New product: Rodo Medical abutment system gets FDA clearance

Dental device company Rodo Medical has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Rodo abutment system. The system received FDA clearance to be used with compatible implant systems in the upper and lower jaw to retain crowns, bridges, and overdentures, according to the company. The system uses the shape-memory Smileloc retentive sleeve and the memory material nitinol to create a new attachment between a

NIDCR awards NYU researcher $317K to evaluate caries programs

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) has awarded a New York University (NYU) professor a $317,000 grant to evaluate school-based caries prevention programs. The institute awarded the two-year grant to Ryan Richard Ruff, PhD, an assistant professor and the director of the Biostatistics Core in the department of epidemiology and health promotion at the NYU College of Dentistry. The grant will help fund a study to identify

Implant Supported Denture: Am I a Candidate?

As we grow up, our daily habits change along with our physical appearance. Losing teeth is common, but also something very hard to face. Not being able to eat the food you love is a huge disadvantage, and to overcome this problem you may need dentures or better yet, an implant-supported denture. Both improve the look of your smile but, what’s the difference? We invite you to find out. What

Second Opinion: Casting a cloud over dental coverage

With the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump and the start of the 115th Congress right around the corner, the Children’s Dental Health Project (CDHP) has received questions and notes of concern from many partners and supporters. Many of you wonder what the future of children’s oral healthcare will look like under this new administration. The short answer is that we simply do not know, but we are carefully eyeing signals

Giving Tuesday: 2 groups raise money for toothbrushes

SmileMakers and America’s ToothFairy: National Children’s Oral Health Foundation are raising money to buy toothbrushes for in-need children on Giving Tuesday, November 29. Through the partnership, SmileMakers will match every donation made on America’s ToothFairy’s website on #GivingTuesday, a giving event in which people around the world support causes and charities they believe in. The donations will be used to buy and distribute toothbrushes to children at high risk for

Can laser therapy accelerate orthodontic tooth movement?

Dental crowding is an issue in much of the U.S. population, but lengthy treatment time leads some patients to dismiss leveling and alignment treatments. Low-light laser therapy may be a safe method to speed up the process, according to a new study. The need to find a way to accelerate orthodontic treatment isn’t new, but using a laser to do so hasn’t been part of a randomized controlled trial until

New product: Kerr launches new universal composite at GNYDM

Kerr has released a new universal composite at this week’s Greater New York Dental Meeting (GNYDM). Harmonize universal composite. Image courtesy of Kerr. Harmonize is a next-generation universal composite with adaptive response technology (ART), according to the company. The product reflects and diffuses light similarly to human enamel and creates structural integrity for handling, aesthetics, and strength. The composite is softer while sculpting because of the “high-loading, spherical shape, and

New product: Carestream launches implant workflow system

Carestream Dental has introduced its CS Solutions for Implants workflow system. The new workflow offers the combination of state-of-the-art 3D technology and prosthetic-driven implant planning, according to the company. Data from a digital impression and a cone-beam CT scan are aligned automatically using CS 3D Imaging software. Then, using the prosthetic-driven implant planning module, practitioners can virtually plan the crown and implant on the same screen. The company also announced

Housing linked to cigarette use, dental visits for kids

Adolescents living in mobile and trailer homes are more likely to smoke cigarettes and less likely to visit the dentist compared with kids living in other types of housing, a new study found. This is one of the few studies to evaluate health outcomes for adolescents based on the type of housing they live in. The study authors realized that many researchers take into account socioeconomic status but few look

Are flare-ups likely after single-sitting root canal?

Is a patient less likely to experience flare-ups following root canal treatment after a single-session treatment, or are procedures performed over multiple sittings more likely to result in complications? According to researchers from India, multiple-sitting root canal treatments were the standard taught in dental schools until recently, with single-sitting treatments becoming more popular for treatment and convenience reasons. But does a single-sitting treatment result in more endodontic flare-ups after treatment?

Propel files petition against OrthoAccel patent

Propel Orthodontics has filed a petition against an OrthoAccel Technologies patent for vibrating orthodontic devices. In the petition, Propel alleges OrthoAccel’s U.S. Patent No. 8,500,446 is invalid because it doesn’t meet the requirements for patentability. Specifically, Propel is alleging that OrthoAccel’s patent does not meet the nonobvious requirement, in light of three related patents. Propel filed a petition with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for an inter partes

Taub updates Liquid Magic resin barrier

Taub Products has updated its Liquid Magic resin barrier product for implant and cosmetic dentistry. The updated product has an improved depth of cure and can be used instead of cotton or Teflon tape to fill and seal implant abutment access holes, according to the company. The light-cured resin is used before crown placement and also used to protect threading, screws, and internal components of implants and abutments. The updated