ADA duel with SmileDirectClub heats up

The American Dental Association (ADA) and SmileDirectClub have issued dueling press statements in their ongoing dispute over government regulation of SmileDirectClub’s clear-aligner business. Both the ADA and SmileDirectClub in the past week issued competing statements regarding government enforcement actions — or the lack of same — that give each group’s own spin on the dispute. Dental organizations such as the ADA and state dental boards have waged an ongoing battle

Do Dental Implants Hurt or Cost a Fortune? We Answer Your FAQs

Facing tooth loss? Ask anyone who’s got them: dentures are a pain. They’re uncomfortable. Since dentures move around, they tend to collect and trap food, which can lead to gum loss and further tooth decay. Some say food doesn’t taste the same after dentures. They may even cause you to gag! Dentures definitely aren’t fun. That’s why at our family dentist practice in Middleburg Heights, we always recommend dental

Clinician’s Choice debuts soft-tissue laser

Clinician’s Choice has launched a new soft-tissue diode laser. The Bluewave laser. Image courtesy of Clinician’s Choice. The Bluewave laser is an 810-nm diode laser that can be used for gingival contouring and tissue retraction. It features a lithium-ion battery and a wireless foot pedal. The laser offers greater patient comfort, faster healing times, and less need for anesthetic, according to Clinician’s Choice. The company will highlight Bluewave at the

Unique gum cells may prevent perio disease in the future

Newly discovered sensory cells in gums that protect the mouth from infections that cause tissue and bone damage to teeth may be the answer to periodontitis prevention treatments in the future, according to new research. A study published on October 3 in Nature Communications found that mice that didn’t have gingival solitary chemosensory cells (gSCCs) or SCC taste-signaling molecules, which help control the amount and types of bacteria in the

Invisalign gives best-selling Australian dentists deep price cuts

Align Technology’s Invisalign Australia has reportedly offered discounts of up to 35% to dentists who sell the most clear aligners to patients, according to a news report in the Sydney Morning Herald. Industry insiders have flagged their concerns to regulators, claiming the company is dangling hefty discounts in front of dentists and orthodontists to encourage them to sell as many clear aligners as possible to patients so they can boost

Cold, buzzing device succeeds at masking injection pain

A cold and buzzing bee-shaped device has once again proved to reduce children’s injection pain in a new study. The device, known as Buzzy, significantly reduced pain scores for children who received a local anesthetic prior to dental treatment. Buzzy (PainCareLabs) attempts to mask injection pain by combining a vibrating base with an accompanying ice-cold gel compress. Researchers from Turkey put the device to the test with dozens of children

U.S. Oral Surgery Management enters Tenn. market

Management services company U.S. Oral Surgery Management has announced a partnership with an oral and maxillofacial surgery practice in Tennessee. The company has partnered with Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Specialists, a practice with two locations in the Knoxville area. U.S. Oral Surgery Management is affiliated with 17 practices in 46 locations in Colorado, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas.

Nobio gets new FDA clearances

Materials science company Nobio of Israel has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for two products, its Infinix universal bond and universal composite for restoratives. The composites incorporate the company’s patented quaternary ammonium silica-dioxide (QASi) particle technology, according to Nobio.

American Academy of Pediatrics releases oral health primer

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released an online resource for pediatricians about children’s oral health needs. Called “Oral Health Prevention Primer,” the resource will help healthcare providers understand how best to provide oral health services, the AAP said.

Week in Review: Prophylactic antibiotics | Effectiveness of interdental brushes | Dental Exam

Dear DrBicuspid Member, The issue of prophylactic antibiotics before dental procedures remains a controversial topic. New data presented at IDWeek 2019 revealed that antibiotics may cause serious adverse events, including allergic reactions requiring hospitalization and bacterial infections. Patients might see a new oral irrigator or interdental brush in your office and ask if that device is better than floss at preventing caries and periodontal disease. How do you respond? A

Prophylactic antibiotics may cause serious side effects

Prophylactic antibiotics prescribed before dental procedures may cause serious adverse events, including allergic reactions requiring hospitalization and bacterial infections, according to new data presented on October 3 at the Infectious Diseases Society of America annual meeting (IDWeek 2019) in Washington, DC. Within 14 days of taking antibiotics, 5,260 dental patients experienced allergic reactions, visited emergency rooms (ERs), or were diagnosed with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), researchers found after analyzing data

Orthodontist named a top low-stress, high-paying job

Being an orthodontist is one of the best low-stress, high-paying jobs in the U.S., according to a new list published by U.S. News & World Report. The magazine’s list consisted of 10 jobs that were chosen based on their below-average stress levels, which were determined through research and interviews. Also, each occupation had a minimum median annual income of $50,000. The number of jobs for orthodontists is expected to grow