Zirconia prostheses found as durable as metal

Fixed dental prostheses with zirconia frameworks survived as long as those with metal frameworks in a randomized controlled clinical trial published in the current International Journal of Prosthodontics (November/December 2009, Vol. 22: 6, pp. 553-560.) Researchers from the University of Berne recruited 59 patients in need of 76 fixed dental prostheses replacing one to three molars or premolars each. They randomly assigned each case to either a zirconia or a

Renishaw introduces laboratory mill

Renishaw introduced its new Incise laboratory mill at the Dental Showcase exhibition held recently in Birmingham, UK. The system allows labs to produce high quality zirconia frameworks at prices well below current market norms, according to Renishaw. “Renishaw is the world’s largest supplier of in-lab dental CAD/CAM scanning machines, and because we also manufacture our new compact milling machine we can offer incredibly competitive pricing to laboratories who are either looking

WHO tackles pollution from amalgams

Concerned about mercury pollution, the World Health Organization (WHO) last week convened a meeting of experts to discuss possible new guidelines for the global use of dental amalgams. Antiamalgam activists seized on comments made at the November 16-17 meeting as evidence that the organization, sponsored by the United Nations, will push for an eventual ban on dental amalgam. “An agreement in concept was reached yesterday by a World Health Organization-convened

Komet offers new tungsten cutter

Komet’s tungsten carbide cutter. Image courtesy of Komet USA. Komet USA now offers a new tungsten carbide cutter designed especially to be used on acrylic material. Komet’s H251ACR.104.060 is a cutter designed for the rough trimming of acrylic denture bases with its specially-staggered toothing. The instrument’s toothing is an intermediate version between super coarse and coarse-staggered, making it ideally suited for prosthetic acrylics, according to the company. The H251ACR.104.060 is

Anesthesia market projected to rebound

The U.S. market for anesthesia, respiratory and sleep management devices will reach $4.1 billion by 2015, according to a new report series by iData Research. “U.S. Market for Anesthesia, Respiratory and Sleep Management Devices” provides a comprehensive analysis of anesthesia delivery units and monitors, level of consciousness monitors, AIMS (anesthesia information management systems), anesthesia disposables, ventilators, nebulizers, laryngoscopes, respiratory disposables, oxygen therapy, sleep therapy, and diagnostic devices. The market for

0.5% chlorhexidine found effective in orthodontics

Dentifrices with 0.50% concentration of chlorhexidine can help control gingivitis and bleeding in orthodontic patients as well as 0.75% concentrations, according to a study in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (November 2009, Vol. 136: 5, pp. 651-656). Researchers from the University of São Paolo and private practice in São Paolo divided volunteers with fixed orthodontic appliances into three groups of 27 each. The control group used a

Childhood cancer survivors at risk for dental problems

A new report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study confirms another late toxicity that dentists have long suspected: Radiation exposure to the face during treatment as a child increases the risk of bad teeth and a wide range of dental abnormalities as an adult. Childhood cancer survivors are between one and five times more likely to develop a dental health issue, according to a study published online in Cancer (October

How platelet-rich plasma can enhance your implant cases

An implantologist is harnessing the growth-enhancing power of platelets to accelerate healing after dental implants are placed. James Rutkowski,D.M.D., Ph.D., has been travelling across the country for five years proselytizing about the benefits of using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in dentistry. In his most recent lecture, which he gave yesterday at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry in New Orleans, Dr. Rutkowski offers detailed information that will

It’s not amalgam’s fault

Editor’s note: Helaine Smith’s column, The Mouth Physician, appears regularly on the HuangshanDental.com advice and opinion page, Second Opinion. The debate over amalgam use in our profession continues, as seen by the responses to my last blog posting and recent letters to the ADA News discussing the issue. I clearly stated in my last posting that I do not feel amalgams pose a health threat to us, but I am

Mom blames anesthetist for son’s heart attack at dentist

A Scottish mom has settled out of court in a malpractice case against the Greater Glasgow Health Board that claimed an anesthetist employed by the board caused her son to have a heart attack and subsequent brain damage during a dental procedure in 2002. Anne Marie Gallacher had been seeking £2.5 million ($4.2 million) in damages over the treatment of her then six-year-old son, Ryan, at Townhead Health Centre in

Salimetrics develops salivary markers for perio disease

Salimetrics has developed three new salivary assays for use as markers for peridontal disease: IL-1 beta, MMP-8, and albumin. The assays will initially be offered via the company’s in-house saliva testing service and then sold in Kit form starting early next year, Salimetrics said in a press release. There has been increasing interest in exploring saliva for biomarkers related to periodontal disease to enable earlier and more effective treatment, the

Where did the mercury go?

A high-tech analysis of an amalgam filling that is a couple of decades old revealed that up to 95% of its surface mercury content was missing, according to a team of researchers from the University of Saskatchewan (Chemical Research in Toxicology, October 20, 2009, epub ahead of print). But the investigators also found the remainder was sequestered in a stable form that is less toxic. In a first step toward