Align’s Invisalign expander gets updated license

Health Canada has issued an updated medical device license to Align for its Invisalign palatal expander system. The updated license is for broad patient applicability, including growing children, teens, and adults. The expander system consists of a series of removable devices staged in small increments of movement to expand a patient’s narrow maxilla. The system is Align’s first direct 3D-printed orthodontic device and is customizable to patients based on an

Diving deeper into a dental technique impacting 3rd molars

Following the publication of a technique back in November and its potential impact on third-molar extraction in 2024 and beyond, we had several readers reach out with questions about the technique and what it could mean for dentistry. With that in mind, I spoke with Dr. Leigh Colby to get answers to those questions. Dr. Colby is the mind behind TriAgenics and this new technique. During our discussion, we touched on subjects

Teeth uncovered the lineage of those who migrated to the Americas

The ancestry of ancient individuals from Asia and North and South America were predicted by analyzing tooth variations, shedding light on their migration 16,000 years ago. The study was published in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology. Arctic and non-Arctic Native Americans are related to East Asian groups and derived from these populations at about the same time, reinforcing results from previous studies, according to the paper’s authors. Therefore, Arctic Native

Patients want perfect smiles. Dentists may oblige no matter what.

Unrealistic aesthetic expectations driven by social media may have led to overtreatment with direct composites for problems that needed no or minimal intervention, according to a case series that was recently published in the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry. Social media influence and changing aesthetic norms on the overuse of direct composite resin veneers raise ethical issues within dentistry, the authors wrote. “Dental professionals must carefully consider the balance

AAOMS may update anesthesia guide for GLP-1 receptor agonist users

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) is evaluating whether anesthesia guidelines for oral surgeries need be updated for patients who take glucagonlike peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, like Ozempic. The AAOMS House of Delegates tasked the organization’s anesthesia committee to evaluate current anesthesia usage guidelines following guidance recently issued by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). In June, the ASA advised patients to refrain from using GLP-1

CDC’s stance following inquiry into TB-infected bone grafts

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is calling for improved donor screening and testing capping its investigation into bone graft materials infected with tuberculosis (TB) that were used in dental and medical procedures and led to the deaths of two patients. In 2023, five of the 36 patients who received tainted bone grafts from Aziyo Biologics became infected with TB, including two who died. In July, the

Complete 10,000-year-old mammoth tusk unearthed in N.D.

Coal miners working at the Freedom Mine near Beulah, ND, during the Memorial Day 2023 weekend stumbled on a 7-foot, 50-pound well-preserved tusk belonging to a mammoth that lived about 10,000 years ago, according to the state. In addition to the tusk, more than 20 mammoth bones, including ribs, a shoulder blade, a tooth, and parts of the hips, were recovered during a 12-day dig, according to a press release

BioCellgraft to distribute Celularity’s dental biomaterials

BioCellgraft has signed an exclusive deal to distribute placental-derived biomaterials for use in dental procedures manufactured by Celularity in the U.S. BioCellgraft will market the products under private label brands that are expected to be announced in early 2024. Some products are used to augment or correct soft tissue, while others are used as a barrier membrane in periodontology, implant dentistry, and oral surgery procedures. Terms of the agreement were

JawSense, NTU to develop smart headband to combat bruxism

Medical technology startup Jawsense and Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) Medical Technologies Innovation Facility will work together to develop a smart headband that aims to detect and reduce bruxism and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). This smart device will use advanced sensors and algorithms to recognize teeth grinding and send gentle vibrations to help relax the jaw muscles and make the wearer aware of the behavior. Increased awareness is expected to lead people to gradually learn

Study reveals causal association between brain, periodontitis

Gum disease affects the cortical structure of the brain, including the surficial area and cortical thickness, suggesting a connection and emphasizing the periodontal tissue-brain axis, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Periodontal Research. It is believed to be the first study that shows a causal relationship between gum disease and the brain cortex structure, the authors wrote. “Periodontitis causally influences the cerebral cortical structures, presenting new

Sonendo, DPG team up

Sonendo has partnered with Dental Purchasing Group (DPG) to bring the GentleWave root canal disinfection system to the purchasing group’s members. The GentleWave system, developed by Sonendo, is designed to be a less invasive and less painful alternative to traditional root canals.