Delta Dental of Tenn. to donate mouthguards

To prevent some of the 300,000 sports-related concussions that occur each year in the U.S. and to protect the teeth of Tennessee’s young athletes, Delta Dental of Tennessee is partnering with the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl and the Nashville Predators to donate 18,750 mouthguards to youth football and hockey players across the state. “We are increasingly hearing about serious, long-term consequences of concussions, including the potential for early

NC office raises thousands for violence prevention

Allan Acton, D.D.S., and Cary Family Dental in Cary, NC, recently donated $6,276 to Interact, a private, nonprofit United Way agency that provides safety, support, and awareness to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, the practice announced. The dental practice has donated more than $15,000 during the last two years while participating in the Crown Council’s annual Smiles for Life campaign. During the four-month campaign, Crown Council

U.K. device tests saliva for cannabis, cocaine

A handheld device that tests saliva for cannabis or cocaine use has been developed by U.K. scientists, according to a story in the Daily Mail. The handheld device costs 1.50 pounds ($2.35) and produces an accurate result within five minutes. It could be available within a couple of years, the story stated. The Vantix sensor was developed to help police carry out quick roadside drug-driving tests, but it could also

Glass ionomers aid in proximal caries management

Applying a fluoride-releasing glass-ionomer cement (GIC) to proximal lesions can help reduce the progression of initial proximal caries in posterior teeth, according to a study in the Journal of Dental Research (September 21, 2010). The split-mouth study, conducted at Chulalongkorm University in Thailand, involved 41 pairs of posterior teeth in patients ages 7 to 19 who had undergone elastic band separation. Each participant had to have at least one contralateral

Dental museum puts ‘toothy toys’ on display

A new exhibit opening next month at the National Museum of Dentistry takes a fun look at the way toys with a dental theme have helped teach kids how to care for their teeth. The “Open Wide! Toothy Toys That Made Us Smile” exhibit will be on view at the museum November 6, 2010, through January 30, 2011. From Play-Doh’s Dr. Drill ‘n Fill to an Evel Kneivel battery-operated toothbrush

Sheri Suggests — Tuff Temp provisional resin

In this occasional series, Dr. Sheri Doniger will share her experiences with some of her favorite dental instruments, materials, and equipment. These are products Dr. Doniger personally uses or has tested in her practice. We always are looking for a great product for temporization. We would like one that is easy to fabricate, holds on to the tooth without distortion, and wears well during the temporization process. Tuff Temp from

Swedish biomaterial suitable for soft-tissue augmentation

A new study confirms that the biomaterial Artelon Cosmetic, developed by Artimplant for soft-tissue augmentation in the upper jaw, can be used to successfully treat patients with tissue defects, the company announced. “Artelon is an interesting material for dental applications,” said Bertil Friberg, D.D.S., Ph.D., who conducted the study at the Brånemark Clinic in Gothenburg. “In this particular study, we demonstrated that Artelon Cosmetic integrates well with body tissue and

Biolase gets multiproduct order from Benco

Biolase Technology has received its first multiproduct order from Benco Dental, the first sizable order by a distribution customer under Biolase’s new nonexclusive distribution arrangement, the company announced. “We are extremely pleased that a distributor of Benco Dental’s caliber has chosen to now carry our dental laser product line and disposables,” said Federico Pignatelli, Biolase chairman and CEO. Benco Dental provides more supply and equipment options than any other full-service

Mom charged with neglect after child’s teeth extracted

An Australian woman has been sentenced to a year in jail for child cruelty after her daughter, who had not seen a dentist in more than three years, had 12 teeth extracted, according to an article in the Queensland Times. The 9-year-old had been given only cordial — an extremely sweet, fruit-flavored beverage — to drink. The girl’s toothbrush had also been kept in a hard-to-reach location, according to the

EPA takes new aim at dental amalgam waste

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced it intends to propose a rule next year to reduce mercury waste from dental offices. The rule, which would be finalized in 2012, will require that dental practitioners separate the mercury from all dental amalgam waste in their practices. The details of how dentists will have to do this “remains to be seen” and are still in the works, Jalil Isa, a

Tool IDs those who may be unhappy with cosmetic outcomes

Australian researchers have a created a screening tool to help clinicians determine whether individuals will be satisfied with their elective cosmetic dentistry surgery procedures (Annals of Plastic Surgery, August 25, 2010). The nine-item questionnaire probes prospective patients’ physical and mental health, as well as whether they have a positive self-image and have been dissatisfied with previous aesthetic surgery or aesthetic dentistry procedures. Scores on this screener identify individuals who are

$50K donation supports NADL foundation

The IdentAlloy/IdentCeram Council and the National Association for Dental Laboratories (NADL) have committed to a five-year support program for the Foundation for Dental Technology. Between 2010 and 2014, the council will contribute a total of $50,000 to the foundation’s work, the organizations announced. The purpose of the foundation is to advance the profession of dental laboratory technology by developing educational curriculum and programs that will be relevant and accessible to