Halloween has arrived and that means that witches, goblins, and other grotesque decorations and paraphernalia have been seen for the past weeks in our neighbors’ house. This holiday originates from the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (pronounced “sah-win”). Even though this holiday has gone through several changes, its roots and meaning are still the same. We invite you to read our post and see for yourself all the changes
The ADA has released its Practical Guide to Substance Use Disorders and Safe Prescribing. The guide covers topics such as the following: Drug diversion Understanding the disease of substance use disorders Detection and deterrence of substance use disorders and drug diversion Office management of controlled substances Addiction and impairment in dental professionals The guide also covers commonly used illicit, prescription, and over-the-counter drugs, in addition to alcohol and tobacco. It
Nanova Biomaterials’ NovaPro Flow composite has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for commercial distribution. NovaPro Flow is a flowable composite that can be injected in a cavity and hardened through a high-intensity blue light in less than 20 seconds, according to the company. Calcium phosphate nanofibers are used to improve the strength of the tooth while retaining the shine. Once hardened, the nanofibers provide support
More households will be giving out candy on Halloween this year if current trends hold, according to a new analysis by the Delta Dental Plans Association. Delta Dental polled parents in 2013 and 2015 about their Halloween candy giving and then conducted a comparative analysis predicting what trick-or-treaters can expect to get this year. The survey showed that 73% of parents gave out candy in 2013, but 78% of parents
I wouldn’t consider myself a savvy entrepreneur. I’m a dentist. But I realized they were one and the same shortly after I left dental school and was forced to think about things such as patient acquisition, overhead costs, and employee policies. Michael Contardo, DDS. Like many practices, my office experienced slow, steady growth for a number of years based on a steady diet of creating stellar relationships with my patients
Dental students identified permanent teeth more quickly and accurately using the Universal Numbering System than the Fédération Dentaire Internationale (FDI) numbering system in a new study. Researchers suggest that switching to one system may be able to decrease the number of procedures done at the wrong site. The study, which was presented as an e-poster presentation at the recent American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) meeting, looked at
Halloween candy exchange program Operation Troop Treats is gearing up again this fall for its fourth year. The U.S. program is designed to promote good dental hygiene during the Halloween season and give kids the opportunity to send overseas troops a reminder of home. The program is coordinated by Kool Smiles and encourages children to trade their Halloween candy in exchange for a toy at 125 Kool Smiles offices in
While dentists are prescribing fewer opioids than in past years, the death rate from drug overdose in the U.S. more than doubled from 6 to 13.8 per 100,000 population from 1999 to 2013, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The authors of the surveillance summary primarily attributed the increase in drug overdoses to the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs, especially opioid
Many people don’t understand how important and beneficial braces are. Crooked, misplaced, or crowded teeth make cleaning difficult, leading to tooth decay. And of course, there is the part of having a bad-looking smile, and the best way to fix it is with braces. Yet, a lot of people think they can skip braces because they look bad or it may hurt. Well, to those people, we have news: skipping
Whole You has launched three new products: Nexteeth full dentures, Respire Pink Edurance Framework, and Respire Pink Micro. The Nexteeth full denture uses CAD/CAM technology and advanced material for a thin palatal plate. The Respire framework and micro are the company’s most recent oral appliances for obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. The two appliances were specifically designed for those who need additional tongue space or those with a smaller mouth.
If you are a dentist reading this, chances are you are a general dentist practicing in the state of California. How can we guess this? Because new data from the Kaiser Family Foundation breaks down information about professionally active U.S. dentists in 2015 by specialty and state. Of the 210,187 dentists in the U.S., an overwhelming 80% are general dentists, according to the report. Orthodontics is the most represented specialty
Premier Dental has launched the new Cryer 44 and 45 elevators. The elevators are used to loosen or remove dental roots, root fragments, or teeth from bony sockets, and they are paired with left and right small flag tips. The elevators have stainless steel tips for increased toughness and rust resistance. In addition, they are made with thick handles for a more secure grip. The elevators will available from an
