In the real world ( private practice ) doing dental procedures on a regular basis, being reimbursed a fair fee and expecting successful outcomes is a stressful and challenging goal.
A dentist must learn to be a businessman, psychologist and humanitarian along with an expert diagnostician and therapist.
These case studies are designed to present in an unedited manner the real world situations that are routinely encountered in private practice. Please realize that limited time documentation of a case may not be a fair appraisal of the long term success of certain procedures ( and guarantees of success in medical procedures are rarely given ).
Hopefully, by exposing and analyzing these cases the practitioner will be comforted in knowing that we are not infallible and as human beings, pursuing noble goals is a worthwhile endeavor.
This patient presented with loose and shifted teeth as a result of chronic/generalized periodontitis. Long standing oral hygiene neglect has allowed tartar and plaque accumulation to progress. Bone destruction ultimately resulted in loose teeth. The treatment plan included extraction of … Continue reading
This young lady’s mother called my office and asked me if I would examine her daughter who would be coming down from New York City. The mother was concerned regarding the daughter having visited a New York high end dentist. … Continue reading
This young man appeared as an emergency patient with fractured front teeth. He also showed inflamed gingival tissues due to lack of proper oral hygiene (accumulation of tartar and plaque). Therapy included root canal treatment on the fractured teeth. Placement … Continue reading
This emergency patient had just arrived in Miami Beach from Australia. She was concerned about her broken and unaesthetic front teeth. Clinical and radiographic exam showed asymptomatic (didn’t hurt) central incisors. The radiograph showed a slight radiolucency in the apical … Continue reading
A semi-permanent solution? A fractured amalgam restoration has left this patient with minimal tooth structure. Placement of two titanium pin helps retain a bonded composite restoration. Ultimately, this patient may need a more durable full crown restoration. The composite restoration … Continue reading
This young lady presented with this deteriorated (necrotic) asymptomatic (didn’t hurt) lower left second molar. This tooth could have been restored had the patient received appropriate dental care a while back. But for whatever reason (fear, cost, etc.) she put … Continue reading
This emergency patient presented to my office with a non-salvageable upper left first molar. I was successful in removing the roots without raising a flap. This less traumatic procedure eliminated the need for sutures and minimized post operative discomfort. Key … Continue reading
Our patient presents with a small fracture on this upper left second bicuspid tooth. Clinical exam shows an a-symptomatic tooth (doesn’t hurt). The radiograph, however, shows a large radiolucency (dark area indicative of hard tooth structure resorption) that is near … Continue reading
This very attractive young lady came to my office requesting an improvement of her smile. Following a complete examination, I consulted with a dental laboratory that specializes in fine porcelain restorations. The completed case satisfied the precise aesthetic requirements of … Continue reading
Jennifer presented as an emergency patient having just arrived on a flight from England. She was experiencing radiating pain from this lower left second molar. Clinical and radiographic exam showed a deteriorated amalgam restoration with a hairline distal fracture. Though … Continue reading