Website lets consumers rate teeth-whitening products

TeethWhiteningReviews.com, an informational website for consumers, is powering a new website, TeethTrays.com, that encourages consumers to evaluate their experience with certain teeth-whitening products based on price, usability, and how effective the treatment was, then offers a five-star rating system for the product. In addition, TeethTrays.com provides quick and easy access to the websites of the products that it reviews and to the written reviews provided for each product, according to

FTC case against NC dental board to be heard Feb. 17

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has denied a motion by the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners to dismiss an FTC complaint that the dental board is trying to stifle competition by blocking nondentists from providing teeth-whitening services. On February 8, the FTC issued an opinion and order unanimously rejecting the dental board’s argument that the “state action doctrine” exempts it from antitrust scrutiny under the Federal Trade

Ohio VA to screen hundreds of dental patients for hepatitis, HIV exposure

The Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Dayton, OH, is notifying more than 500 veterans that they may have been exposed to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV by a dentist at the clinic who failed to change his gloves and sterilize tools between patients, according to a story in the Dayton Daily News. The Dayton VA Medical Center’s dental clinic in Ohio was temporarily closed from August 19 to

Laser microsurgery improves oropharyngeal cancer outcomes

Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) is a promising, minimally invasive alternative for treating advanced oropharyngeal cancer, according to researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine (Head & Neck, January 31, 2011). Nonsurgical modalities are sometimes advocated as the standard of care for advanced oropharyngeal tumors, the researchers noted, but the results have been “modest.” This prompted them to consider TLM as the primary treatment for advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma. They analyzed

International merger yields new dental products firm

Following last year’s merger of SciCan, a Canadian manufacturer of infection control products with offices in the U.S. and Europe; SycoTec, a German dental and industrial manufacturer; and Micro-Mega, a French endodontic specialist, a new entity has emerged: the Sanavis Group. The Sanavis Group now forms one of the 10 largest companies in the dental industry, with about 800 employees worldwide, according to Martin Rickert, executive chairman, in a press

ADHA, Wrigley honor hygienists for community service

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) Institute for Oral Health partnered with the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation to award 12 grants to dental hygienists and dental hygiene organizations for community oral health outreach. Each recipient received $5,000 to start or continue an existing community oral health project. The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation Community Service Grant Program was established in conjunction with the ADHA’s 2010 National Dental Hygiene Month,

Ky. start-up banks on a better endodontic file

Inven is a young company in more ways than one. The founders — Alex Frommeyer, Dan Dykes, and Alex Curry — are all under the age of 25, and the company has only been in business for a year. But those numbers belie the experience and ability the young start-up’s principals already display. Their first product is the Intellidontic file, a patent-pending device designed to improve root canals by enabling

GC America launches new glass ionomer cement

GC America has introduced GC Fuji Temp LT, a glass ionomer temporary cement that will be available to customers in March. GC Fuji Temp LT is indicated for temporary (provisional) cementation of all types of all-ceramic, resin, and metal-based crowns and bridges, as well as implant abutments, according to the company. GC Fuji Temp LT has excellent handling without runny consistency, plus low film thickness, good thermal insulation and biocompatibility,

FDA calls for review of TMJ implants

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered three manufacturers of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) implants to conduct postmarket surveillance studies to determine the length of time before the implants are removed or replaced due to pain or other reasons. The three manufacturers, TMJ Solutions (also known as TMJ Concepts), TMJ Medical, and Biomet Microfixation, make all of the currently approved TMJ devices marketed in the U.S. The companies will

CDC’s oral health division on the chopping block?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a restructuring proposal that would fold its Division of Oral Health (DOH) into the Division of Adult and Community Health (DACH). The agency has been vague about its reasons for the potential restructuring, but public health experts speculate it is related to budget concerns. But they also emphasize that submerging the oral health division within the adult health division runs

Illumibrite signs China distributor

China PharmaHub, a biopharmaceutical acquisition and development company, has signed an exclusive agreement to be a distributor for Illumibrite, which markets the Illumibrite professional teeth-whitening system and Gel Savers trays in the U.S. China PharmaHub will have the exclusive distribution rights in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau for the promotion, sale, and delivery of Illumibrite’s product line. “This exclusive distribution agreement between China PharmaHub and Illumibrite is part of

Family of man injured by crossed gas lines gets $3M

The family of a 20-year-old Kansas man who suffered brain damage during a 2009 dental procedure reached a $3 million settlement January 28 with one of seven defendants named in a lawsuit set to go to trial in November. The lawsuit was filed in April 2010 in Douglas County District Court on behalf of Austin Stone and his guardians, Tara Passmore and Lance Stone. It alleges that oxygen and nitrous oxide