Dr. Michael Melkers and Jaz challenge traditional occlusion teachings by exploring practical approaches. They discuss the complexities of canine guidance, the use of PTFE in dental sulcus, mentorship in dentistry, and the importance of individualized occlusal care. The podcast highlights the evolution of occlusal terminology and the debate between canine guidance and group function in patient care.
When we studied occlusion at Dental School, our textbooks forced the idea of having dots at the back and lines at the front. We are continually told about CR and how to manage patients into canine guidance, but does this all work in practice?
Today we dive into the best way to approach occlusion cases with our patients, keeping in mind that there is no such thing as a silver bullet to treatment. Join Jaz and Dr Michael Melkers in this podcast to learn how it may just be time to throw away the textbooks and begin writing your own conclusions on occlusion… try saying that ten times quickly.
Using PTFE in the dental sulcus offers a better seal compared to cord, functioning like a dam to keep the area free of gingival fluid, ideal for Class 5 restorations. However, PTFE may stick to instruments, which can be mitigated by moistening the instrument with water or saliva before positioning the PTFE, significantly lowering the likelihood of sticking.
Highlights of the Episode 00:00 Intro 02:05 The Protrusive Dental Pearl 02:52 Dr. Michael Melkers 02:53 Mentoring Journeys: AES and Beyond 04:04 Foundational Influences: Splint + Occlusion Mastery 04:30 Fear of Failure: A Dentist’s Drive 05:25 Early Beginnings: Lab Tech to Dental degree 06:00 Avoiding Full Mouth Rehab: A Dental Mission. 07:20 Homage to a Mentor: The Positive Impact 07:25 Group Function Vs Canine Guidance 08:00 Beyond textbooks: real-World Dental Challenges 09:00 Encouragement to Question: A lesson in Bravery 10:16 Chasing Perfection: A dental dilemma 12:00 Masters of Occlusion: Group Function Insights 14:31 Past as Prologue: Learning from destruction 15:10 Pain Points: Focusing on the At-Risk Patients 16:53 Smooth Transitions: The Ideal of Disclusion 18:30 Occlusal Schemes: Debunking the Malocclusion Myth 20:20 CR Reconsidered: The Healthy Majority 22:44 Diagnostic Vision: Seeing Beyond Occlusion 25:15 Rebuilding with Purpose: Beyond Aesthetics 34:35 Appropriate vs Ideal: A New treatment Paradigm 47:00 Key to Dental Success
Access the CPD quiz through our app on https://www.protrusive.app, either on your browser or by downloading our mobile app. For the full educational experience, our Ultimate Education Plan gives you access to all our courses, webinars, and exclusive monthly content.
Protrusive Dental Podcast 