Scientists have discovered a small area in the brains of mice that dampens their sense of pain, which could eventually lead to new pain management treatments for humans, according to a study published on May 18 in Nature Neuroscience. The area that turns off pain was found in the central amygdala, and general anesthesia activates a specific subset of inhibitory neurons in this part of the brain. This was a
When I last interviewed Ryan Molis, DDS, we talked at length about his dental practice and booming Invisalign business. Of course, our world has changed a great deal since that late January interview. As a practitioner-adviser to Align Technology’s CEO and leadership, Dr. Molis has established himself as one of the most successful dentists in the world when it comes to Invisalign. With his Illinois practice now back open after shutting
You might read the title of this article and then start scratching your head, asking yourself, “What is he talking about? Is he just trying to catch my attention? Maybe even confuse me?” Well, here’s why I am talking about the correlation between COVID-19, gum disease, and diet. The connection is our immune system. And, yes, I want your attention so I can share my thoughts about this association, your
Solmetex has received a utility patent and two design patents for its NXT amalgam separator system. The utility patent, U.S. patent No. 10,646,313 B2, is for a dental amalgam separation system that removes amalgam, metallic particles, and abrasive solids from dental office waste. Design patents No. D840,534 S and No. D848,612 S are for dental amalgam separation collection containers used with its amalgam separator system.
Imaging, specifically cone-beam CT (CBCT), helped clinicians remove an ectopic third molar and an infected cyst from a patient’s maxillary sinus, which is a rare site for a tooth to erupt, according to a recent case report published on the open-access platform F1000Research. The case showcases the importance of using the appropriate tools to evaluate patients and to prepare clinicians for procedures, according to the authors. “The CBCT assessment of
Clinicians removed a 3-cm needle from a patient who swallowed it, likely during a dental procedure, according to a recent case report published in the April issue of the Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. This is believed to be the first reported case of an ingested dental needle causing neck pain, the authors wrote. “Since human error is inevitable, we must create systems and follow safety measures to
SmileDirectClub has appointed Chris Thompson as its new vice president of professional sales. Thompson will help the company build its Office Direct program, which allows users to offer SmileDirectClub clear aligner treatment both in-office and via telehealth, it said. Since the program’s launch in January, dentists from 21 U.S. states have joined, according to the firm. Thompson has previously served as global head of orthodontic sales at Carbon, in addition
Porphyromonas gingivalis, the main pathogen that causes chronic periodontitis, can invade the brain, triggering symptoms characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study published online on May 5 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. Results showed that P. gingivalis can invade and persist in mature human neurons expressing active proteases known as gingipains, further strengthening the tie between the bacteria and the degenerative brain disease. A better understanding of the
Align Technology has added a new tool to its treatment planning software that allows patients to see what their smiles may look like after Invisalign treatment. ClinCheck Pro 6.0 includes the new “In-Face” Visualization tool, which is an enhanced doctor-facing digital clinical tool that combines a photo of the patient’s face with the person’s 3D treatment plan, creating a personalized view of how he or she could look. The updated
Artificial intelligence (AI) can locate mandibular canals with high levels of accuracy, which may make the dental implant restoration process easier for dentists, according to a recent study published in Scientific Reports. A deep-learning model that is based on artificial neural networks was able to locate mandibular canals as well as humans can in simple cases that did not involve abnormalities, such as tumors. Automating this process may give clinicians
Neocis has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a Yomi component that reduces the CT scanner field-of-view requirements. This will broaden the market for its Yomi robot-assisted dental implant surgery system, making it compatible with a wider variety of scanners across a larger range of fields-of-view, according to the company.
SmileSnap, a virtual consultation and appointment platform for dentists and orthodontists, has closed a seed financing round. The funds will be used to hire additional software engineering and product personnel to enhance SmileSnap’s product portfolio, the company stated. In other news, SmileSnap recently launched SmileSnap Pro, which is, according to the company, a more advanced application that gives dental professionals the ability to continue providing care to patients beyond initial
