and swivels.

This new development in denture technology was a game-changer. Claudius rapidly expanded his business and soon dominated the European market for false teeth. Eventually Cladius Ash & Sons became internationally renowned for their dental innovations and the business evolved, via merger, into the Amalgamated Dental Company in 1924.

DIY Dentures by The Deer Hunter

Necessity is often the mother of invention. For this gentleman, making a DIY set of dentures from deer’s teeth is a more practical alternative than frequent trips to the city to get replacement chompers. Francis Wharton—a Canadian hunter and inventor who lived in the backwoods of Little Fort, British Columbia in the mid 20th century—was far from civilization when he found himself needing a pair of dentures. Between the 1950s and 1960s, he fashioned himself a full upper denture made from deer he shot himself. The unusual piece—made from filed down ruminant deer teeth and placed in a plastic wood base—is now on display at the Museum of Health Care in Kingston.

When he was wearing his deer dentures, Wharton used household cement to make them stay in place. Reportedly, he used the teeth for at least three years before abandoning them in favor of more conventional prosthetics. The deer dentures were described as loose, dark, and dirty. Oh, deer!

DIY Dentures Using Superglue

Another entry in our catalog of weirdest dentures and bad DIY choices: a British woman used superglue to reattach her failing teeth. Angie Barlow—a professional dog walker—couldn’t muster the courage to go to a dental clinic. She said that one time her mother went to the dentist, she was diagnosed with throat cancer after tooth extraction. Subsequently, she died at 34 years of age. Since then, Barlow couldn't bear going to a dentist.

Instead, she would use superglue to reattach teeth that had fallen out. Eventually, the problem became so severe that Barlow lost 90% of the bone structure needed to support her upper teeth. The sheer amount of superglue needed to hold her teeth in place formed the equivalent of a full denture. She finally relented and visited a professional at age 48. Dentists immediately removed most of her superglued teeth. Instead, they inserted titanium pin-based dental implants and gave her a more permanent and less damaging smile.

Are Stem Cells the Future of Dental Implants?

What if you could simply regrow a broken or missing tooth instead of using an implant? A team of researchers at Tufts School of Dental Medicine are exploring this alternative.

A professor of orthodontics and director of the division of craniofacial and molecular genetics, Pam Yelick, is researching ways to use dental stem cells to successfully regrow broken or missing teeth. First, the stem cells must be extracted from a healthy adult tooth. Once that’s done, the cells are isolated and kept in conditions that mirror the embryonic stage of development, when the jaw bone, tooth, soft palate and gums have yet to take shape. This encourages the growth of new tooth buds, which can later be transferred back to the patient who will grow a new tooth from scratch instead of needing an implant.

While this is an exciting innovation in dental technology, it will be many years before this becomes a viable alternative. At present Yelick and her team are still experimenting with the best ways to create the tooth buds and the only patients who have yet to grow new teeth from her stem cell research are pigs.

Yay for You! No Need To Wear Weird Dentures

While most of our entries were not considered weird during their time, given the material used or its original purpose, they now come across as some of the weirdest dentures throughout history. Thank goodness for modern dentistry! Today having your teeth replaced with safe, comfortable, and attractive prosthetics can be easily done by a professional dental practitioner. The latest and greatest development in this field? Digital dentures! These next-generation dentures utilize 3D printing and milling technologies to produce better, more form-fitting results.

When selecting the best dentist for the job, make sure that they have quality dental products at their disposal. No matter how skilled the dentist is, having the latest and greatest in denture technology will yield a safe and sound investment that can last for years.

Sterngold Dental believes in providing a better quality of life by way of superior dental products. This includes affordable restorative dental products that can help patients achieve better dental health, regain their confidence, and renew their zest for life. So when you are on the lookout for new dental prosthetics, there’s no need to go “weird” or wild. Make sure your dental practitioner carries Sterngold dental products! Visit our website to learn more about our products and services.

Dental pain and discomfort can have many sources, from chronic disorders like TMJ or TMD to post-operative procedure soreness. To treat this discomfort, dentists can prescribe a range of dental pain medication—from oral analgesics and NSAIDs to opioid medications for those with more severe pain. While traditional dental pain medication provides mild to moderate relief, it is often temporary. In addition, using these medications can trigger side effects ranging from organ damage and increased risk of heart attacks, to outright dependency.

There is another way. Alternative pain treatment methods in the form of cannabidiol-based (CBD) products are becoming more popular and prominent because they offer relief without any distressing side effects or addictive qualities. Unlike THC (the other active ingredient found in the cannabis plant), CBD does not contain any psychoactive substances that produce the “high” from cannabis. This makes CBD treatment options an attractive alternative for effective pain management.

Alternative Holistic Medication to Relieve Dental Discomfort

In recent decades, public perception of the cannabis plant has shifted from a dangerous narcotic to an effective herbal remedy. More and more people are seeing the value of cannabis, specifically the cannabidiol compound, as an effective way of providing pain relief in a variety of settings.

Research has shown it can help ease conditions for migraine or spasm sufferers as well as cancer and AIDs patients without any troublesome side effects or addictive qualities, making it more attractive than traditional medicines. It was only a matter of time before health experts realized the dental pain-relieving properties of cannabidiol (CBD).

Reducing Dental Anxiety

Dr. Mark Burrhene, the founder of AsktheDentist.com, explains that CBD acts on that part of the brain that processes fear and can help reduce anxiety before a dental procedure.

The research seems to support the use of CBD for anxiety and PTSD. Citing a clinical study where patients diagnosed with PTSD were given CBD once or twice a day for eight weeks, Dr. Burrhene said nine out of eleven participants reported an average 28% decrease in symptom severity.

The anxiety-relieving properties of CBD are now being applied in a dental setting, too. In some cases, patients are given a half milliliter dose of CBD extract before undergoing a dental procedure. Reports indicate that those who elected to get a dose before their operation were calmer during their procedure.

Treating Dental Pain and Inflammation

CBD can serve as dental pain medication in place of traditional pain relievers. It can be used to provide relief from routine tooth ailments such as tooth pain and swelling. CBD can also help reduce post-operative pain from procedures such as root canals and extractions and long, open-mouth procedures. CBD medication can take the form of oils and tinctures, capsules, or as an active ingredient in toothpaste or tea. Medical grade, prescription strength CBD cream is the latest development for the alleviation of dental discomfort.

The active ingredient cannabidiol helps in pain reduction by interacting with cannabinoid receptors found throughout the body. These receptors link to the immune system, which lowers its response when interacting with CBD. Recent research further shows that CBD has the potency to combat pain and reduce inflammation through pro-neurogenic effects and by neutralizing pro-inflammatory cytokines (small secreted proteins released by cells).

TMJ or Myofascial Dental Pain

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain from dysfunction of said joint, affects millions of Americans. The condition causes recurrent or chronic pain in the jaw joint and surrounding muscles and tissues.

Symptoms include a clicking or popping sound from the jaw. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is the second most common musculoskeletal disorder that causes pain (only chronic low back pain affects more people). TMD is associated with a number of conditions including the misalignment of the upper and lower teeth, bruxism (grinding or clenching teeth), and severe overbites and underbites.

Prescription strength CBD topical cream is fast gaining traction as a natural alternative to treat TMJ pain and other facial discomforts, such as myofascial pain (MFP). One such product is Transdermal Relief Cream (TRC), tested by dentists for dentists, distrbuted by Sterngold. With its 2.5% medical grade CBD formulation, patients simply apply a small amount of the cream to painful areas and massage until absorbed. This higher concentration renders TRC more effective compared to most over-the-counter CBD products.

Research from the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, states that patients who applied CBD in transdermal form, reported a 70% reduction in jaw pain.

Similarly, myofascial pain (MFP) can manifest every now and then. MFP is an offshoot of muscle tension, fatigue, or (rarely) spasm in the muscles connected to the jaw. Applying CBD to the affected areas can help alleviate the symptoms and reduce tension.

Other Types of Dental Discomfort

Dentist-approved TRC can also reduce tension and discomfort caused by wearing braces, retainers, or mouth guards. Additionally, patients can apply the cream to treat discomfort from dental implants or other dentistry procedures. It also helps to relax the jaw after a particularly long session with the dentist.

Alternative Uses of CBD Cream

The applications of CBD aren’t limited to just dental pain relief applications. Some dentists prescribing medical grade TRC report that the product helps reduce swelling and pain in their hands after a long day’s work. (Anecdotal reports suggest that the TRC also helped with insect bites, eczema, burns, and other common skin conditions.)

So Why Use CBD as Dental Pain Medication?

Topical creams with 2.5% CBD such as TRC, provide patients with a potent treatment for dental discomfort. Adding CBD to a transdermal cream base makes it the perfect vehicle for rapid skin absorption. The faster the absorption, the faster the delivery of relief.

Because CBD does not possess psychoactive properties (unlike its counterpart, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC), it provides a safe and effective pain relief option without the high. In addition, patients can apply CBD creams to painful areas as often as needed without worry. This makes CBD an excellent option for those seeking relief from chronic pain but want to avoid the use of oral NSAIDs or opioid medications.

The use of CBD products is becoming more prominent in the dental community, with many dentists recommending trial to their patients, and receiving positive feedback.

If you would like more information about TRC, the first dentist-approved, medical grade CBD cream for dental discomfort, please visit Sterngold Dental.

During the past decade, digital dentures have grabbed the limelight and are now fast replacing their conventionally designed counterparts. If you’re a dental technician, you’re already familiar with the demand for dentures that are strong, natural-looking, and provide a precise fit. That’s why it is high time you consider offering digital denture production at your lab to gain an edge over your competitors and win new customers.

This technology involves a short learning curve. You’ll also need to procure the right and software and equipment to prepare your dental lab for digital dentures. This typically requires financial investment right away, but there are dental companies that work with you from being the outsourced provider of the full workflow, to simply providing the monolithic loads as you are ready to fully manage the digital production at your lab.

The initial cost of digital denture production may be higher than that of conventional dentures and could dissuade dental labs from adopting the technology. However, digital dentures prove to be more cost-effective in the long run.

Dental practitioners have developed an interest in this type of dentures for the short number of patient visits involved and reproducibility, while patients are attracted to them for convenience and esthetic reasons.

In this blog, we’ll delve deeper into digital denture technology and production workflow. We’ll also find out why it’s becoming the norm for labs looking to stay ahead of the curve and thrive. Let’s get started.

Digital Dentures: A Closer Look

Digital dentures are permanent or temporary full-arch dentures that are designed and manufactured using a digital workflow. Traditionally, denture production involved multiple dentist appointments for measurement, fitting, and final delivery.

Dentists have to physically make impressions and create inter-occlusal records to capture a patient’s centric relation, lip support, incisal edge, occlusal plane, and more. Lab technicians then have to design a proposal of prosthetic teeth and artificial gingival tissue in wax before creating the final denture made from acrylic.

This is a complex and time-consuming process that could require five or more visits with the patient. Also, it involves constant back and forth communication between the dentist and technician making corrections prior to finalizing the prosthesis.

Digital dentures, on the other hand, utilize CAD/CAM software to create the digital design using a digital impression and interocclusal record. The designs are then digitally applied into the final prosthesis by milling or printing the base and teeth in one or two pieces.

If the lab is not already utilizing CAD/CAM to design, preparing for digital dentures requires specialized training, software, and equipment. Despite the possible higher upfront investment, the digital workflow offers improved efficiency almost immediately and delivers improved profitability to the lab, which can then pass on these benefits to its customers.

Why Dental Labs Should Adopt Digital Dentures.

Digital dentures are instrumental in improving the quality of life for edentulous patients. Considering that most of these patients belong to older age groups, frequent visits to the dentist can be difficult for them. On the other hand, a digital denture is ready in as few as two appointments.

Digital dentures are generally stronger and are easier to replicate. They offer a better fit and improved esthetics, and with correct records, a more accurate final occlusion. They’re proving to be more cost-effective for dentists as well. This is why clinicians in growing numbers are developing a preference for dental labs that manufacture dentures using digital technology. Thus, if your lab is slow to adopt a digital denture workflow, you’re going to fall behind your competitors.

Additionally, the digital denture workflow facilitates fast and transparent communication between technicians and clinicians. You no longer have to wait for a dentist to physically send the patient’s clinical records and impressions. Instead, this data is communicated electronically.

Once you’ve created a digital setup, you can share it with your dentist digitally. All of these elements minimize the chances of human error, as well as ensure shorter turnaround times. Ultimately, it creates a win-win situation for all parties involved - patients, technicians, and clinicians.

Digital Denture Production Workflow

Digital denture production involves three major steps:

1. Scanning

A clinician is responsible for making the final impressions and interocclusal records. Intraoral scanners may be used to generate digital final impressions or conventional methods to record the vertical dimension, CR, occlusal plane, and other esthetic parameters.

2. Designing

The scans are sent to the dental lab and the data is entered into a digital denture CAD/CAM software where the setup is designed and finalized for manufacturing. The digital setup can be sent to the clinician for approval or changes made electronically.

3. Milling or printing

Once approved, if requested, a try-in can be created and seated prior to the final. Ideally, upon approval, you can go straight to the final and either mill or print the final prosthesis.

How to Prepare Your Dental Lab for Digital Dentures

You need to decide the level of integration between digital denture workflows and your current lab setup. What is your budget? First, identify how much or how little of the workflow you want to implement. What is your readiness level or the level with which you are comfortable at starting the process? If you already have digital equipment in your laboratory, will some of it be useful in digital dentures? Consider components such as:

• Current CAD/CAM software
• 3D printer
• Milling machine

Most important, you should seek a trusted system that provides you with end-to-end digital denture solutions. For instance, Sterngold Dental manufactures dental attachments, dental implants, and provides many other dental products, including the Baltic Denture System digital dentures developed by Merz Dental (Germany). This system includes proprietary software, ᴮᴰCreatorPLUS®, as well as prefabricated milling discs (ᴮᴰLoad) to produce a premium final digital denture. The base material and teeth are highly esthetic, porosity-free, and highly durable. The software is easy to learn and is reasonably priced.

Expectations from Clinicians and Patients

So, you’re ready to harness the potential of digital denture technology to provide more value to your clients. Before you take the plunge, it’s essential to identify the key expectations that clinicians and patients have regarding denture production. Let’s take a look.

• Improved Accuracy - Both patients and dental professionals don’t want the hassle of multiple try-ins and relines. Your accurate records will be the foundation for the final success of your digital denture.
• Faster Turnaround Times - Patients don’t want to wait for weeks until they can start using their new teeth. Digital denture technology eliminates this problem by making the production and manufacturing process faster and more efficient.
• Optimal Costs - With digital dentures, you can enable clinicians to offer a premium digital product that will be a better value in the long run compared to conventional dentures.
• Better Esthetics -Ultimately, clinicians want their patients to have better quality of life. Patients’ self-esteem will increase only when they get natural-looking teeth. Digital dentures step into the picture as a beneficial solution for both patients and clinicians.

Conclusion

Clinicians, based on their patient’s needs, turn to dental labs for dentures that can uplift their patient’s quality of life. As a lab technician, you should seriously consider the latest technical innovations in removable prosthetic dentistry. Digital denture technology is no longer a new development that’s being offered by a few dental labs. It is catching on fast. Instead, it’s becoming the standard for denture production in many dental labs.

If you want to attract new clients and increase customer satisfaction, it’s time to adopt a digital denture workflow with a dedicated and trusted partner like Sterngold.

Ready to start offering digital dentures to your clients? Contact Sterngold to make the transition quick and seamless.

Modern dentures are possibly one of the most important dental prostheses in the last century. It is a prosthetic device made of artificial materials, such as plastic and acrylic, to replace missing teeth. It increases one’s quality of life without the significant risks typically found in its predecessors. Earlier forms involved using porcelain and ivory. They were meticulously handmade and hand painted in an attempt to look like real teeth. For a time, human teeth harvested from the deceased were also popular as they were easier to produce. Eventually, porcelain teeth were set using vulcanite—a form of hard rubber—which made production easier. Then, acrylic resin and other plastics replaced porcelain in the 20th century. Then, in the 1980s, digital technology started coming into the picture. The decade marked the beginning of computer-aided designs (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) for dentistry. Since then, CAD/CAM technology has advanced at a rapid pace and, as a consequence, so has denture technology.

The evolution in denture technology gave rise to today’s digital dentures. These next-generation dentures take advantage of various innovations, such as 3D printing and milling, to produce better results while minimizing issues. As such, they are being introduced in many dental clinics across the country.

Let’s take a look at what this technology is all about.

What Is the Latest Technology in Digital Dentures?

Digital dentures take advantage of technologies and workflows made for fabrication such as CAD/CAM software and 3D printing. First, information from the mouth including final impressions and interocclusal records are digitized either by scanning physical records or using an intraoral scanner to scan the anatomy directly.

The computerized data is transferred into a digital denture design software package that creates the blueprint. Next, the setup is finalized by making necessary functional and esthetic adjustments. Finally, the manufacturing process begins where the digital denture design is prepared for digital fabrication—either through milling or 3D printing.

But are these digital dentures, developed using modern denture technology, better than those made using a conventional process?

Are Digital Dentures Better?

The short answer to this is—yes, digital dentures are better than conventionally made dentures. One of the most significant advantages of digital dentures is improved accuracy and fit. Going digital allows you to create a 1:1 adaptation of what is in the records, something that conventional dentures have not been able to completely achieve due to manufacturing errors, shrinkage and distortion.

Additionally, digital dentures are generally made from premium quality materials which allow for better strength and wearability. A significant improvement over conventional materials is the fact that the final denture is denser due to the milling process. The lack of microporosity allows for a greater bio hygienic material that will not stain and naturally has less residual monomer present than conventional materials. The result is a superior and premium denture material which is ultimately better for the patient.

But these aren’t the only advantages that digital dentures have over conventional dentures. Let’s take a look at a few more of the major benefits that digital dentures have to offer.

Benefits of Digital Denture Technology

There are numerous benefits of opting for digital dentures over conventional forms of dentures. Some of the most prominent ones are:

1. Fewer Appointments

One of the biggest benefits of choosing digital dentures is the time saved on dental appointments. Conventional dentures require about five to seven visits to the dentist due to preliminary appointments, try-ins, corrections and adjustments. This is a lot for the patient.

With digital dentures, the patient can finish the entire process in as little as two appointments. The first visit involves collecting the digital data from the patient. Behind the scenes, after the initial visit, the digital denture is designed and manufactured. Once available, the patient asked to come for the second visit for fitting and incorporation.

2. Quick Turnarounds

Conventional dentures not only require more appointments but also take more time to be prepared. Typically it can take several weeks for the dentures to be finally completed and delivered. In contrast, modern processes in creating digital dentures ensure that the final prosthesis will be complete in much less time, usually within five to 10 days.

3. Natural Appearance

One of the best advantages of digital dentures is the natural look they provide the wearer. Due to the more accurate design technology and the materials used, digital dentures are crafted to ensure the patient enjoys functionally esthetic teeth.

4. Permanent Digital Files

Another benefit to digital dentures is that once designed, if misplaced or needing repair, the digital denture can be reproduced with a phone call to the dental office. All of the data saved on the patient’s measurements, bite, etc. can expedite the replacement workflow.

What to Know About Digital Dentures

1. How Many Years Do Digital Dentures Last?

The life of conventional dentures lasts anywhere between 4-6 years, depending on the maintenance. They either need to be relined or replaced entirely as they wear out. Over the years, the teeth may become worn and the fit may change. This can cause the patient great discomfort and inconvenience.

Digital dentures can last longer due to the material that they are made from. New processes use perfectly cured resin which is very hard and does not distort. The resin-made dentures retain their form longer than those created using traditional acrylic material.

2. How Much Do Digital Dentures Cost?

One important consideration is the inconvenience and soreness that are typically present with conventional dentures. Due to the imperfect fit and less flexible material, they can irritate the mouth and cause chafing, lesions or even gingival hyperplasia. Not only are these issues inconvenient and painful, but can necessitate more appointments with the dentist, which ultimately add on to increased cost. This is why having the more accurate fit that digital dentures provide is key.

Conclusion

Modern denture technology and workflows are revolutionizing the way digital dentures are made. It’s not only shortening the process, but it’s also making modern dentures more widely accessible due to cost-effectiveness and provides a more esthetic result.

Additionally, digital dentures last longer than conventional dentures and are stronger. As the entire approach is digital, there are fewer appointments, and the dentures have a more accurate fit and look better.

Do you have any questions about digital dentures? Check out our digital denture page.

Pain management is an important aspect of dentistry, and for decades, patients seeking relief from acute levels of discomfort due to underlying conditions or dental procedures have been prescribed either non-opioid analgesics or opioids.

The once notorious cannabis plant, meanwhile, is rapidly emerging as an organic source for discomfort relief and many other health benefits, with studies supporting cannabis’ natural anxiety and pain-relieving properties. It’s no surprise then that cannabis is now growing in popularity for use in dental discomfort relief.

Cannabidiol (CBD) provides discomfort relief from various dental-related ailments, such as myofascial and TMJ pain, soreness from wearing dental appliance including snore guard, mouth guard and night guard, retainers, and braces, post-extraction discomfort, post-implant surgery discomfort, and long, open-mouth procedure discomfort. It can also reduce anxiety levels in nervous patients who tend to dread dental procedures.

1. How CBD Works to Relieve Discomfort

Transdermal cannabidiol therapy—a known non-psychoactive cannabinoid—is fast emerging as a compelling alternative to treat dental discomfort. The TRC, short for Transdermal Relief Cream, (with 2.5% cannabidiol) is a professionally formulated, prescription-strength cream containing a higher concentration of CBD. This renders it more effective at penetrating the skin and reducing discomfort compared to other OTC CBD medication.

Recent research shows that transdermal CBD has the potency to combat discomfort and reduce inflammation through pro-neurogenic effects and by diminishing pro-inflammatory cytokines (small secreted proteins released by cells). Users have reported an improvement in their condition within five to ten minutes. Some have indicated discomfort relief for up to 5 hours with a single application.

These studies further found that transdermal CBD has long-lasting therapeutic benefits without psychoactive side effects.

CBD’s Anti-Anxiety Properties

People can experience dental discomfort even before they sit in the dentist’s chair. Contemplating an impending root canal while seated in the waiting room is enough to trigger anxiety in many patients. “At least 30 percent of people have some degree of anxiety about going to the dentist,” says Mark Burhenne, DDS, founder of AsktheDentist.com.

In this case, CBD can help as it acts on the section of the brain that processes fear. Administering CBD to patients before they undergo a dental procedure can calm their nerves and lead to a less stressful experience for both the dentist and the patient. Dr. Burhenne adds that the research appears to support the use of CBD for anxiety and PTSD.

How does it work? ­­­The human body naturally produces ­endocannabinoids, which are neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors found in the nervous system. CBD helps by ­­impacting the endocannabinoid receptor activity, which reduces inflammation and interaction with neurotransmitters.

2. How to Administer CBD for Dental Discomfort Relief

The most common use for CBD dental discomfort relief is myofascial and TMJ discomfort. Figures from the National Institute of Health (NIH) estimate that 10 million Americans suffer from a Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD)—a disorder of the temporomandibular joint that disrupts the normal function of muscles, bones, and soft tissue, causing acute facial pain. Common symptoms include difficulty chewing, limited opening, clicking, locking, and pain surrounding the temporomandibular joint. While traditional treatments do provide discomfort relief, it is often limited.

As a cream, the CBD in TRC is in transdermal form, and does not need to be ingested. Unlike opioids and analgesics, which usually require being taken orally, TRC simply requires topical application to the affected areas. As the compound penetrates the skin, the product provides targeted relief and in initial studies, patients report feeling less discomfort lasting between 4 to 5 hours.

Patients can use TRC exclusively for discomfort relief or as an additional therapy by combining it with an occlusal splint (or “nightguard”). Another distinct advantage of our CBD cream is that it can be applied as frequently as needed, especially during the day when an occlusal splint is not usually worn.

Designed by dentists for dentists, the TRC offers relief to patients suffering from a variety of dental discomfort. Dentists can prescribe TRC with confidence, to alleviate discomfort associated with post-operative procedures (such as implant surgery or extractions), long open-mouth procedures, the introduction of a snore guard or sleep appliance, and even myofunctional therapy. The 2.5% CBD is professional grade strength for maximum benefit.

3. You Can Attract More Patients to Your Practice by Offering Holistic Treatment Options

For decades, dental patients have had limited options for discomfort relief, with most dentists suggesting over-the-counter NSAIDs or occasionally prescribing opioids.

Opioids include powerful medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and codeine, and they must be prescribed sparingly, as the ADA has stated: “Dentists should recognize multimodal pain strategies for management for acute postoperative pain as a means for sparing the need for opioid analgesics” in the treatment of dental discomfort. Non-opioids include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and celecoxib, as well as acetaminophen. The American Dental Association (ADA) notes that NSAIDs have been shown to be more effective at reducing discomfort than opioid analgesics and recommend these as the first-line therapy for acute pain management.

Today’s savvy and holistically health-minded patient may appreciate a third option: CBD transdermal cream. After all, even the use of NSAIDs can have adverse side effects. Studies have shown long-term use of these drugs can increase the risk of peptic ulcers, renal failure, stroke, and heart disease.

TRC, on the other hand, is a safe, holistic alternative that your patients can’t find online or purchase over-the-counter: this professional strength 2.5% CBD transdermal cream is only available through participating dentistry practices. Once sold on the product, it can increase your contact with patients as they will return for more when their supply runs out. Finally, stocking and recommending TRC is an easy way to distinguish your dental practice as more modern and accommodating than a traditional dentist’s office.

4. There’s a Big Difference Between CBD and THC

Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, is one of the two major components of cannabis. The other component, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is psychoactive and responsible for the euphoric high associated with the plant. It is important to note that CBD and THC activate different cannabinoid receptors in the body.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is THC’s milder version and provides several health benefits without the high. CBD is proving to be a powerful pharmaceutical agent offering relief from discomfort, inflammation, seizures, and anxiety without the psychoactive effects of THC.

(This is not to say that THC does not provide relief. THC activates certain endocannabinoid receptors in the nerve cells and in immune cells. When the nerve cells activate, the discomfort subsides. But it’s still considered a Schedule 1 drug by the DEA, and even in states where its use has been legalized, many patients don’t want to deal with its psychotropic properties.)

To reinforce the point for those patients concerned about the psychoactive properties of cannabis products, the TRC-- a CBD transdermal relief cream-- does not contain THC. The only active ingredient is prescription-strength CBD.

5. There Are Alternative Uses

During the trial phase, patients using TRC reported the same degree of relief when it was used to treat other joint ailments. In addition, some dentists who joined the trial reported they used TRC on their hands after long hours of working. These dentists confirmed that the cream helped relieve the discomfort in their hands after extended patient procedures. Some anecdotal reports even indicated relief when applying CBD transdermal relief cream to mosquito bites, eczema, burns, and severe muscle aches.

A Natural Alternative for Dental Discomfort Relief

The emergence of transdermal CBD therapy means that a dentist’s discomfort-relief options are no longer limited to non-opioid and opioid prescriptions. Dentists can now prescribe a more holistic and natural alternative.

By synthesizing the pain-relieving properties of cannabinoids into a patient-friendly transdermal relief cream (TRC), dentists now have a therapeutic alternative to oral analgesics. This new therapy provides a much faster delivery system for dental discomfort relief and lasts longer as well.

Feedback from TMD patients who used transdermal CBD for a 6 month period has been overwhelmingly positive, with comments such as: “My jaw feels lighter,” “It was soothing and relaxing,” and “My jaw felt relaxed.”

Offering a fast, cost-effective, and painless treatment option to their patients is the primary goal of every dental clinician. Small diameter dental implants expand the versatility of treatment options that dentists can provide to their patients. With advancements in implant science, mini implants (aka small diameter implants) have now become a mainstream option coupled with high case success rates.

The MOR® mini implant is a small diameter, one-piece, immediate load implant that delivers a simple, minimally invasive, and affordable solution. This unique implant system provides a versatile treatment option because it is a solution for a variety of conditions. Whether your patient needs a single-tooth procedure for restoration, multi-bridge implantation, or denture stabilization, the MOR® small diameter dental implant is a great option.

Minimally Invasive

MOR® mini dental implants can be placed with minimally invasive and flapless procedures; less complicated procedures mean that more patients would be willing to undergo the process.  The surgical procedure associated with mini implants is simple and requires less time. A less invasive procedure also means a shorter time of recovery.

Minimal procedures make the provision of same-day restoration possible and affirm the concept of “same-day implant.”

Patients who cannot afford and do not accept a treatment plan involving a flap surgery will find the MOR® mini implants a welcome option. MOR® can be placed right through the gingiva and often a scalpel and suture-free procedure.

Multiple diameters of MOR® mini implants are available to suit a broad range of cases and anatomical considerations. The MOR® mini dental implants are available in three body diameters: 2.1 mm, 2.4 mm, and 3.0mm.

This diameter range makes these implants suitable for complete or partial removable denture stabilization, fixation of the fixed prosthesis, and other short and long-term treatments.

Simple to Use

Being less invasive than traditional implants, the MOR® mini implant procedure is simple and quick. These one-piece implants are designed to offer a simple yet functional implant system.

The ease of placement of these mini dental implants further helps to simplify the surgical and restorative protocols for the dentist.

The surface of MOR® mini implants is roughened with grit blasting and acid etching. The SGE treated surface of these implants is highly conducive to osseointegration. The enhanced surface geometry on mini implants helps to provide increased mechanical stability and also maximizes bone-to-implant contact. These mini implants are made with titanium. Roughened titanium is known for its bone anchoring capabilities.

Affordability

The MOR® mini implants are affordable for both patients and clinicians. These mini dental implants are a highly successful system that results in increased case acceptance due to the value they bring.

MOR® mini dental implants are considerably more affordable than traditional implants. They can be placed in less than two hours and immediately loaded; a fewer number of visits further lowers the procedure-related cost.

The straightforward surgical procedure contributes to the growth and profitability of the dental practice.

The MOR® mini implant system is specially designed for long-term denture stabilization. These mini dental implants aim to bring the esthetic and comfort of secure dentures within the reach of senior patients who may be on a fixed income and are medically or financially incapable of using traditional implants. Patients who cannot afford and do not accept a treatment plan of a removable denture using conventional dental implants (roughly between $5000-$7000 using two conventional implants and two locator abutments, and around $18,000-$25,000 for a fixed hybrid), can benefit from the lower cost afforded by mini implant use.

Immediate Load

MOR® mini dental implants are smaller diameter implants that are ideal for immediate loading. These can be immediately loaded if all implants achieve 35Ncm or greater primary stability. One appointment. Same day teeth.

Patient Satisfaction with Mini Dental Implants

Patient Point-of-View

When the needs and expectations of the patients are met, the chances of achieving patient satisfaction also increases. Patients are much more likely to agree to the MOR® mini implant therapy because of the benefits.

Patients with mini implant-retained, tissue supported overdentures have reported higher rates of satisfaction as compared to conventional dentures. Patients with mini dental implants are likely to be able to wear their overdenture home right after the procedure (depending upon the clinical assessment).

There’s also convenience-  it is a shorter procedure; typically a two-visit appointment in immediate load cases.

Thus, less complicated procedures, shorter recovery, and a “same-day implant” option result in achieving higher patient satisfaction rates with mini implants.

MOR® mini implants can help you provide your patients with improved and advanced treatment options with good outcomes. The simple and less-invasive placement of mini dental implants requires less chairside time, is affordable, and results in achieving long-term success. Mini implants are an effective way to provide dental professionals with a mini implant therapy option that they can offer to their patients.

Grow your practice with the MOR® mini dental implants. Get your Starter Kit today or take courses.

Get to know MOR® mini implants by visiting Sterngold MOR® mini implant System.

The most common solution for missing teeth is either the use of a conventional denture or implant supported overdenture. If you are unfamiliar with restorative dentistry, the image that may come to mind when picturing dentures might be that of false teeth that comedically fall out of place. These are conventional dentures. Depending on how many teeth are missing, conventional dentures can be classified into partial or full dentures.

Alternatively, overdentures are dentures that provide a more innovative dental solution through the use of implants, for support. Implants are embedded into the jawbone, giving the denture a more natural appearance and more comfortable stability. They are retained with implants. Think of the concept of snap fasteners.

These different types of dentures have their own benefits and drawbacks. It is important to understand how each type works to find out which option suits you best.

Conventional Denture vs Implant Supported Overdenture

Conventional dentures are fitted into the gums after the teeth are removed. Depending on the type of denture the patient requires, any remaining teeth might also be extracted. This is especially true for full dentures.

A plastic base material is often used to replicate the gum tissue and to offer support to a set of natural-looking artificial teeth. The denture is commonly kept in place using a temporary adhesive. This allows the patient to remove the dentures at any time.

This type of denture is a popular option because it is simple and easy to wear. Plus, the wearer can take it off anytime for cleaning or when it becomes uncomfortable to wear.

But since the gum ridge collapses over time without the natural teeth's support, the mouth will often develop a sunken look. The conventional denture also relies only on the power of suction or adhesives to remain stable in the mouth, making speaking, and eating uncomfortable.

Compared to conventional dentures, implant supported overdentures offer a more natural look. An overdenture is basically a conventional denture mounted on permanent implants in the jaw. Aside from improving facial appearance, implant supported overdentures also improve the patient's eating and speaking functionality. No need to worry about the dentures falling off because they are retained by titanium posts inserted in the jaw.

Advantages of An Implant Supported Overdenture

Implant supported overdentures provide a better alternative to conventional dentures because they are more comfortable and stable. Here are the main benefits of implant supported overdentures over other types of dentures:

Permanent Tooth Replacement

Implant supported overdentures are effective in replacing the entire structure of missing teeth because they become part of the jaw. Instead of moving freely around the gum area, the denture fits securely in place on the gums because it is anchored to the implants.

Greater Comfort

The patient does not have to worry about dislodging the denture off with their tongue or the denture falling off during speaking since it is securely mounted in place. Talking becomes more natural because the conventional denture feels significantly more comfortable and stable as compared to the conventional type.

A More Natural Appearance

When teeth are removed, the jaw area will resorb over time. Because of this, those who wear conventional dentures often will have an older appearance than those with natural teeth. Implant supported overdenture reduce bone resorption because of the support they provide to the gums and jaw area.

Minimal Gum Irritation

Since the denture is locked in place over the gums by the implants, it doesn't move around and irritate the gum area.

No Denture Adhesives

The wearer doesn't have to apply adhesives every time the denture is worn. Adhesives can also cause irritation to the gum area. An implant supported overdenture may actually promote healthier gums by eliminating this form of irritation.

Healthier Diet

Conventional dentures limit what foods patients can enjoy. No hard and chewy food, like fried chicken, steak, or bubblegum, because they might break the denture or shift it out of place. With an implant supported overdenture, the patient has more dietary freedom, improving quality of life and nutrition.

Better Fit

Since the implant supported overdenture is secured to the implants by way of fasteners, it fits more snugly compared to dentures held by suction or adhesives.

Overall, wearing an overdenture can improve a patient’s quality of life. Instead of relying on conventional dentures and hoping that they do not loosen when talking or eating, implant supported overdenture makes their life easier due to the high level of stability.

Overdentures from Sterngold

When it comes to implant supported overdentures and other restorative dental solutions, Sterngold is at the forefront. They currently provide natural looking and convenient digital dentures, are currently the largest supplier of removable dental attachments globally, and one of the leading providers of restorative supplies.

Sterngold offers a wide array of products necessary for implant supported overdentures, including Digital Dentures, Implants, Abutments and Attachments for both partial dentures and overdentures, including Stud and Anchor attachments and Bar attachments. All products offered are closely monitored under the strictest international quality systems and have clearance to market in various countries.

Wrapping Up

An implant supported overdenture is one of the best alternatives for conventional dentures because they are more permanent and stable. Since the denture is retained by implants in the jawbone, the wearer doesn't have to worry about it shifting out of place when speaking or eating. An implant supported overdenture is also more comfortable to wear and improves the smile thereby improving the quality of life.

For more information about implant supported overdentures and the products used during the process, visit Sterngold.com.

Dental technology is in a constant state of evolution and advancement. From mini implants to regenerative dentistry, various modern innovations are helping shape the future of dental and denture technology. For the dental community, the ultimate value of the use of technology is the ability to thrive, in most cases, increased profitability. Both practices and dental labs appreciate dental technology for this value. For patients, this means improved quality of care for a better quality of life.

One of the most popular developments in dental technology is the ability to design and manufacture dentures digitally, resulting in digital dentures. Digital denture software (CAD/CAM) and output equipment (i.e., milling machines, 3D printers) have made it possible to manufacture accurate, natural-looking, and well-functioning dental prostheses for patients in as little as two dental appointments.

For clinicians, recommending digital dentures can go a long way in helping provide their patients with an improved quality of life. For dental labs, adopting digital denture technology enables them to be more productive and provide practice-building solutions to the dentist.

Digital dentures are the new smile replacement standard for esthetics and convenience. With anything new, however, it’s natural to be skeptical about making the switch. Even when the decision to transform is made, finding the right digital denture solution is still a challenge.

What Is a Digital Denture?

Simply put, a digital denture refers to prosthetic teeth manufactured using digital scans and technology. The workflow typically involves the use of intraoral scanners, design software (such as CAD/CAM), milling machines or 3D printers.

The advent of digital denture technology has significantly transformed the quality, and reliability of dentures. As a workflow aid, it leverages the power of automation to quickly design and build dentures that provide better fit and comfort.

Why Should I Choose Digital Dentures?

Digital dentures offer a wide array of benefits to both dental practitioners and patients. These dentures help to overcome the major drawbacks of conventional dentures, for the patient, primarily multiple appointments and adjustments as well as inconsistent quality.

1. Fewer Dental Appointments

With digital denture technology, a dentist can make a patient’s prosthetic teeth available in as little as two appointments. Most of the work happens in the first patient appointment where impression making and bite registration are done.

The second patient appointment is simply incorporation -- fitting, making sure the dentures feel right, are secure, and look good. This is in sharp contrast to conventional dentures, which typically take multiple appointments for making records, try-ins, and adjustments.

2. Fit and Comfort

Digital dentures involve the use of scanners to either digitize conventional patient records or directly scan the patient intraorally to obtain accurate data of a patient’s mouth. These records are very reliable and are then used to design the denture with increased confidence.

3. Esthetic

Digital dentures come in a range of gingival and teeth shades to suit every patient. Owing to the accuracy of the process and the artistic skill of the dental technician, natural-looking, good-looking teeth can most certainly be expected as an outcome, that gives the patient a natural and confident result.

5. Reproducibility

This is likely the biggest benefit to patients who will opt to wear digital dentures. For most patients, the idea of going back to the dentist when their denture needs to be replaced is less than ideal. Because digitally designed and manufactured dentures have permanent digital records stored, the denture is easily reproduced quite often without needing the patient to go back for a second impression-making session, unless previous conditions have significantly changed.

How Does Digital Denture Technology Work?

The typical digital denture workflow involves three main steps:

• Intraoral scanning to make dental impressions or extraoral scanning from a cast with bite registration or impression from an old denture
• Transferring the data to a CAD/CAM software to design a computerized model of the denture
• Manufacturing the actual denture using a milling machine or a 3D printer

Communication of the patient’s esthetics and intraoral information is the most crucial part of creating digital dentures. This is the step that sets digital denture technology apart from conventional dentures. It involves recording precise measurements of the patient’s inter-jaw relationship.

Key Considerations for Adopting Digital Denture Technology

There are many on the market today and vary greatly from ease of use to materials and methods used. Popular examples of digital denture systems include Ivoclar Ivotion, Dentca, AvaDent Digital Dentures, the Carbon 3D Digital Denture.

This denture technology should be simple, easy-to-use, and compatible with any other form of dental technology already in use. Ideally, it should let a clinician complete the entire design process in 10 minutes to maximize efficiency and profitability.

Conclusion

The introduction of digital denture technology has revolutionized the way clinicians design and manufacture dentures.

It’s faster, reliable, more efficient, and lets one create dentures that provide better fit and comfort. Contemplating adding digital dentures? This is the right time. Already an adopter of digital technology? Always consider choosing a digital denture system that could easily be integrated into an existing dental technology already in use.

Contact Sterngold Dental today to learn more about digital dentures and the denture technology available.

Are you a general practitioner who wants to take your practice to the next level by expanding treatment options? Perhaps you’re a dental professional who wants to improve your patients' quality of life with an affordable dental solution? Wouldn’t it be great if you could expand your offerings to attract new customers and retain current patients?

If you just nodded your head in affirmation to any of the above questions, then it may be time to seriously consider introducing dental implant treatment in your practice. The success rates and longevity of dental implants may present a win-win for both patients and dental practitioners.

In this article, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to help you provide patients with an affordable dental implant treatment option. We’ll explore different implants and weigh their pros and cons to help you make a more confident decision.

Table of Contents

• The Changing Face of Restorative Dentistry
• Denture and Dental Implant Options
• 6 Key Benefits of Dental Implants for Patients
• Types of Dental Implant Restorations
• What Are Mini Dental Implants?
• When Should You Recommend Dental Implant Surgery?

The Changing Face of Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry has significantly evolved since dentures first became mainstream in the 1700s. Traditionally, complete and partial dentures have been used to help patients with tooth loss lead normal lives. However, these solutions come with a broad spectrum of drawbacks, including wearing out and changes to soft tissue which can affect fit and function.

Nevertheless, considering that the baby boomer population is continuing to age, the demand for lasting dental solutions has escalated. This, in turn, has compelled clinicians to look for more permanent tooth replacement options. Fortunately, rapid technological advancement in restorative dentistry has led to the development of dental implants.

Dental implants have been becoming increasingly popular ever since they were first introduced in the 1960s. Unlike dentures and fixed bridges, implants are known for their natural appearance and normal function. Also, they typically don’t require day to day and expensive maintenance associated with dentures. This, in turn, has encouraged many patients to choose dental implants over other tooth replacement solutions.

Thus, adding dental implant surgery to your selection of services may be instrumental in making your clinic more successful and profitable. It will improve the quality of life of existing patients who need permanent tooth replacement. Also, it’ll help you attract new clients who are looking for a permanent solution for tooth loss.

However, many clinicians are still skeptical about introducing dental implant surgery into their clinics. This is partly due to the need for additional education, equipment and instruments to carry out the treatment plans. In addition there will be need to provide your staff with specialized training to facilitate the procedure. The high upfront setup, training cost, and liability associated with dental implant surgery often dissuades many clinicians from offering it as a service.

Dentures with Dental Implants

Before we discuss whether dental implants are the correct choice for your clinic, let’s take a look at the different tooth replacement solutions available for patients. Typically, dentists can offer one of the following options to patients with damaged or broken teeth:

• Complete dentures/partial dentures
• Fixed partial dentures (bridges)
• Dental implants

Dentures

Complete dentures are one of the most common and low-cost tooth replacement options. Simply put, a denture comprises a set of prosthetic teeth that rests on mucosal tissue and residual ridges. It mimics natural teeth and gingiva in appearance and provides patients with a non-invasive solution for tooth loss.

Despite their affordability, dentures are associated with numerous drawbacks. They can interfere with a patient’s taste and ability to chew efficiently. This, in turn, could prevent patients from eating foods they normally would.

Additionally, if a denture doesn’t fit properly, it cannot adapt to the mucosa appropriately and will not have adequate retention for normal function causing the patient sometimes discomfort and lack of confidence in eating. Over time, changes to the oral tissues may occur which may affect the fit and teeth may become worn which affect overall function and and will need replacing.

Depending on the assessment of the patient’s current condition, treatment plans may include:

• Complete dentures
• Removable partial dentures

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures replace the entire arch of teeth (lower and/or upper) of the mouth. They consist of an acrylic base which resembles the color and texture of natural gingival tissue. Acrylic teeth are arranged in the base. Depending on the quality of the impression and processing of the acrylic, the adaptation of the complete denture to the mucosa may or may not be good. When quality records and manufacturing are lacking, the denture is often ill-fitting, and the patient may need the assistance of a denture adhesive to achieve sufficient retention for adequate function.

Complete dentures can also be supported and fixed to the jaw using dental implants for increased stability. If the denture is permanently affixed to the implants, the prosthesis may be known as a fixed-hybrid denture or implant supported denture. If the denture is to be removed by the patient for convenience and cleaning, the denture is known as an implant overdenture or an implant-retained denture.

Denture Fabrication

Dentures can be divided into two categories based on the technique used for their fabrication. First, conventional dentures are created by making an impression of the edentulous arches and a interocclusal record, casts are made, a wax-up proposal is created which leads to a try-in. When all changes are made and approved, the denture is processed using traditional acrylic processing methods which vary greatly in their degree of quality and accuracy. Second is digital. Digital dentures are created using a digitized set of impressions and/or models and a digital interocclusal record to which a digital design proposal is created using a digital denture software program. A try-in may or may not be required based on the confidence level of the records from the clinician. The final digital denture is manufactured using either an additive technique (3D printing) or subtractive technique (milling).Removable Partial Dentures

Removable Partial Dentures

Removable partial dentures are used when a patient is only partially edentulous. Acrylic or metal frameworks serve as a base to support the number of prosthetic teeth that need to be replaced. Unlike a complete denture, a removable partial denture is secured by clasps, implants or other intra or extra-coronal attachments usually associated with crowns or bridges.

Fixed Partial Dentures (Dental Bridges)

A fixed partial denture (or bridge) generally comprises of two abutting tooth restorations connecting a prosthetic pontic in between thus replacing the missing tooth. It can be full cast alloy or porcelain fused-to-metal permanently cemented into place. Fixed partial dentures are the restoration of choice when only a single tooth (possibly 2 adjacent) is missing and the abutting teeth are strong enough to server as adequate anchorage for the bridge.

A disadvantage of fixed partial dentures is that the two abutting teeth will need to be reduced, thus sacrificing the normal state of the tooth to accommodate the restoration.

Dental Implants

Advances in dental implants have improved over the last 30 years and have become standard of care for tooth replacement. Combined with a connected prosthetic replacement tooth, the dental implants provide the most natural functional replacement and long lasting restoration of all dental restorations available today. In most cases, a patient enjoys a favorable esthetic outcome and is able to return to a normal quality of life with regards to what they normally enjoy eating. However, compared to other treatment options, dental implant surgery generally requires more training on behalf of the dentist and staff, additional equipment and costly restorative components, thus resulting in higher patient fees, but are becoming more affordable as competition for these treatments plans increase.

The implant is surgically placed to the patient’s bone and allowing several months for adequate osseointegratrion, the implant is finally restored with an abutment and crown.

A major benefit of dental implants is that they most closely replace the natural tooth in appearance and function. In many instances, the success rate of dental implants is 98%. In addition to fixed restorative solutions, dental implants are also used to support dentures or and multiple unit fixed prostheses.

In recent years, patients have become increasingly aware of affordable dental solutions involving dental implants. This has compelled clinicians to quickly adopt dental implant surgery at their practice.

6 Key Benefits of Dental Implants for Patients

Typically, a dental implant procedure requires multiple appointments spanning over several weeks or months. Nevertheless, many patients continue to prefer dental implants over other tooth replacement options.

Here are some of the advantages of dental implants:

1. Improved Comfort and Convenience

Dental implants permanently integrate into the bone and the restoration is fixed. Unlike unsecured dentures, implants offer the patient the stability in occlusion they enjoyed with their natural teeth and return to a quality of life they are used to in the things they eat.

2. Enhanced Esthetics

Restorations affixed to dental implants often have the natural appearance and “feel” of natural teeth and the permanent nature of implant restorations most often makes it easier for the patient to feel more self-confident.

3. Longer-Term Solution

A dental implant restoration is a permanent choice in dental rehabilitation. If appropriately maintained, the implant can potentially last a lifetime. Depending on the technique and material, the restored implant crowns may or may not endure as long as the actual implant and may need to be replaced at some point in the future.

4. Hassle-Free Maintenance

Maintaining dental implants is just as important and can be as easy as taking care of natural teeth. As long as a patient follows proper oral hygiene practices, their implants will continue serve the patient well.

5. Improved Oral Health

All else being equal, once the patient has been rehabilitated through implant treatment, chances are they have a fresh start with regards to their oral health understanding they need to continue or resume adequate oral hygiene to ensure the success of the implants and resolutions to previous dental problems.

6. Cost-Effectiveness

The upfront cost of dental implant surgery is higher than that of dentures and traditional fixed solutions. But many patients prefer this procedure because it may be more cost-effective in the long run due to the fact they are permanent and when properly maintained can avoid repeated re-treatments.

All of these benefits make dental implants one of the best options for tooth replacement today.

Types of Dental Implant Restorations

The type of dental implant you’re going to use for a patient depends on the number of teeth that need to be replaced. Dental implants can be broadly categorized as:

• Single tooth implants
• Multiple implant bridges
• Implant-retained overdentures
• Implant-supported dentures (fixed-hybrids)

Single Tooth Implant

A single tooth implant consists of one implant, abutment, and a crown. You can use it to replace a single damaged or missing tooth. It’s also recommended when a patient has multiple missing teeth that aren’t situated adjacent to each other. However, the cost of placing multiple single tooth implants can quickly add up.

Multiple Implant Bridge

This type of dental implant restoration is similar to a fixed bridge. The only difference is that implants are used instead of natural teeth to abut the bridge. Depending on the number of restored teeth and implants potentially, it may be more affordable alternative to using multiple single tooth implants.

Implant-Retained Overdenture

Implant-retained overdentures offer an affordable alternative to securing a complete denture. This may involve the conversion of existing complete denture where implants have been placed and secured with a removable attachment. This allows the patient to conveniently remove and clean below the denture. It also restores much of the stability lost as well as allowing the patient to enjoy much of the previously lost quality of life regarding what can or cannot be eaten with a regular denture. Implants placed in support of the complete denture may be standard implants, or an even more affordable option, small diameter implants.

Implant-Supported Denture

An implant-supported denture (fixed hybrid denture) is permanently affixed to a full arch complete denture. These most often replicate the appearance and contour of natural gingiva and can still be cleaned underneath and around the implants. These functionally offer the best alternative to all of the implant-denture restoration options. Depending on a mandibular or maxillary restoration, the number and position of implants may vary. The material from which these final restorations vary from acrylic to ceramic and zirconia. Some may include internal metal support structures or bars for additional strength.

Dental implants can be divided into two categories, namely:

• Conventional or standard dental implants
• Mini dental implants (small diameter implants)

What Are Mini Dental Implants?

Typically, a standard dental implant has a diameter between 3.2 mm and 6 mm. A mini dental implant or small diameter implant, on the other hand, has a diameter of between 1.8 mm to 3.0 mm.

Mini implants are smaller diameter implants, making them suitable for a wide range of patients who aren’t ideal candidates for conventional dental implants, such as individuals with potentially poor bone density or resorbed ridges.

Mini implant placement is minimally invasive and doesn’t involve multiple surgical procedures, unlike standard implant surgery. It can be completed in a single visit. More importantly, the simplicity of mini implants and their placement make it more affordable. “Minis” are becoming increasingly popular among the more edentulous, active senior population. They can leverage the benefits of dental implants while being more affordable and generally requiring fewer visits.

Why Consider Mini Implant Placement?

In many respects, mini dental implants present an easy entry into implant placement and can quickly expand your treatment offerings with profitable options. Begin by getting trained to perform mini implant placement in your office. For instance, Sterngold offers numerous online and in-person mini dental implant courses to guide you through the surgical procedure. These courses are generally CE eligible and are offered in various formats to suit your needs.

Sterngold’s MOR Starter Kit comes with all the tools needed to perform mini dental implant treatment, as well as a comprehensive marketing tool kit to announce the treatment to your patients.

When Should You Recommend Dental Implant Surgery?

For most patients, dental implants can be instrumental in improving quality of life and self-confidence. As a dental practitioner, only you can identify the right candidate for dental implant surgery. Here are a few factors you should consider before recommending dental implant treatment to a patient:

Medical History

Carefully evaluate all aspects of the patient’s overall health and medical history to determine whether dental implant surgery is safe for them and they would be a good dental implant candidate. Identify whether the patient is suffering from comorbid conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorder or other disease or infections that would normally be contraindicated if present. This includes smoking. Certain medications may also interfere with implant healing and will result in implant failure. These disorders, overall health and lifestyle factors might delay or prevent healing and interfere with the success of the final and permanent integration of the implant with the bone.

Bone Quality, Quantity and Density

The success of dental implant surgery is based on the process of osseointegration. It refers to the fusion of a dental implant with the bone. This, in turn, means a patient must have enough quality bone and bone density to support a dental implant. In some cases of healthy patients, bone grafts are indicated to improve the implant site which can make the process slightly longer and more invasive.

Ready to Implement an Affordable Dental Implant Solution?

Ready to add implants to your practice? Contact Sterngold today to explore your training and product options.

Dealing with tooth loss? Forget partial dentures and dental bridges as they offer temporary solutions. With modern times come modern solutions and dental implants offer a potential lifetime solution. If your dental professional recommends dental implants to you, you are likely a good candidate for the treatment. This is the first part of the equation. In order to reap the benefits, you need to be aware of the potential causes of dental implant failure.

A few decades ago, replacing lost teeth often resulted in less than ideal replacements in the form of dentures and bridges. These fixes can provide temporary relief for a couple of years but will need delicate care and maintenance. No matter how well dentures are maintained, they only work for an average of seven to ten years. Meanwhile, dental bridges offer better support and can last a bit longer. However, like dentures, dental bridges on average last up to ten years before needing a replacement.Dental implants offer a better, more modern way to replace teeth. They provide a more permanent, natural looking, and stronger solution compared to the traditional method of dentures and bridges.

In addition, dental implants help retain the shape of the face and promote jaw bone growth. This helps make implants look much better and more natural when in place.However, losing a tooth (or teeth) doesn’t automatically qualify a person for dental implants. There are a number of considerations to look into before your dentist clears you for this procedure. In order to avoid dental implant failure, it’s best to take some time to learn more about what makes a great dental implant candidate.

The Agony of Losing a Tooth

Losing teeth doesn't only result from a sudden injury as one might assume. Tooth loss can also occur in a much slower way. Periodontal disease affects the tissue bed where your teeth lie, accounting for 70% of tooth loss among adults. Other causes include cavities, where your teeth slowly decay due to bacterial growth, or excessive smoking, diabetes, or other infection.Importantly, tooth loss is not just an issue of decreased physical appearance or loss of confidence. They can cause adverse health effects if not properly addressed. Losing teeth can affect the contours of the face in the lower jaw area, and can lead to other serious problems. Your gums and jawbone work best when working with a complete set of teeth, which stimulates the gums and bone surrounding it. The absence of a single tooth reduces the stimulating effect on the gums, which then gradually decrease in mass. The jawbone also works the same. The bone decreases in density and in size in the area where it misses a tooth.In addition, missing teeth can cause low chewing performance when eating, which leads to swallowing larger and less-chewed portions leading to digestive discomfort. Also, missing teeth can cause speaking difficulties depending on the location of missing teeth.

Replacing Missing Teeth

While dentures and bridges help provide a replacement tooth, they do not address the underlying problems of bone and gum loss. In fact, some dentures can aggravate gum and bone density loss, especially when the fit loosens over time.Dental implants protect facial bones and promote healthy teeth by filling gaps caused by missing teeth. Leaving gaps in your mouth after losing teeth can lead to health issues including jawbone deterioration.For prospective dental implant candidates, it’s important to know the cause of tooth loss. This ensures that whatever underlying cause that led to tooth loss won’t also result in dental implant failure.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots installed in or on the jaw to serve as holders for a replacement tooth or bridge. However, they’re not for everybody. A qualified dental professional should perform a thorough examination of the patient’s oral condition before deciding to go through with this procedure.There are three types of dental implants. They are distinguished by the way the implant attaches to the jaw.

Endosteal

Endosteal, which literally means “in the bone,” references a dental implant installed directly into the jawbone. Implants can consist of screws, cylinders, or blades surgically placed into the jawbone, with each implant holding one or more prosthetic teeth. Endosteal implants are more common and are used as a better alternative to bridges and removable dentures.

Subperiosteal

Subperiosteal, which means “on the bone,” installs the implant on top of the jaw but the metal supports protrude through the gum (not the jaw) as they hold the prosthetic teeth. The gum heals around the frame to hold it in place. This type of implant is usually offered to patients who do not have enough bone for a successful endosteal implant.

Zygomatic

Zygomatic implants are a rare type of dental implant. It requires a far more complicated process to install and is only recommended to extreme patients that cannot accommodate both endosteal and subperiosteal implants. Zygomatic implants are placed in the patient’s cheekbone rather than the jawbone.

Avoiding Dental Implant Failure

While many people are great candidates for dental implants, checking to make sure nothing goes wrong helps avoid dental implant failure. The patient’s oral and overall health plays an important role in determining a great dental implant candidate. Here are five things that need to be checked or addressed before considering dental implants:

Age

Dental implants are recommended only for adults. Specifically, adults that already stopped growing, especially in the jaw area. The procedure would be a painful waste of both time and money if the jawbones have yet to settle to their final size. The bone must finish growing before attempting any dental implants.

Overall Health

Like any other form of surgery, complications can arise if the patient has certain pre-existing conditions that pose problems. Dental implants are not advised for patients suffering from serious diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Specifically, patients undergoing radiation may find their bones too weak to allow dental implants.

Periodontal Diseases

Candidates suffering from periodontal infection or inflammation will require treatment before being considered for dental implants. Gum disease, a common form of periodontal disease, can compromise dental implants as remaining bacteria can attack bones around implants. To qualify for a dental implant, you’ll need your dentist to clear you from any existing periodontal conditions.

Prescriptions and Medications

Certain medications can interfere with your clinician’s ability to provide you with dental implants. Patients taking steroids, immunosuppressants, and other drugs should notify their dental professional and secure approval prior.

Smoking and Other Habits

Heavy smokers are discouraged from seeking dental implant solutions. Smoking often causes many complications in oral health, including periodontal diseases and oral cancer. Additionally, people who grind their teeth habitually may inadvertently damage their jaw permanently if they grind too hard on their implants.

What Makes a Great Dental Implant Candidate?

In summary, a great dental implant candidate should possess the following qualities in order to avoid dental implant failure:

• Adulthood
• Good overall health
• Great oral health, free from gum disease
• No conflicting prescriptions and medication
• Be tobacco-free
• Are free from damaging habits like grinding teeth

In case you don’t possess one or more of the qualities mentioned, don’t fret. Consult with your health practitioner so you can get valuable advice on how to work around these limitations. In some cases, adequate treatment or improvements in diet or fitness can help. The important thing is to get yourself checked and ask for your doctor’s advice.

Explore Your Options with Your Dentist

Losing a tooth is stressful, but having it replaced shouldn’t be agonizing. Modern breakthroughs in dental technology like dental implants have made replacing a missing tooth more convenient. Talk to your dentist to find out if implants are for you. Sterngold Dental believes in improving a patient’s quality of life through affordability, access, and quality. Refer Sterngold.com to your doctor to help in finding quality and affordable implant options.

In 1982, Ingvar Branemark — also known as the father of modern-day implantology — presented his research on human bone osseointegration with titanium implants, at the 1982 Toronto Osseointegration Conference in Clinical Dentistry. This conference recognized Branemark’s work as one of the most significant breakthroughs in the history of dental science. Dental implants have since revolutionized the way dentistry is practiced.

What Are Mini Dental Implants?

Just as their name implies, mini implants are a smaller diameter version of the regular dental implants. They are made from the same substance, designed, and surface treated the same way, and thus, are virtually identical to their regular counterparts.

Mini implants are fabricated with a reduced diameter (less than 3 mm) and a shorter length. These implants usually come in one piece, which means, the implant abutment comes attached with the implant body and cannot be removed.

What Makes Mini Implants Different Than Conventional Dental Implants?

Apart from the reduced diameter, shorter length, and one-piece body, mini implants differ from the latter in many ways:

• Minimally invasive. One of the main selling points of these smaller implants is that they are less invasive than regular implants. This less invasive procedure makes it possible to place and load the mini implants in a single office visit.Traditional implants often require two surgical procedures out of which, the first surgery is more invasive and extensive than that associated with mini implants. The second surgery is also comparatively less invasive and involves uncovering the post and abutment placement.
• Narrow diameter. As cited earlier, mini implants are smaller in diameter than conventional dental implants. The diameter of a conventional implant ranges from 3.5mm to 6mm while for mini implants, it can be anywhere between 1.8mm to 3.5 mm. Sterngold MOR Mini Implants are available in three body diameters, 2.1 mm, 2.4 mm, and 3.0mm.
• One-piece body. Traditional implants feature two components: a post and an abutment. On the other hand, mini implants come in one piece that screws into the bone from its lower end and a ball-shaped protrusion as abutment on the top. Thus, mini implants have a small and straight abutment that comes fixed to the implant body.
• Insufficient bone mass. Conventional dental implants need sufficient bone mass to achieve osseointegration. On the contrary, mini implants do not need as much bone for proper osseointegration.
• More affordable. Very often, the treatment cost for mini implants is a fraction of that of traditional implants, owing to the less invasive procedure, easier workflow, and self-tapping feature (minimal osteotomy).
• Anterior or Overdenture application. Conventional dental implants provide more stability and customization options to suit various esthetic and functional needs but mini implants can be a permanent replacement in the anterior (consider the MOR® A) or under a denture, no less than conventional ones.

Benefits of Mini Implants

One of the key benefits of mini dental implants is their less invasive surgical protocol. The less invasive procedure has a higher chance of contributing to minimal postoperative discomfort and increased patient cooperation, based on mini dental implant patient testimonies. Mini implants are likely to be suitable for medically compromised patients who cannot tolerate the invasiveness of regular dental implants*.

*Suitability is based on the patient’s clinical evaluation

Another benefit of mini implants is immediate load; meaning they can be loaded on the same day they are placed. MOR® implants are immediate load, and when placed in association with an overdenture, patients can chew food with minimal difficulty, with a more normal diet. However, clinicians must determine the cases for immediate loading based on the quality and quantity of the bone, amount of load, and overall patient ability to heal.

The third and probably the most significant benefit of mini dental implants is their comparative affordability. Patients who cannot afford the cost of conventional implant systems will find mini dental implants as an excellent treatment option. The one-piece mini implants not just cost less upfront but also simplifies the restorative and prosthetic procedure. In comparison, the augmentation procedures for conventional dental implants are complex, costly, and have more likelihood of postoperative pain and discomfort in patients.

Because of the above, mini dental implants are more likely to cause increased patient satisfaction and an improved quality of life.

Indications of Mini Implants

• Replacement of teeth: Due to their small size and design, mini dental implants are used for replacing very small teeth like maxillary lateral and mandibular incisors. These implants can also be used to support single crown restorations in sites with lower occlusal forces like the anterior sites. Mini implants are also indicated for the replacement of teeth in narrow ridges.
• Overdentures: Mini implants are used for the rehabilitation of patients who express dissatisfaction with conventional dentures, desire more retention, or have limitations regarding the use of conventional dental implants. In fact, patients who are wearing loose dentures are the no.1 indication for mini-implant systems.
• Fixed application: Mini implants are smaller and a clinician must be cautious while using them in areas with heavy opposing occlusal forces.
• In patients with limited economic capabilities or limitations regarding placement of standard implants (like insufficient facio-lingual width of the bone).

Limitations of Mini Dental Implants

Mini dental implants are thin (1.8mm to 2.5 mm) and this results in a lack of strength to withstand heavy occlusal forces. Also, because of their narrower diameter at the neck, sometimes it becomes difficult to construct a very natural-looking implant-supported crown with regular mini implants. The MOR® mini implant system, on the other hand, has the MOR® A, which is intended for anterior single crowns.

Another distinct limitation of mini dental implants is a small straight abutment fixed to the implant body. Though this results in cost savings, it also puts a constraint on what a restorative dentist can do when it comes to constructing crowns on top of them. Alternatively, conventional implant systems come with many types of customizable implant abutments of various sizes, shapes, and angulations. Therefore, conventional implants are better for crowns and bridge placement as compared to mini dental implants.

Mini Implant Placement

The placement of mini implants is a simple process that is not just affordable but also relatively stress-free for the patients and less complex for the clinician. The procedure starts with administering local anesthesia to the surgical site. This is followed by drilling right through the gingiva (punching technique) to prepare for the osteotomy. The mini implants are then placed into the bone. Some or all of the MOR® Implants may be loaded on the same day after the surgery. Ultimately, the decision on immediate load is directed by the clinician upon assessment of the patient.

Choosing Sterngold for Your Mini Implant Needs

As you‘ve just read, placing the mini dental implants is simple and easy. Sterngold is the largest manufacturer of mini implants in the US market and has ready information and resources for dental professionals considering adding this to their implant therapy options. Sterngold is also a known source for US made, ISO quality, yet affordable conventional implants.

If you want to know how Sterngold MOR Mini Implants can transform your career and practice, visit Stengold.com.

The TRU® conical hex and PUR® internal hex dental implants from Sterngold provide simple, reliable, and affordable solutions for your restorative surgical needs. These screw-type implants with double lead thread pattern and micro threads at the top permits easy insertion as well as higher initial stability. These implants are available in different diameters with intuitively designed surgical kits to make their usage simple and effective.

What Makes TRU® and PUR® the Dental Implants of Choice?

When considering tooth replacement options, implants are extremely popular because of their impressive restorative capabilities. Today, with technological advancement, a dental professional gets to choose from a full range of dental implants for their patients based on the availability of bone for osseointegration and complications. This innovation in the field of implants has greatly enhanced the versatility of implants even in situations where traditional implant procedures were not possible.

When working on an implant case, a set of restorative components that go with the implant, are necessary. For an analog case, these are: healing abutment, impression coping, straight abutment, analog, and a prosthetic screw. For a digital case: healing abutment, scan body, Ti base, analog, and Ti base prosthetic screw. The cost of these can all add up, not to mention making sure that these supplies are all well-stocked in time for a case. With Sterngold TRU® and PUR® implants, dental practitioners have the convenience of getting each implant complete with five restorative components.

What Makes Sterngold TRU® and PUR® Dental Implants a Versatile Implant System?

Performance

Sterngold TRU® and PUR® implants are bone level implants. These implants offer excellent esthetic outcomes for the patients and are easy to clean and maintain.

Both TRU® and PUR® dental implants do not require a mount and can be easily delivered directly to the site with the help of an implant driver. This simple procedure requires the use of an appropriate driver to engage the hex area inside the implant. The implant can then be carried from the package to the surgical site and further to drive into the bone.

Materials

The type of material used as well as the surface morphology of dental implants plays a critical role in osteoblast adhesion and bone growth. Studies suggest that roughened surfaces enable faster osseointegration and bone formation.

The surface roughness of TRU® and PUR ® dental implants is achieved by sandblasting the implants, followed by an acid-etch bath. This process increases the surface area of the implants and improves the interlocking between the implant surface and bone.

The Ra or average roughness - a parameter used for describing surface roughness - produced by grit-blasting creates irregular geometries with a Ra value of 3μm (a value considered optimal for the osseointegration process).

Further, Sterngold TRU® and PUR® dental implants use pure grade 4 titanium alloy, a material known for its outstanding characteristics of high strength, inertness, and high capacity to join with bone and other tissues, thus proven to be a material of choice for dental implants.

Design

The TRU® and PUR® dental implants have a self-tapping screw-type design and thus, can be easily threaded into a pre-drilled hole in the jaw bone. The process doesn’t require pre-tapping the hole. The apical end of the TRU® and PUR® dental implant taps itself into the hole as the implant is pressed into the hole and rotated.

The screw-type design along with the double lead thread pattern and micro threads at the top make the TRU® and PUR® dental implants ideal for achieving immediate stability.

This design of TRU® and PUR® dental implants is substantially equivalent to other conical and internal hex implants in the market and guarantees strong primary stability even in critical surgical conditions.

Substantially Equivalent to Similarly Designed and Higher-Priced Implants

With Sterngold’s US manufactured dental implants, conforming to ISO implant manufacturing standards, patients and dental professionals can rest assured knowing that high-quality standards have been achieved along with long-term success.

The bone-level, internal connection of TRU® Implant is substantially equivalent to the Nobel Biocare™ Conical connection. Nobel Biocare™ is a registered trademark of Nobel Biocare™. While the bone-level, internal connection of PUR® Implant is substantially equivalent to the Zimmer Tapered Screw-Vent® connection. Zimmer Screw-Vent® is a registered trademark of Zimmer Biomet.

Convenient Bundles for Both TRU® and PUR® Dental Implants

Each implant is conveniently bundled with all the restorative components necessary for a case. TRU® and PUR® can be the clinician’s implant of choice or added into the current system as a value option to increase patient case acceptance.

This All-in-1 is the basic bundle that comes at a simple and flat fee: $95 - TRU® or PUR® implant + restorative components. The oral surgeon gets all restorative components needed to complete a case and not have to purchase separately.

TRU® Internal Conical Hex Implants

• Diameters: 3.5mm, 4.3mm, 5.0 mm, 6.0mm
• Lengths: 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm

PUR® Internal Hex Implants

• Diameters: 3.2mm, 3.5mm, 4.3mm, 5.0mm, 6.0mm
• Lengths: 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm

Sterngold’s full range of prosthetic components provides dental professionals with all the prosthetic elements they need for successfully placing a dental implant

Surgical Kit

TRU ® and PUR® come with an advanced and intuitive surgical kit with high-quality instruments and drills. This surgical kit includes all the instruments designed to correctly place these implants:

• Lance Drill
• 2.0, 3.0, 3.8, 4.5, 5.5mm Drills
• 3.5, 4.3, 5.0, 6.0mm Bone Taps
• Torque Wrench
• Parallel Pin (4)
• Drill Extender
• Thumb Knob
• .050" Hex Latch Driver & .050" Hex tool
• Long Driver.

The longer pins double up as depth gauges.

Proudly Made in the U.S.

All the TRU® and PUR® dental implants are manufactured in Attleboro, located within the Greater Boston area of Massachusetts. Sterngold has over a century of experience in producing high-quality restorative dental products and dental lab supplies and has a solid reputation for combining quality and affordability.

If you wish to learn more visit the TRU® and PUR® dental implant systems page.

Dental dentures have long been an indispensable part of dental treatment options to replace a single, or a set of missing teeth. However, restoring the smiles of patients with dentures had been a major challenge for dentistry. Traditional dentures might be a convenient and less complicated treatment option for many, but many others find wearing them a source of embarrassment and frustration.

Now, more than ever, denture wearers have loads of options to choose from. They no longer have to wear the same type of dentures their grandparents might have used. One of the most popular choices to eliminate the suffering from uncomfortable dentures is the overdenture.

What is an Overdenture?

An overdenture is a removable prosthesis that covers and rests on one or more natural teeth or dental implants. Overdentures may be supported by either two, three, or four dental implants. The real game-changer provided by overdentures is their ability to stabilize and secure a prosthesis without dental adhesives.

As the name suggests, an overdenture is designed to go over a supporting structure like dental implants to gain support and stability. Hence, if you wish to improve your chewing function to chew your favorite foods, an overdenture might be the best option for you.

Also, if you are already using dentures and wish to improve their support and retention, overdentures may work for you. Even in patients with significant bone loss due to long-term denture usage, overdenture is recommended to preserve the jaw bone from further damage.

How Does an Overdenture Work?

As mentioned, dental implants or existing teeth provide support to overdentures and they are connected to the denture with the help of special connectors known as location abutments. This abutment or implant attachment on the top of the implant creates a snapping mechanism that is strong enough to keep the denture in position during chewing. These attachments also allow for easy removal of the denture for cleaning and maintenance.

Unlike the traditional denture, overdentures allow the wearer to chew with greater stability, harder foods which cause traditional denture wearers difficulty. To achieve this functionality, overdenture attachment plays a big role by preventing the denture from pressing down too hard on the gingival tissue.

Hence, these attachment systems are considered the pillars of overdenture treatment. There are various attachment types used to connect implants or existing overdentures.

Overdenture Attachment

There are certain guidelines that help you decide which attachment might be best for a particular situation. These guidelines below are based on Sterngold’s 80 years of experience with dental attachments, but the final decision must be based on a clinical judgment and patient needs.

In most cases, teeth that retain overdentures are reduced, approximately to the height of the gums. Before starting the prosthetic procedure these teeth are treated endodontically and other periodontal problems are resolved.

• In cases with 50% or more bone loss, the prognosis of these roots is relatively poor. For this condition, an intraradicular anchor or Stern Root Anchor will be the best choice as it protects such roots by providing the least amount of lateral forces to these roots.
• In cases with 50% or less bone loss, radicular studs or bars can be used. Splitting abutments with bars make them stronger. Other advantages of bar attachments include better transmission of forces, load sharing, and better retention.

Attachment retained implant overdenture has become a cost-effective alternative to removable dentures because of the comfort, function, and support it provides. To take advantage of these benefits, a dentist must select the best possible attachment option by considering factors like the amount of retention needed, amount of bone available, oral hygiene standards, maxillomandibular relationship, patient expectations, inter implant distance, etc. Keeping these factors in mind, Sterngold provides a comprehensive range of implant abutments to retain implant overdentures.

Attachment Design Characteristics

The overdenture attachment system comprises two parts:

• The matrix for retentive anchor
• And a patrix attachment to closely fit the matrix, either mechanically or with friction

One part of this attachment system is connected to the implant or existing teeth and the other is incorporated within the surface of the overdenture.

The matrix designs are replaceable and adjustable. The matrix component is the clip for bar; plastic/nylon caps springs, metal lamellae, or rubber O-rings for ball abutments; and keepers or retainers for magnetic abutments.

The patrix component is either the connecting bars or ball/magnetic abutments.

The various attachment options allow dentists and technicians to select a retentive mechanism to best suit their experience and necessary patient considerations.

For example, ball attachments are popular as their use precludes complex protocols or procedures. These ball attachments can be used with both root- and implant-supported overdentures. They can be easily incorporated in new and old dentures and thus provide advantages like low-cost, ease of handling, and minimal chair time. Also, ball attachments are particularly useful for optimizing stress and minimizing denture movements.

The ERA or extra-radicular attachment on the other hand is used to provide different degrees of retention - from light to heavy. ERA attachments are indicated when resilience is required and it also provides universal stress relief.

Another type of system is bar attachment that provides more stability of the denture and requires less maintenance. The bar and clip attachments are the most widely used attachments for implant-supported overdentures. The bar attachment consists of a metal bar to splint two or more implants or natural teeth and a sleeve to incorporate the overdenture. A wide variety of bar attachments are available with Sterngold, you can learn more about them here.

The Sterngold Promise

Sterngold, a leader in restorative dentistry products, carries extensive overdenture implant abutments, stud and anchor, and bar attachments. Instructional videos, courses, product catalogs, and a selection guide for attachments, are provided so the clinical practice and dental lab can make informed decisions.

Dental professionals seeking to take their practice to the next level should consider diversifying their skills, consequently, their treatment options, through small diameter implant courses. Adding mini dental implants as an implant therapy alternative, is a game changer. These offer a less invasive and less expensive solution for your patients in need of restorative dentistry. By incorporating this procedure into your practice, you are sure to satisfy patients who otherwise would reject dental implant treatment due to cost, invasiveness of the procedure, among others.

Due to the growing popularity of small diameter dental implants, you’ve likely come across small diameter implant courses on the internet. Here, we’ll highlight a few advantages of enrolling in such a course.

Let’s get started.

Key Benefits of Small Diameter Implant Courses

Mini dental implants (MDIs) or small diameter implants, have transformed the field of restorative dentistry ever since they were approved by the FDA in the ‘90s. Made using medical grade titanium, these implants are smaller in diameter than standard implants. Typically, this ranges between 1.8 mm and 2.9 mm. They are stable and strong, as well as more affordable than traditional dental implants.

The growing popularity of MDIs has made mini implant placement a necessary skill for today’s dental practitioners. The good news is that you’ll find many online and offline mini implant course options to boost your credentials.

Here’s what makes enrolling in small diameter implant courses such a great idea:

1. Low Barriers to Entry

First things first — you don’t have to spend a fortune to join a mini implant course. If you run a quick Google search for “mini implant courses,” you’ll find numerous affordable options. For instance, Sterngold offers a wide array of free programs on mini dental implants.

Led by dentists who perform mini implant surgeries quite often, these courses provide you with the right theoretical knowledge enhanced with practical training. Further, most certification courses on mini dental implants only take a minimum of 3 hours for virtual format, or 1-2 days for in-person, on site formats, to complete. This means you don’t have to worry about taking time out from your busy schedule to attend a course that spans weeks.

It’s also worth mentioning here that implementing a mini implant procedure at your clinic will not require a lot of new equipment. Additionally, you can quickly train your dental assistant to assist you with the procedure. This makes mini implant courses a low-risk and cost-effective option to diversify your skills and grow your practice.

2. Earn CE Credits

As a dental professional, you already know the importance of earning CE credits to retain your license. You’re likely consistently keeping an eye out for courses that are both informative and provide you with needed credits. The good news is that any accredited mini implant course will allow you to earn these credits.

For instance, Sterngold’s mini implant courses reward you with up to 1.5 CE credits. From live webinars to in-person seminars — they offer various programs that award CE credits. It’s a great way to continue your practice while also improving the quality of service and expanding your offerings.

3. Competitive Advantage

Dental practitioners need to stay abreast of the latest procedural advancements in dentistry. Integrating these developments into your practice is essential or you run the risk of falling behind the latest developments, making your practice lag a step behind. Up-to-date mini implant courses provide you with current knowledge so you can keep your competitive edge in restorative dentistry.

4. Happier Patients

As a dental professional, your primary goal is to provide your patients with the right care and improved quality of life. However, the higher costs of traditional dental implants often discourage patients from seeking treatment at the right time. Also, certain patients don’t make great candidates for standard implants due to pre-existing issues.

Mini dental implants allows you to overcome many of the drawbacks of traditional restorative dentistry. Here are some of the key benefits of MDIs for patients:

• Affordability through lower procedure cost
• Minimally invasive procedure
• Immediate load of implant
• Excellent stabilization of dentures

Mini dental implants require less bone for stabilization, making them the ideal choice for most edentulous patients. The best part is that a mini implant procedure is typically a suture-less surgery that take a few hours to complete.

This is in sharp contrast to a procedure involving conventional implants, which usually requires multiple visits to the dentist, spanning weeks or months. Also, MDIs are more economical than traditional dental implants. It’s particularly crucial considering that most edentulous patients are on a tight dental insurance plan.

If you do not offer mini implant treatment at your practice, you’ll likely have to refer your patients to a specialist or patients will seek another dentist who does offer this option.

The best way to address this loss of opportunity is to upskill by enrolling in a mini implant course, then readily incorporating it into your practice. This will help turn your practice into a one-stop destination for your patients’ dental needs.

More important is patient confidence. Your regular patients can enjoy the care and comfort of having their trusted, go-to dentist, perform the procedure. This will further strengthen the relationship you enjoy with existing patients. Additionally, introducing MDIs to your practice is a great way to attract new patients who are looking to get this procedure done. Surely a positive impact on your practice.

Conclusion

As a dental practitioner, it is always a good idea to strengthen your credentials through learning and adding to your skills. Joining a mini implant course is affordable, both in terms of time and money. Apart from earning CE credits, you get to expand your services and thereby, retain more of your patients. Also, you can tap into the large pool of new patients who are waiting to get mini dental implants.

Are you convinced that joining a small diameter implant course is the right move for your career? Explore the wide range of programs at Sterngold and sign up today.

In a dental practice, every patient comes with a unique issue. Providing good quality and affordable dental treatment options to patients can be challenging for dental professionals. Having mini dental implants as an implant therapy option for full and partial removable dentures, in addition to conventional root-form dental implants, can increase case acceptance.

The less invasive, more convenient, and more affordable nature of mini dental implants is an excellent way to improve patient quality of care and practice growth.

These one-piece implants come in smaller diameters and are an excellent choice for minimally invasive flapless transmucosal placement. Due to their small size, mini implants can also be used in patients with narrow ridges and small interdental spaces without the need for bone augmentation.

Mini Dental Implants Directly Appeal to the Needs of Patients

Many patients who are denture wearers experience the frustration of denture adhesives. They simply cannot eat certain foods like vegetables or meat, and as a result, their diet is affected. Their denture is not secure, and it is tough to smile with confidence.

Conventional implant retained, tissue supported dentures are an ideal solution for these patients, but many patients cannot always afford the cost of this type of denture.

It is a common finding for dentists to come across ridges with less than 3mm widths. These challenges make standard drilling and traditional implant placement procedures impossible without ridge augmentation or other manipulation procedures.

Such procedures are complex, and many patients do not accept this treatment plan because fear, cost, and time.

Mini dental implants are less invasive and more affordable than traditional implants and can often be done in a single visit. Same day affordable teeth!

Advantages of Mini Dental Implants

An Affordable and Quality Implant System

Mini implants have been designed to eliminate the cost barrier associated with implantology and make implants a common and affordable treatment option. The idea of designing mini implants is to benefit both the professionals and patients with an easy-to-use and affordable implant solution. The cost to the patient is roughly half the cost of conventional implants.

With simple, reliable, and uniquely designed mini dental implants, you can bring the benefit of implants within the reach of even those patients who are financially or medically unfit for traditional implant methods.

Minimally Invasive and Immediate Load

Mini dental implants are designed to be a flapless and suture-less procedure. The minimum site preparation associated with mini implant placement further accentuates its benefit in terms of the time and cost it saves for the dental practitioners. Drilling right through the gingiva it takes only a few seconds to prepare an osteotomy.

The mini implant comes in a wide range of lengths to address tricky anatomical challenges. These features along with the conical shape of the implant make the implant placement quick, simple, and minimally-invasive.

Often patients can leave the office with a completed restoration in a single day!

The mini implant system facilitates immediate placement followed by immediate loading if appropriate primary stability is achieved, allowing the patient to go home with their new teeth in just one visit.

This grit blasted, acid-etched, and threaded implant allows compression and expansion of the bone to achieve high stability. The bone compression and expansion caused by rotation makes the implant placement procedure less traumatic for patients. Thus, in most cases, patients recover in a single day.

Fewer Complications

Because of their smaller size (2.1mm – 3.0mm), the minimally invasive feature of mini implants makes them a perfect choice for older patients.

Mini implants mean less downtime, minimal pain, and quick recovery. The tissue and bone disturbance are minor in the case of mini-implant placement. Hence, most patients do not require any medication after the treatment and can start eating solid food on the same day.

Benefits of Mini Dental Implants for Professionals

Ease of Placement

There is one simple surgical kit and 1-3 drills needed to place mini dental implants.

The special design of the mini implant along with SGE surface treatment allows compression and expansion of the site and maximizes bone-to-implant contact to provide high stability.

The grit blasted and the acid-etched surface of mini implants stimulates cellular activity and the proliferation of osteoblasts. The material biocompatibility and the force distribution with strategic designing ensure the long-term success of these implants.

Self-tapping implants. The flapless aspect of mini implant surgery comes from the implant’s self-tapping feature. These dental implants have self-tapping, screw-type bodies with a double lead thread pattern and micro threads at the top to ensure immediate fixation.

A Versatile and Affordable Implant System

Mini implants are a versatile implant system and provide an affordable solution to smaller implant indications for overdentures and single arch. They can also be used for crown and bridge fixation in tight places, and fixed replacement of single or multiple teeth in narrow ridges.

Mini implants are considered a treatment option when the standard implant placement becomes unaffordable due to financial constraints.

Mini dental implants appeal to patients who, for numerous reasons, might delay or never commit to a traditional procedure. Offering mini dental implants grows the dental practice and creates very satisfied patients.

MOR® Small Diameter Dental Implants

The MOR® small diameter Dental Implant is a simple, effective, and affordable dental solution for both the patient and clinician. These one-piece mini implants come in a range of lengths and diameters to cater to various anatomical needs and challenges. Ultimately, the MOR® small diameter implant has a high potential to deliver patient satisfaction.

Enhance your dental practice with implantology beginning with mini implant treatments. With MOR® Mini Implants from Sterngold, you can lower the complexity barrier associated with implants and add a modern, effective, and affordable solution to your dental practice.

To learn more about MOR® small diameter implants, visit sterngold.com/mor-mini-implant-system.

True Value

How can doctors better manage the cost of implant treatment? Through implants that come bundled with restorative components at a low, flat free.

With Sterngold’s TRU® and PUR® All-in-1 Bundle, there's no need to purchase the healing abutment, impression coping, lab analog, or even the final abutment, separately from the implant.  These restorative components are included with every dental implant, at only $95.

The conical hex and internal hex connection dental implants offer true value. and pure performance.  Other than the price bundle, the combination of the precise design and the highly osseointegrating surface make TRU® conical and PUR® internal hex connection implants a high performing system. The bone-level, internal connection TRU® Implant is substantially equivalent to the Nobel Biocare™ Conical connection(1) while the bone-level, internal connection PUR® Implant is substantially equivalent to the Zimmer Tapered Screw-Vent® connection(2).

Then, there's the intuitively designed Surgical Kit featuring a comprehensive, easy drilling sequence, and color coded for handpiece and ratchet drivers.

Pure Performance

TRU® conical is designed to be substantially equivalent to the Nobel Biocare® Conical Hex prosthetic connection, while the PUR® internal hex implants are designed to be substantially equivalent to the Zimmer® Screw-Vent Hex prosthetic connection.

Both TRU® and PUR® are manufactured with the highest precision. The SGE roughened surface technology of each of these dental implants is achieved by sandblasting with titanium oxide, followed by an acid-etch bath. This process increases the surface area of the implants and creates an optimal topography for osseointegration.

Sterngold TRU® conical and PUR® screw vent dental implants use pure grade 4 titanium alloy. This material, known for its strength, inertness, and high capacity to join with bone and other tissues, is a proven material of choice for dental implants.

The geometry of the implant and its surface treatments play a vital role in attaining immediate fixation and long-term mechanical stability. The surface enhancement increases the surface area of bone-to-implant contact and accentuates the bone growth during the remodeling phase.

Self Tapping Dental Implants

These dental implants have self-tapping, screw-type bodies with a double lead thread pattern and micro threads at the top to ensure immediate fixation. The TRU® implant comes with a conical core while the PUR® is a screw-vent implant with a tapered internal hex to ascertain easy insertion and higher bone grip. These designs allow for easy drilling sequence and great self-tapping.

Simple to Use - Mountless Delivery

The dental implants do not require mounting and are delivered to the mouth directly with the Implant Driver.

Intuitively Designed Surgical Kit

• Both TRU® conical and PUR® screw vent dental implants come with a comprehensive yet simple surgical kit to easily explain the drilling sequence.
• Specially designed packaging with color-coding for handpiece and ratchet drivers.
• The kit also contains crestal and dense bone drills. These drills feature clear depth markings to ensure accurate drilling.
• The drill surface comes in a matte finish to reduce glare.
• The kit also includes longer pins that can double up as depth gauges.

Quality Standard, Dental Implants Made in the USA

TRU® conical and PUR® internal hex connection implants are manufactured in the US, under strict ISO quality standards, and are tested to be substantially equivalent to the similarly designed, higher-end implant brands in the market. These give oral surgeons the confidence of working with a quality and safe product for their patients.

Diameter and Length Options

TRU® and PUR® dental implants come in various sizes

• Diameter values: 3.2mm, 3.5mm, 4.3mm, 5.0mm, and 6.0mm.
• Length values: 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm.

Bundles with Restorative Elements at a Low Flat Fee

TRU® and PUR® embody affordability at true value. With the three Convenience Bundles and simple Surgical Kit, Sterngold provides all the components required for an implant case at a low, $95 flat fee.

Bundle 1: All-in-1 at $95

Implant + restorative components at a single and affordable price., that comes with the following options:

Bundle 2: The Builder

Each implant comes with all the restorative components of the All-in-1 Bundle. Pricing works at sliding scale. The more implants purchased, the more savings per implant.

• 15 Implants
• 30 Implants
• 50 Implant
• 100 Implants

Bundle 3: The Practice

Each implant comes with all the restorative components of the All-in-1 Bundle.

TRU® or PUR® implant + surgical kit at less than $4,000.

• 15 Implants + Kit
• 30 Implants + Kit

This is the TRU® and PUR® Promise - True Value. Pure Performance.

If you would like to know more about Sterngold’s dental implants, visit our website.

Attleboro, MA- Sterngold Dental President and CEO, Gordon S. Craig III, announced the addition of Gene Peterson, CDT, to the company’s leadership roster. Gene assumes the role of Director of Technical Development and Learning, where he oversees all aspects of Sterngold’s technical department, leading digital development efforts, product offering pipeline, and educational methods and content directives, working closely with sales, marketing, and customer service.

With over 30 years of experience, Gene has an extensive and diverse background in the dental industry, including R&D, clinical and dental laboratory workflows and protocols, learning and development, produc- tion, and management. After owning and operating a full service dental laboratory for 18 years, he spent the last 9 years with a major digital denture & technology company. As a pioneer and subject matter expert in the growing field of digital dentures, he has written and co-authored research and white papers on this and other technical subjects.

Gene is involved with several professional organizations, including the National Association of Dental Labo- ratories (NADL), the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP), and the Academy for BioEsthetic Dentistry. He serves as Co-Chair of the Advisory Board and is a guest lecturer for the Dental Laboratory Technology program at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. Gene also speaks fluent Spanish and has enjoyed delivering webinars and speaking at various national and international dental meetings. He holds a BS degree in Biology from Brigham Young University, is a Certified Dental Technician (NBC) and a Certified BioEsthetic Dental Technician.

What can dental laboratory technicians and clinicians look forward to with Gene at the technical and learn- ing helm? “Having both independent laboratory and manufacturing experience puts me at a good position to share relevant knowledge to the dental community. I am digitally minded and have a clear sense of exactly which type of technology really matters in terms of efficiency, growing the business, staying com- petitive, helping further cultivate the profession-- simply making life easier for clinicians and fellow techni- cians. For Sterngold customers, I aim to provide knowledgeable support on current products and work on developing new ones that fulfill their needs.”

To meet the other members of the Sterngold Dental Leadership team, visit https://www.sterngold.com/leadership-team

About Sterngold

Affordable Dental Access. Enhanced Quality of Life.

We believe in affordable access to a better quality of life by staying relevant, pursuing excellence, and delivering enhanced smiles. Sterngold is a global player with presence in 34 countries, with a rich and celebrated history in the dental community. We only carry the highest quality, safest products available, most of which we engineer, manufacture and quality assess in-house, in the United States, under the most stringent standards. That means greater control over quality and the ability to bring cost-effective solutions to our customers and their patients. Visit www.sterngold.com

By Dentistry Today

INTRODUCTION
“Communication is key.”

“It’s all about communication.”

Sound familiar?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes communication as “a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.” Communication is a 2-way street. It involves a verbal exchange that includes speaking or writing and, importantly, listening. After the dentist writes on a prescription pad, it is then up to the dental laboratory team to understand exactly what the dentist wants. The clinician envisions how the restoration should look, then often communicates details verbally to the lab technician as well. The lab technician then interprets all the promulgated information and creates the restoration or prosthesis that he or she understands to be what the dentist and patient desire. To a large degree, the successful execution of this process depends on the clinical skill of the dentist, as well as the technical skill of the technician. And fundamental to success is the need for accurate communication between the doctor and the lab team. When such communication is optimized, it becomes collaboration. In the ever-expanding schema of digital dentistry, communication and collaboration both rely increasingly on another critical component: data.

Expectations vs Communication
Restorations are created to restore form and function and provide aesthetic outcomes that meet the needs and expectations for the dentist and the patient. By reliance on an aggregate of these components, the essence of communicating with a dental laboratory technician is for him or her to reproduce a restoration or prosthesis exactly to the specifications the restorative dentist requested, including tooth shape, size, and position within the dental arch; occlusal relationship; emergence profile; interproximal contacts; and incisal edge position.

The aesthetic outcome is dependent on communicating color (chroma, hue, and value), translucency, and surface texture. The underlying challenge for the dentist is to determine all of these parameters accurately and then be able to successfully communicate the details and expectations for the patient case. The challenge for the lab team is to then understand exactly what the dentist is asking for and successfully implement the information received in the restorative product.

In the traditional way of doing things, the dentist will provide the lab technician with a written prescription describing what is expected. Of course, the detailed prescription needs to be accompanied by impressions, diagnostic casts, a bite registration, face-bow records, and clinical photos.

Doctor-Technician Communication
The digital approach now has the ability to optimize what, and how, relevant clinical information (STL files, DICOM files, digital photos, and/or videos) gets to the lab team and how the instructions and directions for restorative fabrication take place.

A substantial body of literature has been published on individual aspects of digital workflows in the prosthetically driven implant placement clinical setting, including several recent systematic reviews.^1-4 In general, these reviews report an overall time reduction in providing multi-unit prostheses. Joda et al4 state the need for more studies focusing on patient-reported outcome measures in this area. Abduo and Elseyoufi3 reviewed studies that included 12 intraoral scanning systems and identified considerable variability among them. They caution that intraoral scanners are vulnerable to inaccuracies, especially in long-span scanning applications.³ An in vitro comparative study by Amin et al⁵ identified a superior accuracy of digital impressions using intraoral scanners compared to conventional impressions for full-arch prostheses. Literature addressing the advantages of all aggregate facets of a digital workflow are scarce; the author published an initial report on the initial promise of digital dentistry in 2016.⁶

In a digital workflow, communication between the doctor and the lab team becomes much more transparent, accessible, and collaborative to both individuals. Table 1 presents contrasting steps between conventional and digital workflows.

Digital Workflow
• Diagnostic digital wax-up:

Using a laser introral scanner (eg, TRIOS [3Shape]), the dentist will send scans of the existing dentition to be restored to the lab technician who then creates the proposed restorations in the virtual 3-D model using dental design software. The dentist then views the design remotely and has an exchange with the technician about any aspects of the design. It can then be improved or modified, and the process continues until both are satisfied with the results.

• Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT):

Central to the theme of digital dentistry is the capability for 3-D imaging afforded by CBCT scanning. Such scans provide the core of data accessible to every other virtual modality of treatment planning. Although there are some software incompatibility issues, CBCT scans form the basis for accurate digital implant placement and restoration.

In the case of smile design, the digital wax-up can be printed or milled using a variety of materials and sent to the dentist to be further reviewed and, if desired, tried in the patient’s mouth. Provisionals can then be fabricated from the approved design. This works extremely well in the case of full-mouth reconstruction. The patient will wear the provisional restoration for an appropriate amount of time. When all form, function, and aesthetic parameters have been addressed, the provisional result can be scanned in the patient’s mouth, and then the definitive restoration can be copied exactly from that provisional. We have followed this process in our practice for a number of years with numerous cases and consistently find that only minimal adjustments are necessary at the final seating appointment.

Summary of General Steps in a Digital Workflow

• Obtain a preoperative CBCT and intraoral scans of the patient
• Print or mill the approved proposal
• Insert
• Scan and copy
• Fabricate the definitive restoration

Digital Orthodontics
Orthodontists and restorative dentists can treatment plan using a variety of software platforms. These include Invisalign (Align Technology), SureSmile (Dentsply Sirona), and Reveal Clear Aligners (Henry Schein), just to name a few. These software technologies allow the dentist to send photos, radiographs, CBCT and intraoral scans, and other digital files in an electronic prescription with specific instructions. Proposed tooth and root movements are again made available for the clinician to modify, if needed, and approve. For fixed orthodontics, wires can be pre-bent robotically by the lab team and, in the case of aligners, they are all fabricated from the digital design.

Digital imaging of the airway can also provide diagnostic information on potential sleep-related breathing disorders.

Challenges
Going digital doesn’t simply mean “buying a scanner.” Rather, it involves adopting new workflows, and this requires a commitment from the dentist, as well as the entire team, in order to obtain a level of mastery that, in turn, creates consistency, reliability, and clinical accuracy. Proper technique and proficiency with the equipment are necessary to reliably scan and relay the resulting digital files to the lab team.

As is frequently the case with medical imaging software, compatibility issues can pose obstacles to the digital workflow. Each manufacturer uses some proprietary file format that may or may not require the lab to have the same licenses to view and work with those files. While there is some interoperability between different scanners and the design software in the laboratory (eg, 3Shape and exocad Dental CAD), challenges persist in sharing designs across different platforms.

Solutions
Digitally communicated workflows have become ubiquitous in implant planning for restoratively driven implant placement. The sharing of STL and DICOM files on a variety of platforms, such as Dropbox, has improved clinical outcomes in many ways. It has led to successful communication not only between the dentist and the lab team, but also between the lab team that fabricates the surgical guides, the clinician who places the implants, and the dentist responsible for placing the restorations. For example, DDx Solution (Henry Schein) allows for the exchange of lab data from Dentrix to the lab team. Other manufacturers’ platforms, such as Planmeca Romexis, Dentsply Sirona Connect, NobelGuide, or Straumann DTX, enable more-seamless communication.

For case discussions, dentists and their lab teams can collaborate with widely used communication software such as Zoom, GoToMeeting, LogMeIn, and others. Group interface software, such as TeamViewer, can also optimize digital collaboration among restorative and specialty clinicians by allowing them to view the files and screens of all collaborators.

CASE REPORT
Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
A healthy 57-year-old man with no significant medical conditions, no known drug allergies, and taking no medications presented for a full rehabilitation of his mandibular arch. He had recently undergone an immediate-load, full-arch, maxillary rehabilitation and wanted to have a similar treatment on his lower arch. A traditional all-on case would have required significant alveolar bone reduction, which would have limited the overall A-P spread of the implants or reduced the implant sizes. The patient did not want to wear an interim removable prosthesis, so the decision was made to stage the case with a transitional fixed bridge on 3 existing teeth as abutments while the implants fully integrated.

Clinical Protocol
Implants were placed in the mandible and prepared to support a transitional provisional fixed prosthesis that enabled the patient to avoid a removable provisional prosthesis. The preparation and planning allowed for an efficient appointment in which the extraction of the anterior teeth, the guided placement of all 6 implants in one appointment, and the insertion of the fixed provisional took place in an uneventful workflow.

Figure 1 shows a pre-op scan image of the mandibular dentition in occlusion with the existing maxillary prosthesis to digitally capture the vertical dimension of occlusion. Figure 2 shows a frontal CBCT image of hopeless anterior teeth resulting from pronounced osseous defects. Figure 3 shows a virtual image produced from a scan of the remaining mandibular dentition after the virtual extraction of mandibular incisors and premolars, with teeth Nos. 22, 27, and 29 prepared to support the virtually milled provisional.

A computer rendering of the proposed prosthesis in occlusion with the existing maxillary prosthesis, consistent with restorative-driven implant treatment planning, is shown in Figure 4.

Next, the workflow used the first of 2 digitally milled surgical guides to place the first 2 implants in position Nos. 19 and 31 (Figure 5). The second surgical guide (Figure 6) was then placed over implants in position Nos. 19 and 31 and prepared teeth Nos. 22, 27, and 29 after the extraction of teeth Nos. 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 28. The remaining 4 implants were then placed in position Nos. 20, 23, 26, and 30. None of the implants were loaded at the time of placement. All implants were placed using full facial and lingual flap reflection at the same appointment.

Next, the fixed provisional was placed using abutment Nos. 22, 27, and 29 (Figure 7). A panoramic radiograph showing 6 implants immediately after placement, and the 3 remaining abutment teeth to support the immediate fixed PMMA provisional, is pictured in Figure 8. Figure 9 shows a panoramic radiographic view of the provisional abutments attached to the implants immediately after the extraction of teeth Nos. 22, 27, and 29.

After 3 months of healing to allow for osseointegration, the 6 implants were uncovered, had scan bodies placed, and were scanned at the fixture/tissue level. Figure 10 shows virtual relative angulation of the screw access holes and implants. Teeth Nos. 22, 27, and 29 were virtually extracted, and a full-arch, mandibular, implant-supported provisional was fabricated. Next, teeth Nos. 22, 27, and 29 were extracted, and the screw-retained provisional was secured to the 6 implants (Figure 11). Time was allowed for tissue healing, and a definitive screw-retained, milled zirconia prosthesis was placed (Figure 12).

CLOSING COMMENTS
The case example above serves to demonstrate how complex implant restorative dentistry can be achieved. This treatment provided the patient with immediate function on existing teeth or? integrated implants in fewer appointments and with greater predictability using a digital workflow as compared to the risks and limitations associated with a traditional-load all-on case dentist-lab team exchange.

Acknowledgment:
The author extends his appreciation to Dr. Evan Chafetz, DMD, oral-maxillofacial surgeon, Scarsdale, NY, and Robert Schulman, DMD, prosthodontist, White Plains, NY.

References

1. Lo Russo L, Caradonna G, Biancardino M, et al. Digital versus conventional workflow for the fabrication of multiunit fixed prostheses: a systematic review and meta-analysis of vertical marginal fit in controlled in vitro studies. J Prosthet Dent. 2019;122:435-440.
2. Mühlemann S, Kraus RD, Hämmerle CHF, et al. Is the use of digital technologies for the fabrication of implant-supported reconstructions more efficient and/or more effective than conventional techniques: a systematic review. Clin Oral Implants Res. 2018;29(suppl 18):184-195.
3. Abduo J, Elseyoufi M. Accuracy of intraoral scanners: a systematic review of influencing factors. Eur J Prosthodont Restor Dent. 2018;26:101-121.
4. Joda T, Derksen W, Wittneben JG, et al. Static computer-aided implant surgery (s-CAIS) analysing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), economics and surgical complications: a systematic review. Clin Oral Implants Res. 2018;29(suppl 16):359-373.
5. Amin S, Weber HP, Finkelman M, et al. Digital vs. conventional full-arch implant impressions: a comparative study. Clin Oral Implants Res. 2017;28:1360-1367.
6. Kaye G. Restorative digital dentistry, part 1: the journey to new paradigms. Dent Today. 2016;35:22-27.

Dr. Kaye graduated from the Columbia University School of Dental Medicine, where he received awards in endodontics, prosthodontics, and geriatric dentistry. He has practiced comprehensive dentistry since 1993 and has built successful multispecialty group practices in and around New York. He is a graduate of the Dawson Academy of Comprehensive Dentistry and has published and lectured on ceramics, occlusion, and the adoption of digital dentistry. He consults with dentists, dental schools, and manufacturers on all aspects of digital dentistry. Dr. Kaye serves as the digital editor for Dentistry Today. He can be reached at drgarykaye@nycdd.org.

Disclosure: Dr. Kaye reports no disclosures.

By Dentistry Today

If we listened to and believed some of the comments about small-diameter implants (SDIs) (or “mini” implants) that we hear coming from some areas of surgical dentistry, we would be led to think that these devices simply do not work. However, the truth is diametrically opposed to what some are saying, and it has been our observation that some of the most severely negative comments come from dentists who have never placed SDIs.
This article includes: the definition of “mini” or SDIs; a discussion of the evolution of SDIs, including their clearance by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and research support; reasons for SDI use instead of conventional diameter implants; the indications for SDI use; and suggestions on how to use them successfully.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE SMALL-DIAMETER IMPLANT CONCEPT
There is no question among dentists that root-form implants, 3.0 mm in diameter and more, are one of the most successful and important additions to clinical dentistry in the entire history of dentistry. The FDA cleared these conventional-diameter root-form implants for clinical use in 1976. Millions of conventional-diameter implants have been placed for more than 4 decades, and their cumulative success rate of around 95% is impressive. In many situations, it has been our experience that the conventional prosthodontic portion of implant treatment fails faster than the properly integrated root-form implants themselves.
In the early 1990s, some innovative practitioners started using SDIs (up to 2.9 mm in diameter) for long-term use in situations with insufficient bone. At that time, SDIs were then considered to be for transitional use only. Also, orthodontists began using SDIs, also known as temporary anchorage devices, for anchorage for difficult tooth movement situations. It soon became obvious to those practitioners that properly placed SDIs were working adequately.
As a result of their obvious clinical success, SDIs were cleared by the FDA “for long-term intrabony applications” with the help of the Imtec company in 1997. Subsequently, numerous other SDI brands have received similar FDA clearance. Thousands of these SDIs are now in successful restorative use with a reported 91% to 97% survival rate. Numerous surveys, testimonials, research projects, and satisfied dentists and patients attest to that fact.^1-6 Many more positive references are available in the restorative, prosthodontic, and orthodontic literature.

• Images 1a and 1b. A typical conventional diameter implant has a blunt end necessitating cutting a hole in the bone for placement. A typical small-diameter implant (SDI) has a screw configuration that expands minimal bone on placement. This difference is one that allows SDIs to be placed in bone as thin as 3 to 4 mm in the facial lingual dimension.

WHY USE SMALL-DIAMETER IMPLANTS IF CONVENTIONAL DIAMETER IMPLANTS ARE SO SUCCESSFUL?
Both of the authors of this article are prosthodontists who place both conventional and small-diameter root-form implants. The following are their observations on the desirability of SDI use compared to conventional diameter implant use.

• Image 2. SDIs (Imtec a 3M ESPE company) placed in a mandible model. Small spheres on the implants and rubber washers in housings in the denture support and retain the denture.

Inadequate Bone Quantity
Conventional diameter implants, averaging about 3.5 mm in diameter, require minimally about 6 mm of bone in a facial-lingual dimension, and about 10 mm of bone in a crestal-apical dimension, for uncomplicated placement without grafting. Some patients accept the overall implant concept, but they have inadequate bone quantity and do not want to have significant bone grafting accomplished.
SDIs can be placed in as little as 3.0 mm of bone in a facial-lingual dimension and 10 mm of bone in a crestal-apical dimension. In fact, often bone 3 or 4 mm in a facial-lingual dimension is ideal, because the cortical bone plate on the facial has nearly approximated the lingual cortical plate, and this dense bone holds the SDI securely. Some experienced implant surgeons may question this, until they consider the fact that the SDI is usually a “screw,” expanding bone instead of cutting it away.

• Image 3. Atlas (Dentatus) implants placed in a mandible model. Small spheres on the implants and soft denture reline material in the denture support and retain the dentures.

Inadequate Financial Resources
Some patients have inadequate bone, accept the implant concept, accept the need for extensive bone grafting, and they are ready to accept the treatment with the following exceptions: the cost of the grafting is too high, the expense of the restorative treatment is high, and conventional diameter implant treatment is denied. SDIs frequently solve this challenge, as stated in the previous point.

Compromised Physical Condition
Many physically debilitated patients do not have the ability to tolerate conventional diameter implant placement, but they can tolerate the simple, few-minute placement of SDIs without a flap. Recent research has shown that flapless implant placement may accelerate osseointegration and produce quicker healing. Debilitated persons can benefit from these simple procedures.

• Image 4. Zimmer (Sterngold) implants placed in a mandible model with ERA attachments on the implants. Reciprocal ERAs in the denture base support and retain the denture.

Major Uses of Small-diameter Implants
SDIs are listed in the Table in approximate order of decreasing frequency of use, as noted in the previously referenced articles, our own use patterns, and our observation of other practitioners.
If SDIs were used only for patients with edentulous mandibles, roughly 35 to 40 million edentulous patients in the United States alone would have better fitting and retained complete dentures. These implants are so easy to use in most edentulous mandibles that it is upsetting to us that they are not used more in the profession for the indications noted above

WHY DO SOME DENTISTS STATE THAT SMALL-DIAMETER IMPLANTS\ ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL?
Many of the same surgical dentists now condemning SDIs stated 40 years ago that conventional root from implants would not work. It appears that their opinion is that anything new is automatically bad! SDIs are new, but they are proving themselves.
This section is probably the most important part of this article. Some SDIs fail. We have experienced a few failures ourselves over the past 9 years of use. These failures were almost always related to one or more of the following errors:

• Too much thickness of the soft tissue. If the ratio of the coronal portion of the SDI to the portion placed in the bone is excessive, a long lever arm is present. This situation stresses the SDI and may lead to failure of the implant. If the soft tissue, through which the SDI is to be placed, is thicker than about 2 mm, it should be reduced by taking a wedge of tissue from the coronal portion of the ridge. This can be done before the implants are placed, allowing for adequate healing, or at the time of implant placement. This surgery may be done with a scalpel, or some lasers may be used around implants to accomplish this task without causing damage to the implant osseointegration potential.
  
• Improper parallelism of implants. SDIs should be as parallel as possible. If these implants are much more than 15° from parallelism, technical difficulty at placement of the prosthesis and subsequent potential clinical failure can be anticipated.
  
• Inadequate preoperative radiographs. Poor bone is commonly present in some areas of edentulous patients. We discourage using only 2-dimensional conventional panoramic radiographs, because you cannot determine the quality or quantity of the bone in a facial-lingual dimension. Coarsely trabeculated bone is not appropriate for SDIs. The more dense the bone, the better. To determine the density of the bone, facial-lingual oriented radiographs are strongly suggested. These include tomograph or cone beam radiographs. Most communities now have accessibility to some form of the suggested facial-lingual orientation radiographs at moderate cost.
  
• Poor bone density in the posterior maxillary tuberosity areas. Usually, the dense Type I bone of the resorbed anterior mandible is excellent for SDIs. The worst bone, contraindicated for SDI placement by most experienced practitioners is the posterior maxillary tuberosity, with its porous type IV bone. A careful analysis of the density of the bone in any other part of the oral cavity is suggested, as they too may have poor bone density contraindicating SDIs.
  
• Too few SDIs are often placed. It has been suggested in both empirical and research reports that the minimal number of SDIs for edentulous mandibles is 4, evenly spaced from the left canine area to the right canine area. This is double the minimal number of implants suggested for conventional diameter implants. The ratio appears to be 2 SDIs where one conventional diameter implant would usually be used. Some companies are suggesting 6 SDIs instead of 4 for edentulous maxillas, evenly spaced from the canine area to the opposite canine areas. However, the more dense the bone, the fewer SDIs that are needed.
  
• SDIs are too short. The most popular average length for SDIs is 13 mm. It appears from both clinical observation and research that this is a predictable and successful length. The implants must be used in adequate bone, according to the literature of reported successful use of thousands of SDIs and to the discussions with manufacturers about clinician reports to them.
  
• Poorly adjusted occlusion, or loading the implants too soon. Most SDIs are loaded immediately on placement. Occlusion needs to be adjusted perfectly on placement of the prosthesis. Allowing heavy occlusion to traumatize these small implants is asking for early failure. If questionable bone quality or quantity is present, soft denture reline material may be placed in the denture around the area of the implants for several weeks to ensure that they have optimum time for initiation of osseointegration.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
SDIs that are treatment planned correctly, placed and loaded properly, and are within a well-adjusted occlusion, are working in an excellent manner for the patients described in this article. It is time for those practitioners unfamiliar with SDIs and their uses to discontinue their discouragement of this technique. SDIs are easily placed, minimally invasive, and a true service to those patients described. They do not replace conventional diameter implants; however, they are a significant and important augmentation to the original root-form implant concept. There is obvious evidence of the growing acceptance of small-diameter implants by both general practitioners and specialists.

References

1. Bulard RA, Vance JB. Multi-clinic evaluation using mini-dental implants for long-term denture stabilization: a preliminary biometric evaluation. Compend Contin Educ Dent. 2005;26:892-897.
   
2. Clinical Research Associates. Small-diameter “mini” implants—user status report. CRA Newsletter. 2007;31:1-2.
   
3. Griffitts TM, Collins CP, Collins PC. Mini dental implants: an adjunct for retention, stability, and comfort for the edentulous patient. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2005;100:e81-e84.
   
4. Morneburg TR, Pröschel PA. Success rates of microimplants in edentulous patients with residual ridge resorption. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. 2008;23:270-276.
   
5. Shatkin TE, Shatkin S, Oppenheimer BD, et al. Mini dental implants for long-term fixed and removable prosthetics: a retrospective analysis of 2514 implants placed over a five-year period. Compend Contin Educ Dent. 2007;28:92-99.
   
6. Vigolo P, Givani A. Clinical evaluation of single-tooth mini-implant restorations: a five-year retrospective study. J Prosthet Dent. 2000;84:50-54.

Dr. Christensen is currently a practicing prosthodontist in Provo, Utah. His degrees include DDS, University of Southern California; MSD, University of Washington; and PhD, University of Denver. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics, a Fellow and Diplomate in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, a Fellow in the Academy of Osseointegration, American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, American College of Prosthodonists, Academy of General Dentistry (Hon), Royal College of Surgeons of England, and an Associate Fellow in the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Drs. Gordon and Rella Christensen are co-founders of the nonprofit Gordon J. Christensen CLINICIANS REPORT (previously CRA). He has presented more than 45,000 hours of continuing education throughout the world and has published many articles and books. He can be reached at (801) 226-6569 or via e-mail at info@pccdental.com.

Disclosure: Dr. Christensen reports no conflicts of interest.

Dr. Child is the CEO of CR Foundation, a nonprofit educational and research institute (formerly CRA). He conducts extensive research in all areas of dentistry and directs the publication of the Gordon J. Christensen CLINICIANS REPORT, and other publications. Dr. Child graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry, completed a prosthodontic residency at LSU, and maintains a private practice at the CR Dental Health Clinic in Provo, Utah. He is also a Certified Dental Technician through National Board of Certification in Dental Lab Technology. Dr. Child lectures nationally and copresents the “Dentistry Update” course with Drs. Gordon and Rella Christensen. He lectures on all areas of dentistry, with an emphasis on new and emerging technologies. He maintains membership in many professional associations and academies. He can be reached at (801) 226-2121 or via e-mail at toni@cliniciansreport.org.

Disclosure: Dr. Child reports no conflicts of interest.

Pain, financial limitations, and time involved in procedure; these are top three reasons most patients do not move forward with a dental implant treatment. This attitude presents a challenge to clinicians as they seek to recommend the most effective solution to edentulism.

The good news is there are systems available that can reassure patients and manage the cost and time involved in placing conventional implants. Specifically, small diameter dental implants. By their attributes and benefits, mini implants can increase patient satisfaction and help grow a clinician’s practice.

The surgical protocols and included prosthetics of mini dental implants make them ideal additions to an oral implantologist’s armamentarium. Small diameter implants involve minimally invasive surgery, are affordable, simple, and available for immediate load. These aspects can make it easier to convince patients to agree to an implant solution.

Ahead of the curve with mini implants is Sterngold^®, a global leader in attachments, implants, and restorative systems. After an analysis of the major causes to unsuccessful implant cases, Sterngold^® engineered the MOR^® Mini Implant System.

Features:

• Available in three diameters: 2.1 mm, 2.4 mm, and 3.0 mm
• MOR-A^® available in 3.0mm diameter (for fixed implant)
• Lengths available: 10 mm, 13 mm, 15 mm, and 18mm
• SGE surface treatment
• Can be used for denture connection or crown and bridge fixation.

*The MOR^® Mini Dental Implant is equivalent to the3M™/IMTEC® MDI. The 3M™/IMTEC^® MDI’s drills and instrumentation may be used.*3M™/ IMTEC^® MDI is a registered trademark of the 3M™ Corporation

As stated, the versatile MOR^® Small Diameter Implant line can be used for denture connection or crown and bridge fixation. The procedure is more affordable for both patients and providers. For optimal use of the system, Sterngold^® offers an easy-to-use surgical kit backed with a surgical protocol that identifies steps to ensure clinical case success. The popularity of the MOR^® Small Diameter Implant System stems from its simplicity, versatility, and high potential for patient satisfaction.

An increasing number of DSOs, group practices, and private practice owners are gravitating towards small diameter implants, making them a primary option when presenting treatment plans to their edentulous patients. Patients who have previously rejected conventional overdenture treatment, choosing to settle on, and suffer from, a lower denture as they have not been offered a more desirable alternative, are the best candidates.  Imagine how much easier it is for patients to say “yes” when they walk into a practice, finding out that they can leave with functioning overdentures on the same visit.

A significant number of successful cases using MOR^® small diameter dental implants involve patients benefiting from overdentures; a success rate  indicative of patient satisfaction. Cost-wise, clinicians concur that the small diameter implants make for an effective and affordable alternative that both they and their patients agree on.

To better understand the positive impact the MOR^® Mini Implant System, educational and technical support is available. Sterngold offers year-round small diameter implant courses that deliver a deeper dive into the technology, including the surgical procedure involved. In just a few hours, a dental professional will learn technical and clinical information, as well as valuable practice building strategies to approach patients needing the system plus identify a new demographic within dental implants.  The training provides tools that can help increase practice revenues and sustain growth with MOR^® small diameter dental implants, stemming primarily from patient satisfaction.  After all, the best promotion is always a testimonial from a happy patient.

No patient wants to deal with an unsecured denture and clinicians understand. Through the MOR^® small diameter Implant System, DSOs and private practice owners have found the “sweet spot” to between patient approval and satisfaction, with practice growth.

Attleboro, MA- Sterngold is pleased to announce that the Stern SNAP^® product line is now available in a retrievable Drill & Tap option for removable restorations on a CAD/CAM or traditionally fabricated overdenture bar. The SNAP^® Drill & Tap allows users to retrieve and replace restorations with ease of use and confidence. Users also have the choice of pairing the attachment(s) with metal-free caps or ^*CM^® LOC^® Metal Housings with ^*PEKKTON^® inserts.  Both retentive male options establish secure denture connection while offering a variety of retention levels.

To find out more details, click HERE, or call 800-243-9942.

*CM LOC^® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF CNEDRES+MÉTAUX SA SWITZERLAND. PEKKTON^® ATTACHMENTS ARE PART OF THE CM^® LOC SYSTEM.

About Sterngold Dental, LLC

Founded in 1897, Sterngold Dental, LLC is a world leader in dental products and specializes in alloys, attachments, implants, and restorative systems. Restorative and Removable dentistry solution examples are the ERA^® and ORA family of resilient dental attachments and the TRU^®, PUR^®, and MOR^® Implant Systems for esthetic restorations.

Sterngold Dental, LLC is certified to EN ISO 13485:2016 and MDSAP for the European Union, United States, Canada, Brazil and Japan. Sterngold also complies with the European Medical Devices Directive, (MDD) 93/42/EEC. FDA Quality System Regulations and MHLW Ministerial Ordinance No. 169.  All products and procedures are monitored under these quality systems. Sterngold Dental, LLC's Implant products have approval to market in the United States, Sweden, and more than 25 other countries. For more information, visit www.sterngold.com