Biolux trial tests phototherapy for orthodontics

Biolux Research has begun a long-term clinical trial to evaluate the effects of its phototherapy technology on orthodontic tooth movement and treatment timelines. The goal of the trial is to evaluate the efficacy of phototherapy over the course of a complete, full-mouth orthodontic treatment, the company said. The study will include more than 40 orthodontic patients treated with traditional brackets and wires plus phototherapy, and the patients will be followed

Chinese dental services provider adds Cerec AC

China SheSays Medical Cosmetology, which operates a network of hospitals, clinics, and skin care centers in China’s Sichuan province, has introduced Cerec AC at its flagship hospital in Chengdu, becoming the first medical cosmetology company in China to utilize this instrument for cosmetic dentistry procedures. The Cerec AC was first introduced to the Chinese market by Sirona Dental Systems in November 2010 at the 14th International Dental Instrument Exhibition in

NM may require amalgam separators

New Mexico lawmakers will consider a bill in the 2011 legislative session that would require all dental offices to install amalgam separators and to remove dental amalgam prior to discharge of their wastewater. SB 12, the Dental Amalgam Waste Reduction Act, was introduced December 15 by Sen. Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe). The proposed bill reads, in part: By December 31, 2012, a dental office shall install an appropriately sized amalgam

Donation to aid 300 cleft lip patients

In time for the holiday season, Surya is making a donation to Smile Train, which provides corrective surgeries for cleft lips and palates to children in developing countries. Surya’s contribution — which the textiles company made on behalf of its top 300 retail customers in 2010 — will provide for up to 300 corrective surgeries for child victims of this birth defect. Smile Train has challenged other donors to match

CDA gets award for support of oral health and education

The California Dental Association (CDA) has received the 2011 William J. Gies Vision Award by the ADEAGies Foundation for its support of oral health and oral health education, the organization announced. The foundation cites CDA for its advocacy efforts in working with the Dental Board of California to create the first portfolio licensure process in the U.S. and also its earlier sponsorship of legislation that requires all children entering the

Bad bacteria common on anesthesia providers’ hands

Contaminating bacteria are very commonly found on the hands of anesthesia providers, with high rates of transmission to the surgical field during operations, reports a study in the January issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia (January 2011, Vol. 112:1, pp. 98-105). Randy Loftus, MD, and colleagues at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center performed a detailed study to determine the origin of bacteria transmitted to the surgical field in 164 operating room procedures using

What is microsonic scaling?

While doing a recent search of the Internet looking for new research publications on ultrasonic scaling, I found a large number of dental office websites advertising that they offer “microsonic scaling.” Typically, these websites state something such as the following: “We offer hand and microsonic scaling to effectively and comfortably clean your teeth.” “In one quick swoop, microsonic scaling breaks up these irritants and washes them all away.” “A device

Tumor location influences oral cancer recurrence

Patients who have a recurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma tend to do worse if the new cancer appears at the same site early or if it appears in the lymph nodes six months or longer after initial treatment, according to a study in Archives of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery (December 2010, Vol. 136:12, pp. 1235-1239). Treating recurrences of oral squamous cell carcinoma involves balancing the risk of

General anesthesia increases risk of BDE

Patients face a greater risk of developing bacteremia following dental extractions (BDE) under general anesthesia than local anesthesia, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Santiago de Compostela (Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology, December 2010, Vol. 110:6, pp. 706-712). After collecting blood samples from 210 patients with varied oral health, the researchers found that general anesthesia consistently increased incidences of BDE

Buyer’s Guide Update: Orthodontic appliances

Dear Buyer’s Guide Update Member, These are exciting times in orthodontics. Despite the economic downturn and the impact this has had on much of cosmetic dentistry, the orthodontic specialty has remained relatively healthy. What is behind this trend? One key driver is technology and product advances that, in turn, are broadening the eligible patient base and prompting more general dentists to begin offering orthodontic treatments. There are now brackets made

Sirona offers inLab users customized zirconia abutments

Sirona Dental Systems is now offering its inLab CAD/CAM system users the ability to create in-house customized zirconia abutments. Along with new inLab 3D custom abutment software, Sirona is also offering inCoris Meso zirconia milling blocks and titanium base sets that are compatible with a variety of dental implant systems to enable inLab users to create customized ceramic abutments on their inLab MC XL milling units. The new software utilizes

Sirona donates imaging and CAD/CAM systems to NCOHF

Sirona Dental Systems recently donated equipment valued at more than $725,000 to enhance National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF) community-based programs for underserved children. Twelve nonprofit partners in the NCOHF affiliate network benefited from the Sirona contribution of four Heliodent DS intraoral x-ray units, eight Cerec 3 acquisition units, and eight Cerec 3 milling chambers. “The demand for affiliate services has never been greater, and programs are struggling to care