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Jade Connors RDT.DD, #109, 10430 61 Ave, Edmonton, AB (2026)

11/13/2024

As dental professionals, we have a responsibility to educate and inform our patients. But true patient-centered care means creating an environment where patients feel empowered to decline treatment options.

When we make space for them to exercise their right to choose, we demonstrate our commitment to their autonomy and build greater trust in the provider-patient relationship.

Respecting our patients’ self-determination is crucial. Allowing them to voice their preferences is a sign of our respect, not a failure on our part. By honoring their autonomy, we empower patients to be active participants in their own health and wellness.

11/11/2024

With so many new followers this year - I thought I'd reintroduce myself🤍.
Hi, my name's Jade Connors.
I'm a technical acrylic artist that focuses on rehabilitative body arts. AKA: I'm a dental technologist (RDT) + denture technologist (DD) trained out of the Polytechnic school NAIT. My original backgrounds are in photography, and design (Grant MacEwan University).
I have spent a considerable amount of time training implant supported systems using over denture, over denture bar, and fixed denture systems. Legally, don't think I can say specialist, but am focused on these disciplines.
I also have a special love for new denture patients and surgical planning. Nothing makes me happier than the life changing effect surgical dentures can give to someone.
My last interest is on mental health and the ways it affects our patients, and our own mental health as dental workers. This intersecting topic is very close to my heart and a centre point of the way I provide care.
Had some hell bent energy in my 20s and started working on my clinic in 2015 (I was 24) and had it open in 2017. Apparently I'm a seasoned (and weathered) business owner at this point at the age of 33. Definitely seen a lot of things in these 9 years of private practice - all I hope at which you can benefit from these experiences.
This page is here to help be an inspiration to you (yes, to you). I am here to share pieces of knowledge I have had others impart onto me, encouragement I wish I had on good / tough days, technical tips/tricks in both lab + clinic and to help us as a community lift the bar of possibility.
I'll be creating content under two trains of thought: The Incisal Edge for dental pals / industry workers, and content for patient / public education called Cusp of Change (mainly will be in YouTube). Fingers crossed I can pull it all off, but a project I have been planning for a few years now.
I'm relying on you to help me share my content you resonate with and to help share so much guarded knowledge. It's about creating culture in our spheres of influence, and this is the energy I'd like to add to our community.
Thank you for tagging along 💖

11/03/2024

Denture Induced Dysmorphia is a play on body dysmorphia.

It can be described as: an overwhelming preoccupation with a perceived flaw in one's physical appearance.

Does this sound familiar to you in your clinics?

In my clinic I noticed I started to address patients' anxiety around body dysmorphia right from the first appointment. Throughout the years it’s become pretty intentional for me to speak to my patients a certain way to help them adapt to their new dentures.

Educating your patients is always the best approach with honesty.

Straight up - I tell my patients they usually won’t like their dentures for the first few weeks. The conversation usually goes as follows:

“You might not like your teeth for the first few weeks. Have you had a really big hair cut, and then not liked it right away? Did you notice that after a few weeks you felt more like yourself? That’s kinda what new dentures are like or…. We might put them in and you love them right from the get go! Give yourself that space to like them or not right away. “

- Be playful and light hearted about it. It’s normal after all, and the more we emphasize that, the gentler they will be on themselves.

We are our patient’s teachers: validating their feelings of anxiety / worry ahead of time and then giving them permission to feel all sorts of ways after helps them securely build their own confidence in their physical appearance. Dysmorphia lingers in the “shoulds” and shame of how they believe they should feel.

Using lay terms and examples in day to day life make it a lot quicker and easier for them to understand.

Lastly, I like to tell my patients to get a bit dressed up for our insert appointment - it’s really sweet and cute to encourage them to do this for after photos, and makes the insert much more special.✨
Even with the hype, I’ll still tell them before they see their smile, “remember it’s normal if it takes you a minute to feel like you”. It’s these little things that make a big difference.

If you prepare them for all scenarios ahead of time, then they can mentally overcome most dysphoria that might come up for them☺️❤️🥰.

08/06/2024

In every smile we share a piece of our soul. It goes into every moment of the most enjoyable part of our lives: in laughing, sharing stories, eating your favorite meals, and expressing ourselves to the world.

Teeth are the entryway to accessing life in a different way.

This patient had gone through many trials and tribulations. It's been years without any prosthetics.

The decision was made with me and their surgeon to have them in a temp FCUD. I've been pushing myself to make every denture *better* than the last.

I can see this work I've invested the past few months has been really paying off. I'm faster, better, and my hands are warmed up to my new workflow for high artistry cases.

The thing to highlight about artistry is it is not just in the brushstroke of a stain - it is the geometry of occlusion, and the smooth glides of excursions. A beautiful denture without function is an impairment.

Tune into your craft. Every element is important.

I love my job for the technical challenge and complexities of each case - and the ultimate gratification of seeing someone's life change from these tiny custom pieces of metal, plastic and ceramics.

They left my office beaming and feeling like a new person - and that is the entire magic of dentures.

Acrylic FCUD
Teeth + Acrylic:
Stain + Glaze:
Distributor:
Implant system:
Articulator:
Surgeon:
Maker + Photographer: .rdtdd

08/02/2024

Temporary Clinic Closure

Pearl Denture & Implant Centre will be closed from August 2 until August 13, 2024.

Our clinic will be open and ready to see you on August 13, 2024 @ 9:00 am.

We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to seeing you again soon!

- The Pearl Denture Team

06/24/2024

Temp hybrid CUD/CLD
People’s health and bodies aren’t always predictable, as much as we’d like it to be - and truly, that is what denture care is all about. Making the best of the situations and helping someone out of the tough spot they’re in.
Even though our treatment plan has had to shift, time lines lengthened, it doesn’t mean there can’t be small wins to celebrate. Life is this marathon, and in everything I’ve found - it has a great sense of humour that can shake you up, or teach you to keep rolling with the punches.
At this point, when you lose an implant in the posterior, you can’t risk crossing the math and physics in pushing that A-P spread. Both my parents are physicists, and I grew up with a culture of “respect the math”. You have to. Even if a patient, or another colleague pushes you to make that extension a bit longer… don’t do it. Functional limits are there for a reason.
We’ve pivoted to head towards a different kind of bar system, so you’ll have to wait for the update I have after he gets a bit better. Hint: Panthera Dental and I are in the works for this case.
So for now enjoy my trial run of using Lucitone HIPA cutback with multiple layers of acrylic, paired with VITA Zahnfabrik
Teeth, Stain+Glaze:
Acrylic: .canada
Temp abutments: .direct
Implant system: Straumann
Dentist:
Maker, Photos: .rdtdd

Jade Connors RDT.DD

11/13/2024

11/11/2024

11/03/2024

08/06/2024

08/02/2024

06/24/2024

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