3Shape, Solidscape partner on automated dental form production

3Shape A/S has joined forces with Solidscape to offer dental labs fully automatic preparation and generation of directly castable dental forms, according to the company. 3Shape and Solidscape engineers have collaborated to create a seamless integration of Solidscape’s ModelWorks printing setup software with the 3Shape CAMbridge software. The integration-solution within 3Shape CAMbridge allows users to select “Solidscape” as the output device, automatically and visually arrange and orient the restorations, add

3M announces new indications for Protemp Crown

3M ESPE has announced new indications for its Protemp Crown temporization material. Dentists can now use the preformed, malleable temporary crown for implant abutments and digital impressions, as well as for long-term temporization, the company said. The material is currently used for creating single-unit temporary posterior crowns. The crown can be used to offer patients a more natural-looking appearance after the healing and osseointegration of an implant has occurred, and

AAPD names new president-elect

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) named John Liu, D.D.S., of Issaquah, WA, as its new president-elect at its recent annual session in Hawaii, the organization announced. Dr. Liu has been a member of the AAPD since 1988. He has served as the academy’s vice president (2008-2009), secretary-treasurer (2007-2008), and trustee-at-large (2002-2005). Dr. Liu attended dental school at Loma Linda University in California and received his pediatric dentistry certificate

AAOMS applauds introduction of CARES Act

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) applauds U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) on introducing S. 1235, the Senate companion bill to H.R. 1339, the Children’s Access to Reconstructive Evaluation and Surgery (CARES) Act. The bill would require insurance plans that provide surgical benefits, including those under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, to cover reconstructive surgeries for children with congenital deformities, including craniofacial anomalies, according to the

Violight toothbrush sanitizers now sold through dental offices

Violight, manufacturers of the Vio 100 and Vio 200 ultraviolet light toothbrush sanitizers, is offering a Dental Professional Distribution Program that enables authorized dental offices to provide their patients with the company’s products, the company announced. The program offers a retail model for dentists who prefer to stock and dispense products within the practice, and a referral program for those who would rather have the commerce handled by Violight. Participating

Louisiana mobile dentistry bill forges ahead

After the Louisiana Senate Health and Welfare Committee unanimously agreed to send a bill that seeks to regulate school-based dentistry to the Senate last week for consideration, the Senate just as quickly and overwhelming passed the bill today. It now goes back to the House for final review before heading to the governor’s desk. The bill bears little resemblance to the original proposed legislation, which set out to ban most

New Arkansas hygiene program planned

Arkansas dental hygiene students will be able to further their education at a new program offered through Arkansas State University Mountain Home (ASUMH) in conjunction with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) starting in August, according to the Baxter Bulletin. Currently, only an associate degree in dental hygiene is available at ASUMH, while UAMS offers both associate and bachelor’s degrees. Students will study at the Mountain Home Christian

Hey, Dr. Brush N. Floss — Brush and floss!

Editor’s note: Jimmy Earll (not his real name) is a practicing dentist in Northern California and a stand-up comic who performs all over North America. His column, Laughing Gas, appears regularly on the HuangshanDental.com advice and opinion page, Second Opinion. I’m not sure what inspired me to become a dentist. One thing I know for sure, though, it had nothing to do with my childhood dentist. I grew up in

Nanotechnology helps create root canal sealer

Researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia have developed what they say is the world’s first endodontic sealer to employ nanotechnology. It was developed over a three-year period through a collaboration of chemists, dentists, biologists, and other scientists, according to the university. The material, known as NanoSeal Plus, uses modified silica nanocomposites as filler. It has a structure similar to the tooth and actively seals all the tiny gaps within the dead

Grant recipients honored at Give Kids A Smile Gala

The ADA Foundation honored five grant recipients of the Give Kids A Smile Program Growth Fund at its annual awards gala, held recently in Washington, DC. For the second year in a row, CareCredit’s annual $100,000 donation to the fund has enabled five key programs to expand services and access to care for children in underserved communities, the company announced. As a result, the 2009 grant recipients each received $20,000

Komet offers new diamond bur for cutting zirconia crowns

Dentists who place a lot of zirconia (zirconium oxide) crowns in their practice require an instrument that cuts and removes that material efficiently, and Komet USA is now offering just such an instrument, according to the company. Designed to remove zirconium-oxide restorations, Komet’s 4ZR diamond crown cutter allows dentists to feel the impact by removing zirconia crowns fast and efficiently, the company said. Similar to Komet’s ZR-Diamonds, the diamond particles

Plasma probe battles biofilms

Researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) and Loma Linda University have developed a novel dental probe that uses room-temperature plasma to eliminate biofilms in the oral cavity. And they contend that this nonthermal plasma is safer and more effective than lasers for endodontic disinfection (Plasma Processes and Polymers, April 20, 2009). .pullQuoteCredit { align:right; text-align:right; font-family:arial, sans-serif; font-size:11px; line-height: 16px; font-style: normal; padding-top:2px; } “Plasma is the future.”