3M ESPE launched a new delivery system for its Ketac Nano glass ionomer system May 14 at the California Dental Association meeting in Anaheim, CA. The new system is faster than hand mixing and introduces fewer air bubbles, according to the company. The Quick Mix capsule is the first paste-paste nanoionomer in an automixing, unit dose capsule, 3M said. The Quick Mix capsule is a new delivery system for the
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) patients are more sensitive to pain compared to healthy people, according to preliminary results from a seven-year study presented at the American Pain Society (APS) annual meeting held May 6-8. The $19 million study, involving 3,400 people, aims to identify and define the causes and effects of TMJD, ultimately leading to new treatments and cures. The Orofacial Pain: Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment study is funded
A complaint was filed May 10 against Align Technology, charging the company with implementing unfair and fraudulent requirements for the prescription of Invisalign through the company’s proficiency requirements. The lawsuit was filed by Christopher Leiszler, D.D.S., in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of himself and “all others similarly situated,” Align said in a press release. The complaint seeks a refund of the price
Dentists aren’t just wielding needles filled with Novocain these days. Many are now injecting their patients with Botox to improve appearances and alleviate pain — while at the same time inciting the ire of dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and some of their colleagues. As state dental boards around the U.S. struggle with how to regulate such injections, some dentists are forging ahead — and establishing a lucrative new sideline in the
The teeth-whitening company RightSmile has entered into a distribution agreement with the newly formed RightSmile Latin America. The transaction is expected to add a minimum of $300,000 per year in additional revenue, according to the company. RightSmile Latin America’s initial thrust will be into the Colombian marketplace, followed by Peru, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chile. In addition, RightSmile Latin America has requested and been granted rights of first refusal on
Lidocaine, when administered via nose drops or a nasal spray, travels through the trigeminal nerve and collects in high concentrations in the teeth, jaw, and structures of the mouth, researchers from Regions Hospital in St. Paul, MN, report in the May-June issue of Molecular Pharmaceutics. The discovery could lead to a new generation of intranasal drugs for noninvasive treatment of dental pain, migraine, and other conditions, according to the scientists.
Air Techniques has introduced the Acadia amalgam separator for removing amalgam and other hard metals from office wastewater. Available in a single-size model, Acadia can support up to 10 operatories and works in-line with any dental evacuation system, according to the company. A small footprint allows Acadia to be installed as a wall-mounted or freestanding unit, and it can be used with wet or dry vacuums with no additional electricity,
The treatment of periodontal disease in patients with type 2 diabetes may lower their blood sugar levels, according to a new study (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2010, Issue 5). The study was led by researchers at the University of Edinburgh and supported by colleagues at the Peninsula Dental School, the University of Ottawa, and the Eastman Dental Institute. The research team analyzed randomized controlled trials of people with type
Align Technology reported revenues of $90.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 (end-March 31), a 28% increase over revenues of $70.1 million in the same quarter a year ago. Net profit for the quarter was $14.9 million, up from $2.6 million for the same quarter of fiscal 2009. “I’m pleased to report strong results for our first quarter,” said Thomas M. Prescott, president and CEO, in a press
A mother of six who works more than 50 hours a week as a hygienist and has an interest in the oral health of special needs patients has been selected as the State University of New York at Canton (SUNY Canton) Outstanding Graduate at the bachelor’s degree level, the university announced. Jill Lizak of Hamburg, NY, one of the inaugural graduates of the college’s online dental hygiene program, will be
A Pennsylvania woman has become the latest consumer to claim that zinc in Super Poligrip led to her nerve disorder and has filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), according to a news story by United Press International. According to the lawsuit, filed in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Terri Charpentier, 41, was forced to resign from her job and cannot walk without a walker or a cane
Discus Dental has released a nanohybrid, universal composite, Nuance, that makes creating aesthetic restorations simple by combining proprietary filler particles that mimic the optical properties of tooth structure with a simple delivery system, according to the company. Nuance virtually eliminates the need for multishade layering, the company said. The material contains proprietary multifaceted fillers that both reflect and refract light, mimicking the opacity, translucency, and optical characteristics of tooth structure.
