Georgia joins battle against teeth-whitening kiosks

Businesses that operate teeth-whitening kiosks run by nondentists in malls and other locations have been fighting legal battles across various states. Recently, the Atlanta-based company White Smile USA and at least one other Georgia company that provides the same service were served a voluntary cease-and-desist letter from the Georgia Board of Dentistry, according to an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Like other state dental boards, the Georgia Board of Dentistry

Dental team can help kids maintain healthy weight

If you’re looking to add a valuable new service for younger patients, consider weight control advice. A new study has found that preventive dental visits can be an opportunity for dental care professionals to provide healthy weight intervention (HWI) to children (Journal of the American Dental Association, March 2009, Vol. 140:3, pp. 313-316). “The dental setting already promotes the healthy eating message for the prevention of dental decay,” said Mary

Straumann partners with Ivoclar Vivadent

Straumann and Ivoclar Vivadent have announced a partnership agreement that will enable them to offer aesthetic solutions for tooth replacement and restoration, according to a press release. Under the terms of the agreement, Ivoclar Vivadent will supply its proprietary IPS e.max (zirconium dioxide) ceramic technology to Straumann for use in the latter’s dental prosthetic solutions, both implant and tooth-borne. The first combined product, the Straumann Anatomic IPS e.max Abutment, is

Report: Economy dampens dental implant market

A new report from Research and Markets finds that although the market for dental implants is poised to achieve significant growth, weaknesses in the global economy and sagging consumer confidence have led to an unprecedented slowdown in the dental market. Dental implants have been hard hit because they represent the type of consumer spending that is postponed in challenging economic environments, the firm noted in a press release. General practitioners

SensAble launches v.2 of CAD/CAM system at IDS

SensAble Technologies is using the International Dental Show (IDS) in Cologne, Germany, this week to launch the latest version of its SensAble Dental Lab System (SDLS), an integrated CAD/CAM system for dental restorations. Version 2 of the SDLS offers “significantly expanded capabilities for full contour crown and bridge restorations, as well as new features that speed the design and production of removable partials,” according to the company. The SensAble system

All-zirconia implants hit the market

Commercial zirconia implant systems CeraRoot (Oral Iceberg, Barcelona, Spain) Sigma (Incermed, Lausanne, Switzerland) White Sky (Bredent Medical, Senden, Germany) Z-systems (Z-systems, Konstanz, Germany) Zit-z (Ziterion, Uffenheim, Germany) Source: International Journal of Prosthodontics (January-February 2008, Vol. 21:1, pp. 27-36). Tooth-colored, biocompatible, and made of the hardest stuff next to diamonds, zirconia seems like a natural material for implants. So it’s no surprise to hear that they’re already being marketed in Europe

Dental Advisor Home Page

An index of Dental Advisor content available to DrBicuspid members. The Dental Advisor Bonding Agents – 2008 This issue of THE DENTAL ADVISOR (June 2008, Vol. 25:5) reports the characteristics and compares 65 bonding agents. Clinical tips are given for a number of clinical techniques for restorative procedures requiring bonding. Effects of contamination on bond strengths to dentin are also discussed. Read more Endodontic Update – 2008 This issue of

New kid’s book lets bacteria tell hygiene story

There’s a Picnic in Your Mouth, written by Patrica Varano, D.D.S. A New York dentist is hoping her new book, There’s a Picnic in Your Mouth, will help boost pediatric awareness of, and compliance with, oral hygiene. In the book, Patrica Varano, D.D.S., introduces readers to Marty, Sylvia, and Harry, “a trio of entertaining bacteria living inside the mouth of a little boy named Charlie,” according to a press release

Dental Advisor: CAD/CAM Dentistry – 2008

h3{ color:#FF0000; } .tocItem{ border-bottom: dashed 1px #e0e5e9; padding: 4px; } .tocReturnToTop{ border-top: solid 1px #99a8b7; margin-top: 14px; padding:4px; } In order to succeed and thrive in the newly digitized world of dentistry, dentists will have to embrace this new technology. The possibilities are endless within the digitized world. Intraoral scans can transfer a digital impression from the operatory to the dental laboratory in seconds. Communication among all can be

Milestone CEO steps down

Milestone Scientific announced that Joe Martin, CEO and director of the company, has left to pursue new career opportunities. Leonard Osser, chairman of the board, will temporarily assume the post of interim CEO. In addition, Milestone said it filed Form 10-K for fiscal 2008 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17. According to the company, key financial highlights of the 2008 results compared to 2007 reflect: 5%

Align names new VP of marketing

Align Technology has appointed Sheila Tan as vice president of marketing and chief marketing officer, effective immediately, the company announced. Tan will report directly to Align President and CEO Thomas Prescott. Tan has more than 16 years of experience creating brands, products, and marketing strategies in the consumer products, software, and Internet service industries. In the dental field, she previously worked at Procter & Gamble, where she led the development

National Dentex sales, earnings drop

National Dentex reported a loss of $5.3 million on sales of $41.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2008 (end-December 31), according to its latest earnings release. This compares to net income of $656,000 on sales of $41.4 million for the same quarter a year ago. The loss was the result of a $7 million, noncash goodwill impairment charge, the company said. Without the charge, the company said it would