SmileDirectClub to appeal order to pay $63M to Align Technology

SmileDirectClub plans to appeal a California court’s decision to confirm an order requiring the clear aligner company to pay $63 million to Align Technology, a former partner and maker of Invisalign, over a supply agreement dispute. In granting Align’s petition to confirm the award, California’s Superior Court of Santa Clara County on August 21 also denied SmileDirectClub’s petition to vacate the award. “It remains the company’s position that Align procured

What’s the best way to replace anterior teeth?

When it comes to replacing anterior teeth, implant-supported single crowns (ISSCs) may fare better than resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses (RBFDPs), according to a study published on August 21 in Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research. The failure and complication rates were higher in patients with resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses, the authors wrote. “ISSCs have lower complication and failure rates and thereby a better survival and prognosis, which makes them a

Developer of pulsating air clear aligner raises $5M

Dror Ortho-Design company, an artificial intelligence orthodontic platform that has developed a clear aligner that straightens teeth via pulsating air, has closed on $5 million in private placement financing and a share exchange with Novint Technologies Inc. Dror’s Aerodentis platform uses custom-made aligners to gently move teeth into their optimal position with pulsating air while a patient sleeps or is at home. The aligner does not need to be worn

2nd patient dies from TB-tainted bone graft, lawmaker wants answers

Bone graft materials infected with tuberculosis (TB) that were used in three dozen dental and medical procedures have led to a second patient’s death, triggering a U.S. legislator who has had several bone grafts to call for stricter bone tissue implantation regulations. Of the 36 people who received tainted bone grafts from Aziyo Biologics, five patients have become infected with TB, including two who died, according to an August 11

What does the perfect jaw look like? New survey finds the right angles for an ideal face shape

What jaw shape traits are considered ideal in women? Belgian researchers have identified angles that may help guide procedures to give women the ideal jaw shape, according to a study published on August 21 in the Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery. Clinicians can use the shapes considered attractive to help design a jaw angle implant, define jaw surgery strategies, or shape angles using injectables, the authors wrote, led by Dr. Maurice

Shofu Dental debuts DentaLaze wireless diode laser

Shofu Dental has debuted the DentaLaze, a wireless diode laser with a compact, ergonomic design. It is intended for intraoral soft-tissue procedures, such as gingivectomies, frenectomies, and impression troughing. The DentaLaze delivers 3 watts of constant power and 5 watts of pulsed infrared power at 808 nm, according to the company. It features a green beam to assist with aiming and visual clarity during procedures and runs for up to

A Guide to Getting Dentures in Mexico: Process, Expectations, and Cost

For patients facing the challenges of missing teeth or severe dental issues, dentures can be a life-changing solution, restoring not only their smiles but also their confidence and oral functionality. As an increasingly popular option for dental treatment, dentures have been sought after by countless patients seeking to improve their quality of life and regain their ability to chew, speak, and smile comfortably. In recent years, more patients have chosen

3rd-molar surgery patients open to relief but not cost of bupivacaine

Patients want to receive the long-acting local anesthetic liposomal bupivacaine to help manage pain after third-molar surgery, but few are willing to pay for it themselves, according to study findings published earlier this month in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. In addition to the cost, there was a link to patients’ interest in the use of liposomal bupivacaine (LB) for third-molar extractions and concern about the addictive potential

Metformin may help manage periodontitis

New research in mice has revealed a potential role for metformin in managing periodontitis, according to a study published in Genes & Diseases. A group at Chongqing Medical University in China studied cellular interactions to elucidate metformin’s potential role in relation to HMGB1, a proinflammatory protein involved in the progression of periodontitis. They observed that metformin inhibited HMGB1 by triggering autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR cellular pathway. “While our study presents

Antifibrinolytic drug may benefit jaw surgery patients

Using tranexamic acid during orthognathic surgery may reduce blood loss and the amount of irrigation fluids needed and increases surgical site quality. The review was published on August 7 in the Journal of Stomatology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Tranexamic acid, a synthetic derivative of lysine that works to improve blood clotting, may be an effective adjuvant in decreasing bleeding during jaw surgery, the authors wrote. “As a result, the potential

Lesions in the periradicular area may be nonendodontic

The chances of encountering nonendodontic lesions in periradicular tissues are nearly 8%, and up to 3% of biopsies conducted on teeth with pulp necrosis were confirmed to not be of an endodontic origin, according to a study published in the Journal of Endodontics. Since these findings were established after comprehensive clinical exams, histological investigations are needed to obtain a definitive diagnosis, according to an 18-year retrospective study. It is believed

Microbiomes play ‘major’ role in childhood caries

Children’s microbiomes in their dental biofilms play major — and previously unrecognized roles — in dental disease, according to research published recently in Nature Communications. A team led by Dr. Kimon Divaris, PhD, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reported that dental caries in children are characterized by an imbalance in the oral microbiome and that certain previously unrecognized bacterial community members interact in complex ways in