Biolase gets Canadian OK for iLase

Biolase has received clearance from the Health Canada Medical Devices Bureau to sell its iLase personal dental laser systems throughout Canada. Canada has an estimated 19,000 licensed dentists and an equivalent number of hygienists. The iLase diode laser is a self-contained, handheld dental laser that includes the laser, user interface, battery power, and controls in a single, integrated handpiece with no foot pedals or cords. Copyright © 2010 HuangshanDental.com

Nonperoxide whitening agents may alter enamel

Peroxide-based and nonperoxide-based in-office systems are equally effective at tooth whitening, but nonperoxide agents may affect enamel, according to a new study to be presented at the International Association for Dental Research conference next month in Barcelona, Spain. Researchers from Cairo University wanted to evaluate tooth color change and surface topography after exposure to both systems. They looked at 20 subjects, and took visual and instrumental color measurements using the

3M to consolidate dental implant operations

3M announced that it will phase out operations at its Ardmore, OK, dental implant manufacturing facility by the end of the year. The facility, formerly Imtec, was acquired by 3M in July 2008. Operations will move to St. Paul, MN, and Irvine, CA, over the next several months. The company said this move will help its dental implant business “more fully realize its potential.” “We have invested, and continue to

Most Penn. Medicaid kids don’t get dental care

Despite improvements, only 42.8% of Pennsylvania kids on Medicaid saw a dentist in 2009, according to a report by the University of Pittsburgh. The authors called on the state to keep increasing reimbursement for dentists and consider expanding dental services by nondentists, including physicians and midlevel dental practitioners. Medicaid covered more than 1 million, or 35.5%, of all children in Pennsylvania in 2009. In 2008, the program spent about $109

Louisiana mobile dentistry bill passes Senate

Continuing a skirmish over the way dentists can practice in schools, the Louisiana Senate on June 10 passed a bill pushing the state’s dental board to finalize regulations on mobile dentistry. But the Senate’s Health and Welfare Committee had already amended the bill to remove a controversial clause providing grounds to dismiss the entire Louisiana State Board of Dentistry if it missed a January 1, 2011, deadline. The bill that

Fosamax retrial now under way

The retrial of the Fosamax/osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) trial that ended in a mistrial last year got under way June 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit involves a claim by Shirley Boles, 71, who alleges that she developed ONJ in 2003 after using the drug for several years. According to Boles, Merck — manufacturer of Fosamax — failed to adequately

FDA advisory panel to review dental amalgam

After receiving several petitions raising concerns about the safety of dental amalgam and the adequacy of the clinical studies used to determine how it should be regulated, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it will hold an advisory panel meeting December 14-15, 2010, to discuss scientific issues that may affect the regulation of amalgam. The meeting, which is open to the public, will focus particularly on the

Dear Doctor, AACD partner on education

Dear Doctor — Dentistry and Oral Health magazine is partnering with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) to help educate dental patients on current topics in cosmetic dentistry. Published quarterly, Dear Doctor is written by dental healthcare professionals for the education of the general public. Going forward, the Dear Doctor Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry section will regularly feature educational, AACD-approved feature articles and consultations. “Receiving this support from such

OroScience launches oral wound care product

OroScience, in conjunction with Ace Surgical Supply, is introducing its Periogenix oral wound dressing technology at the 10th International Symposium on Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry in Boston, June 10-13. Periogenix is designed to protect injured periodontal tissue by forming a temporary physical barrier to avoid further irritation. Periogenix helps clinicians manage oral wounds by providing a barrier to assist in the process of acute and chronic wound healing, according to

Kerr launches impression materials mixer

Kerr Dental has launched an automix device for impression materials, the Volume Machine by Renfert delivery system. The Kerr Volume Machine by Renfert. Image courtesy of Kerr Dental. The device is intended to simplify procedures with Kerr’s impression material product lines, from Take 1 Advanced to AlgiNot. The Volume Machine offers homogenous mixing of 5:1 impression materials. It features multiple mixing speeds, a timer for monitoring set time, a low

3D Diagnostix offers surgical guide service

3D Diagnostix is now offering a surgical guide service for implant treatment planning designed to make using such guides more affordable. According to the company, if you are a computer-guided software user of such products as Simplant or Nobel Procera, you can send one of your treatment plans to 3D Diagnostix and get a free review and a surgical guide at a fixed discounted rate. For dentists who don’t have

Scottish kids’ teeth ‘better than ever’

Scottish children’s dental health scored better than ever before in a report by the National Dental Inspection Programme. The agency found that 36.4% of 11-year-old pupils have signs of tooth decay, beating the Scottish government’s goal of 40%. The score was an improvement over a rate of 40.9% in 2006 and 47.1% in 2005. As a result, Scotland no longer compares unfavorably in this measure to the neighboring countries of