New product: Komet launches composite polishers

Komet USA has launched its new Footsie composite polishers with thick ends that resemble feet. Footsies are designed with a spiral shape to prevent breaking and give composite restorations a shiny finish. The polisher can be used on all tooth surfaces and types of restorations, including occlusal, buccal, lingual, and interproximal restorations. Footsies can also be sterilized and reused. The new polishers are part of Komet’s CompoBrite line, which includes

3Shape software integrates with RMO’s bracket system

3Shape announced that the company’s indirect bonding application will now digitally integrate with Rocky Mountain Orthodontics’ (RMO) bracket system. The integration allows practitioners to plan treatment and precisely position brackets with the help of real-time collision detection tools. More than 200 bracket libraries and orthodontic providers are integrated with 3Shape’s orthodontic software, according to the company. The system will be available in the 3Shape orthodontic software on April 18. Bracket

Is 4% articaine or 4% lidocaine more effective in third-molar removal?

When patients need to have their impacted third molars extracted, many dentists choose to use either 4% articaine or 4% lidocaine hydrochloride to block their pain. But which is more clinically effective when treating these patients? Using 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine was clinically more effective than using 4% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine for inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) block in a small, randomized, single-blind, comparative split-mouth study. The researchers reported

Calif. clinic in water line infection case to reopen

The Children’s Dental Group in Anaheim said the clinic involved in a water line infection issue that forced more than 60 children to be hospitalized will reopen on April 24. The water line infection previously led to the hospitalization of 67 children who had pulpotomies at the clinic between February 4, 2016, and August 20, 2016. The clinic installed a new water line, but it was ordered to close by

Week in Review: Carestream Dental sold; minimally invasive dentistry; and chlorhexidine mouthwash

Dear DrBicuspid Member, The biggest story this week in dentistry was the sale of Carestream Dental to a consortium of two private investment funds. Read our news brief here. Also this week on HuangshanDental.com, research supports the benefits of minimally invasive dentistry for noncavitated carious lesions, but can providing such care damage your professional reputation and lower patient satisfaction? In a new study, patients who received noninvasive treatment were just

April 2017 new-product roundup from DrBicuspid.com

In March and April, companies have introduced new products ranging from an endodontics chair to new toothpastes and more. Here is our monthly roundup of new products from companies such as Philips Sonicare, Sanofi, Boyd Industries, and others. Endodontics Boyd launches endodontic chair Boyd Industries launched the M3100LC, a new chair designed specifically for endodontic procedures. The chair has a memory foam winged back and can lift patients up to

Are patients satisfied with noninvasive treatment?

Research supports the benefits of minimally invasive dentistry for noncavitated carious lesions, but can providing such care damage your professional reputation and lower patient satisfaction? In a new study, patients who received noninvasive treatment were just as satisfied as those who underwent invasive treatment. The lack of knowledge on the part of patients about noninvasive treatments for noncavitated early caries lesions, which include monitoring and oral hygiene instruction instead of

New product: Boyd launches endodontic chair

Boyd Industries has launched the M3100LC, a new chair designed specifically for endodontic procedures. The chair has a memory foam winged back and can lift patients up to 500 lb. The M3100LC also has several positioning features, including the following: A swiveling base that can lock into place once a patient is in position Control switches on both sides and the back of the chair The ability for practitioners to

American Academy of Cariology launches

The American Academy of Cariology (AAC) has launched. The aim of the nonprofit organization is to eradicate dental caries in the U.S. with a focus on research, education, and science-based caries management. Margherita Fontana, DDS, PhD, is the academy’s first president. The first meeting of the AAC will be held on October 18, 2017, in Atlanta during the 2017 ADA annual meeting. The AAC will debut a website soon, the

Saliva peptide may help implant integration

A peptide found in saliva may be the key to helping implants integrate with surrounding cells faster. Researchers found that oral cavity cells exposed to this specific peptide spread and adhered to titanium significantly better than those without it. Irene van Dijk, PhD. The researchers believe the peptide histatin 1 (Hst1) may one day have clinical applications that help with implant integration. Lead researcher Irene van Dijk, PhD, from the

Sheri’s Solutions: Flossing debate

“It’s interesting how the flossing debate left the news so quickly,” a very astute patient opined the other day. He continued, “I don’t understand how people don’t think flossing is important. I get stuff out between my teeth every time I floss.” Sheri B. Doniger, DDS. Well, wouldn’t we like to have all our patients so motivated to get the floss out. The sad reality is that flossing had its

Univ. of Rochester dedicates new pediatric dental clinic

The University of Rochester Eastman Institute for Oral Health (EIOH) and the School of Medicine and Dentistry recently dedicated a new pediatric dental clinic. The Dr. Dennis A. Clements III and Dr. Martha Ann Keels EIOH Pediatric Dentistry Clinic was established with a $500,000 donation from Martha Ann Keels, DDS, PhD, and her husband Dennis Clements III, MD, PhD, MPH, in 2016. The couple also donated an additional $500,000 to create a