The Modern Restorative Practice 

This presentation will focus on what dentists spend most of their time doing: one- and two-unit cases. Several new high-strength, cementable all-ceramic restorations have made serious in-roads into the number of PFMs being done every year. CAD/CAM technology in the dental laboratory has helped to make these restorations more consistent in terms of fit, contact, and occlusion. Full-contour zirconia and lithium disilicate restorations have already begun to revolutionize the lab industry. Modern anesthesia techniques allow us to now deliver single-tooth anesthesia to mandibular molars as well, avoiding lower blocks.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the shift from PFMs to monolithic materials that allow the clinician to use high strength materials while satisfying patient’s esthetic desires.
• Understand when the use of a rapid anesthesia technique and how anesthetizing mandibular molars without a block is beneficial for clinicians and patients.
• Understand digital impressions and their use in digital restorative dentistry.
• Be familiar with full-contour zirconia and the pros and cons of using this structural ceramic material as a crown and bridge material.
• Understand how the CAD/CAM milling process can improve consistency and quality.
• Lower the incidence of remakes dramatically (resulting in increased profitability!)

Michael DiTolla, DDS, FAGD

A 1988 graduate of Dugoni School of Dentistry, Dr. DiTolla was awarded his Fellowship in the AGD in 1995. Mike was in private practice for 15 years before becoming Director of Clinical Education for Glidewell Labs for the next 15 years. In 2014 and 2015 he lectured on behalf of CR, presenting their iconic "Dentistry Update" lectures, the longest running CE program in dentistry. In 2015 he became Director of Clinical Affairs for Dentsply Sirona and Director of Dentsply Sirona World, the company’s annual education and entertainment festival.