Dominion extends teledentistry coverage

Dental and vision insurer Dominion National announced that it is extending its coverage of teledentistry indefinitely. The coverage applies to in-network teledentistry consults. The company first extended its teledentistry benefits in March of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “While not a replacement for in-person dental treatment, teledentistry is a convenient way to help maintain a happy and healthy smile in between regularly scheduled dental appointments,” Dominion President Mike

Formlabs launches new indirect bonding tray resin

3D printing company Formlabs has launched a new indirect bonding tray (IBT) resin for orthodontic bracket placement. The indirect bonding tray resin. All images courtesy of Formlabs. Traditionally, orthodontists place brackets by hand, one at a time, the company said. With its IBT resin and 3D printing technology, providers can use intraoral patient scans to create trays that hold the brackets in place for faster placement, according to Formlabs.

Air Techniques to host aerosol reduction course at Chicago Midwinter

Dental equipment manufacturer Air Techniques will host an aerosol reduction course at the upcoming Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter meeting from February 25 to 27. The course, called “A Practical Approach to Aerosol Mitigation,” will be presented by Martin Koch, PhD, of Dürr Dental in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany. It will help attendees identify the risks and properties of dental aerosol particles generated by turbine and water jet devices, Air Techniques said.

Zimmer Biomet names CEO of dental, spine spinoff

Zimmer Biomet has named Vafa Jamali as the new CEO of NewCo, its newly spun off dental and spine company. Zimmer Biomet announced plans in early February to create NewCo as an independent, publicly traded company The spin off transaction is expected to close in mid-2022, noted Zimmer Biomet. Jamali was tapped to the lead the new company because of his extensive knowledge and experience in the medical device industry,

New CAD preop aid could help reduce radiation exposure

A new CAD-based referencing method that uses a digital dental scan could help reduce radiation exposure before craniomaxillofacial surgeries, according to a study published on February 7 in the International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery. The experimental reference method was accurate in an in vitro analysis led by Dr. Alexander Zeller, a resident in oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of Hannover in Germany. It could obviate

Looking for an easier way to copy dentures? It’s here

Clinicians can duplicate complete dentures quickly and easily with a general intraoral scanner and free, downloadable CAD software, according to a study published on February 3 in the Journal of Prosthodontics. CAD/CAM simplifies the process by capturing the form of the dentures with a scanner. Then, a 3D printer or milling machine is used to complete the denture duplication process, which may result in a reduction of cost and treatment

Study flags cancer risks from dental x-rays

Dental x-ray radiation exposure caused an estimated 967 cancers in the U.S. in 2019, according to a recent study published in Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology. Of these cancers, the vast majority could have been prevented, the researchers found. Dental radiography-related cancers represent about 3% of new cancers in the oral cavity/pharynx and 5% of brain tumors. However, as many of 75% of these cancers might

Henry Schein reports rise in dental, overall sales in Q4

Henry Schein reported growth in overall sales, including dental sales, for the fourth quarter of 2020. Total net sales grew 18.6% to $3.2 billion in the fourth quarter (end-December 26, 2020), compared with $2.7 billion in the same period a year ago. Dental sales for the fourth quarter of 2020 increased by 7.2% to $1.8 billion, compared with $1.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2019. The company attributed the growth, in part, to

Purdue Pharma releases new antiseptic oral rinse

Purdue Pharma’s Avrio Health subsidiary has launched a Betadine oral antiseptic preprocedural rinse. The Betadine oral rinse (active ingredient, 0.5% povidone-iodine) is intended to be administered orally to prepare the oral mucosa prior to injection, dental surgery, or tooth extraction, according to Purdue Pharma. It’s available for professional use only through local dental distributors.

ACP swears in Hutten as new president

The American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) has sworn in Dr. Mark Hutten as its new president. Dr. Mark Hutten. Image courtesy of the ACP. A maxillofacial prosthodontist trained in oral oncology and complex dental restorations, Hutten has been director of the General Practice Residency Program and Dental Oncologic Services of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago since 1996. In addition, he is an associate clinical professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg School

Fat Tuesday: 4 sugar facts for you and your patients

Sugar consumption is a well-known factor that affects oral and systemic health. Many holidays provide the opportunity for the consumption of added sugars, including the most recent holidays, Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras. Appreciation on Valentine’s Day is often expressed with sweets, and it’s tradition to give chocolates or other sugary desserts as a heartfelt gift. Meanwhile, Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is a day of overindulging by

Kuraray Noritake debuts new universal composite

Kuraray Noritake has launched a new Clearfil Majesty ES-2 universal composite for posterior restorations. The material eliminates the need for shade selection and only requires a monolayer technique, the firm said. A blocker or opaquer is not needed because of the material’s specific level of translucency and the use of Kuraray Noritake’s light diffusion technology (LDT). LDT diffuses light in a way similar to natural tooth structure, Kuraray Noritake noted.