Dentaltown November 2019 - 33

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case study

A New Technique
for New Patients

T

hroughout my career, I've had three watershed moments when it comes
to my continuing education in direct composite dentistry. The first was
during a course by Dr. Dennis Hartlieb, and the second from Dr. Jason
Smithson, whom I had learned about through Dentaltown. These
clinicians demonstrated techniques and results with composite that I initially
had thought were unattainable. The third moment came in 2006, when I met
Dr. David Clark during his course at the Big Apple Dental Meeting, where I first
learned about the Bioclear method. Clark demonstrated a minimally invasive and
predictable way to close black triangles and restore deep Class III restorations.
Up to this point, I had attempted to restore these types of restorations via flat
Mylar, often leaving a bloody mess and less than optimal results.
Besides realizing this new method of dentistry would improve my entire
approach to composite dentistry, I also understood that it spoke to many things
that my patients were already asking for: They don't want to remove tooth
structure, they do want to keep their costs down, and they do want results that
are strong and look good. And if they can't get that from you, they'll get it
somewhere else! That's why it's important to keep learning about new materials
and new techniques. The following case explores my own use of a new composite
and a new(er) technique for closing black triangles.

by Arthur R. Volker, DDS, MSEd
Dr. Arthur R. Volker graduated
from the Columbia University
School of Dental and Oral
Surgery. He is a member of the
continuing education committee
for the New York State Academy
of General Dentistry. Volker is a
diplomate of the World Congress
of Minimally Invasive Dentistry,
and is a fellow of the Academy
of General Dentistry and the American College of Dentists.
He has also published articles and lectures on such topics
as cosmetic dentistry, minimally invasive dentistry, dental
materials and dental implants.

Turning black triangles pink

Earn 23
CE credits
and learn about
composites
(and more!)

The dark spaces between patients' teeth can make the teeth look old or
give the feeling that the teeth are diseased in some way. Many patients have
an adverse reaction to this look and don't even realize it will happen to them,
especially as a result of orthodontic treatment. So, what are the options? A veneer
just blocks the space-it doesn't regenerate a papilla and doesn't go between the
teeth like a composite can. We don't want to just block the space, anyway; we
want to create a pink triangle and regenerate the papillae at the same time. We're
talking almost 100% additive dentistry, which really separates this technique
from veneers and crowns.

Dr. Arthur Volker's online
CE course "Injection
Molding: Engineering
Composite Success" is one
of 13 included in the Townie
Meeting 2019 Lecture
Series, which contains more
than 23 hours of education
in clinical dentistry and
practice management.
To get started, head to
dentaltown.com/ce.

dentaltown.com \\ NOVEMBER 2019

33
http://www.dentaltown.com/ce http://www.dentaltown.com
Dentaltown November 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown November 2019
