Week in Review: Mouth ulcer issues | Teledentistry | Projecting professionalism

Dear DrBicuspid Member, You probably see many patients with mouth ulcers each day. Did you know those ulcers may be closely linked to physical and psychological conditions such as inflammatory diseases and depressive symptoms? A large, new study explored the genetic makeup of these ulcers, and the findings may offer a guide for future treatments. I’d love to tell you that we always know in advance when an article will

Poor oral health increases pancreatic cancer risk for black women

Poor oral health is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in African-American women, according to a large, long-term study. Researchers used data from a study that began in 1995 that included almost 60,000 African-American women. Women who had periodontal disease but no tooth loss were 77% more likely to have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer than those with neither periodontal disease nor tooth loss, they reported in the

3M settles dental crown lawsuit

3M has agreed to settle a proposed class-action lawsuit filed by 39 dentists concerning its Lava Ultimate dental crown, according to multiple published reports. The settlement creates a $32.5 million settlement fund for dentists who experienced at least one debonding before June 15, 2020, according to an article from MassDevice.com. The May 2016 lawsuit claimed that the Lava Ultimate dental crowns had a high failure rate because of an inherent defect.

Does fluoride concentration matter for decay prevention?

Data support the use of fluoride in toothpaste to prevent decay, but there is no standardization of fluoride levels in toothpaste. Researchers performed an updated, comprehensive review to see if the level of fluoride in toothpaste affected its ability to fight tooth decay. The researchers included studies involving children, adolescents, and adults in their review. For studies focused on the primary teeth of young children, brushing with a toothpaste containing

Mouth ulcers linked to inflammatory diseases, depression

Mouth ulcers may be closely linked to seemingly unrelated physical and psychological conditions, a new study has found. Genetic variants associated with canker sores are also related to inflammatory diseases and depressive symptoms. Despite being a common oral condition, mouth ulcers are not well-studied and little is known about their cause. That’s why an international team of researchers parsed the genes of thousands of people who experience these ulcers. The

Can hybrid CAD/CAM crowns successfully resist fatigue?

Hybrid ceramic materials may be an alternative to established materials for posterior restoration crowns. However, questions remain about these hybrids’ ability to hold up under high masticatory forces. In a new study, researchers sought to analyze the fatigue damage that occurs with hybrid CAD/CAM composites. They compared three of these materials, also known as monolithic CAD/CAM composites, with a lithium disilicate ceramic material and a polymer-based ceramic material to see

Swanky Smiles launches in-house orthodontics service

Mobile orthodontics company Swanky Smiles has launched a new program to help general dental practices provide orthodontic services. The in-house orthodontic program enables general dentists to take records at the beginning of a patient’s orthodontic treatment and delivery retainers at the end of treatment. Swanky Smiles covers the other services, including treatment planning, aligner creation and delivery, scheduling, and billing. The new service is available for dentists in select markets.

Week in Review: Stronger composites | Anesthesia trends | Digital dentistry

Dear DrBicuspid Member, The question of finding a way to extend the life of a resin composite has weighed on researchers’ minds for some time. Now an unusual source, a polymer used to strengthen car bumpers and protect wood decks, might offer a solution. A new filling material with thiourethane demonstrated up to twice the strength of a typical composite in a recent study. How safe is the use of

Car bumper component used to create stronger composite

A stronger resin composite might be possible thanks to a polymer used to strengthen car bumpers and protect wood decks. A new filling material with thiourethane demonstrated up to twice the strength of a typical composite in a recent study. Carmem Pfeifer, DDS, PhD. Image courtesy of OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff. Thanks to their aesthetics, dental composites have become an increasingly popular choice of filling material. However, composites only last about a

Sonendo names 3 new VPs

Endodontic technology developer Sonendo has appointed three new vice presidents. The company appointed Jacqueline Collins as its new vice president and general counsel, Jane Metcalf as the new vice president for regulatory affairs and quality assurance, and Sara Wissmueller as its new vice president of information technology.

Winter 2019 new-product roundup

Between the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting in February and the International Dental Show in Cologne, Germany, in March, a number of companies have released new products. HuangshanDental.com offers this roundup of new products from companies such as Planmeca, Dental Herb, Formlabs, and more. Cosmetics Formlabs offers new denture shade options, model materials Formlabs has increased its spectrum of denture shade options. The company’s Digital Dentures now come with two

New survey looks at anesthesia trends, safety in 2019

How safe is the use of anesthesia in traditional oral surgery? The results of a recent survey of oral and maxillofacial surgeons suggest that the most severe anesthesia complications are very rare, occurring in less than one person out of thousands of patients. Researchers parsed data from thousands of oral surgery procedures in Massachusetts to estimate the prevalence of adverse effects following local and general anesthesia. They concluded that an