Lawsuit seeks to reinstate EPA amalgam separator rule

Did your dental practice purchase an amalgam separator when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new mercury waste regulations in December 2016? Many practices did. But because of uncertainty around a memo by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration ordering the EPA and other agencies to withdraw unpublished U.S. government regulations, there is now a question about the status of the mercury waste regulations. It’s a question a new lawsuit

FAQ About Porcelain Veneers

Want the most dramatic and quickest way to makeover your smile? In most cases, porcelain veneers are the solution. Porcelain veneers involve the placement of wafer thin shells of porcelain on the front surface of your visible teeth. They can be used for teeth that are gapped, chipped, discolored or even crooked! If you are considering this innovative cosmetic dental procedure, these frequently asked questions may help you gain more

Can functional medicine help your patients?

Have you heard the term “functional medicine” floating around the internet? Do you know what it means? Alvin Danenberg, DDS. Many traditional medical and dental practitioners do not embrace the concepts of functional medicine, but I do. Let me explain how functional medicine could actually benefit your patient’s dental health. I am a traditionally educated periodontist and have been in practice for more than 40 years. Four years ago, I

Are splints beneficial for TMDs? It depends

Nearly 100 million people in the U.S. have temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), and approximately 3 million splints are made each year for their treatment, but questions remain about their effectiveness. Therefore, the authors of a new study sought to provide more evidence on their effects. Stabilization splints appear to be effective for TMDs in the short term, but they are no more useful than other therapies in the long term, they

Can you trust implant dentistry consensus guidelines?

Researchers evaluated consensus guidelines published in major implant dentistry journals and found that methodological improvement is needed, according to a new study. The authors said that would buoy the quality and trust of information needed to make proper clinical decisions, and they recommended adherence to high and transparent standards. “It is time to move forward to improve the quality of clinical guidelines, which can provide a bridge between evidence and

Legal Cases: 24 fillings on virgin teeth

HuangshanDental.com is pleased to present the next column from two lawyers who spend every day defending dentists in litigation and before the licensing board. The purpose of this column is to offer our readers a fresh perspective on common practice and risk management issues from attorneys who litigate these issues in the real world. A 23-year-old recent college graduate presented to a general dentist (our eventual client) for a routine

Week in Review: 24 fillings on virgin teeth; dental students’ empathy; adding dental to Medicare

Dear DrBicuspid Member, If evidence of decay can’t be seen on radiographic images, but you find it on clinical examination of a patient, especially a new patient, how do you document and justify clinical treatment? In their latest Legal Case, William S. Spiegel and Dr. Marc R. Leffler detail what happened to a general practitioner when a 23-year-old woman came into the office for a routine exam As they write, finding

Do CBCT images change endodontic treatment planning?

A treatment plan is usually based on clinical experience, clinical information, and information obtained from diagnostic imaging. But when it comes to endodontic treatment planning, especially for a difficult case, do the images from a cone-beam CT (CBCT) scan actually influence how a specialist proceeds? The answer from researchers in Spain is yes — CBCT scans can change the decisions specialists make in endodontic cases. Their study was published in

Should Medicare include dental coverage? Experts weigh in

Since Medicare was created in 1965, the U.S. has put a man on the moon and a rover on Mars, the internet was created, and 3D-printed restorations went from science fiction to clinical practice. Yet for all that’s changed since the 1960s, Medicare still excludes dental care — and some experts think it’s time to change that. In the U.S., health insurance is still largely tied to employment, so it’s

New product: Komet launches ceramic cutter

Komet USA has launched the K251EQ.HP.060 ceramic cutter. The ceramic EQ cutter has a bright white head and is designed to shape and correct acrylic appliances and prostheses chairside or in a laboratory. The product features a dual working part that uses staggered medium toothing at the lower end and crosscut fine toothing at its tip. This dual working part allows for rapid substance removal, smoothing, and preparation for polishing,

Sustained antimicrobial-release implant curbs biofilms

A newly designed porous titanium-silica composite implant may provide a solution to the infectious complications that can plague dental implant patients, according to a new study. Researchers have developed a device with an internal reservoir that can be loaded with antimicrobial compounds that are released over time. The effectiveness of a continuous release of chlorhexidine at preventing and eradicating Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation was shown in the laboratory by researchers

New product: Heraeus Kulzer launches Artic denture line

Heraeus Kulzer has launched a new line of economy-priced, CAD/CAM dentures. The Arctic digital denture line is digitally designed and manufactured. The line includes 17 teeth. The 11 anterior teeth are multilayered and allow adaptation to both existing teeth and complete denture sets. The six posterior teeth offer an accurate intercuspal relationship and perfect occlusion, according to the company. The Arctic digital denture line. Image courtesy of Heraeus Kulzer. The