Category: Operative
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Local Anesthetics and When to Use Them
What is a local anesthetic? Local anesthetics are one of the safest, most reliable ways to achieve anesthesia in dentistry. Local anesthetics contain three parts – an aromatic group, an intermediate chain, and a secondary or tertiary amino terminus. The portion known as the ‘intermediate chain’ is the basis for the classification of anesthetic, which…
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Extraction of the Maxillary First Premolar
What does the maxillary first premolar look like? The maxillary first premolar has the longest crown of any of the maxillary posterior teeth and has a prominent mesiolingual developmental groove on its mesial side. The maxillary first premolar is single rooted for the first 2/3rds of the tooth – only until the apical 1/3rd does…
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Treating a Pregnant Patient
When is it safe to treat a pregnant patient? Pregnancy is divided into trimesters – the first trimester is between 1-12 weeks, the second 13-20 weeks, and the third 20-40 weeks. It is safe to treat a pregnant patient during all three trimesters. Of the three trimesters, however, the second is the best period to…
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Extraction of the Mandibular Second Molar
What is a mandibular molar? The human dentition is divided into groups – the incisors (your front teeth), the canines, the premolars, and the molars. There are (in most cases) three molars in each quadrant of the human mouth. The third molars are the farthest back, and are more commonly referred to as ‘wisdom’ teeth.…
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What is Centric Relation?
According to the glossary of prosthodontics, ‘a maxillary-mandibular relationship, independent of tooth contact, in which the condyles articulate in the anterior-superior position against the posterior slopes of the articular eminences’ JPD, The Glossary of Prosthodontic Terms Centric relation is not to be confused with centric occlusion, which is a term no longer used. In centric…
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The Posterior Superior Alveolar Nerve and How to Properly Anesthetize it
What does the posterior superior alveolar nerve innervate? The posterior superior alveolar nerve (PSA) is a division of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V). The trigeminal nerve is separated into three major branches – V1, V2, and V3. The V2 branch is known as the ‘maxillary’ branch of the trigeminal nerve, and is responsible for…
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The Inferior Alveolar Nerve and How to Properly Anesthetize It
What is the Inferior Alveolar Nerve and what does it innervate? The inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) is part of the cranial nerve number V – the trigeminal nerve (Cranial Nerve V, CNV). The trigeminal nerve is divided into three branches, the V1, V2, and V3. The IAN is one of the final branches in the…
Teeth & Chiefs 