Biolux launches clinical trial of orthodontic phototherapy

Biolux Research has initiated a clinical trial at Mahidol University in Thailand to evaluate the effects of phototherapy technology on orthodontic tooth movement and treatment timelines, the company announced. The principal investigator for the study is Peerapong Santiwong, DDS, PhD, a researcher and lecturer in orthodontics. Also participating in the study is Amornpong Vachiramon, DDS, a lecturer in clinical orthodontic protocols and systems. The goal of the trial is to

Venus White Pro available in 35% carbamide peroxide

Venus White Pro, the mint-flavored tooth-whitening gel from Heraeus Kulzer, is now available in 35% carbamide peroxide strength, the company announced. The gel can be worn in custom trays for up to 30 minutes a day. Venus White Pro’s carbamide peroxide plus potassium nitrate formula helps decrease sensitivity sometimes associated with bleaching, the company said. A recent clinical study by the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston reported

DentalEZ takes over Trimira’s dental business

DentalEZ Group has acquired all rights in the dental market to the Identafi 3000 Ultra optical diagnostic device from Trimira, a subsidiary of Remicalm, a biotechnology development firm. DentalEZ also acquired the rights to the Trimira name in the dental space, according to Rick Gross, senior marketing manager at DentalEZ. Trimira retains rights to the technology and the product and company name in the medical space, he added. Additional terms

Canadian group offers dental implant grants

The International Society of Oral Rehabilitation (ISOR) has unveiled the Implant Dentistry Grant Program, designed to improve access to implant dentistry treatment and educate the public about the benefits of tooth replacement. The ISOR provides up to $250,000 in grants each year, plus access to implant dentistry professionals who can restore the oral function and aesthetics for those who have been debilitated by the loss of their teeth. To be

SensAble Dental adds Heraeus tooth library

SensAble Dental is integrating the Heraeus Kulzer digital tooth library into its Intellifit digital restoration system, the companies announced. Dental labs using Intellifit now can utilize Heraeus premium virtual teeth when designing natural-looking dental restorations for dentists and their patients. In 2009, Heraeus licensed its Mondial tooth line to SensAble. The addition of Heraeus’ tooth library further extends the versatility of SensAble’s Intellifit for creating a wide variety of restorations

Hygienists make studying for board exams fun

Two Nevada dental hygienists have developed a board game designed to help dental hygiene students prepare for their board exams, according to a story in the Lahontan Valley News. The Pass It game includes more than 1,000 dental hygiene to help dental hygiene students prepare for the board exams “without the boredom, fatigue, or information overload usually associated with the intense exam studying,” Karen Isbister and Carrie Clotworthy told the

Zinc exposure more common than previously thought

Dentists need to take a closer look at potential hazards of exposing patients to zinc, a common ingredient in many dental products, according to a report by Amar Patel, DDS, a resident at the University of Maryland Dental School, and colleagues in the March/April 2011 issue of the journal General Dentistry. The authors reviewed and analyzed a wide range of information now available to dentists and physicians on the use

Bone protein can improve dental implant success

Using a bone-creating protein to augment the maxillary sinus could improve the success rate of dental implants, according to Georgia Health Sciences University (GHSU) researchers in a presentation Friday at the Academy of Osseointegration annual meeting in Washington, DC. Dental implants won’t work if the bone in which they are anchored is too thin, and bone-thinning is a common cause and consequence following tooth loss, according to Ulf M.E. Wikesjö

Epileptic drug can cause oral birth defects

New data suggest that the drug Topamax (topiramate) and its generic versions increase the risk for cleft lip and cleft palate in babies born to women who use the medication during pregnancy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning. Before prescribing topiramate, approved to treat certain types of seizures in people who have epilepsy, healthcare professionals should warn patients of childbearing age about the potential hazard to the

New device reduces risk of overdrilling

An Illinois dentist has been awarded a patent — U.S. patent No. 7,866,797 B2 — for inventing a device that eliminates the risk of overdrilling during implant surgery, according to a story in the Pantagraph. The drill stop fits like a sleeve over different manufacturers’ drill bits and has a collar that stops the drill bit from going too deeply, according to Emil Verban, DDS, of Bloomington. The stop rotates

Which remineralization products release the most calcium?

A study comparing five well-known remineralization paste products found noteworthy differences in calcium release, pH, and dentin tubule occlusion, according to researchers from Dentsply. In addition, fluoride release was unaffected by the presence of soluble fluoride with a remineralization agent in all the products tested. Their findings will be presented March 18 in a poster session at the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) meeting in San Diego. Nupro Prophy

VA dentist in infection scandal got raise in 2010

Dwight Pemberton, DDS, the dentist at the Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Dayton, OH, whose lax infection control practices potentially exposed hundreds of patients to hepatitis and HIV, was recommended for a 6.2% annual raise in 2010, according to a story in the Dayton Daily News. Dr. Pemberton, who retired last month in the midst of an ongoing investigation, got a 2.56% raise instead, bringing his annual pay to