An anterior open bite is a malocclusion in which the anterior teeth fail to meet in the vertical dimension when the posterior teeth are in occlusion,...

Zirconia implant abutments have become the standard of care in the esthetic zone because of their ability to mimic the natural translucency of tooth structure and to preserve the appearance of peri-implant soft tissue. As patients increasingly demand restorations that are indistinguishable from n...

A frenectomy is a minor surgical procedure that removes or releases a frenum, the small fold of tissue that connects the lips, cheeks, or tongue to the underlying structures. When a frenum is abnormally positioned, large, or tight, it can interfere with speech, feeding, oral hygiene, the eruption...

The separation of an instrument within a root canal is one of the most stressful events in endodontic practice, and it occurs in every clinician's career at some point. When a nickel-titanium or stainless steel file fractures, its fragment remains in the canal and can obstruct cleaning, shape, fi...

Corticotomy-assisted orthodontics is an advanced technique that combines surgical stimulation of the alveolar bone with conventional tooth movement to shorten treatment time. The approach, popularized as periodontally accelerated osteogenic orthodontics, or PAOO, has transformed the management of...

Bruxism, the involuntary clenching and grinding of the teeth, affects a large proportion of the population and can cause severe damage to the dentition, the supporting structures, and the temporomandibular joint. The occlusal splint, or night guard, is the most widely used appliance for the manag...

Temporomandibular joint ankylosis is a disabling condition in which the joint becomes fused, either partially or completely, so that the mandible loses its ability to move. Patients experience a progressive limitation of mouth opening that can interfere with eating, speaking, oral hygiene, and ev...

The submandibular space is a fascial compartment of the neck that can become the site of a serious and potentially life-threatening infection. Most cases arise from dental disease, typically an infected lower molar whose pus spreads through the tissues below the mandible. Because the infection ca...

The socket shield technique is an innovative approach to immediate implant placement that aims to preserve the buccal bone and gingival architecture after tooth extraction. When a tooth is removed, the bundle bone on the facial aspect of the socket tends to resorb rapidly, often producing an esth...

Glass ionomer cements occupy a unique place in restorative dentistry because of their ability to bond directly to tooth structure and release fluoride over the long term. Since their introduction more than half a century ago, they have evolved into a versatile family of materials used for liners,...

The appearance of the smile depends as much on the gingiva as on the teeth themselves. When the gums cover too much of the clinical crown, or when an excessive band of gum tissue shows on smiling, the teeth look short and the smile appears unbalanced. Gingivectomy and surgical crown lengthening a...

Odontoma is the most frequently diagnosed odontogenic lesion of the jaws, and in most cases it is not a true tumor at all but a hamartoma, a benign overgrowth of normal dental tissues. Because odontomas contain enamel, dentin, cementum, and pulp tissue in a disorganized arrangement, they behave l...

Occlusal equilibration is the process of selectively reshaping the occlusal surfaces of the teeth to improve the relationship between the upper and lower arches. By removing small amounts of enamel at precisely chosen points, the clinician aims to eliminate occlusal interferences, establish a sta...

Gingival pigmentation refers to the dark or discolored appearance of the gums, most commonly caused by the natural deposition of melanin. In many people this coloring is entirely normal, but in others it creates a dark, uneven smile line that is perceived as unaesthetic, particularly in individua...

Dens evaginatus is a developmental dental anomaly in which an extra cusp, called a tubercle, projects from the occlusal or lingual surface of a tooth. This tubercle is not simply a harmless bump: it often contains a pulp horn that extends into its core, which means that any wear, fracture, or gri...

Cemento-osseous dysplasia is a benign fibro-osseous condition of the jaws in which normal bone is replaced by fibrous tissue containing cementum-like and bone-like material. It is one of the most common causes of a radiolucent or radiopaque area around the roots of teeth, and it is frequently mis...

Scurvy is a disease caused by a severe deficiency of vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid. Although it is often remembered as a disease of sailors on long voyages, scurvy still occurs today in people with restricted diets, eating disorders, alcohol dependence, and certain chronic conditions. Th...

The posterior maxilla is one of the most challenging regions for dental implant placement. The combination of poor bone quality and the pneumatized maxillary sinus often leaves too little vertical bone to support an implant of adequate length. The maxillary sinus lift, also known as sinus floor e...

The Hall technique is a revolutionary, minimally invasive approach to managing dental decay in primary molars. Developed and popularized in Scotland, it involves cementing a preformed metal crown over the affected tooth with no local anesthesia, no drilling, and no removal of tooth structure. By ...

Distraction osteogenesis is a surgical technique that generates new bone by gradually separating the two halves of a deliberately fractured bone. First popularized in the limb bones, the method has been adapted with remarkable success to the facial skeleton, where it is now a powerful tool for le...

Dentinogenesis imperfecta is a rare hereditary condition that affects the formation of dentin, the tissue that lies beneath the enamel and forms the bulk of the tooth. Affected individuals develop teeth with a characteristic translucent, opalescent, amber or blue-gray appearance that wears down r...