Columbia Univ. receives grant for mobile dental clinic

The Columbia University College of Dental Medicine has been awarded a $585,000 grant for a new mobile dental clinic from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation. The van will serve children in four New York City areas through the dental school’s Community DentCare program. The vehicle will also reach previously inaccessible sites, reduce costs, and upgrade the clinic with custom-designed, state-of-the-art equipment, according to the dental school.

How did I contract multiple myeloma?

Alvin Danenberg, DDS, announced to his blog readers in September that he’d been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. In this column, he raises questions every dental team member should ask themselves about the health risks they may face while serving their patients and their community. Since my diagnosis, I have asked myself “How did I contract multiple myeloma?” This is a rare disease. For 2018, the American Cancer Society estimates about

New product: Ultradent debuts disposable retainer and matrix

Ultradent Products has introduced a new disposable retainer and matrix. The Omni-Matrix disposable retainer and matrix offers procedural visibility and patient comfort. The band’s circumference can be adjusted by twisting its handle, and the pivoting head allows access to any quadrant of the mouth. The ultrathin, burnishable stainless steel is adaptable to all preparations, according to Ultradent.

Can CAD/CAM framework support a full-arch fixed prosthesis?

Is a CAD/CAM framework an alternative to a cast framework when restoring an edentulous arch? A new study followed 15 patients with 20 edentulous arches for almost four years to find out. While these frameworks held up well, the procedure itself has a steep learning curve, the researchers reported in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry (October 2018, Vol. 10:10, pp. e1045-e1048). “The results of this retrospective clinical report

Week in Review: Oral health Black Friday deals | Coding & reimbursement | Dentists & Medicare

Dear DrBicuspid Member, One of the newer traditions in the U.S. during the week of Thanksgiving is Black Friday. When you think of Black Friday, you probably think of deals on televisions, appliances, and the latest tech gadgets. But did you know you can score some big discounts on oral healthcare products, too? We’re here to help you navigate the best deals for you, your office, and your patients. Read

How do you get low-income smokers to go to the dentist?

Smokers have an increased risk of oral disease but use dental care at lower rates than nonsmokers, so the researchers of a new study sought to understand the factors affecting oral healthcare use in low-income smokers. They examined data from smokers who called state-funded phone lines that offered assistance with quitting tobacco use and had not recently received dental care. Those with dental insurance were more likely to see a

New product: Septodont launches electronic syringe

Dental anesthetics manufacturer Septodont has launched its new Dentapen electronic syringe. The Dentapen is a self-contained, cordless device. The syringe can be held either by the wings, like a manual syringe, or pen-like for a precise injection during special procedures. The Dentapen electronic syringe. Image courtesy of Septodont.

New product: Dental EZ debuts lube-free StarDental handpiece

DentalEZ has introduced its new StarDental 430SWL Torque Flex Lubefree handpiece. The handpiece has a small, 11.1-mm diameter head and offers 31 watts of power. The handpiece comes with a one-year warranty. The device will be available on November 25, according to DentalEZ.

Los Algodones Dental Benefits

In the last decades, dental tourism has become a big trend among residents of the United States and Canada. Traveling to another country in order to receive dental treatment is the best solution for thousands of people every year. Due to the many affordable and high-quality dental procedures available, Mexico is at the top of the list when it comes to location options. Los Algodones Tourism Have you ever wondered

FDA proposes limits on e-cigarette sales to kids

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and their flavor delivering systems, known as pods, will continue to be sold in U.S. stores but only in areas that are off-limits to minors, according to a November 15 directive from U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD. The directive also allows for continued online sales of these products but with “heightened practices for age verification,” according to an FDA release. Best practices

CDC: Teen e-cigarette use rose sharply from 2017

The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) by middle and high school students may be an epidemic, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 20% of high school students report using e-cigarettes on a regular basis, almost double the number from 2017. The new data comes from the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey, a joint effort from the

Owandy gets FDA clearance for 3D imaging system

Owandy Radiology has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its I-Max 3D wall-mounted, panoramic digital radiography unit. The unit includes multiple fields-of-view and four volume sizes. It is equipped with 3D software for case planning and can share stereolithography (STL) files from a dental lab or a digital scanner for CAD/CAM processes. The unit weighs 145 lb, is recommended for endodontics with a 5