U.S. Air Force deploys laser periodontal surgery

The U.S. Air Force has implemented dental laser-assisted regeneration technology, according to Millennium Dental Technologies, Inc. Specifically, the Air Force is using Millenium’s proprietary LANAP protocol and laser dentistry to treat periodontal disease, the company announced at the 109th Annual Meeting of American Academy of Periodontology in Austin, TX. LANAP, which is used alongside a specialized laser — the PerioLase MVP-7 — is designed to selectively remove harmful oral bacteria

Group working to get more students dental exams, preventive care

Early Smiles Sacramento, a program of the nonprofit Center for Oral Health, has launched an oral health program that aims to increase the number of school-aged children who undergo dental exams and have fluoride varnish applied to their teeth. The goal of the program is to boost the number of consents for oral heath assessments and fluoride applications to reduce the number emergency room visits for preventable dental problems and

Nexa3D launches new cure system, dental resin

3D printer manufacturer Nexa3D announced the release of its xCURE Desktop System and a new dental resin. The xCURE Desktop is an ultraviolet curing system that supports 365nm, 385nm, and 405nm wavelengths and aims to reduce post-processing time by as much as 80%. The new biocompatible dental resin, Saremco Print CrownTec, is formulated for permanent dental restorations. It offers multiple shades for applications, including inlays, onlays, veneers, dentures, and temporary

Highs and lows of opioid prescribing for dental patients

Though dental patients are less likely to be prescribed opioids today than they were a few years ago, U.S. dentists and oral surgeons in 2022 still prescribed the painkillers to millions of patients, according to a recently published study in PLOS One. Opioids dispensed to U.S. dental patients of all ages declined 45% from 2016 to 2022, however, the rate of decline slowed substantially after the COVID-19 outbreak. Despite

AAP launches dental hygiene initiative

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) has launched an initiative to educate dental hygienists on periodontal topics. As part of the initiative, the AAP hosted a dental hygiene symposium at its 109th annual meeting in Austin, TX, that included an overview of several topics related to the successful management of periodontal patients. The initiative also includes the following components: AAP member-led dental hygiene study clubs A recognition program A learning

It may hurt. Pain sensitivity possibly linked to political views.

Spike Lee, PhD, of the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, had just received a numbing agent, like he always does before a dental cleaning, when he wondered whether a lack of sensitivity to pain affects one’s moral and political views. The idea led to studies that suggest increased sensitivity to pain may be associated with sympathy for opposing political views, according to a study published in the Journal

What may be the best tool for designing smiles?

Recurring esthetic dental proportions (RED) — not golden proportions (GPR) — may be the best analysis tool to design restorations involving the maxillary anterior area. The study was published earlier this month in the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry. Age and dental education levels may affect the perceptions of smile aesthetics, the authors wrote. “If the patients whose smiles will be designed are young and have received dental education,

U.S. adults would choose a root canal over what?

More than half of adults in the U.S. reported that they would rather undergo a root canal versus receive scam text, email, and social media messages for a year, according to study results from the 2023 scam study from antivirus software company McAfee. The volume of fake messages received daily coupled with a rash of increasingly believable scams amid a rising artificial intelligence scam surge have left adults overwhelmed, according

3D Systems’ denture resin receives FDA approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given 510(k) clearance to NextDent Base, a denture resin, made by 3D Systems. The material is used for the manufacturing of bases to form full or partial removable dentures. It is available in four colors to match the most popular gum shades.

Marijuana derivative may ease severe tooth pain

Cannabidiol (CBD), a nonaddictive, nonpsychoactive component of the marijuana plant, may reduce severe dental pain, making it a safer, equally effective alternative to opioids. The study was recently published in the Journal of Dental Research. It is believed to be the first randomized clinical trial testing CBD for the management of emergency dental pain, the authors wrote. “This novel study can catalyze the use of CBD as an alternative analgesic

Want to restore teeth? Maybe crack some eggs

A new biohybrid composite made from eggshells that promotes bone growth has been developed and may be used for dental bone and tissue regeneration in the future, according to researchers from the University of Granada (UGR) in Spain. In in vitro studies, the biomaterial, which was made from the eggshell of a hen, has already shown promising results for dental procedures. With more research, the biomaterial may eventually replace the

2024 must-know dental technique

As we look ahead to 2024, it’s always interesting to predict which technologies and techniques will become a regular part of the dental industry in the near future. Among the candidates for 2024 is third-molar tooth bud ablation, a process we covered back in 2022. During the recent American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) meeting in Las Vegas, I had the chance to interview Dr. Leigh Colby about how far