The starting point of all dental treatment is to listen to your patient’s chief complaints and his or her expectations. By having a good understanding of your patient’s desires, you will be able to present treatment options that will provide the desired results. Many years ago, communication was a major problem. I was a poor communicator with the people who worked for me and with my patients. I decided that
Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) clearly maps the neurovascular canals and the anatomic variants of patients’ upper and lower jaws, facilitating the safe performance of endodontic treatments, according to a case series published on September 15 in the Journal of Endodontics. CBCT imaging provides accurate, high-resolution visualization of the accessory canals of the jaws along with tools to evaluate areas of interest in detail and map the communications of accessory neurovascular
A cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan helped identify a fifth canal in the first premolar of a man who was undergoing a root canal. This is the first reported case of a fifth canal in this type of tooth, according to a case report published on September 10 in BMC Oral Health. The case highlights the need for clinicians to have a clear understanding of all tooth root canals to
COVID-19 has had a profound effect on dental practices across the U.S. In the early days of the pandemic, practices like my own were forced to shut down due to government mandates. Clinic closures and patient concerns about contracting the virus meant that important procedures (such as dental implants) were no longer on the table. My clinic and many others have seen implant work slow to a crawl, but I
Solmetex said it has received a new patent for its NXT Hg5 amalgam separator collection technology. U.S. patent No. 10,779,923 covers the design and use of NXT Hg5-compatible amalgam separation collection containers, according to the company. It’s the latest addition to the firm’s design and utility patent portfolio covering the NXT Hg5 product line, Solmetex said.
The ADA has reaffirmed its position on the safety and efficacy of dental amalgam following a statement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advising high-risk individuals to get nonmercury fillings instead of amalgam ones. In the September 25 statement, the FDA called for high-risk individuals, such as children and pregnant women, to avoid getting these fillings “whenever possible and appropriate.” In the past, the agency had stopped short
Researchers at New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry have been awarded a $3.9 million grant from the U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) to study chronic pain treatment. The five-year grant will support Nigel Bunnett, PhD, and Dr. Brian Schmidt, PhD, in their efforts to target endosomal receptors as a nonopioid pain treatment. The pair have collaborated since 2009 and have secured three other grants from the
For roughly a quarter of a century, there has been a way for dentists to deliver dental anesthetics efficiently and painlessly to patients. It’s been a game-changer in my practice, yet I’m learning through study groups and online discussions that not enough dentists are using it — or even know about it or how to use it properly. First introduced to the dental industry just before the start of the
Instead of recommending a complete ban of dental amalgam, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising that high-risk individuals, such as pregnant women, avoid getting these fillings “whenever possible and appropriate.” Those considered high risk are advised to receive nonmercury materials, such as composite resins or glass ionomer cement fillings. Previously, the agency warned that people in these groups may be at greater risk of adverse health events
The Spanish Society of Periodontology and Osseointegration (SEPA)-Oral Reconstruction Foundation Regenerative Symposium is joining forces with BioHorizons Camlog for the first joint conference to be held on October 30-31 as part of the SEPA OnAir 2020 congress. The congress will bring together experts in the field of regenerative surgery such as Juan Blanco, DDS, who will focus on the biological aspects of new soft-tissue augmentation materials; Andrés Pascual, DDS, who
Ditron Dental USA said that it will enter the U.S. dental implant market on October 1. The company’s dental implant product portfolio will feature its Ultimate (ULT) Precision dental implant system and its Molecular Precision Implant (MPI) system. In other news, Ditron Dental USA said it has appointed 30-year dental implant industry veteran Brian Bashaw as chief commercial officer.
Pulpdent has donated 600 applications of its Embrace varnish and 400 applications of its Embrace pit and fissure sealant to the Colorado-based nonprofit Deserving Dental. The organization provides free preventative dental care and education to individuals in homeless shelters, battered women shelters, human trafficking rescue centers, runaway youth shelters, correctional facilities, residential substance abuse treatment facilities, and homes for seniors, as well as to those with disabilities.
