Dental articulating paper is a thin paper used by dentists to check and adjust a patient’s bite. It typically comes in thin strips or sheets coated with a special ink or substance that leaves marks when pressure is applied. Dentists place this paper between the teeth and have the patient bite down. The marks left on the teeth from the paper indicate areas where the teeth meet and where adjustments might be required to ensure a proper bite alignment. This helps in diagnosing and adjusting dental work or identifying irregularities in a patient’s bite.

What Is Articulating Paper Used for?

Articulating in dentistry refers to the relationship between the upper and lower teeth when they come together when biting or chewing. Articulating can be evaluated using various tools such as articulating paper; however, articulating foils and articulating wax can als

An In-Depth Exploration of Uses, Safety Measures, and Applications of Benzocaine

Benzocaine is a popular topical anesthetic that offers relief from things such as pain, itching, and discomfort in various situations. In this article, we'll delve into what benzocaine is, how to use it, where and how to apply benzocaine topicals, potential side effects, and the clinical applications in a dental office.

What is Benzocaine and How Do You Use It?

Benzocaine is a synthetic compound classified as a topical anesthetic. It works by temporarily numbing the area where it is applied, thanks to its ability to block nerve signals. Benzocaine

DUWL Maintenance: Back to Chemistry and Biology Class!

No matter what geographical area a dental office is in, it MUST have a Dental Unit Water Line (DUWL)maintenance program. Who says?  Is it the dental regulatory bodies?  Is it the manufacturer of the dental chair or bracket table that hosts DUWL’s? It’s both!  The dental regulatory bodies state to observe the manufacturer’s instructions for use (MIFU).  Perfect, so then we head over to the MIFU and what does it state? Low and behold as clear as day we need a program that includes cleaning, disinfecting, and testing.

How do you clean the inside of one of the smallest tubes possible? 

With enzymes t

Bruxism. It's a word that may sound unfamiliar to many, yet it affects millions of people worldwide. This condition, often referred to as teeth grinding or jaw clenching, can lead to a range of discomforts and dental problems. So, let’s take a look into what bruxism is, explore its causes and triggers, discuss available treatments, and offer practical ways to find relief.

Understanding Bruxism

Bruxism is a habitual, involuntary grinding or clenching of the teeth, typically occurring during sleep. However, some individuals also experience daytime bruxism. It can affect people of all ages, from children to adults, and can lead to various complications if left untreated. Understanding the underlying causes and triggers of bruxism empowers you to seek the appropriate treatments or practices necessary to alleviate its effects.

Dentists use aspirating syringes and non-aspirating syringes to administer local anesthetics to their patients in preparation for pain-free dental treatment. Although many clinicians use non-aspirating syringes, there are benefits to using an aspirating syringe or self-aspirating syringe when administering local.

What is an aspirating/self-aspirating syringe?

To best understand the function of an aspirating syringe, first let’s review what it means to aspirate, medically speaking. Aspiration is the removal of fluids or cells such as blood, pus, ascites, or even cerebrospinal fluid, from the body. Syringes, although widely known for injecting medicine into the body, they now have the capability to aspirate.

The key difference is that an aspirating syringe has a harpoon at the end of the piston rod or plunger, that penetrates t

Dentists use dental dams as a barrier to isolate specific teeth or oral tissues during certain dental procedures.

The dental dam acts as a barrier to prevent saliva, blood, and other bodily fluids from interfering with the dentist's view and access to the tooth or oral tissue being worked on.

Dental burs are essential tools used in dentistry to remove and shape tooth and bone structures. Burs come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and materials, each designed for specific dental procedures. Understanding the different types of dental burs and their uses is essential for dental professionals to perform safe and effective procedures.

Writing an IPAC Manual has its challenges. It's not as easy as it seems, as there are many factors to consider before you can call it complete. The following is a list of frequently asked questions, and responses from maxill's own dental educator extraordinaire, Michelle Aube-Simmonds, RDH.   

Should Leadership be Taught in Dental School Curriculums?

Absolutely!  The dentist running a practice must be the ‘scientist’ in dental sciences and deliver quality care. Also, the dentist has to be a ‘business’ savvy individual to ensure the practice’s financial health. What else does the dentist need to be … the team ‘coach’. 

It is either the dentist’s role or if the office has an office manager, it may fall upon the manager.  Nonetheless, it’s a reality that hand-in-hand with being a practice owner comes leadership.  So where does a practice owner ‘learn’ leadership? 

It would be fantastic along with DENT 3055 there would be a Leadership 101 course that teaches the practice owner how to navigate the various dynamics of a team to develop and strengthen that team. 

Does every office need a DUWL program?

This can be answered by the equipment the office has.  There are two types of water delivery systems in a dental office:  direct municipal and closed bottle systems. 

The direct municipal has no bottle and is only required to purge the DUWL on opening, closing, and between clients. 

However, a closed water system as per the MIFU of the manufacturer of the dental chair or bracket table with the attached bottle, states a program is required to include cleaning, disinfecting, and testing. 

At this point, a retrofit from municipal to closed is not mandated.  It is important to note that offices do not get confused with the word municipal … if the office uses tap water in their closed bottle system that is not considered m