iDent partners with Objet for dental implant planning

iDent Imaging, a provider of 3D surgical planning software and surgical guides for dental implants, has teamed with Objet Geometries to “improve the quality of dental implant placement,” the companies said in a press release. Objet systems provide iDent Imaging with the ability to rapidly manufacture customized surgical guides generated by their Scan2Guide software using Objet’s Eden 3D Printers, the companies said. iDent provides implant dentists with medical imaging software

What’s going on at Biolase?

Major changes are afoot at the largest dental laser manufacturer in the world. On August 27, Biolase announced that its CEO, David Mulder, and five members of the board of directors had resigned and that Federico Pignatelli, Biolase chairman of the board and one its largest shareholders, had been appointed interim CEO. Just two months ago, on June 10, Pignatelli was fired from his position as president of Biolase and

Are laryngeal mask airways preferable to tracheal tubes?

Laryngeal mask airways (LMA) lower laryngospasm more than threefold compared to endotracheal tubes (ETT) used for general anesthesia, according to a new systematic review of the literature (Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, July 29, 2010). Results of the 29-study meta-analysis also reveal LMA reduces hoarse voice by more than 2.5 times and coughing by more than seven times compared to ETT, while also significantly reducing the postoperative risks of

Elite AMBT offers Botox training

Elite AMBT, a provider of aesthetic, medical, and business training, is offering a Botox training program for dentists. The program will follow the same protocols and courses as regular Elite training and will lead to immediate certification, according to the company. Dental professionals can obtain certification via webinars, seminars, or private training onsite or at their practice. The Botox training seminars and private training options feature live models, offering a

Hu-Friedy introduces instrument stain and rust remover

Hu-Friedy has expanded its line of instrument management system products with Shine reNew instrument stain and rust remover. Shine reNew effectively removes rust and stain, restoring luster to stainless steel and tungsten carbide instruments, the company said. It also dissolves the built-up residue that keeps hinged instruments from moving freely. Quick and easy to use, Shine reNew eliminates the need for abrasive scrubs and requires only a five- to 15-minute

Revised AADR policy on TMD applauded

In March 2010, the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) approved a revision of its 1996 policy statement on the treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) that one dental expert calls “the closest thing to date to a true standard of care in this contentious field” (Journal of the American Dental Society, September 2010, Vol. 141:9, pp. 1086-1088). “This revision is based on a careful review of the literature regarding diagnostic

Supplements enhance effectiveness of Botox

Taking a dietary supplement of organic zinc and the enzyme phytase four days before receiving botulinum toxin injections made the toxin more effective in 93% of patients tested in a recent study at Methodist Hospital in Houston. Research by Charles Soparkar, M.D., Ph.D., has resulted in a patent-pending dietary supplement combining zinc and phytase (trademarked as Zytaze) to be available to patients as early as this month. Forty-one of the

DentalEZ debuts 2 LED handpiece components

DentalEZ Group has expanded its StarDental line of high-speed handpiece components with the introduction of the StarBright LED handpiece swivel and StarBright LED replacement bulbs. These two new energy-efficient components now provide the option to switch all existing StarDental handpieces to a white LED light source, the company said. The StarBright LED handpiece swivel provides cool white, neutral daylight color illumination and has a temperature of 4,000 K. The light

Study finds gaps in Wyo.’s oral health

Most schools in Wyoming do not have the recommended levels of fluoride in their water, and children with untreated tooth decay who attend those schools are more likely to need urgent dental care, according to the first comprehensive oral health study of Wyoming residents in more than 20 years. The Oral Health Initiative (OHI) report, released this week by the Wyoming Department of Health and the Wyoming Dental Association (WDA),

Did Univ. of Colo. dentists give patients too much midazolam?

Dentists at the University of Colorado (CU) Denver School of Dental Medicine mistakenly injected as many as eight patients with potentially lethal doses of midazolam after the drug was erroneously added to the school’s stock in 2008, according to a story by the Denver Post. School administrators decided not to notify any of the patients, but Denise Kassebaum, D.D.S., dean of the dental school, stressed that no patient was harmed.

Parenting 101

Editor’s note: Dr. Doniger’s column, Dental Diaries, appears regularly on the HuangshanDental.com advice and opinion page, Second Opinion. For those of you who personally know me, I do not like to be called “Bubbe,” “Nannie,” or “Grannie.” Yes, I know I have achieved grandmother status with the birth of Bree, but I am not ready for the same moniker that my mother and grandmother wore all those many years ago.

Remedy Dental launches new website

Dental laboratory Remedy Dental Studio in Los Angeles recently launched a new website to promote its line of fixed restorations, which include porcelain fused to metal (PFM) restorations, veneers, bridges, and crowns. “We wanted to create an interactive website which showcased our work,” said Vache Hacopian, president of Remedy Dental Studio, in a press release. “We’ve been in the dental lab industry for over 28 years, and we want people