Category Archives: Dental Continuing Education

Esthetic and Functional Provisional Restorations Big Cases | New York, NY

by Dr. Marc Schlenoff

For the past ten years, I have had the honor and privilege to be an Instructor at the Aesthetic Advantage Hands-On Symposium, at the NYU College of Dentistry in New York, as well as an Instructor at the General Practice Residency at Morristown Medical Center. During this entire time, the most asked question from students and residents has been “How can I do more of the big cases in my practice?” I feel that in today’s world of economic uncertainty, the answers to this question are significantly different than even several years ago.

There was a time not that long ago that I would have answered by using examples of advertising and marketing to draw patients to the office specifically for esthetic treatment. There was a buzz about cosmetics, and the primary goal was to attract those people who had already made the decision to have these procedures done. The times have obviously changed, however, and the answers that I now give to the above question are very different.

The keys to being able to attract the large restorative cases in today’s world are communication and treatment planning. The number of patients coming in exclusively for esthetic dentistry has declined significantly in most practices, but the need for restorative care continues to grow as our baby boomer generation (myself included) continues to wear and break their dentition. This is the patient population that needs comprehensive, and thus esthetic dental treatment.

To continue reading this article, click here.

Aesthetic Advantage has state of the art educational facilities that can help you take your career to the next level, call us at (212) 794.3552 for more information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Facial Esthetics—The Framework | New York, NY

Using facial landmarks to dictate tooth position can enhance esthetics and conserve tooth structure.
By Michael Apa, DDS
Facial Esthetics

In order to create individual smiles that compliment patients’ facial features and enhance their overall facial beauty, clinicians can adopt a technique that uses facial landmarks to dictate tooth position. This method not only can enhance the esthetics, it can also ultimately allow the practitioner to be more conservative in tooth reduction.

Curious about learning more about the intricacies of the facial framework? Click here.

Aesthetic Advantage has state of the art educational facilities that can help you take your career to the next level, call us at (212) 794.3552 for more information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Snoozing Your Way Through Dental Appointments | New York, NY

Of all the health professionals feared most by adults, the dentist is at the top of the list. Dental Anxiety (DA) is the actual diagnosis for this fear and adults everywhere have it. Dental professionals everywhere have been busy making huge strides in order to calm those fears. Some are turning their dental offices into more of a spa feel than a dental one. Aromatherapy, soothing music, weighed blankets – if you can think of a soothing way to relax, chances are your dental professional has it. And if you still need “something stronger”, there’s sedation dentistry.

Sedation dentistry is the way your dentist relaxes you enough to handle the dental procedure through the use of medication, in addition to the numbing agent applied to the area that will be worked on to alleviate any pain caused by the procedure. The use of sedation is to make you as comfortable as possible as they do their job and to make recovery time minimal.

If you don’t need much to relax you, chances are you will receive nitrous oxide, or laughing gas. It is given to you as you breathe through a mask, so zero pain or needles are involved. If you need to be calmed with more than a little gas, the next step up is an oral sedative so no pain or needles are involved to make a patient groggy, but you will be awake during the procedure. IV sedation takes affect a lot quicker, but the dentist also has the ability to adjust the amount as needed. Administered by medications prior to your procedure, deeper sedation methods will render you unconscious and unable to be awakened easily.

Aesthetic Advantage has state of the art educational facilities that can help you take your career to the next level, call us at (212) 794.3552 for more information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Smile Design Enhanced with Porcelain Veneers | New York, NY

by Dr. Dean C. Vafiadis, DDS

Porcelain veneers within reason allow for the alteration of tooth position, shape, size and color. They require a minimal amount of tooth preparation – in this case reduction (approximately 0.5 mm of surface enamel) – and are, therefore, a more conservative restoration than a crown, which requires significant removal of sound tooth structure. Although not the only alternative for all esthetic abnormalities, they are truly a remarkable restoration when they are the treatment of choice.

To read more about smile design, click here.

Aesthetic Advantage has state of the art educational facilities that can help you take your career to the next level, call us at (212) 794.3552 for more information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Encourage Your Patients to Drink More Water | New York, NY

48% of American adults consumes at least one glass of soda and other sweetened beverages each day, according to a Gallup poll. Furthermore, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show more than 16 percent of children ages 2 to 19 have untreated cavities.

What you may not know is that bacteria feed on what you eat and drink, especially sugars, and this creates acid that can break down the tooth’s outer surface and dissolve the valuable minerals that protect teeth from decay. The more your teeth break down, the more likely you will develop tooth decay and other dental maladies in the future.

“Sipping sugary drinks gives bacteria in the mouth more power to create acid that weakens tooth enamel and causes cavities,” said CDA President-elect Lindsay Robinson, DDS. “In addition, sports drinks pose many of the same risks as other sugar-loaded beverages, such as irreversible dental erosion, and should not be substituted for water.”

CDA urges people to swap out sugar-laden drinks for a glass of milk or water this summer. Milk contains lots of calcium, which strengthens teeth and water produces saliva, which helps to keep bacteria from setting up shop in our teeth’s crevices.

“Water contains no sugar, no acids and no calories, so your teeth, and your body, will benefit,” said Robinson. “Water also helps keep gums hydrated and rinses away food particles that would otherwise remain in the mouth promoting bacterial growth that causes decay.”

Most importantly, protect teeth throughout the year by brushing for two minutes, two times a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing regularly and visiting a dentist for a complete dental checkup on a regular basis.

Aesthetic Advantage has state of the art educational facilities that can help you take your career to the next level, call us at (212) 794.3552 for more information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Clinical Instructor Showcase: Dr. David Ward | New York, NY

Today we take some time to highlight one of our fantastic clinical instructors, Dr. David Ward.

A Rhode Island native, Dr. Ward is proud to have followed in his father’s footsteps, and has practiced in Woonsocket, RI for twenty-two years. He graduated with honors from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. His practice focus is cosmetic dentistry and implantology. Combining these passions, he creates beautiful smiles.

Dr. Ward is a proud member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and is Treasurer of The New England Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, The American Dental Association, The American Academy of Implant Dentistry and The International Conference of Oral Implantologists. He is an Associate Fellow in the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologist. Dr. Ward is a Fellow of Pierre Fauchard Academy.

He has received commendation from The Rhode Island Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped for his work with disabled and elderly citizens and lectures locally.

Academic Affiliations

  • American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
  • New England Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
  • American Dental Association
  • American Academy of Implant Dentistry
  • International Conference of Oral Implantology
  • American Academy of Implant Dentistry—Fellow
  • International Congress of Oral Implantologists—Fellow

Aesthetic Advantage has state of the art educational facilities that can help you take your career to the next level, call us at (212) 794.3552 for more information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

A Systematic Approach to Full-Mouth Reconstruction of the Severely Worn Dentition | New York, NY

Dental Continuum

Restoration of the severely worn dentition is one of the most challenging procedures in dentistry. In order to successfully restore and maintain the teeth, one must gain insight into how the teeth arrived at this state of destruction. Tooth wear can result from abrasion, attrition and erosion. Research has shown that these wear mechanisms rarely act alone, and there is nearly always a combination of the processes. Evaluation and diagnosis should account for the patient’s diet, history of eating and gastric disorders, along with the present state of the occlusion. Emphasis must be placed on the evaluation of occlusal prematurities preventing condylar seating into the centric relation position. Behavioral factors that may contribute to parafunctional habits and nocturnal bruxism are also important to understand and manage in order to successfully restore and maintain a healthier dentition. Once a complete understanding of the etiology of the dentition’s present state is appreciated, a treatment plan can be formulated, taking into account the number of teeth to be treated, condylar position, space availability, the vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) and the choice of restorative material.

While all occlusions wear to some degree over the lifetime of the patient, normal physiological wear usually does not require correction. Severe or excessive wear refers to tooth destruction that requires restorative intervention. Severe attritional wear can result from occlusal prematurities that prevent functional or parafunctional movements of the jaw. This wear can be seen at the site of the prematurity or on the anterior teeth as a result of the “hit and slide” forward. Restoration of the worn anterior teeth then becomes a challenge as the availability of space for prosthetics becomes limited. If lengthening the teeth is a goal in order to achieve a more esthetic smile, then the question of the need to alter VDO subsequently arises.

To continue reading the article, “A Systematic Approach to Full-Mouth Reconstruction of the Severely Worn Dentition” by Dr. Jay M. Lerner DDS, click here.

Aesthetic Advantage has state of the art educational facilities that can help you take your career to the next level, call us at (212) 794.3552 for more information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

The Hands-on Aesthetic Continuum | New York, NY

Dental Continuum

Here is your chance to observe over-the-shoulder or participate hands-on with a patient. Our 4-day program is spread over two weekends with a focus on comprehensive aesthetic and restorative dentistry. Through our lecture series, participating doctors are able to listen to lectures on step-by-step prep techniques, smile design principles, impression and cementation techniques, patient management, treatment planning, material selection, lab communication for a more predictable result, and more.

On our first clinic day, participants may bring a patient and prep a live case or participate without a patient and observe over the shoulder up to 10 to15 cases being prepped and temporized. One month later, participants will return, and through our lecture series, listen to lectures on cementation, occlusion, advanced cases, and marketing.

The following day, they will seat their cases in clinic. Participants who chose to observe will watch over the shoulder 10 to 15 cases being inserted.

It has been shown that the graduates of our long-running aesthetic/ restorative programs have seen their practices grow and flourish even in these challenging economic times. Let us infuse your practice with a new philosophy and fine-tune your skills to become more confident and passionate about the practice of aesthetic dentistry, setting yourself apart from others in your community!

CE Credits: 30

For tuition information, please contact us at 212.794.3552 (Mention code #495 and save upon enrollment)

Contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register for our courses today or visit www.aestheticadvantage.com to learn more.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Patient-Driven Treatment Options | New York, NY

Dental Continuum

Before we wrap up 2019, let’s take a look at how treatment options are tailored to our patient’s needs. Not only are our patients coming to us for their dental health, but they also want to have a smile they can be proud of. For many, visiting the dentist is a dreaded task. We need to change their minds. This is why it is so important to offer our patients the best care possible.

The practice of dentistry allows its practitioners the opportunity to diagnose and treat many dental problems. The methods that dentists typically select are the ones they feel most comfortable with, the ones they know will provide immediate results, and the ones they know will last the longest. Dentists look at each individual case presented to them and seek an evidence-based solution to correct the problem.

As new techniques and materials become available in dentistry, dentist now must choose between applying the treatments they are comfortable doing or to challenge themselves to learn to use new techniques and materials. By continuing education in a profession that’s constantly changing, dentists can provide endless possibilities for their patients.

Click here to read the full article on Patient-Driven Treatment Options.

Contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register for our courses today or visit www.aestheticadvantage.com to learn more about Program III – Masters Group.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Program III – Masters Group

This level builds upon the concepts and techniques learned in Levels I and II and will help place you at the pinnacle of your profession. Master the technique and philosophy of smile design. This course will focus on more individual attention and smaller groups—this elite and exclusive group is limited to five participants. We will have small workshops on occlusion, working on models with face bows, and you will participate in an advanced hands-on workshop on aesthetic re-contouring on models. You will have the opportunity to wax up your own case and make your temporaries chair-side. You will work on more advanced cases in clinic. This is targeted toward a more individual learning experience in a much smaller setting at a more advanced pace. You will prep and cement an advanced case in clinic alongside an instructor. Participate in our marketing panel discussion and bring your practice questions in front of our group of talented dental professionals for resolution.

Program Prerequisites

This program is limited to five doctors and it is a prerequisite that you have completed Program I and Program II. You must bring a patient with you to our clinic on Saturdays with a need that falls within our guidelines.

About Our Clinical Session

Clinic takes place on Saturday – both sessions. You will be assigned an instructor personally trained by Dr. Rosenthal who will work alongside you during our clinic session. Your instructor will be available to help you from the beginning all of your case all the way to the insertion of your case. Dr. Rosenthal will also be available to assist you with smile design and applying the final finishing touches to your case. Our unique hands-on approach helps you to overcome any fears or obstacles you may have with regard to setting up your case, managing your patients and delivering a beautiful and aesthetic end result.

Course Tuition

This small, exclusive group is limited to five participants. Patients must be provided by you and are required only on clinic day

  • $8,695.00 – early enroll save $1495!
  • Staff Members (Dental Assistants, Dental Hygienist and Administrative Staff): $99.00
  • CE Credits: 30
  • Click here to download our brochure.

Contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register for our courses today or visit www.aestheticadvantage.com to learn more about Program III – Masters Group.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.