GC America debuts adhesive kit for restorations

GC America has introduced the G2-Bond Universal two-bottle universal bonding kit, which will be available for purchase on February 15. The kit optimizes bonding through its hydrophobic bond layer, which aims to reduce the occurrence of water sorption. The thickness of the layer acts as a shock absorber, avoiding gap formation and debonding, especially with high shrinkage and bulk-fill composites. The adhesive can be used for many types of restorations,

Shofu Dental touts clinical evaluation results

Materials and equipment company Shofu Dental is highlighting the results of a clinical evaluation that found high user ratings for its Fit SA bioactive self-adhesive flowable composite. The study was conducted by the Dental Advisor and included 30 evaluators and 787 total uses. Fit SA received a 92% rating of 4.5 or higher out of five. Fit SA is free of bisphenol A (BPA) and is designed for use as

Dentsply Sirona divests consumables company

Dentsply Sirona has divested Ransom & Randolph, a manufacturer and supplier of casting for dental labs, foundries, and other markets. The subsidiary was acquired by Los Angeles-based private capital firm PMC Capital. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Michel Tamer, PMC managing partner, praised the move as mutually beneficial for both PMC and Dentsply Sirona. The divestiture furthers Dentsply Sirona’s strategy to focus on its core business, according to

Are your patients’ gums bleeding? They may need vitamin C

Bleeding gums have long been known as a potential indicator of gingivitis, but they may also be a sign that patients have a vitamin C deficiency, according to a systematic review published on February 1 in Nutrition Reviews. The World Health Organization’s recommended daily dose of vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid (AA), aims to prevent scurvy but may be too low to stave off increased gingival bleeding, the

How is the pandemic affecting pediatric oral care?

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant decreased access to pediatric dental care and will likely result in poorer oral health in children, according to a new editorial out of the U.K. Action on a national scale is needed to reverse the decline. There has been an increase in caries and an overall increase in tooth extractions requiring general anesthesia among children, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, as a result of the

Dental disease may be linked to rare Pott’s puffy tumor

Clinicians should suspect underlying dental conditions when patients present with a rare, potentially life-threatening Pott’s puffy tumor or frontal bone osteomyelitis, according to a review published in the February issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Patients who have a Pott’s puffy tumor should receive comprehensive oral cavity and dental examinations and should be referred to dental colleagues when necessary, as initial imaging may not identify all dental

Texas A&M receives $3.3M for special-needs care

The Texas A&M College of Dentistry has received a five-year, $3.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide dental services to special-needs patients who age out of pediatric dental care at age 12 or 13. These patients often have difficulty maintaining their oral healthcare because many procedures, including routine cleaning, require sedation. Few places offer training for special-needs dentistry,

2 Penn schools form new dentistry center

The University of Pennsylvania’s (Penn) School of Dental Medicine and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences formed the Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry (CiPD) on January 22, which will work to address unmet needs in oral health. The online launch party included deans from both schools, partners from throughout the university, and invited guests, including U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Director Dr. Rena D’Souza, PhD. The

NYU receives $2.9M for oral cancer pain research

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), has awarded researchers at New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry a five-year, $2.9 million grant to investigate oral cancer pain treatment. Dr. Brian Schmidt, PhD, a professor in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, and Dr. Seiichi Yamano, PhD, an assistant professor of prosthodontics at NYU College of Dentistry, will research whether

SmileDirectClub partners with Canadian insurer

SmileDirectClub has inked a partnership with Green Shield Canada, one of Canada’s largest dental insurance providers. Under terms of the deal, SmileDirectClub will provide Green Shield beneficiaries with its telehealth-based orthodontic care. The platform offers patients access to customer care teams via phone, video chat, email, or social media; patients can get started with a 3D scan taken at one of the company’s brick-and-mortar SmileShops or with a prescribed remote

Western Dental names new pediatric director

Dental service organization Western Dental said it has appointed Dr. Steven Le as its pediatric director. Le, who has 20 years of experience as a pediatric dentist, will be responsible for ensuring pediatric patients receive quality care at Western Dental Kids, Western Dental, Brident, and Vital Smiles offices in California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and Alabama. He has worked at various Western Dental locations in California over the years.

1st known case of IJV thrombosis linked to oral germ G. adiacens

The oral bacterium Granulicatella adiacens led to internal jugular vein (IJV) thrombosis in a man with poor oral hygiene and periodontitis, in a case published on January 20 in BMJ Case Reports. This is believed to be the first reported case of IJV thrombosis associated with G. adiacens, according to the authors. “When confronted with G. adiacens [bacteremia] in patients with poor oral hygiene, it is necessary to be cautious