Cosmedent has released its new Carry&Pack Instrument, designed to carry composite to the prep and then rotate to pack composite into place. The nonstick surface gives better results with less hassle, and the plugger is shaped so composite does not pull back, according to the company. The titanium-coated instrument is an addition to Cosmedent’s line of composite placement instruments. Information is available at 800-621-6729 or www.cosmedent.com.
Researchers have discovered how the beneficial fungal yeast Pichia can stave off the harmful fungal yeast Candida, according to a new study in PLOS Pathogens (March 13, 2014). The study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University and the University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland may reveal how components in Pichia could become therapeutic agents to protect against thrush and also other life-threatening systemic fungal infections. The study included
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The ADA is urging federal health officials to exclude dentists from proposed regulations that would deny claims for Medicare Part D drugs unless the prescriber is enrolled in Medicare or has a valid opt-out affidavit on file. Health officials withdrew the proposal following professional and congressional opposition, but they signaled intent to revisit and “finalize” regulations “strengthening standards for prescribers of prescription drugs,” according to the ADA. The requirement would
Early childhood caries (ECC) may result from a nefarious partnership between a bacterium and a fungus, according to a new study in the journal Infection and Immunity (February 24, 2014). Infection by Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans together doubled the number of caries and boosted their severity several-fold in rats, the University of Pennsylvania researchers found. ECC can be so severe that treatment frequently requires surgery in a hospital, they
Church Street Health Management (CSHM), which operates 70 Small Smiles dental clinics in 22 states and the District of Columbia, has been excluded from participation in the Medicaid and Medicare programs for a minimum of five years by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The action follows a recommendation by a U.S. Senate committee that the Small Smiles chain should be excluded from the Medicaid program for
With the oral-systemic health link now well recognized, this is the time to help patients understand what they need to do to control bacteria at home. Unless patients understand the “how to” portion of their home care, our efforts will continue to show limited results,and periodontal issues will still be a barrier to overall health. Carrie Ibbetson, RDH. Carrie Ibbetson, RDH. As bacteria become invasive after accumulating for only a
Evident Dental Lab has released Evident Lite, a new lab management software that specifically addressed the needs of small dental laboratories. Priced at $39 per month for a single user and $79 per month for unlimited users, Evident Lite schedules cases; prints/emails tickets, invoices, and statements; and records can be exported to QuickBooks. Hardware costs can be further minimized by adding tablets and smartphones to the mix rather than just
OMICS Group Conferences, an international scientific event organizer, has announced that it will hold the second annual International Conference on Dental and Oral Health from April 21-23 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The three-day event will focus on methods and strategies related to management and quality improvement of dental clinics, as well as explore new ideas and concepts on a global scale. Topics to be covered at the conference include
The North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners is planning changes to its rules on training, emergency response, and sedation following the deaths of two patients linked to conscious sedation. The deaths have spurred the board to ask dental professionals and the public to speak out on possible changes to its rules and protocols for sedation and dentistry in general, according to a newsobserver.com story. Last December, the board suspended
Hop leaves that are discarded in the beer brewing process have antioxidant polyphenols that could protect against dental diseases, according to a new study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (February 18, 2014). Hops, which give beer its bitterness and aroma, contain healthful antioxidants that could be used to battle caries and periodontal disease, according to the researchers from Japan. Earlier research found that antioxidant polyphenols in hop
Extending water fluoridation to U.K. areas with high levels of tooth decay could save millions and reduce the number of extractions in young people, according to a new report in the British Dental Journal (March 7, 2014). Researchers compared the oral health of the population in North West England, where fluoride is not normally added to mains water, to the oral health in the West Midlands, where fluoride is added.