IADR report: BASF develops probiotic agent for caries

BASF, in collaboration with OrganoBalance, announced this week that it is gearing up to commercialize pro-t-action, a probiotic product designed to eliminate caries-causing bacteria from the mouth. Findings from research conducted during the development of pro-t-action will be presented this week at the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) meeting in Miami, according to the company. Based on probiotic microorganisms (scientific name: Lactobacillus), the active ingredient in pro-t-action binds to

Digital impressions competition booming

Cerec has had cool command of the digital impressions business for nearly 20 years, but the competition among intraoral scanner companies is beginning to heat up. And it’s taking a new direction. Until now, Sirona Dental Systems has promoted the Cerec as a combined intraoral scanner and mill that could expand a dental practice by allowing dentists to do what labs usually do. Now three of the four new intraoral

Report predicts bright future for implant market

The U.S. dental implant market might be hurting right now because of the economic recession, but it will recover after 2010 and exceed $1 billion by 2013, according to Millennium Research Group’s latest market report, “U.S. Markets for Dental Implants 2009.” In the current economic climate, patients are opting for less expensive alternatives to implants, such as crowns and bridges. This means that dentists are now buying smaller volumes of

ADA president requests funds for IHS program

ADA President John Findley, D.D.S., recently asked a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee to increase funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS) program by $1 million. Dr. Findley told the subcommittee that the IHS dental workforce is already understaffed and that nearly 65% of the agency’s dental specialists are eligible for retirement this year. He said the funds are needed to train new specialists. “Approximately 79% of Indian children 2

Delcam sales up 11% in 2008

Bucking what has become somewhat of trend in financial results in the dental industry of late, Delcam announced that it set a new sales record in fiscal 2008. The CAD/CAM company, which sells into several industries including dental, reported sales of 32.9 million pounds ($46.7 million) for the fiscal year (end-December 31), an increase of 11% over the 29.7 million pounds ($42.2 million) recorded in 2007. Pretax profit rose to

Ondine sees sales, losses decline

Ondine Biopharma, makers of the Periowave photodisinfection system, reported declines in both sales and losses for fiscal 2008 (end-December 31). The company reported a loss of $10.3 million on sales of $910,000 for fiscal 2008, compared with a loss of $13.2 million on sales of $1.61 million for the previous fiscal year. “2008 will be long remembered as one of the most challenging years ever faced by businesses and investors.

Heraeus offers new bite registration material

Heraeus Kulzer has introduced Flexitime Bite, a new bite registration material that enables scanning with CAD technology without powder, according to the company. Flexitime Bite’s “whipped cream-like consistency” enables accuracy for the doctor and comfort for the patient, the company stated. It sets in just 30 seconds and has an extremely high shore D hardness of 40. “Not only is Flexitime Bite a standard bite registration material, it is also

Report: Dental biomaterials market still shows promise

According to Millennium Research Group’s “US Markets for Dental Biomaterials 2009” report, although dental biomaterials are being used in a growing proportion of dental implant procedures, the market for these products will be dampened by the global financial crisis in the coming years as many patients postpone dental implant procedures or choose less expensive alternatives such as crowns, the company said in a press release. Nonetheless, the U.S. market for

Biomet 3i introduces zirconia abutment

Clinicians can now provide all-ceramic restorations with Biomet 3i’s new Encode zirconia abutment, according to the company. Instead of an implant-level impression, clinicians make a direct impression of the Encode healing abutment, the company said. Codes embedded on the occlusal surface of the healing abutment communicate the implant depth, hex orientation, platform diameter, and interface. An impression of the Encode healing abutment and the opposing arch, along with a bite

Tissue-regeneration experts take on teeth

Jason Morgan needs an implant. But like many dental implant candidates, his jaw bone is not strong enough to support it. The 34-year-old man’s maxillary molar has been missing so long the bone has resorbed, and his maxillary sinus dropped due to lack of support from the roots. .pullQuoteCredit { align:right; text-align:right; font-family:arial, sans-serif; font-size:11px; line-height: 16px; font-style: normal; padding-top:2px; } “If we can grow a structure into the bone,

Endometriosis associated with periodontal disease

NEW YORK (Reuters Health), Mar 26 – The results of a study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility suggest a possible association between endometriosis and periodontal disease. Endometriosis occurs when the tissue lining the uterus, the endometrium, begins to grow and shed in places outside of the uterus, such as the pelvis and intestines, as well as the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and other areas. When this tissue is shed

Even the tooth fairy is cutting back

In a sign that the recession is affecting even mythological beings, the tooth fairy reportedly has cut back spending per tooth by 10% this year. The fairy so far is paying an average of $1.88 per tooth this year, down from $2.09 last year, reports Securian Dental, which conducts an annual poll of its commercial members. The fairy could not be reached for comment, according to a press release. But