Top 5 dental articles from SRR in the first 2 months of 2014

The first two months of 2014 passed in the blink of an eye. Surgical-Restorative Resource has published a variety of original articles that fared well with readers. If you missed these the first time around, here are the top 5 articles that ranked highest in page views. Topics range from orthodontics, occlusion and periodontal disease, sleep apnea, composites, all the way to case acceptance.1. To extract or not: In today's orthodontics why are we extracting premolars?by Zackary T. Faber, DDS, MS Since the Angle-Case debate of the early 20th century, orthodontists have been arguing about nonextraction therapies vs. extraction treatment plans. Although the debate continues, there are some very real reasons why today’s orthodontists still recommend the extraction of teeth. Dr. Zackary T. Faber, DDS, MS, says most orthodontists pursue nonextraction treatment plans for patients first, and then extract only when confronted with these four clinical problems.

3. Hidden dental dangers of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apneaby Dan Bruce, DDS Dr. Dan Bruce says general dentists are in a unique position to screen for sleep-related breathing disorders and make appropriate referrals. This helps bridge the gap between medicine and dentistry and provides a more complete level of care for patients.

4. Bulk-fill composites: a step-by-step case presentationby Thomas Teel, DDS For decades, posterior direct composite restorations have enabled clinicians to provide patients with minimally invasive and esthetic restorations as an alternative to amalgam fillings. Since the introduction of direct composites, however, clinicians have faced a variety of challenges with their placement, handling, wear, and esthetics. Dr. Thomas Teel presents a clinical case for which a bulk-fill composite provides an ideal restorative option for clinicians and patients.

5. Assessing patient acceptance in 5 easy stepsby Kyle L. Summerford Kyle Summerford has some suggestions to help you better manage the time you spend with each patient in a way that may yield a higher case acceptance rate. Here, he sets forth a plan you can use to help you alleviate stress in a way that will hopefully lead to increased daily collections.