Dentists reported to favor premium implant brands

Dentists are starting to favor name-brand implants such as Straumann and Astra Tech over their less-expensive competitors, according to a report by Millennium Research Group (MRG). MRG surveys general dental practitioners, periodontists, prosthodontists, and oral maxillofacial surgeons twice a year to determine physician perceptions of dental implant companies and their products. Perceptions of brands have improved in the first half of 2010 compared to late 2009, especially in Europe and

Hayes offers free instrument maintenance training

Hayes Handpiece is now offering free instrument maintenance training in cities across the U.S. Hayes has 85 locations, and most are offering this service to dentists and oral surgeons in a 30-minute lunch-and-learn format, the company said. One free continuing education credit is also available to maintenance demo attendees through a partnership with DenTrek. “The Hayes instrument processing demo is designed to take the guesswork out of maintaining hygiene and

Dentists move to the front lines on sleep disorders: Part 2

Part 1 of this two-part series focused on how to screen for sleep-related disorders and the need for dentists and physicians to be better educated about these conditions. Once obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been properly diagnosed, treatment will vary depending upon the severity of the condition. Some people can manage their OSA with lifestyle changes such as losing weight, limiting exposure to tobacco smoke and alcohol, managing seasonal allergies,

MediNiche offers Dentaplex incentives

MediNiche is offering free Dentaplex product displays and patient coupons for free bottles of the vitamin supplement. Dentists can get a counter display with six bottles of Dentaplex, designed to protect and maintain healthy teeth and gums, for shipping costs of $13.99, according to the company. The offer is good through the end of 2010. The company is also offering coupons for patients to get a bottle of Dentaplex for

Better Business Bureau challenges ACT ad claims

The National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus has recommended that Chattem discontinue or modify advertising claims for ACT Total Care. Prompted by complaints by rival Procter & Gamble, NAD investigated Chattem’s claims for the fluoride mouth rinse, including: “[ACT Total Care] Fights Unsightly Plaque*” (*as part of a dentist advised oral health program) “[ACT Total Care is] the mouthwash that does it all” and provides

Align Technology to promote teen product at awards show

Align Technology will further its support of the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF) during the upcoming Teen Choice Awards, airing August 9 in the U.S. on Fox TV. Invisalign Teen is a sponsor of Teen Choice 2010 and the Choice Smile award category, and teen celebrity Booboo Stewart of the Twilight saga fame and his sister, singer and actress Fivel Stewart, are donating their time to help Invisalign Teen

Dentium expands impression material line

Dentium USA is now offering rainbow Gum impression material, the latest addition to its rainbow brand product line. It was specially designed and formulated to reproduce a natural tissue model with lifelike gingival color, according to the company. Composed of polyvinylsiloxanes, rainbow Gum is scannable by CAD/CAM laser scanners and is ideal for producing flexible gingival masks for master models used in the dental laboratory because it eliminates the need

Pink bur blocks support breast cancer research

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the U.S., and Komet USA is doing its part to support breast cancer research. Pink aluminum bur block from Komet USA. Image courtesty of Komet USA. Pink aluminum bur block from Komet USA. Image courtesty of Komet USA. For each pink bur block (LD0330) sold, Komet will donate 10% of the retail price to fund breast cancer research. All proceeds will be

Dentists move to the front lines on sleep disorders: Part 1

Not only can it run you off the road, it can kill you in your sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) — a potentially dangerous sleep-related breathing disorder — affects more than 18 million Americans per year, kills 38,000, and is undiagnosed in 80% to 90% of people who suffer from it, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Now dentists are being urged to play a more central role

Denture chain to pay $150K in harassment suit

Affordable Care, a national denture provider, will pay $150,000 and furnish other relief to settle a sex and race discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced August 2. The lawsuit, filed in March 2009 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in Springfield, charged that Affordable Care violated federal law when its affiliated dentist, Nelson Wood, D.M.D., sexually and racially

Israeli firms collaborate with Henry Schein

Two Israeli firms — Sialo Technology and Itamar Medical — are working with Henry Schein to bring their products to the U.S. dental market. Sialo Technology signed a nonexclusive distribution agreement with Henry Schein whereby Schein will distribute Sialo’s root canal and dental implant direct vision endoscope, Sialo said. The mobile device includes an endoscope, LCD screen, and light source. The companies signed a five-year contract with an option to

Spanish patient fights for amalgam treatment

A Spanish hospital patient has become a cause célèbre for antimercury activists worldwide by refusing to leave a hospital until treated for illnesses he attributes to his amalgam dental fillings, according to ABC Spain. The activists claimed victory July 29 when Santiago University Hospital agreed to refer Servando Pérez to the University of Valencia General Hospital for a consultation. Pérez originally arrived at Santiago University Hospital in June; the hospital