Tougher, healthier dentures coming in 2024

Stronger, longer-lasting dentures that are cheaper to produce, antimicrobial, and antifungal are set to launch in 2024, thanks to two new biomaterials being developed by a researcher at the University of Colorado (CU) Anschutz School of Dental Medicine. Led by Jeffrey Stansbury, PhD, senior associate dean for research and a professor in the department of craniofacial biology at the university, super strong, resilient, and wear-resistant photopolymers and photocurable polymers that

Churchill’s dentures fetch double the expected price

World War II British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s partial gold dentures were sold for 18,000 pounds ($22,700 U.S. dollars), more than twice of what they were forecasted to sell for at auction, according to news reports. The upper false teeth, which are one of multiple sets made to improve Churchill’s natural lisp and were worn during many of his infamous speeches, were estimated to sell for 8,000 pounds ($10,000 U.S.).

Municipalities in Ky. may be able to end water fluoridation

A committee of lawmakers in Kentucky on February 8 advanced a bill that, if it continues to move through the legislative process, would stop requiring municipalities and water districts to add or adjust fluoride in public water systems. If HB 141 passes both state legislative bodies and is signed into the law, it would not stop water fluoridation in any community, but it would give local municipalities the option to

Antiaging drug to be tested for improving gum disease outcomes

University of Washington (UW) School of Dentistry researchers will conduct a first-of-its-kind trial to determine whether an antiaging drug can change immune responses in older adults with periodontal disease to improve treatment outcomes, according to UW School of Dentistry news. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave researchers the green light to start a trial that will assess whether rapamycin, a drug that has immune-modulating properties and is a

Trial of rinse that controls bleeding during procedures to begin

Hyloris Pharmaceuticals has enrolled the first patient in a phase III trial for its oral rinse that controls bleeding during and after procedures in dental patients who are taking anticoagulants. Approximately 280 patients at 20 clinical sites in the U.S. and European Union will be randomized to receive either the rinse, which contains the locally acting antifibrinolytic agent tranexamic acid, or a placebo for seven days. The participants will be

How one DSO pivoted after SmileDirectClub’s closure

The recent closure of SmileDirectClub (SDC) left many patients feeling abandoned and overwhelmed with concerns about the future of their orthodontic care. In response to the sudden gap in the market left by SDC, Aspen Dental stepped in to offer a solution, providing doctor-directed care for patients in need through the Motto Smile Complete Club. As part of a recent exclusive interview with Dr. Payam Ataii, senior vice president of orthodontic

Dentsply Sirona offers new aligner course series

Dentsply Sirona is offering a new aligner therapy continuing education course series. The series consists of nine courses that are categorized into the levels of foundational, procedure-based, and mastery. The foundational level includes courses covering the biomechanics of tooth movement and aligners as well as occlusion and alignment problems. The procedure-based education component includes five courses that are ideal for clinicians seeking a comprehensive understanding of identifying and treating aligner

Root canal failure leads to teen’s facial depression

Unsuccessful endodontic treatment led to an infection that disrupted cortical bone continuity, resulting in a large defect that formed a depression on a 19-year-old’s face. The case report was published on February 20 in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports. The woman’s facial dimple improved within a week following root end surgery to treat an odontogenic cutaneous sinus infection and a course of antibiotics, and the facial depression was gone

AR may be the key to better endodontic treatment

Using an augmented reality (AR) head-mounted device (HMD) to display a dynamic navigation system (DNS) in a surgical site may offer a practical way to remove fiber posts in endodontically treated teeth. The study was published on February 16 in the Journal of Endodontics. The addition of the AR headset may not only improve the accuracy of a dynamic guide system, but it offered additional benefits, including improving a clinician’s

Dentsply Sirona, Foundation for Endodontics to award scholarships to endodontic residency students

Dental equipment manufacturer Dentsply Sirona and the Foundation for Endodontics will award three scholarships this year for aspiring endodontic specialists. Current second- or third-year endodontic residents are encouraged to apply. The application period is open until Friday, March 15. Eligible applicants must be postgraduate residents of programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation in the U.S. or Canada. They must also be permanent residents of the countries and have

Tooth fairy finally feels the economic pinch

For the first time in five years, the tooth fairy has had to tighten her belt. The average value of a single lost tooth in the U.S. in 2024 fell by about 6%, according to results from the Delta Dental Plans Association “2024 Original Tooth Fairy Poll.” The average value of a lost tooth fell 37¢ from $6.23 to $5.84, which represents the first year-over-year decline in five years, according

3D Systems introduces new dentures at LMT Lab Day

3D Systems will showcase its jetted, monolithic denture product line at LMT Lab Day, which is being held in Chicago through February 24. The use of multiple materials aims to create dentures that look good and are resistant to breakage. The company expects to receive 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the product in the second half of 2024, and dental lab Glidewell plans to