Astra Tech adds new abutment options

Astra Tech has expanded the Atlantis patient-specific abutment options to include Dentsply Friadent’s XiVE and Frialit implants and Straumann’s Standard/Standard Plus (wide neck) implants for North American customers. Atlantis abutments are already available for major implant systems such as Astra Tech, Straumann, Nobel Biocare, Biomet 3i, and Zimmer Dental, the company said. Astra Tech said it plans to introduce additional Atlantis interfaces and material choices this year. Copyright © 2010

Vampire books inspire teen fangs trend

The popular Twilight book series has inspired a new trend among its young fan base: vampire-style fangs, according to a news story on myFoxHouston.com. Teens are paying cosmetic dentists about $200 to get temporary vampire veneers, according to the story. Clint Herzog, D.D.S., who has five offices in Texas, told Fox that vampire veneers are in demand, especially in suburbia. In a 15-minute procedure, Dr. Herzog applies tooth-colored resin to

Dos and don’ts for implant success

Interoffice communication If you refer implant cases, a high degree of collaboration between your office and the specialist’s office is critical. Without a strong focus on communication, the treatment process can easily break down between the referral, the consultation, and the surgical appointment. Collaborate. There is no dental procedure that calls for a dentist and a specialist to be in synch quite like implants. Both must be on the same

New air sanitizer releases OSHA-compliant vapor

Prolitec, which develops and markets air treatment and indoor air quality technologies, has introduced an air-sanitizing device for use in dental and medical offices, assisted-living facilities, hospitals, and other enclosed spaces. The aria air-sanitizing system uses patented Prolitec technology to generate an invisible “dry” vapor of a safe and effective air sanitizing agent, the company said. The vapor can be distributed within a space directly from a small, wall-mounted appliance

Doctors can help parents wean babies from bottle

Family doctors and pediatricians can influence when parents wean their children from the bottle, thereby helping to reduce tooth decay, obesity, and iron deficiency, according to a new study (Pediatrics, July 12, 2010) by researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children. The goal of the study was to determine whether an office-based, educational intervention program for parents of 9-month-old children could reduce bottle use and iron

Timken expands dental bearings product line

The Timken Company has enhanced its line of precision bearings for high-speed dental handpieces with a broader selection of options and features to better resist wear in harsh sterilization environments while improving stability and lubricant flow. The new dental bearings employ stainless steel rings, grade 3 balls, and an advanced cage, the company said. Customers can now choose ball and shield upgrades to match the needs of their specific handpiece

5-year-old dies after dental procedure

A 5-year-old Atlanta boy died July 9 after suffering a seizure at a dentist’s office. The child was identified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office as David Liddell. He had been undergoing a procedure at Children’s Dentistry of Camp Creek in Atlanta, according to a story by WSBTV.com. The boy reportedly had “prior medical issues,” according to the story. He was taken to Children’s Hospital of Atlanta where he

All-zirconia implants show promise

Two new studies on all-zirconia implants show these devices approaching — but perhaps not yet attaining — the durability of titanium. Researchers from University Clinics Freiburg will present data on the durability of one-piece, alumina-toughened zirconia (ATZ) implants (Ziraldent, Metoxit) in 20 patients at the International Association for Dental Research’ (IADR) annual meeting this week in Barcelona, Spain. This is among the first studies with clinical data on one-piece zirconia

Millennium questions AGD’s emphasis on Botox

Millennium Dental Technologies (MDT) is questioning the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) priorities after the AGD gave Botox seminars “center stage” at its annual meeting in New Orleans July 8-11, MDT said in a press release. “It is a strange choice of priorities for a dental healthcare organization when 85% of adult Americans suffer from gum disease, a life-threatening and always treatable infection increasingly associated with various systemic conditions,” stated

How does a laser kill bacteria?

The inactivation of certain bacteria found in the oral cavity occurs through a photothermal rather than photochemical process, according to a study in the Journal of Biophotonics (June 2010, Vol. 3:5-6, pp. 296-303). Lasers are used in dentistry for various indications, including the disinfection of root canals or the sterilization of residual caries. While many studies have demonstrated the ability of lasers to kill bacteria, the fundamental mechanism of the

Antidepressants help manage trigeminal nerve injuries

Pharmacologic management can be used to treat trigeminal nerve injury pain after dental implant surgery, according to a study in the International Journal of Prosthodontics (July/August 2010, Vol. 23:4, pp. 342-346). Injuries to the trigeminal nerve are a common postoperative complication of dental implant surgery, researchers from Yonsei University in Korea noted. Usually, the altered sensation and neuropathic pain caused by the nerve injury is temporary, but a permanent neurosensory

Biomet 3i partners with Renishaw

Implant maker Biomet 3i will collaborate with Renishaw to provide a range of dental milling options. The partnership will allow Biomet 3i to expand its portfolio of patient-specific CAD/CAM restorative products, according to the companies. Using the Renishaw scanner and Biomet 3i incise CAD software, laboratories can obtain broader access to a wide range of dental milling options, including the ability to scan precision copy milled bar patterns, the companies