Propofol shows promise for conscious sedation

Propofol is one of the most used drugs for general anesthesia, but the findings of a new study suggest that the medication may also be beneficial for conscious sedation. Researchers from the U.K. found that propofol helped anxious adolescents successfully receive dental treatment while awake. The adolescents reported positive experiences following conscious sedation with propofol, and the vast majority said they would undergo their dental procedures again. The results suggest

Week in Review: ADA vs. SmileDirectClub | MetLife settles suit | Gum cells and perio disease

Dear DrBicuspid Member, The ongoing dispute between the ADA and SmileDirectClub heated up this week, as both organizations issued dueling press statements. With several regulatory actions initiated by the ADA aimed at the company, this shows no sign of being settled soon. Speaking of settlements, Metropolitan Life Insurance (MetLife) has agreed to pay more than $3 million to settle a suit filed by dental consultants who claimed they didn’t get overtime

SmileDirectClub to open Texas manufacturing plant

SmileDirectClub’s manufacturing and distribution affiliate Access Dental Lab will open a dental lab manufacturing plant in Kyle, TX. The state awarded the company an approximately $2.2 million Texas Enterprise Fund grant to support the creation of the manufacturing plant, which is expected to generate $36 million in capital investment. The plant will create 850 new jobs requiring a broad spectrum of skills, according to SmileDirectClub.

SmileDirectClub adds New Zealand locations

SmileDirectClub has opened three retail locations in New Zealand. The company announced the opening of a SmileShop in Christchurch, which follows the openings of stores in Auckland and Wellington in September. It plans to expand throughout the country during the coming months, according to the company.

NJ dental school gets $11.7M to study opioid alternatives

Rutgers School of Dental Medicine has received an $11.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to research the combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen as alternatives to opioids. Evidence from smaller, shorter studies has shown the two medications can treat acute pain as effectively as opioids, but this study will go deeper, involving 1,800 dental school patients. In the study, half of the patients will be prescribed a

VHF debuts new milling and grinding machine

Dental milling machine manufacturer VHF has launched its new Z4 milling and grinding machine. The Z4 fabricates restorations from any block material in minutes. The Z4 offers previously unattained quality standards for restorations, intuitive operation, and validation for all common scanners and CAD software, according to VHF.

Endodontists give in when docs, patients push for opioids

Approximately 43% of endodontists reported they had prescribed opioids after feeling pressured by physicians or patients to order the medication, according to a new study published in the Journal of Endodontics. The findings also showed that private-practice practitioners were significantly more likely to succumb to external pressure to prescribe opioids over those clinicians in military or faculty settings. “Practice background is significant for endodontists who felt pressured to prescribe opioids,”

Pain meds don’t reduce sensitivity from teeth bleaching

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs may not prevent tooth sensitivity caused by in-office dental bleaching, according to a new systematic review published in the Journal of the American Dental Association. Patients who took the drugs before having their teeth bleached experienced similar levels of sensitivity as those who did not take them, the authors reported. “Despite the differences in drugs and protocols, the meta-analysis of the clinical trials evaluating the possible

Neocis installs robotic surgery devices

The Boston University School of Dental Medicine has installed two surgical robotic devices from dental implant surgery company Neocis. The school is the first U.S. dental school to acquire, install, and use the devices for dental implant surgeries. It plans to use the company’s Yomi robot-assisted surgical device to train predoctoral students and postdoctoral residents on state-of-the-art robotic technology to improve their accuracy and precision during dental surgery and augment

New imaging method to assess root position may cut radiation dose

A new imaging technique could reduce the amount of radiation that dental patients are exposed to during orthodontic treatment, according to new research. The method also shows promise for other types of dental treatment that require accurate root position assessment. The technique, called expected root position (ERP) setup, superimposes a digital model onto an existing cone-beam CT (CBCT) scan. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) detailed how

Kulzer unveils Delara prosthetic teeth line

Kulzer has introduced the Delara midpriced prosthetic teeth line, the latest addition to its prosthetic teeth portfolio. Available in 16 Vita shades and two bleach shades, Delara teeth feature a surface structure that allows for natural light shattering and modern shading, according to the vendor. The teeth also can avoid the gray or yellowish effect that can occur in the mouth with other prosthetic teeth, Kulzer said. The Delara line

Wash. dentist charged after patient death in 2018

A Washington dentist has been charged with unprofessional conduct tied to the death of a patient in January 2018. Ellis Burke Jardine, DMD, allegedly failed to report the cardiac arrest, hospital admission, and eventual death of a 51-year-old developmentally delayed patient, according to the Washington State Department of Health’s Dental Quality Assurance Commission. Additionally, Dr. Jardine, of Excel Dental in Battle Ground, failed to record the events, including the man’s adverse