Periodontitis may be a risk factor for COVID-19, and it may make patients vulnerable to severe complications, including death, according to a study published on February 1 in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology. People who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and also had periodontitis were more than nine times as likely to die than those who didn’t have severe gum disease. These patients were also about four times more likely
Voco America has released a new zinc oxide-based transparent noneugenol temporary cement called Provicol QM Aesthetic. Provicol QM secures provisional crowns and bridges without affecting the color of the restoration, according to the firm. Zinc oxide-based cements differ from resin-based ones in that they do not permanently bond to composite core buildups, Voco America said. The cement is available in 5-mL automix syringes, according to the company. Voco’s Provicol QM
Healthcare investment bank Viper Equity Partners predicts buyers will aggressively purchase multiple endodontic, orthodontic, and oral surgery practices in 2021. Viper expects that when dental service organizations and private equity firms make purchases, they will buy six to seven at a time. It has a waiting list of potential buyers, the bank said.
Align Technology announced it has posted 2020 fourth-quarter and fiscal year gains. The company’s fourth-quarter revenues (end-December 31, 2020) increased by 28.4% over the same period in 2019, from $649.8 million to $834.5 million. Net income for the quarter was $159 million, up from $121.3 million in 2019, the company said. Revenues from the company’s Clear Aligner business were $700.7 million, up 28.9% from $543.6 million in the prior year’s fourth quarter. Total 2020 revenues were
GC America has introduced the G2-Bond Universal two-bottle universal bonding kit, which will be available for purchase on February 15. The kit optimizes bonding through its hydrophobic bond layer, which aims to reduce the occurrence of water sorption. The thickness of the layer acts as a shock absorber, avoiding gap formation and debonding, especially with high shrinkage and bulk-fill composites. The adhesive can be used for many types of restorations,
Materials and equipment company Shofu Dental is highlighting the results of a clinical evaluation that found high user ratings for its Fit SA bioactive self-adhesive flowable composite. The study was conducted by the Dental Advisor and included 30 evaluators and 787 total uses. Fit SA received a 92% rating of 4.5 or higher out of five. Fit SA is free of bisphenol A (BPA) and is designed for use as
Dentsply Sirona has divested Ransom & Randolph, a manufacturer and supplier of casting for dental labs, foundries, and other markets. The subsidiary was acquired by Los Angeles-based private capital firm PMC Capital. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Michel Tamer, PMC managing partner, praised the move as mutually beneficial for both PMC and Dentsply Sirona. The divestiture furthers Dentsply Sirona’s strategy to focus on its core business, according to
Bleeding gums have long been known as a potential indicator of gingivitis, but they may also be a sign that patients have a vitamin C deficiency, according to a systematic review published on February 1 in Nutrition Reviews. The World Health Organization’s recommended daily dose of vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid (AA), aims to prevent scurvy but may be too low to stave off increased gingival bleeding, the
The COVID-19 pandemic has meant decreased access to pediatric dental care and will likely result in poorer oral health in children, according to a new editorial out of the U.K. Action on a national scale is needed to reverse the decline. There has been an increase in caries and an overall increase in tooth extractions requiring general anesthesia among children, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, as a result of the
Clinicians should suspect underlying dental conditions when patients present with a rare, potentially life-threatening Pott’s puffy tumor or frontal bone osteomyelitis, according to a review published in the February issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Patients who have a Pott’s puffy tumor should receive comprehensive oral cavity and dental examinations and should be referred to dental colleagues when necessary, as initial imaging may not identify all dental
The Texas A&M College of Dentistry has received a five-year, $3.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide dental services to special-needs patients who age out of pediatric dental care at age 12 or 13. These patients often have difficulty maintaining their oral healthcare because many procedures, including routine cleaning, require sedation. Few places offer training for special-needs dentistry,
The University of Pennsylvania’s (Penn) School of Dental Medicine and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences formed the Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry (CiPD) on January 22, which will work to address unmet needs in oral health. The online launch party included deans from both schools, partners from throughout the university, and invited guests, including U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Director Dr. Rena D’Souza, PhD. The
