‘Toothlike’ vascular lesion removed from tween

A vascular lesion containing calcified blood clots located near a 12-year-old’s parotid gland was removed after imaging revealed an odd mass with a “toothlike” appearance. The case report was published May 20 in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports. Concerned that the unusual appearance on imaging was a tooth arising within germ cell tumors, the lesion was removed via a superficial parotidectomy. After the lesion, which contained phleboliths, was

Align partners with Asana, debuts Invisalign simulator

Align Technology announced it has partnered with dental management platform Asana and has introduced an outcome simulator for Invisalign clear aligners. Under the partnership, Invisalign clinicians in the U.S. will have access to Asana Smiles for Align, a customizable workflow platform with HIPAA-compliant features. Using the platform, clinicians can book consultations, submit prescriptions, monitor treatment plans, and prepare aligner delivery appointments. Additionally, Align introduced the patient communication tool Invisalign Outcome

Computer-controlled anesthesia cuts the ouch for kids

Children injected with computer-controlled intraligamentary anesthesia prior to molar extractions felt less pain than those given typical inferior alveolar nerve blocks, according to a study published May 20 in BMC Oral Health. Not only was the rapid-onset, short-duration intraligamentary technique as effective as the conventional method, but there were also no reports of children biting their lips and cheeks following the procedures, the authors noted. About one-third of children who

Drinking mouthwash causes man’s impaired vision

A 77-year-old man experienced impaired vision in both eyes due to ingesting large amounts of mouthwash for more than a year following a root canal procedure, according to a case report recently published in Survey of Ophthalmology. After the man stopped using the mouthwash, his vision improved, the authors wrote. With only one other similar case reported in the literature, the report raises awareness that chronic ingestion of over-the-counter mouthwash

KLOwen secures $10.5M

Orthodontics startup KLOwen has secured $10.5 million in financing, which it plans to use to further develop and support its Stride Custom Braces system. To date, Stride has featured metal brackets. KLOwen is developing a clear bracket option for the system that it is highlighting at the American Association of Orthodontists annual meeting that is currently being held in Miami Beach, FL. The series A funding round was backed by

Digital workflow can aid layering technique for anterior teeth

A digital workflow can be used to layer composite resin restorations, according to a study published in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. In the paper, researchers describe a process involving software and 3D templates to restore anterior teeth, helping to quickly create appealing restorations. Restoring anterior teeth is an important aspect of dentistry, and dentists must consider the restoration’s contour, color, anatomy, and translucency. Just as digital dental workflows have

Private equity firm launches orthodontic OPO

Private equity firm BPOC announced the launch of the orthodontic partnership organization (OPO) Bond Orthodontic Partners. Through Bond, BPOC will provide intellectual capital, operational expertise, and long-term growth alignment. Formed in 2021, Bond seeks to partner with orthodontists in the Western U.S. The Chicago-based private equity firm has a history of investing in provider-based service organizations, including Alliance Physical Therapy Partners and ClareMedica Health Partners.

Week in Review: Antibiotics and endocarditis | Drug delays gum tissue healing | Oral hygiene habits in the U.S.

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Are prophylactic antibiotics needed to prevent bacterial endocarditis in at-risk patients undergoing invasive dental procedures? The answer may surprise you. Read the details in our top story of the week. In our Restoratives & Cosmetics Community, a medication used to treat cancer may have prevented a 58-year-old man from healing following oral surgery. This is believed to be the first reported case of delayed gum tissue healing

Which is best in replacing a tooth that has to be removed?

Our teeth are our best friends, and we often take them for granted. We never understand how much we need them until they start hurting or we lose one. It’s pretty important to go to the dentist every now and then for check-ups to prevent this from happening. You don’t have to worry if you’ve lost a tooth (or multiple). Thanks to how much both medicine and dentistry have advanced, restoring

How 3D-printed resins stack up against traditional ones

Occlusal splints made with 3D-printed resins appear to show similar biocompatibility to resins created using conventional methods, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Dentistry. However, of four new resins tested in the study, one of the 3D-printed resins from a German-based medical and dental material company demonstrated toxicity on human gingival fibroblasts, suggesting that more studies are needed to further validate the safety of these resins.

Ormco launches Ultima Hook

Ormco is launching the Ultima Hook, which the company is touting as the “first and only” hook developed for the Ultima wire. The hooks are designed to correct maloccluded teeth in conjunction with orthodontic appliances. The Ultima Hook. Image courtesy of Ormco. Ultima Hooks are repositionable up to three times and are preplaced on the wire. They can also be placed flush against the bracket. Ultima Hooks are made from

More patients presenting with orofacial pain

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the number of patients seeking treatment for new orofacial pain complaints and related symptoms, according to a study in the Journal of the American Dental Association. The most common symptoms that providers felt were aggravated in these patients included anxiety, headache, bruxism, pain while chewing, and sleep disturbances. Researchers analyzed voluntary and anonymous online survey data regarding orofacial pain and perceptions