Kettenbach to debut Identium at CDA meeting

Kettenbach will unveil Identium, an impression material that combines the features of both A-silicone and polyether materials, at next month’s meeting of the California Dental Association (CDA) in Anaheim, CA. Identium, a Vinylsiloxanether impression material, was developed for one-step impression techniques and can be used for different clinical procedures, according to the company. The new material will provide excellent resilience and accurate impressions in narrow spaces, including a moist sulcus,

Pa. expands duties for dental assistants

The Pennsylvania Legislature on April 14 passed a bill expanding the duties of dental assistants to include coronal polishing, applying fluoride treatments including varnish, and making impressions for athletic mouthguards. Click here to view this image. Interactive map of restorative duties by state for hygienists and assistants. The Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) has urged the governor to sign the bill into law. “By allowing dental assistants to perform more duties,

Ill. crafts new dental sedation rules

A new rule developed in Illinois after two Chicago area patients died following sedation for dental treatment will require dentists and their staff to undergo more training. The new rule increases the amount of sedation training needed by assistants and dental hygienists who assist in cases in which a patient is sedated, according to a press release issued by the state. The rule also clarifies what monitoring equipment must be

Study: Less bone loss with Laser-Lok implants

Dentists who use Laser-Lok dental implants from BioHorizons to replace missing teeth can give patients years of normal dental function and appearance, according to a study in the International Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry (March/April 2010, Vol. 30:2, pp. 129-137). “This study is consistent with the results I have had for the last 10 years with Laser-Lok dental implants,” stated lead study author Cary Shapoff, D.D.S., in a BioHorizons

Can too much hydrogen peroxide harm tooth enamel?

A pearly white smile is always in high demand. But can using too much hydrogen peroxide for whitening permanently damage tooth enamel in the process? Apparently not, according to a study published in this month’s Journal of the American Dental Association (April 2010, Vol. 141:4, pp. 449-454). Researchers from the University of Trieste found that using a 38% hydrogen peroxide in-office whitening agent does not alter enamel surface roughness, even

Teeth-whitening firm faces bankruptcy

Creditors of BSML, a company that offers teeth-whitening services through its BriteSmile spas, have filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against the company under Chapter 7 of the U.S. bankruptcy laws, according to Discus Dental. In 2006, Discus purchased substantially all assets of BSML’s predecessor company, BriteSmile, and its related entities, for $35 million. Discus currently owns the rights to the BriteSmile trademark in connection with teeth-whitening services offered in dental

Renishaw to offer cobalt chrome frameworks

Renishaw, a supplier of in-lab CAD/CAM machines, has opened a new factory in the U.K. to make CAD/CAM frameworks using cobalt chrome metal. The new frameworks, manufactured through direct metal laser sintering, will provide a low-cost, high-quality alternative to ceramic restorations, according to Renishaw. The company is calling them Laser PFM. In contrast to traditional casting, this method uses lasers to fuse together successive layers of powdered metal 0.02-mm thick.

Sheri Suggests — Midwest Stylus ATC handpiece

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. What an amazing handpiece! With Dentsply Professional’s Midwest Stylus ATC (adaptive torque control), it truly feels as if I am prepping in air. The Midwest Stylus ATC handpiece by Dentsply Professional. The ATC combines air and

FDA reviewing safety of chemical used in toothpaste

With new research indicating that triclosan — a chemical found in toothpaste and many other consumer products — may disrupt the endocrine system and create bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, the FDA is now looking at whether this substance is as safe as originally thought. The agency’s decision to review triclosan — a substance it last studied in 1997, concluding at the time that it helped enhance toothpaste —

Wis. dental association supports EFDAs, not DHATs

Clarifying a March 26 press release, the Wisconsin Dental Association (WDA) said April 12 that it supports the licensing of expanded function dental assistants (EFDAs) but does not support the licensing of dental health aide therapists (DHATs) in Wisconsin. The original press release was in response to a report by the state’s Department of Health Services, analyzing ways the state could improve access to care. New types of dental professional

Aesthetics a major motivator for orthognathic patients

Women and patients requiring orthognathic surgery were significantly less happy with their dentofacial appearance compared to control patients, with 91% expressing a desire to change their appearance, according to a study in the Angle Orthodontist (March 2010, Vol. 80:2, pp. 361-366). Researchers in the department of orthodontics at Queen’s University tested the hypothesis that the self-perception of dental and facial attractiveness among patients requiring orthognathic surgery is no different from

Oragenics partners with Ricci Pharma

Ricci Pharma has agreed to distribute Oragenics’ EvoraPlus and EvoraKids oral health probiotic products, Oragenics announced. Oragenics expects Ricci Pharma, which has offices in Rome and Slovakia, to provide the products through the Catholic Church’s network of health services and the United Nations health programs, the company said. It also expects Ricci Pharma to supply the products to the Association of Physicians National Health Service in Slovakia and independent pharmacies