We might all agree that the smile is someone’s best feature. Unfortunately, as years go by our smiles can change: maybe some teeth will be fractured, other will fall or some can be severely worn as a result of long-term acid erosion. How can this be solved? Each person’s characteristics and needs are different, and when a patient’s mouth is in a really bad state, a lot of treatments will
What’s the best dental insurance? I get asked this question by my patients and I’m sure you do also. It’s not the dental rider on your employer’s health plan. It’s not the government-assisted program better known as a freebie. It’s not some self-pay contraption. It’s none of those obvious things. Alvin Danenberg, DDS. The best dental insurance is your patients doing what they need to do to prevent dental disease
What is the level of oral health-related quality of life among elderly nursing home residents, and how does it relate to prosthetic needs? A new study investigated the relationship between these factors. Researchers found that oral health quality-of-life levels were low and the need for denture-related treatment high, with certain factors placing nursing home residents at greater risk. “The results of this study suggest that better oral health (more natural
After third-molar extractions, patients and their parents overwhelmingly prefer nonopioid pain management, according to a study presented at the 2017 American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia. In a survey of more than 1,500 patients and their parents, almost 70% of those who had the third-molar extractions had been prescribed an opioid for postextraction pain management, and only 40% reported that their practitioner had
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) has awarded Louisiana State University (LSU) Health New Orleans School of Dentistry a five-year, $2.5 million grant to develop stronger, longer-lasting dental filling materials with antibacterial properties that inhibit biofilm formation. Xiaoming Xu, PhD, a professor and head of the division of biomaterials at the dental school, is the principal investigator for the research. The grant will support the further development
The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) has released a new video for patients to mark Root Canal Awareness Week, May 7-13. The video, which is available on YouTube, is titled “Endodontists: the Superheroes of Saving Teeth” and is designed to help patients understand how the advanced training, specialized techniques, and technologies endodontists use can help save teeth. According to a recent AAE survey, 78% of respondents said they want to
Dental and surgical instrument manufacturer Brasseler USA has added new titanium scalers and curettes to its ImplantPro line. ImplantPro titanium scalers and curettes are made from 6Al-4V titanium and allow the practitioner to remove calculus and biofilm around implants. The ImplantPro Titanium 204S scaler has thinner, shorter blades with less curvature than a traditional 204S scaler, and the four ImplantPro titanium curettes have elongated terminal shanks and thin, short blades
Dear DrBicuspid Member, ANAHEIM, CA – The biggest story this week was that the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a bill to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as “Obamacare,” on May 4. The bill gives states more control over the essential services they cover, including pediatric dental care. Read our coverage here. Also on HuangshanDental.com this week, previous studies have found
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a new budget bill that will increase funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The bill received bipartisan praise and will fund the government through September 30, the end of fiscal year 2017. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which houses the NIH and CDC, will receive $74 billion. The bill also
Previous studies have found that the use of implants with a rough surface and microthreaded neck may reduce crestal bone loss compared with other implant types, but this positive effect is subject to various factors. To better determine the effects of this implant design on crestal bone preservation, researchers conducted a systematic review of the published literature on the topic. Dental implants with a microthreaded-neck design are a better choice
Komet USA has added to its ZR Diamonds line with two new course-grit diamonds designed for gross contouring ceramic restorations, including zirconium dioxide. ZR6801.FG.023 is a round bur designed for targeted, quick adjustments on occlusal surfaces, modifying chamfers, and creating endodontic access cavities. In addition to the 023 size, the bur is also available in sizes 010, 014, and 018. ZR6805.FG.018 is an inverted cone diamond designed for occlusal adjustments,
The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a bill to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” on May 4. The bill gives states more control over the essential services they cover, including pediatric dental care. The House passed the Republican healthcare bill, known as the American Health Care Act (AHCA) mostly along party lines, with 20 Republicans voting against it and no
