DTUS2010

ficult to remove the excess composite and a lot of time is consumed in the process. The first step in removing the excess composite is the use of a Bard- Parker #12 scalpel. With a palm grasp and your thumb resting on the incisal edge of a tooth, engage the flat side of the blade close to the incisal edge and push gingivally to loosen the inter- proximal composite. Continue until most of the compos- ite has been loosened and removed. Use a wedelstat in the same fashion to loosen the gingival composite. To break the contact, a serrated inter- proximal strip is used in a crosscut saw fashion. The Bard-Parker #12 is used again to clean the interproximal more. Blue-tipped diamond strips are then used to remove any remaining com- posite and a yellow-tipped diamond strip is used to smooth. Adjust the bite, polish and you are done. A Power Point webinar can be viewed on line at your leisure or a DVD is available for this procedure. Each includes three hours of AGD continuing education credit. Call (800) 637-6611 or e-mail at ittakesan artist@gmail.com if interested. DT Clinical DENTAL TRIBUNE | September 201026A f DT page 25A AD L. Emery Karst, DDA, a graduate of Loma Linda Uni- versity, School of Dentistry, has practiced the art of cos- metic dentistry for more than 20 years. Although he enjoys cosmetic dentistry the most, he performs excellence in end- odontics, implants, crown and bridge and other techniques. Karst’s articles on endodon- tics and cosmetic techniques have been published in Den- tistry Today. He lectured on endodontics at the Oregon State Dental Convention in 2010. About the author Fig. 4a: Before Fig. 4b: After Fig. 5a: Before Fig. 5b: After