New products: Formlabs unveils new dental materials at IDS

3D printing systems company Formlabs is unveling two new 3D printing dental materials at this week’s International Dental Show (IDS) in Cologne, Germany. The Dental LT Clear. All images courtesy of Formlabs. The new 3D printing materials are resins and biocompatible materials for digital dentistry, according to Formlabs: The Dental LT Clear is a clear, long-term resin that can be used to print orthodontic appliances such as splints and retainers.

Is there a silver lining for Medicaid dentistry under Trump?

A flurry of activity in Washington, D.C. — including efforts to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and proposed changes to how Medicaid funding is allocated — has the healthcare industry in a state of flux. As dental leaders brace for potentially sweeping changes to the Medicaid program, many are wondering how Medicaid dentistry will fare. Andrew Oreffice is senior vice president of compliance and

IADR 2017: Which CAD/CAM restorative materials are the toughest?

SAN FRANCISCO – When creating restorations using a CAD/CAM process, practitioners want to use the strongest, most fracture-resistant material available. But which material is the most fracture-resistant? Alaa Kensara, BDS, DScD, at the IADR annual meeting. Researchers tested five contemporary CAD/CAM materials to find out which resisted fractures the best and presented their findings on Wednesday at the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) annual meeting. They found that, of

Heraeus Kulzer changes name

Heraeus Kulzer has announced the company will become known as Kulzer as of July 1, 2017. Along with the name change, the company announced it would be adding about 100 new jobs in its international sales and services organization, including the research and development department. Kulzer’s parent company, Mitsui Chemicals of Tokyo, stated that nothing will change for the company’s current customers.

Dentsply Sirona allows export of Cerec scans

Dentsply Sirona has opened its Cerec system for the export of scan data to other manufacturers’ software. Data from digital impressions taken with the Cerec system can now be exported in the stereolithography (STL) file format, which guarantees compatibility with other commonly used design programs, according to the company. This means practitioners can send restorative scans to the dental laboratory of their choosing. In addition, Cerec Omnicam scans can be

Study examines CBCT systems for root canal treatment planning

The first step in planning for root canal treatment is to be able to clearly and accurately visualize the anatomy of the canal. European researchers wanted to know if a cone-beam CT (CBCT) system can be used to help develop a treatment plan. Testing two devices, the Scanora 3D (KaVo) and the 3D Accuitomo 170 (J. Morita Europe), the researchers examined scores of images from each system and found that

Dentsply Sirona to acquire French endodontic post company

Dentsply Sirona plans to acquire French company Recherche Techniques Dentaires (RTD), an international manufacturer of fiber-reinforced composite posts. Dentsply Sirona has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all the outstanding shares of RTD, which will retain its name. The purchase price was not disclosed.

New product: Align Technology to offer new Invisalign workflow

Align Technology has announced a new workflow for the Invisalign system in partnership with Digital Smile Design (DSD). This agreement means general practitioners can combine clear aligner treatment with DSD’s treatment planning approach, which includes restorative and orthodontic techniques and patient communication tools. The workflow will be available later in 2017, according to the companies.

New product: RecordLinc debuts case management module

RecordLinc has released a new implant case management module. The web-based RecordLinc implant case management system (RIMS) replaces the iConfident dental implant case management system, according to the company. The new system allows offices to streamline implant case management, obtain the right implant and restorative parts, and share case information. The module debuted at the recent 2017 Academy of Osseointegration annual meeting in Orlando, FL.

Gum Disease and Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, you are probably well aware of the fact that you’ll encounter several physical changes over the next nine months. Growing a baby inside your body can cause an expanding waistline, swollen feet, odd food cravings, morning sickness and much more. However, are you aware of the changes that occur inside your mouth? Your oral health is actually more vulnerable to complications during pregnancy, especially when it

Week in Review: Young dentists and DSOs; claims and coding; and Latino oral health

Dear DrBicuspid Member, While there was a sense that younger dentists were perhaps more likely to align with a dental service/support organization (DSO), now we have a better idea about the numbers. About 7% of dentists in the U.S. are affiliated with these organizations, according to new data from the ADA’s Health Policy Institute. However, that percentage almost doubles for younger dentists under the age of 35. Read our coverage

NIDCR awards Pitt $11.7M for tissue regeneration center

The National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) has awarded the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) School of Dental Medicine an $11.7 million grant to start a resource center to study therapies for regenerating damaged dental, oral, and craniofacial tissues. The Michigan-Pittsburgh-Wyss Resource Center: Supporting Regenerative Medicine in Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Technologies has been established along with the University of Michigan and Harvard University as part of the NIDCR’s