Kolibree debuts new kids’ toothbrush at CES 2018

Kolibree debuted a new smart toothbrush specifically designed for children at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2018) in Las Vegas. The Kolibree Magik toothbrush and app. Image courtesy of Kolibree. The Magik toothbrush, a CES 2018 Innovation Award honoree, uses augmented reality to sync the toothbrush with a smartphone app. Through the app, children can be virtually immersed in one of 15 worlds, including pirates and princesses. The toothbrush

Do I need a Visa or Passport to Travel to Mexico?

When planning a trip to a new destination, there are a lot of questions that pop into our minds. For example, how much money do I need? Are there any good hotels in town? And most importantly, do I need a visa to enter the country I’m visiting soon? Don’t worry, when choosing Los Algodones as your dental spot of choice we’d like you to know that we’ve got you

Interrupting a critical cycle to improve gum health

Here is an account that unfolds like the best science fiction tale ever written. It’s the relationship between bacteria and mitochondria and eventually gum disease. This relationship forms a critical cycle. Alvin Danenberg, DDS. As human life evolved from single-celled organisms, each cell in our bodies came to include a self-contained energy-production machine called mitochondria that started out as ancient bacterial organisms. Every cell in our body, with the exception

Periodontal pathogens linked to esophageal cancer risk

A new study adds to existing evidence that maintaining better oral health can reduce the risk of cancer. Researchers identified links between certain periodontal pathogens and the risk of esophageal cancers, findings which could advance strategies for the early detection and prevention of these malignancies. New York University (NYU) researchers analyzed data from two large prospective studies and compared the oral microbiomes of participants who were either cancer-free or who

Benevis, Kool Smiles settle with DOJ for $24M

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a $23.9 million settlement with dental management company Benevis and its Kool Smiles affiliate after a seven-year False Claims Act investigation. The justice department alleged that false claims were submitted to state Medicaid programs for medically unnecessary dental services performed on children insured by Medicaid from 2009 to 2011. The settlement will be divided between the U.S. government and the 17 individual states involved.

Kool Smiles practice faces lawsuit after child deaths

Two children have died after being treated at a Kool Smiles practice in Yuma, AZ, over the past two years. The practice now faces a wrongful death lawsuit concerning the death of a 4-year-old girl, and the death of a 2-year-old boy is being investigated. The girl, Lizeth Lares, developed a fever after visiting the practice for an abscessed tooth in February 2016. She returned to the practice the next

Core-carrier obturation rivals conventional techniques

Core-carrier obturation may be a viable alternative to conventional root canal obturation techniques. A new systematic review found that the core-carrier method had the same success rate as the traditional cold lateral condensation technique. Researchers from China studied the results of more than a dozen clinical trials that evaluated the success rate, postoperative pain, and incidences of overfilling with the core-carrier method. They then compared the core-carrier technique with cold

Study tests polymeric resins for primary tooth restorations

When faced with the need to restore primary teeth, the development of CAD/CAM systems and materials offers new treatment possibilities. But do these materials suffer excessive tooth wear that would make them inappropriate to use? A new study investigated. Researchers put five CAD/CAM polymeric resin blocks through their paces in a test that simulated tooth wear. While the test resulted in loss of volume and weight for each of the

5 things to know before buying an intraoral scanner

Intraoral scanners are increasingly becoming part of the dental workflow, and for good reason. These versatile devices have been shown to both please patients and save practices time and money, according to a new review. The new, narrative review looked at the strengths and weaknesses of current- and previous-generation intraoral scanners (BMC Oral Health, December 12, 2017). It included 132 studies published in peer-review journals from 2007 to 2017. The

How does ART compare with conventional caries treatment?

Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) was developed to treat caries in children living in areas where electricity, trained healthcare workers, and care facilities are limited. While the treatment is minimally invasive, how effective is it? A new review looked at the evidence. Researchers analyzed 15 randomized controlled trials and found low-quality evidence suggesting that primary teeth treated with the ART approach using high-viscosity glass ionomer cement may be more likely to

New product: Lares launches handpiece system

Lares Research has introduced a new electric handpiece system. The ProStyle E electric handpiece system is designed to reduce hand fatigue while delivering power, precision, and sound quality. The system includes an autoclavable motor, a motor control box, a 1:5 high-speed fiberoptic contra angle, a 1:1 low-speed fiberoptic contra angle, and a 1:1 straight attachment, according to the company. Lares said it shortened the mini contra angles and motor by

Do resins in sealants pose a long-term health issue?

Dental sealants have been shown to be effective in preventing tooth decay. But do resins in sealants available in the U.S. contain chemicals that may cause long-term health problems if children and adults are exposed to them? A new study looked into this question. Researchers studied the composition of 70 different dental resins available in the U.S. and found that 65 of them contained bisphenol A (BPA) or bisphenol A