Michigan, Oregon implant dentists can advertise credentials

Michigan and Oregon have signed and agreed to settlements allowing dentists with certain credentials from the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) and the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry (ABOI/ID) to advertise their expertise publicly. The settlements were made in June, according to a July 13 press release from the AAID. The agreement applies to fellows and associate fellows of the AAID and diplomates of the ABOI/ID. The settlement

ADA antibiotic guidelines are still shifting dental practices

New guidelines on antibiotic use for tooth pain and intraoral swelling have shifted the mindset about the use of antibiotics in dentistry, according to a session held on July 12 at the Illinois Department of Public Health’s 2022 Illinois Summit on Antimicrobial Stewardship. Guidelines released by the ADA in late 2019 changed dentistry’s thinking about prescribing antibiotics. The guidelines dispelled multiple myths, including that antibiotics must be started as soon

DIO and Patterson partner to offer dental implants

Dental implant manufacturer DIO USA finalized a deal to supply Patterson Dental with its DIOnavi implant system. The DIOnavi system simplifies dental implant procedures while delivering clinical outcomes that are more comfortable for the patient and less stressful for the doctor, according to the company. The system is a “case-in-a-box” kit that contains everything needed for surgery, including step-by-step drilling protocols and a customized video simulation of surgery. Patients can

Sage and SheepMedical partner to offer new aligners

Dental service organization Sage Dental has established a partnership with Japan’s SheepMedical to launch a line of orthodontic aligners in the U.S. SheepMedical’s KiyoClear orthodontic aligners will be available this fall to patients in Sage Dental’s 80-plus practices in Georgia and Florida. The aligners were developed in Japan to treat adult patients with severely crowded teeth. The KiyoClear aligners feature a removable dental expander that is used throughout treatment that

Rare bone marrow diseases linked to poor oral health

Patients with genetic disorders that impair the formation of blood cells and platelets may also have poor oral health, according to a study published on July 7 in the Pediatric Dental Journal. The oral health effects may be directly related to the diseases or other factors related to the conditions. The study analyzed the oral health status of patients with inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS), rare diseases related to

Dentists are detecting developmental disorders in children

Screening for developmental disorders and ensuring that the children who are suspected of having them receive the necessary support is crucial. Researchers observed a significant relationship between oral function and developmental disorders in a study published on July 9 in the Pediatric Dental Journal. One of the main objectives of conducting health checkups in pediatric patients is to assess the growth and development of children. In Japan, dentists have been

5 ways the oral microbiome influences health and disease

Our mouth is home to the second-largest microbial community in our body known as the oral microbiome. Trillions of microbes and more than 700 unique species of bacteria live in our oral cavity — on our tongue, cheeks, teeth, and in every little crevice. On average, an individual has between 100 to 200 unique species of oral bacteria. When this community becomes imbalanced and enters a state of dysbiosis, pathogenic

N.H. city halts water fluoridation due to U.S. fluoride shortage

This story has been updated. Please see the update here. A U.S. shortage of sodium fluoride, which is added to public water supplies to prevent tooth decay, has led a municipality in New Hampshire to stop fluoridating its water for multiple towns for several months. City of Dover representatives notified its residents on July 5 that its sodium fluoride supply will soon be gone, making it unable to achieve optimal

Biolase announces partnership with TeamSmile

Biolase announced a partnership with TeamSmile in which Biolase is donating iPlus Waterlase laser systems to provide children with free preventative dental care and oral education across the U.S. TeamSmile was launched in 2007 by Dr. Bill Busch of NKC Dental and Jason Krause of Henry Schein. Since then, it has held over 250 programs, serving over 45,000 children. TeamSmile has provided over $18 million in free dental care. The most common

Week in Review: Hypnotized dental patient | Too much dental debt | Call for CMS to expand Medicare dental coverage

Dear DrBicuspid Member, A dentist in New York hypnotized a 51-year-old patient to reduce his high blood pressure, clearing him to undergo scheduled restorative treatment. Within minutes of undergoing hypnotherapy, the patient was in a deep trance, and his blood pressure dropped to a level that made it safe for him to undergo restorative care on two teeth. Our top story of the week explains the details of this case

Most ED visits for toothaches result in antibiotics

Most adults and children who visit the emergency department (ED) for toothaches leave with prescriptions for antibiotics, according to a retrospective study published July 6 in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine. About 9 in 10 adults and approximately 6 in 10 children who presented at EDs with dental pain without obvious signs of infection were prescribed antibiotics. About half of adult patients were prescribed opioids, the authors wrote. “Opioids

Smile Health now offering Brava Independent Movers

California-based Smile Health Orthodontics announced that it is now offering Brava Independent Movers (formerly known as Brius) to patients in Beverly Hills. Brava uses a biomedical orthodontic approach that moves each tooth independently. Nickel and titanium arms connect each tooth to a bar that is attached to the back of the teeth. The bar is not visible when the patient talks or smiles. The company said the thickness and design