Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns are among the most popular and reliable restorations because of its durability and natural esthetics. Using a cast metal substructure that is veneered with porcelain, this material closely mimics the appearance of a natural tooth. 

Technology is shaping the future of dental implants, and the possibilities for innovations are endless. In the United States alone, over 100 million people are missing at least one tooth. Dental implants are predicted to be worth over $4.4 billion dollars globally by 2020. Due to this growing number, it’s important to stay up to date on the latest techniques and devices used in oral implantation.

Full and partial dentures are still a popular way to restore wholly or partially edentulous patients who do not wish to have dental implants or who are unsuitable for treatment. An accurate denture impression can ensure your restoration will achieve three critical factors:

Zirconia crowns have gained popularity over the past decade. Today’s patients are requesting zirconia crowns over metal-based crowns because zirconia restorations provide strength and lifelike esthetics. Additionally, zirconia is an extremely durable metal and can withstand forceful chewing and grinding over an extended period of time. If properly maintained, zirconia restorations can last a patient’s lifetime.

Titanium and titanium alloys used to be the most common materials used for fabrication for dental implants. Despite their decades of popularity as the gold standard in oral implantology, the search for alternatives has been growing. Because of increasing titanium allergies and esthetic compromises with titanium implants, the use of zirconia has been introduced as an alternative to titanium. Following several experimental studies, zirconium dioxide (zirconia) has earned its place as a viable substitute for titanium in implantology.

Since its emergence into the dental arena, Zirconia has increasingly become the material of choice for clinicians who wish to provide their patients with the most technologically advanced metal-free restorations. Zirconia has improved significantly with the introduction of a wider array of available milling pucks which allow for greater shade variation and translucencies that closely resemble natural dentition.

Clinicians who wish to provide patients with excellent dental restorations often choose zirconia crowns. These crowns are chosen over conventional PFMs (Porcelain Fused to Metal) or full-gold crowns due to their superior strength, durability, and excellent aesthetics. Some dentists exclusively use zirconia over all-ceramic restorations, particularly when restoring a single tooth.

Do you find yourself retaking many of your patient’s impressions? Whether you feel rushed to complete deadlines or find yourself needing to brush up on your skills, it’s good to review common pitfalls that occur when taking impressions and you can easily solve these faux pas.

Digital impressions are currently revolutionizing the way dentists create dental restorations for patients. A digital impression is a virtual scan that creates a map of your teeth. By using lasers and other optical scanning devices, dentists can create a virtual, computer generated model of the hard and soft tissues in the mouth. This digital model allows dentists to view patient’s teeth on a computer screen rather than using a mirror, taking a mold, or looking at an X-ray, which are the traditional methods. After an impression is taken, a dentist can immediately send the digital impression to a lab where dentures, crowns, bridges, and other restoration models can be made quickly and accurately.

Choosing the right dental implant laboratory for your practice is imperative to providing quality health care to your patients. A healthy relationship between your office and dental implant lab is critical to the success of your practice and satisfaction of your patients. It is important to understand how dental implant laboratories operate and what types of restorations they are able to build. A top-notch implant dental lab puts implant restoration first and seeks out the best instructors whether they are dentists or lab specialists to create the restorations.