What determines nickel-titanium rotary instrument usage?

Why are some practitioners using nickel-titanium rotary instruments, and what are they good for? What’s holding back the practitioners who aren’t using them, and what might encourage these individuals to try something new? Researchers surveyed endodontists and general dentists and found some interesting answers. They sent an online questionnaire to general dentists and endodontists in Saudi Arabia about their use of nickel-titanium rotary instruments. The investigators found that a large

G&H Orthodontics names new CEO

G&H Orthodontics has named John Voskuil as its new CEO. Voskuil previously served as vice president and general manager of the implants business unit for Dentsply Sirona.

New resource offers guidance on opioids for pregnant women

What considerations should you have when prescribing opioids for pregnant women? The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center created a new guide to help dentists answer this very question. The guide, which was created with funds from the U.S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau, covers pharmacological considerations for pregnant women, neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, and general guidelines for prescribing opioids for these patients. It was written by Ruth

Week in Review: New Legal Case | Latest opioids reports | U.S. dentists born abroad

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Have you ever had a patient become not just disruptive but who had to be removed from your office by the police? In their latest Legal Cases column, William S. Spiegel and Dr. Marc Leffler present just such a case in which a patient became disruptive after incomplete restorative work. Read more to learn how the case was resolved and what you can do to help your practice.

Legal Cases: Disruptive patient and incomplete restorative work

A 66-year-old woman contacted a cosmetic and restorative dentist for an exam, x-rays, and a cleaning, as well as to establish a relationship with a dentist near her new home. This patient had completed maxillary restorative work in the past, including fixed bridges, individual crowns, and endodontic therapy. Most of this work had been in place for at least 20 years, and the patient was unhappy with the aesthetic look

Questionnaire helps distinguish between types of orofacial pain

A questionnaire originally developed for patients with lower back pain may be able to help distinguish between different types of orofacial pain. Researchers found that higher scores on the painDETECT screening questionnaire were associated with neuropathic orofacial pain, as opposed to musculoskeletal or dental pain. The researchers hope the questionnaire will help clinicians who are not pain experts to identify orofacial conditions that are neuropathic in origin. They published their

Study: Opioid prescriptions by dentists linked to abuse risk

Opioid prescriptions by dentists and oral surgeons may lead to a statistically significant increased risk of persistent opioid use and abuse for adolescents and young adults, according to a major new study in JAMA Internal Medicine on December 3. Patients who received an opioid prescription from a dental practitioner were at a statistically significant risk for persistent opioid use and a subsequent diagnosis of opioid abuse, the researchers found. “The

Keeping Kids’ Teeth Healthy This Holiday Season in Sugar Land, TX

The holiday season is just around the corner! It is time for family bondings, festive music, delicious meals, and gift giving. It is quite a tough time for oral health due to the overload of sweets. Like children, the bacteria in the mouth also love to feast on sugary treats. Unfortunately, it can lead to the development of cavities due to the acids produced that can gradually wear down the

Endodontics Insider: What determines nickel-titanium rotary instrument usage?

Dear Endodontics Insider, Why are some practitioners using nickel-titanium rotary instruments and some not? What might encourage practitioners to try these instruments? Researchers surveyed both endodontists and general dentists to find out the answers to these and other questions. Read our Insider Exclusive. Handpiece sterilization after an endodontic or other procedure is now considered standard operating procedure, but it wasn’t always so. Dr. Louis DePaola examines how handpiece sterilization recommendations have

How to Take Care of Young Children’s Dental Health

The overall health of your children is influenced by how healthy their teeth are. Their milk teeth, temporary as they may be, help your child talk and eat. Strong oral care should be established from a young age so that when all their primary teeth fall off and are replaced with permanent ones, they’ll be ready to better take care of these irreplaceable natural teeth when they’re adults. Poor oral

All That You Need to Know About Dental Cleaning

Dental cleaning or prophylaxis is considered part of a routine visit to the dentist when you don’t have issues with cavities or a throbbing tooth. However, there are quite a surprising amount of people out there who are unfamiliar with this service. Many people are not aware that prophylaxis is many times more effective than teeth brushing. so much so that you can use have it done every three to

Week in Review: Hybrid toothbrushes | Increasing practice revenue | Narrow-diameter implants

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Do you have patients who can’t decide between a manual and powered toothbrush? If so, a hybrid design that combines both modes may be ideal. But how effective are these toothbrushes at reducing plaque compared with a regular powered toothbrush? More importantly, do users like and use these brushes? Read more here. It’s near the end of the year, so you’re probably taking a look at your