Dentists find high mercury levels when removing amalgam

Mercury exposure during amalgam removal procedures may be seven times higher than the limits recommended by some occupational safety organizations, a new study has found. The research findings suggest minuscule amalgam particles may be able to generate staggering amounts of mercury vapor. Four general dentists from the U.S. and Canada were worried that conventional testing methods did not adequately measure the mercury vapor emitted from amalgam particulate, the tiny particles

Mo. limits dentist opioid prescriptions for acute pain

A new Missouri law limits the amount of opioid tablets dentists can prescribe for acute pain. The law, signed by Gov. Mike Parson on July 11, dictates that dentists should not prescribe more than 50 morphine milligram equivalent (MME) per day for acute pain — the equivalent of 10 tablets of hydrocodone/acetaminophen. The law also prohibits dentists from using long-acting or extended-release opioid analgesics for acute pain. When necessary, dentists

Align Technology posts increased Q2 revenues, shipments

Medical device company Align Technology reported increases in revenues and clear-aligner shipments for the second quarter of 2019. For the quarter (end-June 30), the company reported net revenues of $600.7 million, up 22.5% from $490.3 million from the same quarter in 2018. The company also reported that shipments of its clear-aligner product totaled 377,145 for the quarter, compared with 302,685 from the same period last year. Net profit for the second quarter

Week in Review: Talking with patients about opioids | Pediatric workforce | Collections

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Talking with patients about opioids and pain management is important, but it can be a difficult topic for many dentists. Experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the ADA discussed how to use motivational interviewing to help make this conversation a little easier. When you’re talking with patients about opioids, this conversation isn’t the same as telling them they need to have

Study finds dental visits decline with age

The number of dental visits decline as people age and dramatically drop after age 80, according to a new study. The researchers worry that the lack of preventive dental care could lead to tooth decay and loss for these patients. Oral health is critical for maintaining good general health and quality of life, but the study findings demonstrate older adults may struggle to see the dentist. The researchers published their

JADA: Sealed primary molars less likely to develop caries

Sealed primary molars were less likely to develop pit-and-fissure caries in a new study, published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association. Researchers also found sealants delayed the need for restorative work on these teeth. Previous research has confirmed the benefits of sealants for permanent molars, but fewer studies have looked into their effects on primary teeth. The current study authors, led by Michael Hong,

New product: Voco introduces light-cured bracket bonding system

Voco has introduced the BrackFix light-cured bracket bonding system. The system makes residual adhesive glow under ultraviolet light, making it easier for clinicians to eliminate all adhesive when removing brackets. The system also helps hasten the bracket removal process and prevent unnecessary tooth damage, according to the company. The BrackFix system can be applied with a standard primer after etching or a self-etch primer. It is indicated for metal and

New product: SmileDirectClub debuts nighttime aligners

SmileDirectClub has launched aligners to straighten teeth during sleep. The new Nighttime Clear Aligners are for patients age 12 and older with mild crowding and spacing issues, the company noted. They’re designed for people unable to wear clear aligners during the day because of their job or lifestyle. The new aligners only require 10 hours of continuous wear, giving patients more flexibility, according to SmileDirectClub. The length of wear time

U.S. overdose deaths drop for 1st time in 30 years

The number of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. dropped for the first time since 1990, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The data suggest that steps to curb the opioid epidemic may be working. Drug overdose deaths decreased by 5.1% from 2017 to 2018, the data show. Deaths attributed to oxycodone, hydrocodone, and other semisynthetic opioids also fell year over year.

5 steps for talking with patients about opioids

Talking with patients about opioids and pain management is important, but it can be a difficult topic for many providers. Experts discussed how to use motivational interviewing to help make this conversation a little easier during a webinar on July 17. The webinar, hosted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the ADA, discussed how motivational interviewing can steer patient conversations toward best opioid prescribing practices. It

Biological dentistry: Part 1 — What is it?

Lately, I’ve had some patients ask me about the term biological dentistry. There has also been some controversy as to its value. As you might have guessed, I have some thoughts on this term and what it means for our patients. Alvin Danenberg, DDS. Biological and holistic dentistry mean basically the same thing and are, for the most part, interchangeable. By which I mean you can substitute the term “biological”

Study: Practitioners underrate patients’ dental anxiety

How good are you at telling if a patient has dental anxiety? Maybe not as good as you think, as a new study found that dental practitioners rated poorly in their ability to determine a patient’s dental anxiety. Researchers wanted to find out if dental practitioners were able to accurately assess patients’ anxiety. The study included 104 practitioners — dentists, hygienists, and assistants — from 24 public dental clinics in