In nowadays world, aesthetic dentistry has becoming a trend with the improvement of dental technology and materials. Composite resin becomes the material of choice as it offers good aesthetics, longevity and allow for minimally intervention approach. There are various ways of composite restorative techniques recommended to make out the best restorative outcome. Direct restorative technique promise acceptable cost, appointment time and color matching but it is a challenge for the clinician especially for extensive cavities. Indirect technique is good for extended cavity and providing less operator error, however, it requires multiple appointments, higher cost and laboratory involvement. Computer-aided design/ computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology might reduce the number of appointments, however, it will cause more financial burden to the patient and the clinician. Therefore, semi-direct technique was introduced, it combines the benefits of direct and indirect technique and this technique can be done without the use of any advanced technology and give out a good treatment outcome.
The aim of this literature review is to review the current care setting for conscious sedation for dentistry in the primary and secondary care sectors in the United Kingdom (UK) and to recommend a plan for setting up a service for the provision of conscious sedation in Malaysia based on the UK models. An electronic search using various databases and web-based search engines were conducted during the period from January to March 2016. Various combinations of keywords were used to help the literature search including dental care settings, conscious sedation, equipment for conscious sedation, referral pathway for sedation and training in sedation. The findings have shown that, although there are specific requirements for the facilities practising sedation, the majority of the requirements are common to all dental practices, such as health and safety, infection control, emergency drugs etc. The good integration between primary and secondary care in providing conscious sedation relies on the compliance with the referral pathway. It is recommended that the practice of conscious sedation in the dental setting in Malaysia begins at the Special Needs Dentistry (SND) Unit, Kajang Hospital because the unit has been partly equipped for conscious sedation and the specialist in charge has received appropriate training in Conscious Sedation for Dentistry at King’s College London Dental Institute. Ensuring safety, effectiveness and appropriateness of the sedation techniques used are the major aims when delivering care to fit individual needs. It is highly recommended to look into the country in which the service has been well established such as United Kingdom as a reference for future development of the conscious sedation service in Malaysia.
Collaborative teaching is an educational approach that seeks to involve participation of teachers and learners in achieving learning goals and outcomes in an interactive manner (1). Such approach has been effective in equipping students with knowledge and/or skills via high levels of learning, while allowing interpersonal development such as teamwork, time management, as well as communication and written competencies (2, 3). (Copied from article)
Delayed eruption of permanent upper incisors is a cause for concern to patients. It causes aesthetic, function and speech problems. This case report describes a technique of managing impacted dilacerated maxillary central incisors using removable appliances over one and a half year. It is a simple, operator- friendly and economical treatment option with favorable result.
Cosmetic surgery and aesthetic dentistry go hand in hand. As dentists, we are trained to analyze aesthetics from the features of the skeletal pattern and dental malocclusion, symmetry of the face, measurement of golden proportions and the features of the smile line. However, several facial ethnic features such as a ‘single eyelid’ may cause a person to be deemed as aesthetically challenged due to Western influence. This article reviews the prevalence of single and double eyelid in Asians and explains why some present with either one or double eyelids. The readers are also introduced to the term “Asian Blepharoplasty”.
Perceived and normatic needs for dental treatment is increasing globally, as patients in various parts of the world demonstrate different patterns of oral diseases (1). Some regions showed an increasing demand for aesthetic dentistry (2), while some demonstrated a rise in procedures relating to tooth preservation and functional restoration (3). In spite of the variable market demands, it is evident that utilisation of oral health care services has improved worldwide, regardless of patients’ socioeconomic status and other personal or environmental circumstances (1). (Copied from article)
Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) is a natural autologous fibrin matrix and is an effective biomaterial product. The application of PRF in oral surgery is not limited to tissue regeneration, but it has been utilized in several minor and major oral surgical procedures. Numerous studies have proven that either alone or in combination with bone graft, PRF acts as bone and soft tissue regeneration and it is able to stimulate physiological wound healing. This case report will introduce the utilization of PRF combined with autogenous bone graft in restoring four walls dental socket defect due to post-surgical extraction complication and plan for implant placement in the future. It acts in the form of a resorbable membrane and stem cell connector to the bone. After 3 months post-surgery review, there was no signs of infection or tissue rejection and the harvested bone was still viable. The PRF is comparable to commercially available membrane in the market, where clinical results can be predicted and possibility of reduction in post-surgical complications is achieved. This is due to 1) its compatibility with bone graft materials notably autogenous type, 2) induced neovascularisation and 3) reduction in inflammatory reaction. Our team is confident that the result of PRF at the edentulous region for rehabilitation purposes is beneficial and cost-effective to our patients.
Aim: The Shortened Dental Arch (SDA) concept, proposed as a strategy to prevent prosthodontics overtreatment, is defined as a specific type of dentition with an intact anterior region and a reduction in the occluding pairs of posterior teeth. While this concept has been accepted worldwide, little is known about such a situation in Malaysia. This study was undertaken to determine the attitudes, awareness and opinion of dentists working at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (UiTM) towards the SDA concept. Methods and Methods: All dentists (n=71) working at the Faculty of Dentistry, UiTM were invited to participate in a paper-based questionnaire survey to assess their attitudes, awareness and perception towards the SDA concept. Results: The response rate was 59% (n=42). Overall, 85.7% of respondents were aware of the Kayser’s SDA concept. A majority of them (61.1%) learnt about it through undergraduate studies. Only some respondents reported patients’ dissatisfaction in chewing (29.4%), appearance (8.8%) and comfort (6.3%) following application of the concept. Most participants disagreed that missing molar teeth should be replaced in all patients (52.4%), and supported the application of SDA concept in clinical practice (88.1%). However, some would choose to replace missing molars for older patients in order to provide posterior support (90.5%), prevent anterior wear (52.4%) and improve masticatory function (83.3%). Conclusion: Respondents’ awareness and support for the SDA concept suggested its acceptance as a possible strategy in patient care.