Learning to Adapt

Albert Einstein once said, “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” As clinicians, the opportunity to try new things, and thus make mistakes, is ever before us. This is why education is so important. We certainly cannot stop the wheels of progress; to the contrary, we must decide where and when to jump in. Rather than avoid new things, we must learn to adapt to them, all while minimizing our mistakes. A successful clinician is one who is able to adroitly incorporate new techniques and technologies into his or her practice. Continuing education helps make this happen.

In our first CE article, we learn about advances in remineralization. One of dentistry’s emerging goals is to manage non-cavitated carious lesions non-invasively. The ever-evolving science of remineralization helps prevent disease progression and improve strength, esthetics, and function of teeth. This article gives us an overview of new compositions and systems for enamel remineralization.

Edentulism remains a major disease worldwide. Introduced nearly a decade ago, the All-on-4 treatment concept involves immediate loading of a full-arch fixed prosthesis anchored with four implants in the maxilla or mandible. The aim is reduced treatment time and costs along with predictable long-term outcomes. Our second CE article describes a protocol for effectively using this developing concept in implant dentistry.

Speaking of implants, predictably augmenting alveolar bone remains a key challenge in implant site development. Our featured case report this month demonstrates a technique to treat patients with significant bony defects using a titanium mesh scaffold. The case highlights a restorative-driven approach to single implant placement, which aids in achieving esthetic harmony in the final restoration.

Other topics featured in this issue include new technology in reducing pain from anesthetic injections and a Special Report on adhesion that offers guidelines for clinical success.

As I’ve said in this space before, dental education is a priority of mine. Through learning, we can continue to advance the profession while limiting our mistakes.

Sincerely,

Louis F. Rose, DDS, MD
Editor-In-Chief
lrose@aegiscomm.com