Does articaine damage neural cells more than lidocaine?

Reports of infrequent but prolonged paresthesias after the use of 4% articaine beg the question of whether this local anesthetic is more neurotoxic than lidocaine. To learn more, researchers conducted in vitro experiments that produced some unexpected results. They compared the neurotoxicity of these two commonly used drugs in neural cells by testing formulations used clinically in patients (2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine or 4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine) and also pure

Danaher plans to spin off dental business, releases Q2 results

Danaher has announced it will spin off its dental business into an independent, publicly traded company called DentalCo. Danaher is the parent company of DEXIS, Nobel Biocare, i-CAT, Pelton & Crane, KaVo Kerr Group, and others. Amir Aghdaei was named president and CEO of the new company. Aghdaei currently serves as group executive with responsibility for the dental business for Danaher. The company said the spin-off was expected to be

Week in Review: Injectable anesthetics compared | 7-year production trends | Win the stress game

Dear DrBicuspid Member, One reason patients cite for avoiding dental treatment is fear of pain during and after a procedure. Researchers conducted a comprehensive review of published studies to see if one injectable anesthetic worked better than others in different clinical situations. Their findings might help guide your clinical practice. Read more here. It’s always an excellent idea for dentists and team members to know what numbers are making an

Researchers discover pain relief pathway with fewer opioids

Better relief for acute pain using fewer opioids may be on the horizon thanks to new research into a chemical compound that targets multiple pain receptors. Researchers found that the addition of one type of protein provided better pain relief at a lower morphine dose in rodents. Researchers from John Hopkins University School of Medicine added the protein BAM22 to morphine, which ultimately strengthened the opioid’s analgesic effect while also

Cobalt-chromium crowns top abutment adherence testing

As two-piece implants have become standard, adherence of the crown to the abutment is critical for implant success. Researchers tested four different CAD/CAM implant-supported crown materials to measure their retention values and found cobalt-chromium crowns offered the most resistance. Researchers evaluated the pullout resistance of four crown materials (temporary acrylic resin, zirconia, titanium, and cobalt-chromium) cemented onto titanium-base abutments. Their tests showed that cobalt-chromium had the highest resistance. Their study

Review compares treatment success of injectable anesthetics

One reason patients cite for avoiding dental treatment is fear of pain during and after a procedure. Researchers from the U.K. conducted a comprehensive review to see if one injectable anesthetic worked better than others in different clinical situations. All of the injectable anesthetics in the included studies appeared effective and safe, but one stood out for surgical procedures, the researchers found. However, they noted that available evidence ranged from

CBCT demonstrates superiority for periodontal evaluation

Cone-beam CT (CBCT) shows promise for periodontal diagnosis, but how does its use measure up against conventional imaging? To learn more, researchers compared the results of studies on the use of CBCT for assessing periodontal conditions and parameters. They searched for studies that compared CBCT with conventional imaging techniques for assessing periodontal parameters, including infrabony defects and furcation involvement. Their review findings indicated that CBCT was superior. “CBCT is significantly

Evident launches new digital design service

Dental technology company Evident has launched a new digital impressions design service. Evident Design Services offers dentists the option of outsourcing teeth designs. For instance, if a practice needs a crown design, the dentist can send the scan to the company, which will then design the crown and send it back to the office for milling. The company also announced a collaboration agreement with Amann Girrbach to develop and manufacture

Week in Review: Dentist numbers to increase | Aligners and tooth movement | CAD/CAM veneers

Dear DrBicuspid Member, The number of full-time dentists in the U.S. is projected to increase through 2037, according to a new ADA Health Policy Institute (HPI) brief. However participants in an ADA HPI webinar cautioned that a number of other factors influence how many dentists are really needed to meet patient demand. Read more here. In clinical news on HuangshanDental.com, how does actual tooth movement with clear aligners compare with

Inspire Medical’s sleep apnea treatment gets Aetna coverage

Inspire Medical Systems announced that Aetna will provide coverage for its Inspire therapy for obstructive sleep apnea. The coverage for the company’s hypoglossal nerve neurostimulation device will begin immediately. Under the policy, the insurer considers treatment to be medically necessary when certain criteria are met, according to Inspire Medical. These criteria include, but may not be limited to, a previous attempt at continuous positive airway pressure treatment and patient selection

The real cost of inadequate exams

Last week a friend of mine, whom I will call Craig, called me to tell me about his dental problem. His story is a recurring concern I have about some dentists performing an inadequate dental exam. A lack of an in-depth exam can result in continued pain for the patient and also expensive, unnecessary, and possibly harmful treatment. Craig’s problem Craig told me that several weeks ago he had so

How accurate is tooth movement with clear aligners?

How does actual tooth movement with clear aligners compare with intended results? Are certain tooth movements easier to achieve than others? Researchers used 3D imaging software to examine the differences between predicted and achieved results. They conducted a retrospective study of nearly 400 teeth in 20 adults patients treated with Invisalign aligners (Align Technology) who required further refinement after initial treatment. The results indicated that predicted and achieved horizontal tooth