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Colgate debuts Hum line for kids

Colgate-Palmolive is adding to its Hum smart toothbrush line with the addition of Hum Kids, an app and toothbrush that help children learn proper oral care habits and get excited about brushing their teeth. The manual toothbrush has a brush boot to connect to the Hum Kids app, which has interactive games. The brush helps guide strokes with animated germs and bacteria to brush away as well as rewards at

Dental care is kids’ No. 1 unmet health need during pandemic

Dental care topped the list of children’s unmet healthcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published on February 6 in the Journal of the American Dental Association. That risk was even higher for children whose parents lost a job or income. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh surveyed 348 local families to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic effects impacted dental care for children in the

ADA kicks off Give Kids A Smile program

The ADA has launched its 2021 Give Kids A Smile program, virtually kicking off more than 1,500 events across the U.S. that provide free dental healthcare to thousands of underserved children. More than 6,500 dentists and 30,000 dental health team members will participate in the event, which has served 300,000 children since the program commenced in 2003. The program’s sponsors include Colgate-Palmolive, Henry Schein, and the Indian Health Service.

Flossing, toothbrushing plummet during pandemic

More than 1 in 5 people said they’re flossing and brushing their teeth less often during the COVID-19 pandemic in a new survey from the American Association of Endodontists (AAE). The pandemic has forced everyone into new routines, and some oral hygiene habits may not have stuck, the AAE found. Survey participants reported brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist less often. Of the survey participants, 1 in 4 said they

Align unveils iTero Element Plus series

Align Technology has debuted its iTero Element Plus series, which has all the capabilities of other iTero Element products along with faster processing time and advanced visualization abilities, the firm said. Image courtesy of Align. The system is available in both cart and mobile configurations, so iTero Element Plus can be portable. It has higher brightness, a fully integrated 3D intraoral camera, 20% less waiting time for scans to process,

Coffee or Wine Stains? 5 Foods to Naturally Whiten Teeth

Who doesn’t love a fine glass of wine after a long hard day? Get between me and my morning coffee, I’ll kill you. If you smoke, the damage to your teeth can be obvious — and the stains may last long after you quit.  Life happens. Between coffee, wine, and cigarettes, our lifestyles can stain our teeth, causing discoloration that regular brushing and dental checkups can’t remove. Have you considered

SprintRay, Bego join forces on 3D printing

SprintRay and Bego are partnering so that Bego’s VarseoSmile Crown plus and VarseoSmile Temp 3D printing materials will become available for use with the SprintRay Pro 3D printer. Dental professionals will be able to provide temporary and definitive restorations such as crowns, inlays, onlays, and veneers. The firms have completed a joint validation project for the two materials and the SprintRay Pro55 and Pro95 3D printers, as well as the

Zimmer Biomet to spin off dental, spine businesses

Zimmer Biomet announced that it plans to spin off its dental and spine businesses into a new company as it plans to focus on its musculoskeletal healthcare business going forward. The deal should be completed in mid-2021. The move will allow Zimmer Biomet to focus its energy on the $43.5 billion orthopedics market, particularly the knees, hips, sports medicine, extremities and trauma, and craniomaxillofacial and thoracic segments. The company’s current president

Gum disease linked to severe COVID-19 complications — including death

Periodontitis may be a risk factor for COVID-19, and it may make patients vulnerable to severe complications, including death, according to a study published on February 1 in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology. People who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and also had periodontitis were more than nine times as likely to die than those who didn’t have severe gum disease. These patients were also about four times more likely

Voco America launches new cement

Voco America has released a new zinc oxide-based transparent noneugenol temporary cement called Provicol QM Aesthetic. Provicol QM secures provisional crowns and bridges without affecting the color of the restoration, according to the firm. Zinc oxide-based cements differ from resin-based ones in that they do not permanently bond to composite core buildups, Voco America said. The cement is available in 5-mL automix syringes, according to the company. Voco’s Provicol QM

Viper: Specialty practices to be bought quickly in 2021

Healthcare investment bank Viper Equity Partners predicts buyers will aggressively purchase multiple endodontic, orthodontic, and oral surgery practices in 2021. Viper expects that when dental service organizations and private equity firms make purchases, they will buy six to seven at a time. It has a waiting list of potential buyers, the bank said.

Align posts Q4, fiscal 2020 gains

Align Technology announced it has posted 2020 fourth-quarter and fiscal year gains. The company’s fourth-quarter revenues (end-December 31, 2020) increased by 28.4% over the same period in 2019, from $649.8 million to $834.5 million. Net income for the quarter was $159 million, up from $121.3 million in 2019, the company said. Revenues from the company’s Clear Aligner business were $700.7 million, up 28.9% from $543.6 million in the prior year’s fourth quarter. Total 2020 revenues were

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