Preop prophylactic antibiotics — yes or no?

A Cochrane meta-analysis published online in July concluded that preoperative antibiotics prevent failure of dental implants. Even so, controversy still exists over whether all implant patients should be given prophylactic antibiotics prior to surgery. And the controversy will likely continue for some time, as there is still relatively little consensus about the best strategies to prevent biofilm formation. Marco Esposito, D.D.S., Ph.D., a professor in the department of oral and

Colgate offers refund for dental visits in Ireland

In a bid to promote oral health in Ireland, Colgate-Palmolive is offering to refund customers 65 euros ($83) each if they make a visit to the dentist. The offer is being made as part of the company’s Oral Health Month 2010 initiative, organized in conjunction with the Irish Dental Association (IDA). During September, the Oral Health Month “road show” will tour the country offering the public the chance to talk

Adhesive classifications: Science or marketing?

Are you using a fifth-, sixth-, or seventh-generation bonding adhesive? Who decides what generation it is? What constitutes a new generation — the number of steps involved or something else? One company recently suggested that its all-in-one self-etch adhesive is an eighth-generation product because it is dual-cure. To complicate matters, marketing departments are intent on convincing us that their product is like no other. The book The 22 Immutable Laws

Erbium laser can debond ceramic brackets

Laser energy can be used to debond ceramic brackets, according to a study in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (August 2010, Vol. 138:2, pp. 195-200). Researchers from Yeditepe University in Istanbul wanted to develop a new way to debond ceramic brackets by scanning the brackets with an Er:YAG laser. For their in vitro study, they randomly divided 60 bovine mandibular incisors into two groups of 30. Polycrystalline

iDent partners with Objet for dental implant planning

iDent Imaging, a provider of 3D surgical planning software and surgical guides for dental implants, has teamed with Objet Geometries to “improve the quality of dental implant placement,” the companies said in a press release. Objet systems provide iDent Imaging with the ability to rapidly manufacture customized surgical guides generated by their Scan2Guide software using Objet’s Eden 3D Printers, the companies said. iDent provides implant dentists with medical imaging software

What’s going on at Biolase?

Major changes are afoot at the largest dental laser manufacturer in the world. On August 27, Biolase announced that its CEO, David Mulder, and five members of the board of directors had resigned and that Federico Pignatelli, Biolase chairman of the board and one its largest shareholders, had been appointed interim CEO. Just two months ago, on June 10, Pignatelli was fired from his position as president of Biolase and

Are laryngeal mask airways preferable to tracheal tubes?

Laryngeal mask airways (LMA) lower laryngospasm more than threefold compared to endotracheal tubes (ETT) used for general anesthesia, according to a new systematic review of the literature (Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, July 29, 2010). Results of the 29-study meta-analysis also reveal LMA reduces hoarse voice by more than 2.5 times and coughing by more than seven times compared to ETT, while also significantly reducing the postoperative risks of

Elite AMBT offers Botox training

Elite AMBT, a provider of aesthetic, medical, and business training, is offering a Botox training program for dentists. The program will follow the same protocols and courses as regular Elite training and will lead to immediate certification, according to the company. Dental professionals can obtain certification via webinars, seminars, or private training onsite or at their practice. The Botox training seminars and private training options feature live models, offering a

Hu-Friedy introduces instrument stain and rust remover

Hu-Friedy has expanded its line of instrument management system products with Shine reNew instrument stain and rust remover. Shine reNew effectively removes rust and stain, restoring luster to stainless steel and tungsten carbide instruments, the company said. It also dissolves the built-up residue that keeps hinged instruments from moving freely. Quick and easy to use, Shine reNew eliminates the need for abrasive scrubs and requires only a five- to 15-minute

Revised AADR policy on TMD applauded

In March 2010, the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) approved a revision of its 1996 policy statement on the treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) that one dental expert calls “the closest thing to date to a true standard of care in this contentious field” (Journal of the American Dental Society, September 2010, Vol. 141:9, pp. 1086-1088). “This revision is based on a careful review of the literature regarding diagnostic

Supplements enhance effectiveness of Botox

Taking a dietary supplement of organic zinc and the enzyme phytase four days before receiving botulinum toxin injections made the toxin more effective in 93% of patients tested in a recent study at Methodist Hospital in Houston. Research by Charles Soparkar, M.D., Ph.D., has resulted in a patent-pending dietary supplement combining zinc and phytase (trademarked as Zytaze) to be available to patients as early as this month. Forty-one of the

DentalEZ debuts 2 LED handpiece components

DentalEZ Group has expanded its StarDental line of high-speed handpiece components with the introduction of the StarBright LED handpiece swivel and StarBright LED replacement bulbs. These two new energy-efficient components now provide the option to switch all existing StarDental handpieces to a white LED light source, the company said. The StarBright LED handpiece swivel provides cool white, neutral daylight color illumination and has a temperature of 4,000 K. The light