Attention all hygienists with tired aching fingers! Premier Dental Products Company is now offering a choice of three ergonomic handles on their NV1 Anterior Scaler and NV2 Posterior Scaler instruments. The Big Easy Ultralite handle, which is based on advanced polymer technology, is half an inch in diameter and weighs 16 grams. It has medical grade silicone grips which reduce finger fatigue, claims Premier. The Big Easy is a hollow
Slap on some hydrogen peroxide and it’s amazing what disappears from a tooth: bacteria, wine stains, even tetracycline coloring. But dental researchers have long wondered if anything more important disappears as well — such as some of the tooth itself. And in a recent spate of studies, they’ve come up with worrisome answers. Enamel, it seems, can tolerate a pretty harsh splash of bleach. But dentin is another matter, says
You think parallel parking your SUV in a Corolla-sized space is tough? Try putting a dental implant in just the right spot in someone’s mouth. In many cases, you don’t know what you’re facing until you expose the patient’s bone. “There are many unknowns that are hidden until the time of surgery,” said Dr. Joseph Califano, program director of periodontics at the University of Illinois at Chicago, in a press
3M Unitek has introduced Clarity SL braces — clear, self-litigating braces made from translucent ceramic. These braces use a clip to hold the wires in place eliminating the need for elastic bands (ligatures). “For the first time, adults and children who need braces no longer have to trade off looks or performance to achieve a beautiful smile,” said Anoop Sondhi, D.D.S., M.S., an orthodontist in a press release. “Clarity SL
Collagen Matrix announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared its SynOss synthetic material, a type of artificial bone, for oral surgery. The company said it had received 510(k) clearance for the bone substitute, meaning the FDA deems it at least as safe and effective as materials previously approved for the same purpose. SynOss synthetic mineral is an osteoconductive calcium phosphate-based bone graft material. Unlike hydroxyapatite materials,
Align Technology, Inc. has announced the launch of Vivera retainers — clear retainers made from the same technology as Invisalign aligners. These subscription-based retainers will be delivered to dentists or directly to the patient four times a year. “Vivera retainers were created to fit the needs of patients’ busy lifestyles,” said Rick Matty, general manager, new products at Align Technology in a press release. “Not only do patients get the
In Noorvik, Alaska where Aurora Johnson grew up, you don’t have to look very hard to see the importance of dentistry. The nearest dentist is an expensive plane ride away, and many Noorvik residents can’t afford the trip, much less the dentist’s bill. As a consequence, “a lot of my classmates in high school graduated with little or no teeth,” says Johnson. Motivated by this first-hand experience, Johnson, 36, now
Can you fight bacteria with bacteria? Apparently so, according to a new animal study in the November issue of the Journal of Dental Research. In the study, a mixture of beneficial bacteria was applied after scaling and root planing (a technique known as Guided Pocket Recolonization or GPR). The results: growth of plaque-causing bacteria was substantially slowed and reduced, as was inflammation. The technique could be a way to sidestep
Pumpkin patches, a nip in the air, goblins, ghosts, ghouls — and lots of candy. Yup, it’s that time of year again. And around the country, dentists want to know how they can avoid becoming the Grinch of Halloween. It’s a classic dilemma. On the one hand, sugar contributes to the damage that dentists spend their lives fixing. On the other hand, what’s Halloween without trick or treating? In coping
SAN FRANCISCO — Chomping away on gum has never been a charming habit, but now we have a legitimate medical excuse for it. That’s according to John W. Shaner D.M.D., M.S., Associate Professor at the Creighton University Medical Center School of Dentistry. He argues that xylitol- and sorbitol-based gums are so effective at fighting caries that dentists should be handing them out like… well, candy. “Sugar is the main driver
Where professors tread, lawyers are sure to follow. A new consensus statement that will be published in the November issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association looks likely to increase dentists’ liability for preventing cavities. “Consensus Statement Caries Management by Risk Assessment: Implementation Guidelines to Support Oral Health” briefly describes how dentists should assess their patients’ risk of caries and work aggressively — using counseling, antibacterials, and remineralizing
After attending a meeting on plaque in the late 1990s, Albany, California dentist Nathan Kaufman, DDS, began to see just how much dentists could do to prevent caries. The realization gradually led him to transform the way he treats his patients — and the way he makes his living. “We’re changing the paradigm,” he says Dr. Kaufman has joined a new movement in dentistry called caries management by risk assessment