Oral ‘black fungus’ infection linked to COVID-19 treatment

Oral surgeons should be aware of a rare, serious oral fungal infection that may occur after COVID-19 treatment, according to a case report from Tennessee published on September 19 in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The 75-year-old man described in the report underwent several procedures, including the extraction of multiple teeth, removal of zygomatic and maxillary bone, and exenteration of his eye, to treat his rhinocerebral mucormycosis, also

Dental Practice Made Simple: The children-only hygienist

Dental Practice Made Simple is a video series from HuangshanDental.com and Levin Group. Tune in every Wednesday for a quick tip from Dr. Roger P. Levin to learn how to build high-powered, proven systems that lead to practice success. If you have a larger practice that sees enough children, it might be worth hiring a dedicated hygienist to perform cleanings specifically for kids, Levin said in the latest episode of Dental

Exocad releases ChairsideCAD 3.0 Galway software

Exocad, an Align Technology company, is releasing its ChairsideCAD 3.0 Galway software. The software will be showcased at this year’s International Dental Show (IDS) in Cologne, Germany. The software includes a step-by-step guide through the design process and integration with open intraoral scanners, production devices, and implant systems. The company also touted improvements for automatic design proposals, including for anatomic morphing, smile design, data transfer, and integration between DentalCAD and

Want to appear more popular? Whiten your teeth

In a recent study on tooth color, participants ranked models with white teeth as more popular, friendly, intelligent, and confident. Participants also deemed models with whitened teeth to be younger and better educated. The findings, published in the September issue of the Journal of Dentistry, shed light on how society uses tooth color to make judgements. They also reveal how tooth color can influence social interaction and social well-being, according

9 questions and 2 solutions for sensitive, sore gums

Barbara is a new patient of a dental colleague I know well. He is a well-trained biological dentist. Barbara was at her wits end, and he was perplexed. Barbara frequently had sore, inflamed, and sensitive gums — especially after she had any dental procedure performed. She also had many existing dental restorations. Interestingly, Barbara had blood tests to determine the compatibility of these dental materials before they were placed. No

3Shape offers night-guard design

The 3Shape Automate artificial intelligence-powered remote digital design service is now available for night guards. The cost of night-guard design starts at $9.99, according to the company. Designs can be available via the 3Shape Automate website within 10 minutes. 3Shape worked extensively with Keystone Industries and its line of resins to validate the night-guard designs. The companies will host a webinar on September 23 at 9 a.m. Pacific time to

Do you know how to care for your patients with MS?

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are at greater risk of developing periodontal disease and caries due to difficulties they may have performing oral care and accessing a dentist, according to a clinical paper published in the British Dental Journal. MS is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory condition that affects the central nervous system. Due to the degenerative nature of the disease, clinicians should develop a careful oral health plan that addresses

Full Mouth Reconstruction

You’ve decided to go to your dentist and he/she said that the only thing left to do is to get a full mouth reconstruction. It’s been years and it finally makes sense; you’ve found yourself experiencing different teeth problems that you just weren’t able to treat. Your teeth have always ached, you’ve experienced pain in different regions of your mouth and yet you couldn’t understand why. Some of your teeth

Dental Bone Graft: What is it?

You’ve probably heard about dental implants before, and with due reason; dental implants are among the most common procedures in dentistry. These implants are meant to replace the missing root portion of a tooth; then, a crown is placed on the implant, making it look like a real tooth. Sometimes, the bone that is used to support the implant might be damaged, and your specialist might tell you that she/he

Week in Review: Orthodontist pleads guilty | Creative surgical methods | Dental Infection Control Awareness Month

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Our top story of the week provided the details in a legal case involving a well-known orthodontist who pleaded guilty in connection with a public corruption scheme involving a former state senator from Arkansas. Dr. Benjamin Burris pleaded guilty this week to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas. The 49-year-old clinician admitted

Ultradent, Align strike tooth-whitening aligner deal

Align Technology signed a multiyear deal to sell a professional whitening system for aligners and retainers made by Ultradent Products. The Invisalign Professional Whitening System is designed to be used with Invisalign aligners and Vivera retainers. The system, which contains an opalescence potassium nitrate and fluoride whitening formula, will be commercially available in 2022. “We believe that by providing an all-in-one solution … we enable Invisalign-trained doctors to enhance their

vVardis partners with CareQuest on drill-free tech

vVardis is partnering with CareQuest Innovation Partners to develop drill-free technologies to eradicate tooth decay, the company announced. As part of this partnership, vVardis is conducting a treatment pilot study in certain dental practices affiliated with the nonprofit CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. (CareQuest Innovation Partners is a for-profit affiliate of the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.) After study completion, the company plans to expand treatment access for underserved and