Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Founder
sent it at the consultation in con-
junction with traditional pho-
tographs, models, and our own
Dentistry Academy of Microscope Enhanced
Dentistry
Web site: www.microscopedentistry.com
digital before and after “possibility”
cases. A powerful message is con-
veyed after the patient sees a video
■ 2002—The Academy of Micro-
D
entists, manufacturers, and the bar is raised to allow a better of open margins, inflamed tissues,
educators are wondering if scope Enhanced Dentistry is level of diagnostic and restorative micropurulence from overhangs,
clinical microscopes are the formed. sensitivity it is unlikely that a rough porcelain and open contacts.
future platform of mainstream den- ■ 2005—Several dental schools regression to a lesser capability will Shortly after, the patient stops
tistry or just a sideshow. This con- integrate microscopes into un- happen.2 complaining about the cost or time
cept is both intriguing and perplex- dergraduate programs. Many articles have been pub- of esthetic microscope enhanced
ing. To reliably predict the clinical Twenty years ago, if a poll was lished touting the benefits of clini- dentistry. The microscope-patient-
microscope’s future we should ex- administered to general dentists the cal microscopes in dentistry.3-5 The video is dentistry’s best kept secret.
amine the history of magnification results would probably show that purpose of this article is to explore
in dentistry and consider the influ- only 5% were using magnification. the specific applications and chal- Benefits of Clinical
ence of technology on our culture Magnification
(Figure 1). The operating microscope not
The following is a timeline for The microscope patient-video is only has a higher magnification
the use of clinical microscopes in than oculars (loupes) but a better
dentistry:
dentistry’s best kept secret. magnification. Oculars may always
■ Early 1990s—the first dental be used in restorative dentistry, but
microscopes were used. At our recent Clinical Research lenges of the microscope when used the optics are crude when com-
■ 1994—The first microscopes Associates update course I polled for comprehensive esthetic recon- pared to the infinity corrected
were routinely used for restora- the dentists and over 80% now use struction. optics of a stereoscopic microscope
tive dentistry. loupes. Although less than 1% had (Figures 2 through 5). The clini-
■ 1999—The American Associ- a microscope, interest in all forms Integration of the Microscope cian’s potential for accuracy in
ation of Endodontists required of magnification has become very for Patient Examination almost every discipline in dentistry
all endodontic graduate students high.1 Therefore, it is unlikely that a The concept of building a is transformed when the stereo-
to be microscope proficient. lesser capability will occur. When microscope centered practice is scopic microscope is combined
with the shadowless coaxial light
source. The microscope has a
squared, not linear visual relation-
ship to the eye; and depending on
the amount of magnification used
the retina will acquire 100 times to
400 times more visual data.
The reality is
that the inflexible
nature of porcelain
and the technique
sensitivity of resin
cements require The NEW G6
Fi g u re 7A —Low magnification of the F i g u re 7 B—Magnification at 4X. F i g u re 7C— Magnification at 12X. The Figure 7D— View of the new “composite
microscope 2.5X. drawbacks of the new “composite margin” with methylene blue stain at 24X.
margins” become painfully obvious.
Full Seating
Some days it feels as if the
longer I practice the more difficult
it gets. The new porcelains are
beautiful and strong but some-
times mercilessly difficult to seat.
Gold and porcelain-fused-to-metal
crowns seat snugly and uniformly
(Figures 8 through 10). All porce-
lain crowns seem to bounce back or
rock on the tooth. High level mag-
HOW DO YOU PICK A nification identifies 7 distinct
obstacles to full seating and how to
overcome these.
TOUGH SHADE?
If the Clinician
waits until
composite cement
N!
L P R OMOTIO
FA L
W PRICE
* is fully set, the
NEW LO
$2995
removal of excess
is a nightmare.
A Microscope Centered
Approach
THERE IS NO GAMBLE Mainstream dentistry is moving
toward the creation of 2 margins,
with the VITA Easyshade® porcelain and a composite margin.
Porcelain that is several hundred
Sometimes there’s no riskier gamble than selecting the perfect shade micrometers off in both horizontal
match for that single central tooth restoration. Eye fatigue, improper or and vertical axis are theoretically
poor lighting, patient clothing, makeup and even distance from the tooth sealed by the new super viscous
can contribute to a poorly matched shade selection.
composite cements. Margins that
are accessible are sometimes dressed
Now there’s a fast, easy way to make a bet you’re sure to win. It’s called
the VITA Easyshade, and it’s designed to measure shades instantly and
down with finishing burs. These
accurately...just point and click, that’s it; a precise VITA® shade under protocols are the standard of care,
any lighting condition. Get your VITA Easyshade today and instantly but when viewed under the micro-
prescribe over 97 VITA Classical and 3D-Master® shades. scope the following is apparent:
■ The high luster of porcelain
cannot be fully reestablished
800-828-3839 near the sulcus when “dressing
800-263-4778 in Canada • www.vident.com down” porcelain margins.
■ The cement margin portion is
chalky and becomes bumpy
after time.
* Special Fall promotional price subject to change without notice. ©Vident 2005
Price effective October 1 – December 30, 2005. Circle 32 on Reader Service Card ■ The composite margins are
prone to microleakage.