Dr. Thomas V. McClammy

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Meet

Dr. McClammy

Dr. Thomas V. McClammy has been pursuing excellence in dentistry since 1982. He had a thriving general practice in Oregon for 15 years where he pursued his insatiable desire for continuing education. His goal was to deliver the finest care available to his patients with a passion he still retains today.

Dr. McClammy has always embraced technology and was one of the first general practitioners in the country to use the Surgical Operating Microscope in his dental practice. So impassioned by the microscope and its versatility in his general practice he was approached to lecture at the California Dental Association symposium held in San Francisco in 1996. This led to other opportunities to provide much needed information regarding the efficacy of adding the microscope to the dental office.

In 1996 Dr. McClammy sold his general practice to pursue a master’s degree in Endodontics at Boston University under the tutorage of Dr. Herbert Schilder who was said to be “the father of modern day endodontics.” While at Boston University he had the privilege of assisting Dr. Schilder in his private endodontic practice.

After leaving Boston, Dr. McClammy opened an endodontic practice in Bend, Oregon where he served the needs of the community until 2004 at which time he sold his practice and moved to Scottsdale in pursuit of warm sunny days. Dr. McClammy has opened an endodontic practice in North Scottsdale were he continues to exert his passion to deliver quality endodontic treatment in a caring respectful environment.

His vision is to work in conjunction with dental practices that seek to provide their patients care that goes beyond the expected. When Dr. McClammy is not at the office or attending a continuing education program, he spends his time with his wife, horses, and dogs.

Technology

Dental implants have come a long way. New technology makes it possible to place these tooth root substitutes with no incisions, minimal discomfort, and little disruption to the patient’s life. The latest in dental implant coatings, nanostructured titanium, is even stronger and heals even faster than implants using conventional coatings.

An article in the current issue of the Journal of Oral Implantology reports on the use of this nanostructured titanium and techniques that can shorten the treatment time for a patient. These implants should also decrease the risk of implant failure and disease complications. When patients need a dental implant, they naturally want their new tooth quickly and with as little pain as possible. Both can be achieved with the latest advances in implant technology.

Guided surgery allows an implant to be placed quickly without incisions, and new implant materials let the surgeon set a crown on the implant straight away. This case report used the latest technology to even greater effect. In this case, the patient needed an implant to replace a missing front tooth.

The surgeon successfully combined model-guided surgery with immediate placement of a nanostructured titanium implant, a final abutment, and the tooth. The nanostructured titanium integrates with the bone faster, is stronger, and is less susceptible to disease than conventional implant materials.

The model-guided surgery is highly accurate yet less expensive than computer-based techniques. By using a thin acupuncture needle, the surgeon was able to create the model without anaesthetising the patient. By keeping the original root structure, the surgeon was able to lessen the risk of gum recession.

The combination resulted in a successful implant, without the receding gums often visible when an implant patient smiles. The flapless surgery involved less pain compared to incision-based techniques. The faster process reduced disruption in the patient’s eating and other daily living habits, and discomfort was minimal.

The author concluded that these types of implants have great promise and that nanostructured titanium is particularly appropriate for immediate placement of the implant and tooth. The author noted: “The patient was pleased with the aesthetic result, the improvement in function, and the ease of maintenance.

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