I remember being a dental student and a simple ‘check up’ could take HOURS! Then the tutor would come along and complete the observation in 30 seconds…

‘How does a routine general dental examination work in the real world?’, asks Emma, our Protrusive student.

The humble ‘check-up’ – as far as you can get from sexy before and after cases. The stuff no one is posting about on socials…until now!

Jaz and Emma dissect a ‘routine oral health exam’ and Jaz even includes a full video of a standard check-up, complete with the banter, bitewings and bad explanations! 😉

Be sure to check out this additional video freely accessible on our platform, Protrusive Guidance!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EPISODE:
04:28 – Emma’s Dive into Dentures
05:45 – Pop Quiz Time: Testing Dental Composite Knowledge
06:30 – Success in Dentistry: It’s in the Details 
08:13 – What Does a Check-Up Look Like?
09:20 – Personal Touch: Jaz’s Check-up Style
10:50 – Defining a Healthy Mouth
14:55 – Neck Lumps Discovery
16:33 – Masseter Muscle Insights
18:29 – TMJ Movement Evaluation
21:21 – Temporalis Muscle Assessment
38:27 – Patient History
39:10 – Soft Tissue Evaluation
39:28 – Basic Periodontal Exam
40:25 – Magnification Importance
51:10 – Confidence

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.

Join us on Protrusive Guidance, our own platform for dental professionals. No need for Facebook anymore! 😉

If you liked this episode, you will also like PS002 –  Adhesive Dentistry for Beginners

When the patient feels pain during an ID block. When a matrix does not seal the cavity perfectly. When the shade of your crown doesn’t blend as well as you would like. When the endo you did last year failed.

All of these cause us anxiety. All of these are failures in some form, and as Dentists, it eats at us.

Let’s admit it: we are perfectionists.

Life isn’t about being perfect, but it is all to do with the effort we apply to better ourselves day to day. Failure is a major part of success, but being hung up on our shortcomings will only lead to a downward spiral, which in turn will affect our results and general practice. In this episode we are joined by Dr Marco Maiolino, all the way from beautiful Sicily, Italy.

One of the biggest takeaways from my chat with Marco was the abolishment of the ‘gold standard’ or the standard of perfection – but rather, let’s aim for the ‘daily standard’

Protrusive Dental Pearl: We cannot be depressed AND grateful at the same time. Let us find moments in our day and in our Dentistry to be grateful.

Highlights of the Episode:
01:43 DENTAL PEARL – Be Grateful!
02:37 – Dr. Marco Maiolino
05:13 – The Technician’s Perspective 
08:15 – Beating Imposter Syndrome
10:55 – Ideal vs. Real: Marco’s Take on Dental Perfection
13:00 – Lessons from Aviation
17:48 – Embracing Imperfection
31:00 – From Failures to Standards
42:08 – How to Bounce Back from Failure  

Learn more from Dr Marco Maiolino

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. Join us on Protrusive Guidance, our own platform for dental professionals. No need for Facebook anymore! 😉

If you liked this episode, you will also like IC030 – Toxic Work Cultures in Dentistry

Dental Student in THREE different countries?!

This is a story of grit and determination. I hope that it will allow us all to reconnect with that burning desire we once had to enter our profession.

In this episode, we meet Nav, AKA the_stu_Dent who has had the craziest journey as a Dental Student. Not only defined as a mature student, but as a British born overseas one now working his way to qualifying in Slovakia, with hopes of eventually returning to the UK where he wants to practice full time in the near future.

Check out this entertaining episode, where we uncover what makes the_stu_Dent tick and why he ended up pursuing Dentistry with such determination, the highs and lows, and how he ended up trying at 3 different Universities in 3 different countries, just to fulfill his dreams.

Highlights
01:35 – Nav, the-stu-dent Introduction 
04:25 – Why Ukraine and what year did The-stu-dent enter?
09:18 – How did Egypt come about?
14:16 – Failure was not an option
16:24 – What happened when The-stu-dent visited Egypt first-time around?
19:14 – 3rd STOP – Slovakia.
21:54 – What are the fees like in Slovakia?
25:13 – What was the decision behind choosing Slovakia over alternative countries in the EU?
27:15 – What has The-Students experience of Slovakia been like, and how much clinical exposure do you get?
30:58 – Are you working part-time to fund your dentistry?
35:17 – What are The-Stu-dents final words of Wisdom?

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. Join us on Protrusive Guidance, our own platform for dental professionals. No need for Facebook anymore! 😉

If you liked this episode, you will also like PS002 – Adhesive Dentistry for Beginners

Rubber Dam isolation can be tricky enough sometimes – it is especially awkward when the TERMINAL MOLAR needs restoring. How on earth does one isolate AND matrix this tooth?

In this episode, Dr. Celine Higton delves into the intricacies of rubber dam isolation, particularly focusing on the last tooth in the arch. This discussion ties into the broader theme of mental health, highlighting how mastering such techniques can lead to a more enjoyable and stress-free practice. 

Protrusive Dental Pearl: “Cow Mode” as a technique to improve access to the mouth’s hard-to-reach areas, especially around the last molars. By instructing patients to shift their jaw to one side, akin to a cow’s chewing, this approach aids in better oral hygiene practices and facilitates procedures like rubber dam isolation when clamping the terminal molar.

Highlights of this episode:

Reach out to Dr. Céline Higton via her Instagram, @drcelinehigton and via her website, #RUBBERDAMFAM

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. Join us on Protrusive Guidance, our own platform for dental professionals. No need for Facebook anymore! 😉

If you love this episode, be sure to watch 10 Commandments for Staying Out of Trouble

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.

Dental Pearl 

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. 

Check out Dr Melkers and Dr Lane Ochi LIVE IN LONDON on 27 and 28 July!

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.

If you liked this episode please feel free to check out episode PDP160 – Fremitus and Occlusal Overload – Dental Occlusion Geekiness

As part of Documentation Month, Jaz dives into the crucial realm of documenting dentistry. In this episode, he shares four methods he utilizes to document his daily dental practice, followed by six compelling reasons – in reverse order – why documenting your dentistry is indispensable. So, get ready as we count down from six to one!

But first, let’s recap: In our previous episode, we explored the marvels of employing AI to automate note-taking, saving precious time and boosting efficiency. If you missed it, make sure to catch NEVER WRITE NOTES AGAIN! HOW I USE AI FOR AWESOME AND EFFICIENT DENTAL RECORDS – PDP181.

Highlights of this episode:
00:53 Utilizing Intra-Oral Camera
2:30 Investing in good DSLR Camera
3:16 Documenting with Intra-Oral Scans
3:51 Camera Mounted on Loupes
4:56 Portfolio Building
7:34 Monitor Changes
9:00 Patient Communication
11:35 Good Mentorship
13:24 Medico-Legal
14:29 Fulfillment in Dentistry

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.

Join us on Protrusive Guidance, our own platform for dental professionals. No need for Facebook anymore! 😉

If you loved this episode be sure to watch 6 Signs You are a Comprehensive Dentist – IC010

THIS is the best thing in Dentistry since local anesthetic!

I HATE typing notes even more than I hate cracked teeth. The quest for good, detailed, contemporaneous record keeping in 2024 means so many of us stay behind after patients to ‘tidy up’ our notes.

With the power of audio recording and AI, I am pleased to present to you NOTES THAT WRITE THEMSELVES!

In this episode I share my current protocols using DigitalTCO – a website that uses live transcription and AI to write your notes for you (genuinely awesome notes).

Protrusive Dental Pearl: Register for a free EXTENDED trial with Digital TCO and transform your note-taking process by simply speaking into a microphone connected to your computer. Forget about typing out notes after appointments— the intelligent AI will craft them for you as you dictate, making everything sound fantastic.

Using the Protrusive link to sign up DOES mean that we get a commision, but I also ensured you get 50% off (for the lifetime of your subscription) AND 28 days to try this instead of 14.

‘Jaz Mode’ lets you speak to patients and nurses during consultations, with AI compiling the notes for you. Named “Jaz Mode” in my honor by Kevin, it’s still in beta but offers a glimpse into innovative note-taking. To try it out and see why I’m excited, visit protrusive.co.uk/notes. Watch for a demo video, including my recommended microphone.

Highlights of this episode:
04:28 Introduction to Kevin Shannon
07:10 Kevin Shannon’s Journey: From Clinical Dentistry to Tech Innovator
10:03 AI-assisted Note-Taking Journey
12:21 Downfall of Templates
15:27 DigitalTCO – Never Write Notes Again
23:19 Jaz Mode!
27:55 The Protrusive – DigitalTCO Collaboration
37:51 Let’s Talk AI 

As promised, this video shows an example of how I use DAN and DigitalTCO to write my notes for me.

Let’s compare the Blue Yeti microphone: https://amzn.to/3INYop3 (Affiliate link) Vs the Rode Wireless Go 2 microphone: https://amzn.to/49ffgzA (Affiliate link)

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.

Join us on Protrusive Guidance, our own platform for dental professionals. No need for Facebook anymore! 😉

If you loved this episode, be sure to watch Audio Recording Your Consultations? The Future of Dental Record Keeping

“How long should I tell my patients their posterior composites will last?” – what a great question from dental student Emma Hutchison!

As part of our new Protrusive Students segment we’ll be bringing you monthly episodes packed with valuable insights, tips, and tricks specifically tailored to dental students like Emma.

Whether you’re navigating clinical rotations, honing your skills in phantom head, or gearing up for those daunting exams, we’re here to support you every step of the way. And kicking off this segment, we’re diving headfirst into the topic of adhesive dentistry!

Link for further reading regarding the longevity of direct restorations – A retrospective clinical study on longevity of posterior composite and amalgam restorations – PubMed (nih.gov)

The Art of Treatment Planning – The Art of Treatment Planning: Dental and Medical Approaches to the Face and Smile: Amazon.co.uk: Romano, Rafi: 9781850971979: Books

Highlights of the episode:
00:00 Adhesive dentistry
03:41 Bonding systems
07:00 Self-etch vs. total-etch vs. selective-etch
14:38 Post-operative sensitivity
16:10 Communicating risk with patients
17:42 Polymerisation shrinkage
19:38 The snowplow technique
21:13 Instruments
23:19 Consent
25:30 Longevity
28:05 Risk factors
37:37 The next episode

If you liked this episode, you will also like PDP077 I Can’t Believe This Sticks

Managing patient expectations in Dentistry – there are some MAJOR lessons we can learn from facial aesthetics practitioners.

We’re diving into a conversation with Dr. Katherine Bell that’s really going to open your eyes about communication. Despite beauty being subjective, we find a lot of similarities in how we talk to and get consent from patients, whether it’s for facial aesthetics or dental procedures 

So, even if facial aesthetics isn’t your cup of tea, think of this episode as a deep dive into communication and consent. Plus, it’s Documentation Month on Protrusive Podcast, and this episode is just the beginning!

Protrusive Dental Pearl: Tailoring consent to each patient involves discussing only the risks that matter to them, using standard forms for GUIDANCE, not for completeness. It’s about clearly explaining how we’ll minimize these risks, ensuring the patient feels secure and informed about the precautions taken. For example ‘Mrs Smith, your tooth is very badly broken down and this can be a very tricky extraction. The way we are going to make it easier is by carefully dividing the tooth in to 3 roots’

Highlights of this episode:

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.

Join us on Protrusive Guidance, our own platform for dental professionals. No need for Facebook anymore! 😉

If you loved this episode, be sure to watch Botox for TMD – Indications and Protocols

In this episode, we’re launching Protrusive Students, a segment dedicated to dental students while offering valuable insights for young and seasoned dentists. This section provides various resources including exam prep materials, clinical videos, and networking opportunities.

A key highlight of this episode is the introduction of Emma Hutchison, a dental student hailing from Glasgow. Emma shares her revision notes and resources aimed at helping students excel in their exams. Together, we’re bridging the gap between academic dentistry and clinical practice, fostering a collaborative learning community among dental professionals.

Need to Read it? Check out the Full Episode Transcript below!

Highlights of this episode:

Alright, Protrusive Students, listen up! Here’s how you can get involved and access exclusive student spaces, including the coveted ‘Protrusive Vault’, typically a paid feature within our network.

Now, here’s the crucial step: 

5. After filling out the form, shoot an email to [email protected]. Attach proof of your student status, such as your student ID card or a university letter. Also, let us know your expected qualification date.

Once we verify your student status, you’ll gain access to a wealth of resources and opportunities tailored to support your dental journey. Don’t miss out – join the Protrusive Guidance Community today!

If you loved this episode, be sure to check out another episode for students! Occlusion Questions from Students – AJ005