Blog

Review of Thantakit Dental Center Partner Hotels

More and more people are going to the Thantakit Dental Center in order to have a cost-effective wellness vacation that hits two birds with one stone. When availing of a dental tourism package to Thantakit, you’ll get to have work done to improve your smile and your ability to use your teeth and jaw. Then you have an opportunity to flash your winning smile as you relax and unwind in beautiful Thailand. It’s a

Study finds U.S. dentists prescribe too many antibiotics

A new study found that almost 81% of antibiotics prescribed for infection prophylaxis before dental visits were unnecessary. In the first such study to examine the appropriateness of U.S. dentists’ prescriptions of prophylactic antibiotics, the researchers reported that just under 21% of more than 91,000 dental patients had a cardiac condition at highest risk of adverse outcomes from infective endocarditis, yet more than 168,000 prescriptions were written for U.S. dental

Week in Review: Older adults and insurance | Antibiotic prescriptions | CDA Presents trends

Dear DrBicuspid Member, In a report that surprises no one who sees older adults in their practice, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported this week that less than 30% of U.S. adults 65 years and older had dental insurance in 2017. The research looked at dental insurance status, economic status, and more. But that wasn’t the only new research released this week. A study published by JAMA

Sandblasted finish may lead to implant success

When it comes to implant failure, which type of implant is less likely to fail: smooth or sandblasted? A new study had surprising results. Researchers found that rough-surfaced implants had a significantly lower failure rate, which led them to recommend using moderately rough sandblasted implants over machined ones for healthy patients. They published their results in PLOS One (May 3, 2019). “The present study has a clear message for clinicians,”

Solmetex names new VP

Amalgam separation technology company Solmetex has named Bill Gerety as its new vice president of marketing and customer experience. Gerety most recently served as vice president of marketing at Sirtex Medical.

New products: Geistlich adds 2 collagen matrix sizes

Geistlich Biomaterials has introduced two new sizes of its collagen matrix used in soft-tissue augmentation procedures. The company’s Fibro-Gide line now includes 15 x 20 x 6-mm and 20 x 40 x 6-mm sizes for both small and large defects. The product is made from types I and III collagen and can be used for soft-tissue augmentation around natural teeth and implants, according to Geistlich.

Second Opinion: My experience with narcotic pain medications

As a periodontist, I used to prescribe narcotic medication for patients who required it for periodontal surgery. I never had the personal experience of being a patient requiring a narcotic for severe pain and never experienced the systemic results of narcotics coursing through my body. After the pathological fracture of my L3 vertebra, I became the patient. Alvin Danenberg, DDS. Surgery to repair the vertebra and radiation treatment to destroy

Study compares strength of CAD/CAM provisional restorations

New technologies and materials have made it easier to create and repair restorations, but do these CAD/CAM materials hold up as well as more-established materials? Researchers put four of them through their paces. A restorative’s shear bond strength and fracture toughness can predict how it may hold up in a patient’s mouth. The researchers tested both CAD/CAM and conventional materials and found that the CAD/CAM materials held up under pressure.

New product: Ultradent adds new curing light

Ultradent Products has introduced its new Valo Grand Corded curing light. The Valo Grand Corded curing light has a power cord for consistent power output without batteries. The device has a 12-mm lens and a back activation button for ease of use. The new curing light has all the benefits of the company’s Valo Grand cordless curing light but is more affordable and weighs less, according to Ultradent.

New product: Kulzer launches denture design software

Kulzer has launched Pala Design Studio, new web-based denture design software. The Pala Design Studio allows practitioners and dental labs to design dentures online using digital Mondial and Mondial i teeth, download the design files, and 3D print the dentures. The process requires only two patient visits, compared with up to five visits for conventional dentures, according to Kulzer.

Getting started with 3D printing: Video from CDA Presents

For many busy dental practices, a 3D printer can be a useful tool. Gerard Kugel, DMD, PhD, spoke with HuangshanDental.com about some of the technology’s advantages and disadvantages at the California Dental Association’s 2019 CDA Presents meeting in Anaheim, CA. Dr. Kugel, a professor and the associate dean for research at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, uses 3D printing in his own practice. The technology is great for specific activities,

Week in Review: Getting started with 3D printing | Personalized dentistry | Opioid alternatives

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Dentists have questions about 3D printing and how it might affect their patient care. Dr. Gerard Kugel, PhD, spoke with HuangshanDental.com about some of the technology’s advantages and disadvantages at the California Dental Association’s 2019 CDA Presents meeting in Anaheim, CA. In more coverage from the CDA Presents meeting, Dr. Dennis Abbott spoke about how personalized healthcare will change how dentists approach patient intake and treatment. He also talked

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