Australian officials say tooth decay an epidemic

Tooth decay in Australian children is reaching epidemic proportions and it is costing parents thousands of dollars, according to a story in The Daily Telegraph. NSW Dental experts claim parents are spending up to $5,000 on crowns for children whose teeth are deteriorating before they reach preschool, The Daily Telegraph reported. Australian Dental Association Oral Health Committee chairwoman Philippa Sawyer told the Telegraph that almost half of Australian children under

New Save-A-Tooth patent enhances product design

Phoenix Lazerus, the makers of Save-A-Tooth, has been granted a U.S. patent for an enhanced method of saving and storing knocked-out teeth. The new patent design permits the transportation of up to eight teeth, each with its own compartment, the company said in a press release. The new design has two interlocking components that form egglike compartments; these compartments restrain each individual knocked-out tooth, so the delicate root cells cannot

Survey: Many Brits unaware of lingual orthodontics

Nearly one-fifth of the population of England and Wales believe their teeth would benefit from straightening with braces, according to new research from Ipsos MORI, a leading U.K. research firm. However, despite the growing demand for orthodontic treatment from adults, 72% of Brits are unaware of the lingual option, according to Ipsos MORI. The study was commissioned by the British Lingual Orthodontic Society (BLOS) to assess awareness, attitudes, and experience

Children’s oral health group partners with Pankey Institute

National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF) and The Pankey Institute have formed a partnership to provide volunteer dental services to promising at-risk teens and underserved children throughout the United States through the America’s Toothfairy Dental Home and Tomorrow’s SMILES programs. Through this partnership, Pankey Institute volunteer dental professionals will provide comprehensive restorative and aesthetic treatment for at-risk students while educating them about the importance of good oral health and maintaining

Modern Plastics introduces implantable material

Modern Plastics has launched an implantable medical-grade material, MediPEEK-IM (polyetheretherketone), a high-performance semicrystalline thermoplastic designed for long-term body contact. The resin is designed to be implanted and could be used for dental devices, the company said. It is produced to ASTM F2026 specifications and has been extensively tested to ISO-10993 requirements, according to a press release. Other applications include spinal cages, fixation rods, orthopedic implants, ophthalmic tools, and surgical instruments

Survey: Komet the fastest growing diamond brand

For the second straight year, Komet is the fastest growing diamond brand in the U.S. dental rotary market, according to Strategic Dental Marketing’s (SDM) Dental Products Trial, Awareness, and Penetration Study for the first half of 2009. Approximately 30 diamond brands were included in the survey, which was conducted over the Internet with a nationally representative sample of nearly 800 general dentists, according to a Komet press release.

Christensen picks best restorative products

In its most recent issue (December 2009, Vol. 2:12), Gordon J. Christensen Clinicians Report (CR) issued its annual list of best materials, devices, and techniques evaluated over the past year. Included were several restorative products to which the newsletter gave its check mark, indicating a best product from a comparison done by the CR researchers during 2009. In the category of total etch resin cements, CR lauded Accolate PV by

Toothpaste not responsible for senator’s blood alcohol

Massachusetts state senator Anthony Galluccio will spend 12 months in jail, after a judge rejected the senator’s claim that toothpaste was to blame for his failure to pass a series of breathalyzer tests, according to a report by WCVB TV in Boston. Sen. Galluccio pleaded guilty in December to two charges of leaving the scene of an October 4 crash and was sentenced to six months of home confinement. He

New Zealand firm targets U.S. oral health market

Blis Technologies is looking to increase its presence in the U.S. oral healthcare market this year through a series of distributor relationships with major retail outlets. The New Zealand company’s U.S. business strategy is to work through distributors to promote the Blis probiotic products to leading manufacturers of dietary supplements, according to a company press release and news reports. The Blis M18 probiotic — developed specifically for the prevention of

Raisins getting a bad rap; how much is too many root canals

Dear DrBicuspid Member, When it comes to their effect on teeth, raisins have been getting a bad rap for years, according to a new study in Pediatric Dentistry that looked at the sugar content of raisins in some cereals. While this wrinkly fruit may be sticky and sweet, it’s not as bad for teeth as has long been believed, the researchers found. In other clinical news, how many root canals

Kerr launches self-adhering flowable composite

Kerr Dental has launched its first self-adhering flowable composite, Vertise Flow. The Vertise Flow technology eliminates the need for a separate bonding application step for direct restorations, Kerr said in its announcement. Vertise Flow starter kit. Image courtesy of Kerr Dental. Clinical studies through independent research have validated low microleakage and high bond strengths, the company noted, with bond strengths comparable to other self-etch adhesives. “GPDM (glycerylphosphate dimethacrylate) is a

NY city may receive dental facility for children

The city of Tonawanda, NY, may soon get a new research and development facility that caters to the oral and facial surgery needs of children, including those with special needs, according to a news story in Buffalo Business First. The proposed facility will be 6,500 square feet and will focus on children from low-income households, those lacking proper insurance, special-needs children, and adults who need maxillofacial and dental services, according