Q: What do you think of ultraviolet toothbrush sanitizers? A: I think they are good to have, considering they don’t cost much and have been shown to kill more than 99.9% of pathogenic bacteria that proliferate on your toothbrush every day. As we get into flu season, reducing the transmission of the flu virus is essential. The Sonicare toothbrush. Image courtesy of Philips. The kind of light produced by toothbrush
A grant of $493,872 from a cigarette tax fund will allow Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert medical centers in Arizona to provide free oral preventive care and hygiene education to more than 3,000 underserved children across the East Valley, according to the East Valley Tribune. Administered by Catholic Healthcare West Foundation-East Valley, the grant will pay for about 6,800 fluoride varnish treatments, dental screenings, and referrals, as well as oral
Philips Sonicare has launched FlexCare+, the latest addition to its line of power toothbrushes, at this week’s ADA annual meeting in Honolulu. The FlexCare+ is “specifically designed to motivate patients to achieve consistent oral homecare for improved gum health,” the company said in a press release. With features including a new Gum Care mode that provides two minutes of overall cleaning followed by one minute of gentle cleaning, FlexCare+ is
A court ruling in Melbourne, Australia, this week is being hailed for setting a precedent regarding who can perform teeth-whitening procedures in the country, according to a story on news.com.au. Suong “Becky” Van Thi was convicted and fined $2,000 Australian ($1,731 U.S.) for whitening teeth in a beauty salon without being a registered dental care provider, according to the story. Magistrate Jill Crowe said teeth-whitening is an “invasive and irreversible
In a recently published meta-analysis of marginal bone level maintenance following dental implant surgery, the Astra Tech implant system showed the best results, with only -0.24 mm of bone reduction after five years, the company announced. The purpose of the study was to compile and compare data on marginal bone level changes between loading and five years of function for all implant systems currently on the market (Clinical Implant Dentistyr
The mother of a 15-year-old boy who died from wearing a fentanyl patch prescribed after dental surgery is suing Seattle Children’s Hospital and the two dentists who prescribed the drug. .pullQuoteCredit { align:right; text-align:right; font-family:arial, sans-serif; font-size:11px; line-height: 16px; font-style: normal; padding-top:2px; } “I cannot even begin to describe the pain and sorrow that I feel for the death of my dear son.” — Tammy Jarbo-Blankenship The hospital has accepted
Astra Tech has formed a strategic alliance with Dental Wings, a provider of CAD/CAM solutions with specialized development of 3D scanners, beginning in early 2010. As a result, Dental Wings users worldwide will be able to remotely transfer scans to Astra Tech’s design and manufacturing centers for the production of Atlantis patient-specific abutments for all major implant systems. “This new partnership with Dental Wings is an important step in our
Dental implants have emerged as a popular treatment option for missing or damaged teeth, as they allow restorations with optimal functional and aesthetic results without damaging surrounding healthy teeth or tissues. With an increasing number of dental implant systems on the market and the growing pressures of today’s economic climate, choosing a less expensive implant platform to reduce costs for your office and patients can be tempting. However, not all
Align Technology has announced updates to its Invisalign Proficiency Requirements, including a new designation for doctors who meet the annual requirements and a six-month extension of the required qualification period in 2010. The Invisalign Proficiency Requirements were launched June 1 to help ensure a baseline of Invisalign product experience and knowledge through minimum annual case and continuing education (CE) goals, according to the company. To maintain active provider status, doctors
A five-year clinical study performed by 3M ESPE on occlusal contact wear found no statistically significant difference between Filtek Supreme universal restorative and enamel, demonstrating the material’s high strength, the company announced. Photographic evidence and optical analyses show that Filtek Supreme universal restorative retains a smoother finish and higher gloss than most restoratives, according to 3M ESPE. The company attributed this performance to the material’s unique nanoclusters — clusters of
Sometimes it takes death to move a bureaucracy. Or two. When Chicago elementary school principal Georgette Watson died during root canal therapy in 2007, it was the second time in as many years that a sedated patient had died in a Chicago dental office. So last week Illinois published draft rules that would more closely align its rules with ADA guidelines. But in the two years since the ADA issued
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Heraeus Kulzer is offering Venus White teeth-whitening gel for free through its Venus Smile Program. The Venus White Breast Cancer Initiative is a key part of Heraeus’ larger citizenship program and reflects the company’s commitment to use its resources to help enhance the health and well-being of women, the company announced. “We are inspired by the tireless work of those on the front