Study: Pain descriptors may aid in making diagnosis

Can how patients describe their pain help you determine the underlying cause? Researchers studied 228 patients with an acute toothache and found that words matters. Researchers from the New York University College of Dentistry wanted to see if the pain descriptions used by patients could help dentists identify the contributors to the pain. They used two sensitivity tests, cold detection (positive or negative) and percussion hypersensitivity (painful or not), and

Carestream Dental announces SureSmile certification

Carestream Dental announced that two of its imaging systems have been certified for use with Dentsply Sirona’s SureSmile aligner system. Digital images from Carestream’s CS 8100 3D and CS 8100SC 3D systems can now be used with the SureSmile system for case planning, robotic archwire customization, and other SureSmile treatment options.

New analysis shows long-term impact of HPV vaccination

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs have a substantial impact on the number of infections in girls and women, according to a study published on June 26 in Lancet. Researchers updated a systematic review and meta-analysis to include data from 60 million individuals and up to eight years of follow-up. They reported that the prevalence of HPV strains 16 and 18, which cause 70% of cervical cancers, decreased by 83% among girls

Regular Implants vs. Zygomatic Implants

Dental implants are a great option for people who suffer from missing teeth. A long-term solution, the help preservation of the jawbone, and comfort are a few of the advantages that dental implants provide to patients. Dental implants are metal posts that are positioned into the jawbone because they fuse to the jawbone, they provide stable support for artificial teeth. At we have different implant brands to meet everyone’s unique needs. We recommend

FDA data show over 100,000 implant injuries in 2018

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released new data that include approximately 117,200 reports of serious injuries associated with dental implants. The vast majority of these injuries were due to problems with osseointegration. Federal law requires manufacturers to file reports to the FDA when devices cause or may have caused a serious injury, defined as an injury that is life-threatening, results in irreversible impairment or damage, or necessitates medical

Imaging study finds OSA patients at risk for heart disease

Here’s another reason to screen your patients for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): A new study has found that coronary flow reserve is impaired in patients with severe OSA, putting them at risk for cardiovascular disease. The research was presented on June 24 at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) annual meeting in Anaheim, CA. Researchers used positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) to evaluate the cardiovascular

Biopharma firm to buy Botox manufacturer for $63B

Biopharmaceutical company AbbVie has announced an agreement to acquire Allergan, a pharmaceutical company and a manufacturer of Botox. AbbVie will acquire Allergan for about $63 billion in cash and stock, according to the companies. The purchase is expected to close in early 2020. Botox is a neurotoxin that temporarily paralyzes muscles and is used to treat movement disorders and migraines, as well for dental aesthetics and dental therapeutics such as treating

Insurance data show drop in opioid prescriptions by dentists

Integrated dental and pharmacy data can reduce the number of opioid prescriptions, according to a presentation on June 21 at the 2019 International Association for Dental Research (IADR) meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia. Researchers from Cigna examined the number of prescriptions written by in-network general and specialty dentists for opioids between the first quarter of 2015 through the second quarter of 2018. They reported that prescribed milligram morphine equivalence (MME)

Study: Use extra-narrow implants as indicated for success

Extra-narrow implants can fit into spaces that other implants can’t, but their indications are limited. Nevertheless, their use has been reported in borderline clinical situations thought to risk implant fracture. To learn more about the capabilities of these implants, researchers examined their biomechanical behavior in the laboratory. They conducted in vitro tests of 2.9-mm-diameter extra-narrow implants (Facility, Straumann Group) and 3.75-mm-diameter regular size implants (Titamax CM, Straumann), which were manufactured

Week in Review: Is oil pulling effective? | Sexual harassment | Sugar industry influence

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Oil pulling involves swishing a tablespoon of oil, typically coconut or sesame, around the oral cavity. This motion allegedly “pulls” bad bacteria from the mouth. But does it work? Researchers found that it may be as effective as chlorhexidine in reducing plaque-induced gingivitis, according to a presentation this week at the 2019 International Association for Dental Research (IADR) meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia. More than 20% of

New sedation guidelines call for 2 experts per procedure

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have updated their sedation guidelines for the first time in three years. The new guidelines call for two trained personnel to be present when providing deep sedation or general anesthesia to children. The updates come after a perceived increase in pediatric deaths and renewed scrutiny from some state legislatures. The goal of the guidelines, which were published

Dental assistant gets prison sentence for selling opioids

A dental assistant from Pennsylvania has received a 19-month federal prison sentence for selling oxycodone tablets, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Nancy Ayres from Upper Chichester pled guilty to distributing oxycodone in February. She obtained and allegedly sold more than 1,000 15- and 20-mg oxycodone tablets between April and June 2018. In addition to the prison term, Ayres was sentenced to three years of supervised release.