FDA clears collagen dental membrane

Collagen Matrix announced today that it has received FDA’s 510(k) clearance of its new collagen dental membrane indicated for use in oral surgical procedures involving guided tissue and bone regeneration. This new collagen dental membrane is a nonfriable, conformable, resorbable, membrane matrix consisting of highly purified type I and III collagen derived from bovine dermis. The purified intact collagen tissue membrane differs in handling as compared to the company’s already

Online teeth-whitening firm accused of false advertising

Dazzlesmile and its parent company, Optimal Health Science, have issued a trademark infringement cease and desist order to Farend Services, DazzleSmile Pro, and Epic Advertising (also known as Azoogle.com). Dazzlesmile was originally formulated by a cosmetic dentist and maxillofacial surgeon and has been marketed in the U.S. since 2004 as a consumer teeth-whitening system consisting of proprietary and patent-licensed mints, toothpaste, and mouth wash. dazzlesmile products consist, in part, of

GlaxoSmithKline faces another lawsuit over Super Poligrip

Parker Waichman Alonso, a U.S. personal injury law firm, has filed a lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline and its subsidiaries on behalf of a Texas man who was diagnosed with neuropathy he says is due to his use of Super Poligrip denture adhesive cream. The lawsuit is the latest of several filed by Parker Waichman on behalf of the users of zinc-containing denture creams. “We suspect the poisoning from Super Poligrip and

In search of the fountain of youth

In “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” — a short story published by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1921, made more famous by actor Brad Pitt’s portrayal of the lead character in the 2008 film version — a baby born with the features of an elderly man ages backward to an infant, living a life that spans seven decades, but in reverse. Was Fitzgerald actually taking literary license with a rare

Lares launches minimally invasive periodontitis treatment

Lares Research has introduced wavelength-optimized periodontal therapy (WPT), a minimally invasive laser periodontal disease treatment that uses two laser wavelengths: Nd:YAG and Er:YAG. The method is only available with the Lares Powerlase AT all-tissue, dual wavelength laser, the company said in a press release. With WPT, the clinician removes the diseased epithelial lining of the periodontal pocket using Nd:YAG energy, removes calculus from the root surface using Er:YAG energy (FDA

Calif. dental board approves pediatric sedation course

The Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS) Education’s Pediatric Sedation Dentistry course has been approved by the Dental Board of California and is available to all California general and pediatric dentists. This course meets the training requirements for the pediatric oral conscious sedation permit, DOCS said in a press release. DOCS believes the medications used in its pediatric sedation protocols are among the safest available. Some have amnesic properties that

Dental Excellence Awards launched; surprising sedation advice

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Do you have a favorite new product you think deserves recognition? Do your colleagues deserve special attention for their efforts in education or research? Then nominate them for the first-ever DrBicuspid Dental Excellence Awards, designed to honor the best and brightest in dentistry. Starting today, we will take suggestions from our members for candidates in 13 categories, ranging from Most Effective Dentist Educator to Best New Material

Chicago dentists admit to sweet tooth

The Chicago Dental Society (CDS) surveyed 37 area dentists last month on their attitudes toward Halloween, with some surprising results: –Most have a positive opinion of the holiday, with 92% reporting that they would be participating in this year’s festivities. (The top goody to give out? Chocolate.) –80% of those with children at home admitted they sneak candy from their children’s Halloween bag. –10% admitted they eat their Halloween stash

Ky. initiative targets kids’ dental health

Kentucky is embarking on a three-year initiative to improve dental health among children throughout Eastern Kentucky that Gov. Steve Beshear is calling “aggressive (and) potentially ground-breaking.” Utilizing more than $1.6 million in federal grants over the next three years, the initiative will: Train more dentists to work with children to help with a chronic shortage of pediatric health providers. Create community coalitions throughout Appalachia to better tailor healthcare solutions and

Sedation DOCS give surprising advice

Encourage smokers to smoke. Put patients in wheelchairs, even if they can walk. And if they get really upset, administer peppermint LifeSavers. These were some of the surprising tips offered by Michael D. Silverman, D.M.D., and Anthony S. Feck, D.M.D., of DOCS Education, at a recent meeting of the California Dental Association (CDA) in San Francisco. Dentists who can sedate their patients wind up with happier patients and busier practices,

Lasers continue to make waves in periodontology

As the first periodontist in the U.S. to practice laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP) in his practice, Lloyd Tilt, D.D.S., M.S., has carefully tracked his patients’ experiences over the past decade — and been delighted with his findings. “Lasers are a wonderful option for doctors and patients to consider in treating periodontal disease,” Dr. Tilt said at the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) annual meeting in Boston last month. But

Fluoride desensitizer may work with bleaching

A 5% potassium nitrate and 2% sodium fluoride solution worked better than a placebo in reducing tooth sensitivity during bleaching, without interfering with the whitening, in a study published in this month’s Journal of the American Dental Association (Vol. 140; 10, pp: 1245-1251). Researchers from the universities of Estadual de Ponta Grossa and Oeste de Santa Catarina wondered if sodium fluoride would interfere with the whitening effects of bleach because