Ormco aims to educate adult orthodontic patients

Ormco, a manufacturer and provider of advanced orthodontic technology and services, has released an infographic that addresses adults’ hesitancy with orthodontic treatment. The “Never Too Late” infographic addresses adults’ hesitancy with orthodontic treatment. Image courtesy of Ormco. According to a study from the Millennium Research Group, 23 million U.S. adults are interested in improving their smile, but most don’t seek treatment due to a lack of education about the orthodontic

ART a good option for older adults with caries

Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) is a cost-effective option for treating caries in older adults, especially those in nursing homes or who are housebound, according to a new study in Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology (August 19, 2013). ART is a minimally invasive tooth procedure that involves removing softened carious enamel and dentine, using only hand instruments and then restoring the resulting cavity with an adhesive restorative material. Although developed for

Ultrasound useful for screening for TMJ dysfunction

Canadian researchers are promulgating the use of ultrasound instead of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to screen for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. The approach has gained traction in other parts of the world, such as China and Europe, but so far in North American it has been overshadowed by MRI. In a presentation earlier this year at the Canadian Association of Radiologists’ 2013 annual meeting in Montreal, Lawrence Friedman, MD, and

Straumann midyear revenues fall slightly

Straumann Group reported a 2% decline in revenues for the first half of 2013, due in large part to continued economic weakness in most European countries. First-half 2013 revenue was 355 million Swiss francs ($387 million), down from 362 million francs ($394 million) in the same period a year ago, the company noted in a press release. Implant sales progressed positively in the first half of 2013, lifted by solid

Dental tech experts share their favorites at CDA meeting

SAN FRANCISCO – Dental technology specialists Marty Jablow, DMD; John Flucke, DDS; and Paul Feuerstein, DMD, showcased some of their favorite high-tech products in an entertaining session on August 17 at the California Dental Association’s (CDA) fall meeting. Their three-hour tag-team presentation covered a plethora of anesthesia products, restorative materials, x-ray systems, curing lights, and more. Anesthesia systems The STA (single tooth anesthesia) system from Milestone Scientific uses a vibrational

Little Leaguer wins antitobacco slogan contest

Oral Health America (OHA) has announced the winner of their annual National Spit Tobacco Education Program (NSTEP) slogan contest, which aims to educate Little League baseball and softball players about the dangers of spit tobacco. Glen Huggins, 9, of Chula Vista, CA, won the contest with his submission, “Be a home run hitter, not a ballpark spitter.” The slogan contest gave Glen’s father, Ben, the perfect opportunity to start talking

Coldstream launches organic oral care product line

Coldstream Naturals has introduced four new U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic oral care products that are free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), making it the only marketer of certified organic oral care products in the U.S. Coldstream Naturals’ certified organic tooth creams and mouthwashes feature Citrozine, a proprietary blend of natural fruit bioflavonoids, which are known to help maintain good oral health by neutralizing oxidative stress caused by free radicals.

New toothpaste targets biofilm sans abrasives

Livionex has introduced Livionex dental gel toothpaste, a new dentifrice that helps eliminate dental plaque and improves periodontal health, according to the company. Livionex dental gel contains no abrasives, antimicrobials, or detergents, such as sodium lauryl sulfate found in traditional toothpaste. Instead, it targets the biofilm by using activated edathamil to reduce adhesion of the plaque to the teeth, the company explained in a press release. Soon-to-be published clinical studies

Lecturers urge caution when adopting new materials

SAN FRANCISCO – Two presentations at the California Dental Association (CDA) fall meeting highlighted the evolving perspective on restorative materials. Both noted that dentists should stay with materials that they are comfortable with and work effectively. However, one focused more on the application of newer restorative materials, while the other urged dentists to abandon older ones — notably, amalgam. “We have to get used to the fact that it (amalgam)

P&G asks EU to relax teeth-whitening rules

Procter & Gamble is lobbying regulators in Europe to loosen rules that prevent the company from its selling teeth-whitening products directly to consumers. Some of the company’s whitening strips and mouthwashes exceed European Union (EU) limits on bleach in dental goods sold over the counter, and P&G officials are asking the EU to ease the restrictions, according to a story in the Financial Times. Under EU regulations, products in which

UV radiation ups carcinogenic risks for oral tissues

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light puts tissues in the oral cavity at a much higher carcinogenic risk than skin tissue, according to a study in Photochemistry and Photobiology (July 15, 2013). People can expose their oral cavities to UV radiation simply by opening their mouths while outdoors, noted the study authors, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Oral cavities can also be exposed

Custom mouthguards help UW football players

The football team at the University of Washington (UW) will play with customized mouthguards this fall, courtesy of the university’s dental school. This summer, pediatric dentistry residents took about 100 dental impressions for members of the Husky football team, according to a news item on the UW website. The impressions were used to fabricate about 100 customized mouthguards at the Center for Pediatric Dentistry. Faculty, lab technicians, and staff also