A jury has ruled in favor of Ormco, a subsidiary of Danaher, in its patent infringement case against Align Technology, the company announced. The jury unanimously found that Align’s process for creating its Invisalign aligners infringed several claims of a patent (U.S. Patent No. 6,616,444) held by Ormco, the company said. The claims at issue cover a process for creating 3D representations of a patient’s teeth for use in modeling
Zila has entered into a deal to be acquired by Tolmar Holding, a privately held pharmaceutical research, development, manufacturing, and commercial operations company. Under terms of the agreement, Tolmar will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Zila for a cash purchase price of 38¢ per share (approximately $3.97 million, based upon the number of outstanding shares), representing an approximate premium of 18% over the closing price of Zila’s shares
Milestone Scientific has announced that it is refining its marketing strategy to gain greater access to the international dental markets for the STA Single Tooth Anesthesia System, CompuDent, and related disposable hand pieces. The new sales strategy will focus on increasing hands-on oversight and support of Milestone’s existing international distribution network, while also attracting new distributors throughout Europe, Asia, and South America, according to the company. Shaul Koren, founder and
After a month of intense debate, the Louisiana Legislature has unanimously passed legislation that would regulate school-based dentistry. But the final bill falls far short of the near-total ban originally proposed by the Louisiana Dental Association (LDA). The bill passed unanimously in the House of Representatives and Senate today. The bill now heads to Gov. Bobby Jindal’s desk for consideration. On Wednesday, the House rejected the Senate’s version of H.B.
Coffee extract can inhibit the bacteria that lead to bad breath, according to new research from Tel Aviv University (TAU). “Everybody thinks that coffee causes bad breath and it’s often true, because coffee, which has a dehydrating effect in the mouth, becomes potent when mixed with milk and can ferment into smelly substances,” said lead researcher Mel Rosenberg of TAU’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine in a press release. “Contrary to
In their first draft of legislation to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system, Democrats in the House of Representatives propose extending dental coverage to all children nationwide, echoing a similar proposal from the Senate. In the House bill, employers who don’t offer health insurance and individuals who don’t buy the insurance would pay fines. Insurance companies would have to accept all applicants who could pay. People who can’t afford the insurance
Richard Lamont, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Florida College of Dentistry Department of Oral Biology, has received the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Merit Award for his work on the molecular dialogue between oral bacteria and host cells. The award recognizes researchers who have demonstrated superior competence and outstanding productivity in research endeavor. In January, Lamont initially received a five-year, $2.4 million grant for his study, “P. Gingivalis
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) has named John K. Sullivan, D.D.S., its vice president and future president, according to the Visalia Times-Delta & Advance-Register. Dr. Sullivan, who owns the Smiles By Sullivan general practice in Tulare, CA., will become the AACD president in May 2012, the paper reported. The current president is Michael Sesemann, D.D.S., of Omaha, NE. He will be succeeded in May 2010 by Hugh Flax,
All 27 of the most recent graduates of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s dental hygiene major have passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam, the college announced. The exam assesses the hygienists’ ability to understand important information from basic biomedical and dental/dental hygiene sciences, as well as the ability to apply such information in a problem-solving context. Penn College offers an associate degree in dental hygiene and a bachelor’s degrees in
Align Technology has come under fire since announcing that, starting June 1, all dentists who want to be “active Invisalign providers” must start at least 10 Invisalign cases and complete at least 10 Invisalign continuing education courses annually. But the company is defending its new “proficiency program,” saying the change is necessary to maintain the integrity of the Invisalign brand and ensure that patients receive the best treatment possible. .pullQuoteCredit
The U.K. National Health Service is questioning whether dentists should restore lesions in symptomless primary teeth, according to a report from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Some retrospective studies, such as one in the British Dental Journal (February 23, 2002, Vol. 192:4, pp. 219-223), have suggested that symptomless primary teeth fare no better when treated than when untreated. Either way, most fall out before they cause pain. So the health
The Ohio Legislature is considering a bill that would create a new type of supervision for dental hygienists working outside the dental office. The bill, H.B. 190, introduced in late May by Rep. Lorraine Fende (D-Willowick), would allow dentists to send properly trained hygienists to certain designated public health settings outside the dental office and see patients without the dentist present. The bill has the full support of the Ohio