The Importance of Using a Wedge Guard for Dental Procedures

Join the Protrusive App (Web or iOS/Android) - 2 week Free Trial There are five things I want to share with you that I do differently now compared to what I was taught in dental school. Dental school is great for laying the foundation, but real-world experience and continuous learning have taught me valuable lessons that have transformed my approach. 1 - Sectioning and Elevating - I routinely section and elevate multi-rooted teeth which simplifies complex extractions and preserves buccal bone for better patient outcomes. This is a skill I had to learn and develop post graduation. 2 - Using air abrasion to aid with plaque removal which has benefits for adhesive dentistry and beyond, like cement removal and bonding zirconia. I cannot imagine practicing without air abrasion! 3 - I use a 'wedge guard' during proximal drilling to prevent scratching adjacent teeth, ensuring precise breaking of the contact without causing iatrogenic damage. I know that for many new grads, breaking contact can be stressful and the mission to prevent iatrogenic damage means overly tapered and aggressive preps. The simple use of a wedge-guard has really helped me overcome this. 4 - Onlays! I seldom prepare for full crowns anymore, instead opting for onlays where possible which preserve tooth structure and provide a scientific and artistic challenge in contemporary adhesive dentistry. 5 - Vertical Preparations - when I do require a crown and the tooth is not suitable for adhesive dentistry (poor quality and quantity of enamel, deep subgingival margins) then using 'vertipreps' as been a game changer. Overall, these changes have added value to my practice and improved patient outcomes. Remember, clinical Dentistry is a journey of constant growth. Stay curious and keep evolving - whilst still respecting the best available evidence. Need to Read it? Check out the Full Episode Transcript below! Hello Protruserati! Welcome back to the fourth episode of #AskJaz where I answered a question that was sent on the Telegram group - "Jaz, what are some things that you do differently now compared to what you are taught at dental school?" https://youtu.be/-LYjw2xBETE Watch AJ004 on Youtube Highlights of this episode: 0:24 Dental school inexperience1:04 Section and Elevating for Extractions4:02 Air abrasion for Biofilm removal6:27 Wedge Guard - prevent iatrogenic damage!9:39 Onlay preparations11:39 Vertical preparations If you enjoyed this episode, check out this episode 6 Signs You are a Comprehensive Dentist Click below for full episode transcript: Jaz: Hello, Protruserati. I'm Jaz Gulati, and in this Ask Jaz series, I'm going to answer a question that was sent on the Telegram group. It was, 'Jaz, what are some things that you do differently now compared to what you are taught at dental school?' And the honest answer is so much, right? At dental school, you lack experience big time, right? [Jaz]Think about how many procedures you actually get to do at Dental School, how many crowns you actually get to fit. So Dental School is just there to make you a safe beginner, and as you navigate through the real world. You combine your previous experiences with some mentors and courses that you go on and your own individual experiences that you get in practice, which are so powerful. Your failures teach you so much, your network teaches you so much, and eventually you become the average of the five dentists you spend the most time with. But decided to make a list. And the list I made was of five main things that I do differently now compared to at Dental School. And I think these are all things that have a lesson attached to it or some sort of value attached to it. So let's start the list. Number one of the five things that I do differently now compared to a dental school is EXTRACTIONS. Now at Dental School where I trained in Sheffield, we were mostly taught forceps because they were worried about us using luxators ...