Back to School…

  So what did you do this past weekend? I spent the weekend down in Los Angeles attending an implant class at USC. Things are always changing and improving in dentistry so when I saw that USC was offering this class I knew I wanted to get updated on implants.

One of the procedures that was discussed was for a full lower denture that won’t stay put – a big problem with lower dentures – there is a simple implant treatment that will help it stay in place. Two implants are placed in the front part of the jaw that the denture can then snap over. With it snapped in place it stays where it is supposed to stay.

This weekend I was reminded of being back in dental school. For this course I was given a fake jaw and after being instructed in how to do it I placed an implant in the fake jaw. It was very informative to me and I was able to appreciate the precision needed to place the implants.

Late Sunday afternoon we observed an actual implant surgery to stabilize the lower denture. The patient was a 75 year old woman on blood thinners who had a history of having had a stroke. The procedure took 40 minutes and the patient was awake throughout.

Back in the real world I prefer to leave the drilling of the jaw to the oral surgeon or periodontist. They place the implant into the jaw and then I take it from there.

The course was two long days over the weekend but it was a class worth attending.

While staying in downtown Los Angeles I had a chance to go to the Staples Center for the first time and at tend my first professional basketball game. Even though it was just the Clippers I think I can still count it as a professional game. At least they won. Cathy and I had a great time, but who wouldn’t. We paid $10 for tickets on the VIP level! Not too shabby. Got them from StubHub.com. I highly recommend that website if you are looking to buy tickets.

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