Zirconia implants pretty, but no better than titanium

A zirconia implant looks better, but research has yet to show that it is a suitable alternative to dental fixtures made with titanium, according to a review published in Dental Materials on September 6. Though zirconia remains a versatile material for implant prosthodontic applications, more long-term, multicenter studies must be conducted to better evaluate its advantages over titanium, the author noted. “No clear superiority has been documented in biocompatibility, osteoconductivity,

Week in Review: AI in dentistry | Antioxidants | Anesthesia and patient safety

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Artificial intelligence (AI) conjures up all kinds of science-fiction scenarios, but in practice you’re probably already using AI to schedule patient emails or filter out unhelpful images from an intraoral scan, according to dental technology expert Dr. Martin Jablow. He spoke about AI’s past, present, and future at the recent 2019 ADA FDI World Congress in San Francisco. In other news from last week’s meeting, did you know

Dentsply Sirona, Carbon launch printable denture system

Denstply Sirona and digital manufacturing company Carbon have launched a printable denture material and workflow system. The Lucitone digital print denture workflow and material system work with Carbon’s M-series 3D printers. The system can create complete single-arch denture over existing dentition (one arch) or full-over-full dentures (two arches). The Lucitone denture resin enables dental labs to print up to eight denture arches in about two hours, according to Dentsply Sirona.

Can blood tests detect dental fear in kids?

Could data from blood tests be used to determine which children might have an unusually high fear of dental procedures? Researchers used blood tests to determine that dental fear is directly linked to levels of salivary cortisol and amylase levels in children between the ages of 6 and 9, according to a study published in BMC Oral Health. Heightened salivary amylase levels also appear effective at detecting dental phobia in

Digital technologies are often assets in orthodontics

When patients visit orthodontists, they often seek much more than better smiles. Digital technologies such as 3D printing can provide patients with visuals that help them achieve more realistic expectations of their treatment and outcomes, according to a talk at the recent 2019 ADA FDI World Dental Congress in San Francisco. “When I ask why they are here, they say they want straight teeth,” said Lars Christensen, DDS, PhD, director

Centrix launches topical vitamin E treatment

Centrix has debuted a topical vitamin E treatment for damaged gingival tissue. E-Lieve provides instant relief for soft-tissue irritation and damaged gingival tissue. The product soothes chapped lips, relieves the discomfort from new dentures, and protects lips and gums from carbamide and hydrogen peroxide during whitening procedures, according to Centrix. The treatment comes in 0.5-mL single-dose tubes, eliminating cross-contamination and providing easy cleaning. It can be easily added to patient

FDA to regulate flavored e-cigarettes after spike in use

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced plans on September 11 to regulate flavored electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in response to an alarming spike in use by children. The FDA will finalize new guidelines to pull flavored e-cigarette products from the market until manufacturers secure approval from the agency, said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar in a press conference. He did not announce a time frame for

2 keys to anesthesia safety: Patient and case selection

Safe anesthetic procedures begin with patient and case selection, according to oral and maxillofacial surgery expert Stuart Lieblich, DMD. He spoke about keeping patients safe during office-based anesthesia procedures at the recent 2019 ADA FDI World Dental Congress in San Francisco. Stuart Lieblich, DMD. Dr. Lieblich, a practicing oral surgeon and clinical professor at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, emphasized that office-based anesthesia procedures are an important part

Orthodontist pleads not guilty to charges of bribing Ark. lawmaker

An orthodontist who is accused of paying $157,000 in kickbacks and providing free dental work to an Arkansas lawmaker has pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to a report in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Benjamin Burris, DDS, entered a plea of not guilty on September 9 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas to 15 counts of fraud and wire fraud charges. Dr. Burris allegedly

Elevate Oral Care debuts glass ionomer

Elevate Oral Care has introduced a new glass ionomer cement that bonds to and masks surfaces treated with silver diamine fluoride (SDF). The Smart Advantage glass ionomer is a fast-setting restorative that hides discoloration and can be used for either stand-alone or aesthetic restorations. The novel yellow polyacrylic acid (PAA) tooth conditioner is easily differentiated from blue SDF during treatment. The high-viscosity, opaque cement comes in three capsule delivery kits

Anesthesia and patient safety are a team effort

As a board member for a malpractice insurance company, I review claims submitted by oral and maxillofacial surgeons who use anesthesia in their private practices. In virtually every anesthesia-related claim, the following three issues repeatedly come up: Inappropriate patient selection Lack of emergency preparedness Complacency among the staff Ultimately, the safest anesthesia administration is a team effort made by dedicated, highly trained professionals who have thoroughly vetted the patient ahead

Antioxidants are good for oral health — here’s why

SAN FRANCISCO – Pass the dark chocolate and berries. Antioxidants found in these and other common foods and spices can help boost oral health, according to a presentation at the 2019 ADA FDI World Dental Congress. “You can think of antioxidants as the natural defense system in our body,” presenter Karen Davis, RDH, told HuangshanDental.com. Antioxidants promote health by combatting damage from free radicals, a term that has less to