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New products: Premier launches instrument line

Premier Dental has launched its new PremierAir line of hygiene and diagnostic instruments. The PremierAir scaler and curette. Image courtesy of Premier Dental. The instruments include a combination probe and explorer, hygiene scalers and curettes, and an explorer: The Probex probe combines a probe and explorer into one instrument. The device has recessed black markings in the tips that are easy to view and reduce wear. The company’s new hygiene

Newer, higher translucency ceramics show reduced masking

Knowing the translucency levels and masking properties of pressable ceramics can be useful for choosing the right material for an aesthetically pleasing restoration. To learn more, researchers studied the optical properties of one widely used lithium disilicate ceramic system and a newer feldspar ceramic material. They assessed the translucency and masking properties of IPS e.max Press (Ivoclar Vivadent) lithium disilicate ceramics and the more recently introduced Vita PM9 (Vita Zahnfabrik)

Advantages of Getting Dental Work in Mexico

The term medical tourism has gained popularity through the years since more and more people started saving money when traveling to receive high-quality medical or dental services outside their country of residence. There are a lot of reasons why these people rather take a flight than go to a local doctor or dentist, and these reasons are mainly the advantages we will talk about in this post. Los Algodones, Mexico

Zirconia ceramic outlasts other materials in new study

A new study investigating the fracture resistance of restorative materials found that the strength of zirconia ceramic restorations rivaled that of intact teeth. Zirconia ceramic also outperformed glass ceramic and resin composite restorations. The researchers investigated how well the three materials resisted fractures by simulated chewing forces and the environment of the oral cavity. They published their findings in the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry (January 25, 2018). “The

Data show perio production rising in U.S. practices

Most dental practice owners have certain ideas about how periodontal services should be integrated into their office’s everyday patient care. But how does your office compare with others in the U.S.? Before we get into the numbers, let’s take a step back and examine the issue of periodontal care more widely. David Black, DDS. First and foremost, I am not advocating overdiagnosis. However, when you consider that data from the

Anesthesia & Pain Management Insider: NSAID before implant surgery reduces post-op pain

Dear Anesthesia & Pain Management Insider, Postoperative pain is a reason some patients avoid implant treatment. But would taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) just before surgery reduce patients’ pain afterward? Researchers put this theory to the test. Read our Insider Exclusive. In other Anesthesia and Pain Management Community news, much of the attention about the opioid epidemic focuses on the abuse of prescription drugs, but pharmacist Tom Viola notes

New U.S. bill extends CHIP funding for 10 years

Long-term funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was extended for 10 years in the U.S. government budget bill signed by President Donald Trump on February 9. The budget contains 10 years of program funding, an increase from six years in a short-term funding bill signed on January 22, according to published reports. The program helps 9 million children maintain their dental and medical coverage. The bill also keeps the

Week in Review: 4 hygienist team challenges | OTC opioids | DSO leadership

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Any dental practice can have communication and teamwork issues, such as gossiping, passive-aggressive behavior, favoritism, and more. How do you address these issues? Practice management consultant Jen Butler takes a look at four such issues and offers practical actions you can take today. Learn more here. Also this week on HuangshanDental.com, the abuse of prescription opioids is an epidemic all healthcare practitioners are fighting. But what about

Is the air in your dental facility making you sick?

How’s the air in your dental office or laboratory? Could it be harmful to the health of everyone who works there? Researchers analyzed the size and concentration of nanoparticles in the air of typical dental facilities to learn more. They found that the size and concentration of these particles varied depending on the amount and type of activity being conducted, and dental employees may be at risk. “Dental employees are

Zest Dental acquired by investment firm

Zest Dental Solutions has been acquired by an international investment firm. The company was acquired by BC Partners from previous owners Avista Capital Partners. Zest offers a range of restorative, implant, and small equipment products. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

New product: Evidentiae debuts oral health assessment tool

Evidentiae Technologies has debuted Oral Health Score, its new online oral health assessment tool. The Oral Health Score health assessment tool. Image courtesy of Evidentiae Technologies. Oral Health Score guides patients through simple yes and no questions about the health of their teeth, gums, jaw, and smile. The tool then uses an algorithm to analyze the results and provide a risk estimate for oral diseases. Once patients have their results,

The over-the-counter opioid epidemic?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took a somewhat unprecedented action regarding the retail packaging of a popular over-the-counter (OTC) antidiarrheal product. In a January 30 statement, the agency expressed concern that the misuse and abuse of loperamide contributes to the death toll associated with the opioid epidemic. Tom Viola, RPh. Loperamide is a synthetic opioid approved by the FDA for treating diarrhea. It acts on opioid receptors in

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