Cement shield membrane technique to minimize residual cement on implant crowns: A dental technique.

Residual cement around implant crowns can cause peri-implant disease, which can be minimized by precementing on a copy abutment. This article describes the use of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tape to allow an intraorally delivered custom or stock abutment to act similar to a copy abutment. It requires minimal change to the restorative dentist's routine and helps minimize the risk of cement-induced peri-implant disease.

Opioid Use Disorder in Dental Patients: The Latest on How to Identify, Treat, Refer and Apply Laws and Regulations in Your Practice.

Opioid use disorder is a persistent problem in the United States and has become an important issue to medical and dental professionals. Americans are the largest users of opioids by a large margin. The importance of knowing how to identify, handle, refer, and treat patients with opioid use disorder cannot be understated. This article attempts to educate dental professionals on the current epidemiology of opioid use, explain the physiology of addiction, teach practitioners how to identify chronic opioid users, gives options for treating dental pain, establishes criteria for referring to an addiction specialist, and describes the laws, regulations, and resources available to practitioners. With this article, practitioners should have a greater understanding of the current problem of opioid use disorder and be able to develop a protocol for treating these patients.

Women in dental education and their desire to lead: A follow-up.

The aim of this study was to provide a follow-up to the 2015 national survey of women in dental education to re-examine factors and perceived barriers to pursuing administrative and leadership roles. At the beginning of 2023, a survey was administered to full-time women faculty in predoctoral dental programs in the United States. The survey instrument employed a structured format along with open-ended questions to capture qualitative data. The overall response rate was 26% (527/1994) and included respondents from fifty-five of the sixty-seven dental schools contacted. Half of respondents indicated holding an administrative position and 20% reported administration as their primary appointment. There was a significant increase in the number of women holding a leadership role in 2023 (76%) compared to 2015 (53%). Those seeking a leadership position in 2023 were less likely to have participated in leadership training (p<0.01) and less likely to have previously sought an administrative position (p>0.01). Women in leadership and administrative roles were more likely to indicate receiving extra compensation for administrative duties (p<0.01) and a desire for higher rank (p = 0.04) compared to 2015, but perceptions persist among the majority of respondents (71%) that women are not being compensated equally to their male counterparts. Respondents highlighted the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on career advancement and the positive culture changes that have contributed to greater workplace flexibility. Overall, respondents sent a resounding message that women in dental education need structural change to achieve success: pay equity, mentorship, and inclusive and supportive work environments.

Implant-supported, long-span fixed partial denture for a scleroderma patient: a clinical report.

Scleroderma poses many difficulties and challenges for the treating dentist. Until now, dental implant treatment for patients with scleroderma was limited to either complete overdentures or short-span fixed partial dentures. This clinical report describes the use of modified techniques to fabricate a long-span fixed prosthesis delivered after serial extractions and implant placement.