DentalEZ introduces hands-free aid to help clear aerosols

DentalEZ has introduced a high-volume evacuator (HVE) holder that it said will help clear microscopic droplets during aerosol-generating procedures without the need for supplemental staff. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised dental offices to minimize droplet spatter and aerosols during aerosol-generating procedures. Options to do this include using high-volume evacuation suction and the involvement of additional personnel. DentalEZ said that its

95% of opioid prescriptions are for 5 dental procedures

Dentists wrote about 2.7 million opioid prescriptions to patients during a five-year period, according to a study published on February 23 in the Journal of the American Dental Association. About 95% of these prescriptions were written for five dental procedures. Approximately two-thirds of opioid prescriptions were written for patients who underwent tooth extractions, according to the authors. Implant placement, root canals, alveoloplasty, and addressing a problem from a limited exam rounded

Dentist sued for keeping kids in braces for too long

The state of Massachusetts is suing orthodontist Dr. Mouhab Rizkallah for allegedly submitting more than $1 million in false claims to MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program. The scam reportedly included keeping kids in braces longer than required and deceptive billing for mouthguards. The lawsuit, filed in Suffolk County Superior Court on February 25, asserts that Rizkallah submitted false claims from at least November 2013 to the present with the intent

COVID-19 pandemic spurs stress-related dental conditions

Dentists are seeing an increase in patients experiencing dental conditions associated with stress, such as teeth grinding, cracked teeth, and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) symptoms, according to new poll data released by the ADA on March 2. The ADA has surveyed dentists throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to gauge how pandemic-related stress has affected oral health. The results show that stress-related dental conditions have continued to increase throughout the pandemic,

Biolase launches periodontist community

Biolase is looking to unite a community of periodontists through the newly launched Waterlase Perio Academy. The academy, which is open to all periodontists using the company’s Waterlase technology, will provide a network for improving outcomes through peer-led learning, mentorship, online meetings, virtual training, and case study review, Biolase said. Its leadership includes Drs. Paul Chang, Curry Leavitt, Stephen John, Todd Jorgenson, James Papp, and Bret Dyer. The initiative is

Garrison debuts anterior composite matrix system

Garrison has debuted the Fusion anterior matrix system, a composite matrix system specifically designed for challenging anterior restorations. Garrison designed the Fusion system with input from customers who used the metal posterior matrix bands in a unique way. The bands are thinner than traditional plastic strips and can be inserted through existing contacts for deeper restorations, the company noted. In addition, the wedge has a radical curvature to help the

No one-size-fits-all solution for antibiotic resistance

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for tackling antibiotic resistance, according to a commentary published on February 10 in the International Dental Journal. Instead, a variety of approaches are needed to craft tailor-made solutions for factors that drive the unnecessary use of dental antibiotics. Factors influencing resistance differ among locations and over time, wrote the authors, led by Wendy Thompson of the division of dentistry at the University of Manchester in

School-based program leads to 50% drop in untreated caries

A school-based oral health program resulted in a 50% reduction in untreated cavities in a study of 7,000 elementary students in the U.S. The findings were published in the March issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association. School-based cavity prevention programs targeting students in need have the potential to improve children’s oral health while reducing health disparities and the cost of care, according to the authors. “This school-based

U.S. bill aims to expand dental coverage for moms

Lawmakers in the U.S. introduced a bill on March 3 that aims to expand dental coverage and improve oral health for pregnant and postpartum women, as well as address racial disparities. The Oral Health for Moms Act would require Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to cover dental healthcare — including preventive care and basic, major, and emergency dental services — for expecting and postpartum women, according to

Patterson’s dental sales spike in fiscal Q3

Patterson Companies reported higher sales in its dental segment for the third quarter of fiscal year 2021. Net sales for the company’s third quarter of fiscal year 2021 (end-January 23) were $648.9 million, which is a 3.6% increase from the $626.6 million in sales it reported during the same period in 2020. The company’s dental segment sales represent about 42% of Patterson’s total company sales. Additionally, dental segment internal sales increased 3.6%

What are the risks of counterfeit or DIY dental materials?

Recently, a Washington state dentist elected not to follow the standard of care with endodontic cold vitality testing for patients. He allegedly replaced a refrigerant approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pulp testing with an off-label refrigerant product commonly used to dust off computer keyboards. Unfortunately, that product has also been cited in the medical literature as an intoxicant that is associated with fatal cardiac arrhythmias

Fewer opioids prescribed in 3rd-molar surgeries with bupivacaine

Oral surgeons prescribed 59% fewer total opioids for patients who received liposomal bupivacaine (LB) during third-molar extractions than for those who did not receive LB, according to a study published on February 22 in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Patients who received the nonopioid analgesic were also prescribed fewer refills for painkillers, the study authors wrote. “Use of LB may reduce opioid prescriptions for postsurgical analgesia,” wrote the