Zimmer offers guided-surgery instrument for implants

Zimmer Dental is now offering the Zimmer Guided Surgery Instrumentation for use with the company’s Tapered Screw-Vent Implant System, the company announced. The Guided Surgery Instrumentation is compatible with case planning software and guided surgery systems, according to the company. Zimmer is also offering its SimPlant treatment planning software in conjunction with the new instrumentation. In addition, the Zimmer Drill Module with additional-length Dríva EG drills snaps into the Tapered

Disposable dental drill hits U.S. market

Azenic has started selling its disposable, high-speed, plastic dental drill after landing $961,000 in new investments, according to a story in the Kalamazoo Gazette. The Azenic DHP (disposable high-performance) is the only disposable dental drill approved by the U.S. FDA, according to the company. Azenic was first approved by the FDA more than two years ago, but struggled to lure enough investor financing to get the product to market, company

Align Technology revenues up 21% in Q3

Align Technology reported fiscal 2010 third-quarter net revenues of $95.9 million, a 21% increase over revenues of $79.3 million for the same quarter a year ago. For the quarter (end-September 30), net profit was $16.8 million, compared with a net loss of $49.9 million in the third quarter of 2009. The 2010 third-quarter net profit includes pretax litigation settlement costs of $3.3 million related to the settlement of a class-action

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The advantages of dedicated core buildups

Are you using a composite that is specifically designed and engineered for core buildup (BU) procedures? Perhaps, for convenience, you use your universal, aesthetic composite for everyday restorations? Having worked in and attended trade shows in more than 20 countries, I am still amazed at how many practitioners use their universal composite for core BU restorations, especially overseas. I can fully understand the reasons: the universal composites are exactly that

Too much fluoride increases risk of mild fluorosis in kids

Young children who consume substantial amounts of fluoride through infant formula and other beverages mixed with fluoridated water or by swallowing fluoride toothpaste are at increased risk of developing mild enamel fluorosis, according to research published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association (Vol. 141:10, pp. 1190-1201) and supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. But children can continue using fluoridated water

FDA issues safety alert for teething tablets

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers and healthcare professionals about teething tablets that may pose a risk to children. The FDA recommends that consumers not use Hyland’s Teething Tablets and dispose of any in their possession. In addition, the manufacturer is issuing a recall of this product, according to the agency. Hyland’s Teething Tablets are manufactured to contain a small amount of belladonna, a substance that

Botox can optimize dental implant surgery

Because the majority of dental implant patients are older and have facial aging, dentists may want to consider the benefits of rejuvenation techniques such as Botox to maximize the cosmetic outcomes of the procedure, according to a presentation at the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) annual meeting this week in Boston. Joseph Niamtu III, D.M.D., an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, told the AAID audience that for many dental implant

Align Technology to resolve class-action lawsuit

Align Technology has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to resolve a class-action lawsuit concerning its proficiency requirements filed earlier this year in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. In May 2010, Christopher Leiszler, D.D.S., filed a complaint against Align alleging that the company implemented unfair requirements for the prescription of Invisalign through the company’s annual proficiency requirements. Dr. Leiszler’s Invisalign provider status was changed

A call to action for all dental professionals

Dentistry, like most segments of the U.S. healthcare system, is under tremendous pressure these days. Millions of people have lost jobs, insurance benefits, homes, and many other things that were often taken for granted. As a result, fewer people are able to have necessary dental care, both elective and urgent. It is times like these that open the doors for government intervention in our profession. Dentistry has a tradition of

Sun Dental to verify content of restorative materials

Sun Dental Labs will begin providing laboratories and dentists with complementary IdentAlloy and IdentCeram certificates verifying the content of Suntech Full Zirconia, Suntech Layered Zirconia, and Suntech Zirconia Copings, as well as SunCast Premium Partial Denture restorations. “We applaud Sun Dental’s commitment to disclosure,” noted Charles Yenkner, executive director of the IdentAlloy/IdentCeram Council, in a press release. “We’re delighted to add the company to the roster of licensed companies providing

Ohio oral health program gets $25K OHA grant

Smiles Across America (SAA), an Oral Health America (OHA) program, in conjunction with Trident gum, welcomed the CincySmiles Foundation of Cincinnati to the SAA network with a $25,000 grant to expand dental services to at-risk children in Cincinnati Public Schools. With the new partnership, CincySmiles will change its model of delivering preventive oral healthcare and will deliver services to an additional 1,000 elementary school students during the 2010-2011 school year