Much attention in dentistry lately has focused on things like practice management, operational efficiencies, and social media presence. Emphasis has been placed on increasing patient convenience, providing a more personalized experience, and keeping the patient base growing. Virtual services like teledentistry are catching on, and terms like “patient-centric” are all the rage.
Amidst the latest trends in automation and proficiency, however, is the ever-present need to provide great dentistry. Patients want to know they’re not just being whisked through the doors, but rather that their dental needs and well-being are top priorities. When patients are in pain, for example, they don’t care how successful the practice’s digital marketing program is. They just want their problem alleviated.
Dental pain comes in various forms. This issue of Compendium highlights different painful conditions. Desquamative gingivitis (DG), a disorder that can involve ulceration and bleeding, may include both intraoral and extraoral symptoms and could even entail life-threatening complications. With a wide range of potential manifestations and a complex diagnosis, management of DG often requires a multidisciplinary approach. A continuing education (CE) article this month reviews the clinical characteristics, diagnostic strategies, and treatment protocols for mucocutaneous diseases associated with DG.
Myofascial pain is another common affliction that impairs function and impacts patients’ quality of life. In a clinical technique review article, the authors discuss trigger point injection (TPI) therapy as an effective, minimally invasive treatment for myofascial pain that can be used within a multimodal care approach. They highlight a case in which TPI therapy helped reduce a patient’s pain and improve her TMJ range of motion.
In another CE article this month, the authors describe microscopically guided rubber dam integration—an efficient isolation protocol aimed at enhancing the application of rubber dam in restorative and esthetic dentistry, a task that clinicians often consider tedious and cost burdensome. Also, two case reports highlight a promising regenerative strategy for periodontal bone defects and the integration of ceramic materials and adhesive concepts.
The need to upgrade our practices and drive growth will always exist, but it is imperative to put patients first. Effectively treating their dental pain, whether from systemic diseases, oral infections, TMDs, or otherwise, is one way to do just that.
Sincerely,
Markus B. Blatz, DMD, PhD
Editor-in-Chief
markus.blatz@conexiant.com
