DentSim offers cavity prep courses for dental students

Image Navigation is offering courses on cavity preparation and cutting skills for dental students at its DentSim Lab in New York City over the Thanksgiving weekend. The dental student skills practice center offers dental students simulation technology to practice operative skills with a mannequin and computer-assisted feedback. The upcoming two-hour minicourses enable students to practice cavity preparation at their pace and experience level with on-screen feedback using the DentSim Advanced

FDA to propose hydrocodone restrictions

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is planning to recommend a more restrictive classification of hydrocodone combination drugs to increase control of the drugs, the agency announced. The decision would mean a reclassification by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of hydrocodone-containing drug products such as Vicodin from schedule III to the more restrictive schedule II. By early December, the FDA plans to submit its formal recommendation to the

In-office oral care product sales increase

Sales of professional oral care products in the U.S. grew at a 5.1% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the last three years, according to a new report by Kline & Company. Kline estimated that the U.S. market for professional oral care products used and sold to consumers through dental professional offices in 2013 alone was valued at $426.5 million. Caries remain the leading therapeutic indication within the professional oral

Study: HPV patients need more education

Patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and human papillomavirus (HPV) are largely unaware of a possible link between the two conditions, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York sought to assess the gaps in knowledge and psychological needs of OPSCC patients with HPV in their study (Oral Oncology, November 2013,

Dental therapist provides oral care in remote Alaska

Few experience dentistry the way Conan Murat has. During the last nine years, he has lived and worked as a dental therapist in a remote area of Alaska located 400 miles northwest of Anchorage. He describes his experiences in an article in the November issue of Health Affairs that highlights the extreme end of the access-to-care continuum (November 2013, Vol. 32:11, pp. 2047-2050). In the article, Murat describes the care

Kerr posts curing light infographic

Kerr has posted a new infographic about curing lights on its dental blog. Entitled Dental Curing Lights — Behind the Glow, the infographic is a downloadable resource for dentists with facts, statistics, and historical tidbits about curing light technology. Earlier this summer, Kerr conducted a survey via its blog, inviting dental professionals to rate the importance of various aspects of curing lights. The full analysis of the survey results will

Study: Dental fear traced to drill sounds

Neuroscientists have found that the sounds of dental instruments like drills evoke fear and anxiety in some people, according to a new study presented at this week’s Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in San Diego. Japanese researchers found that people who fear going to the dentist show significant differences in their brain responses compared with those who were more relaxed about dental visits, according to a story by theguardian.com. The

Philips launches Sonicare DiamondClean Black, Zoom updates at ADA 2013

Philips introduced a cool, sleek DiamondClean Black Edition of its Sonicare power toothbrush, which comes with a unique glass that charges the toothbrush, at the recent ADA annual meeting in New Orleans. The company also released a DayWhite and NiteWhite version of its home teeth-whitening kits. Philips DiamondClean Black Edition sonic toothbrush comes with a unique glass that charges the toothbrush and can also be used for rinsing. Images courtesy

Kan. kids’ dental program on hold

A Kansas program that provides cleanings, fluoride varnishes, and sealants to schoolchildren is on hold after managed care companies took over the state’s Medicaid program. The Kansas Cavity Free Kids program has provided oral healthcare services to more than 7,000 children in 41 rural counties since 2007, according to an article by the Kansas Health Institute. The program was planned to be expanded to other areas of the state where

Drug may guard against periodontitis

A drug now used to treat intestinal worms could protect people from periodontitis, according to a new study in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (October 28, 2013). Current treatment for periodontitis involves scraping dental plaque off of the root of the tooth. And despite this unpleasant and costly treatment, the biofilm frequently grows back. But Australian researchers showed in an animal model of periodontitis that the drug oxantel inhibits this growth

Infection-control safeguards are key for dental practices

The importance of maintaining adequate safeguards for infection control was the topic of a session at ADA 2013 in New Orleans. Recent infection-control breaches have resulted in the deaths of some patients, and left others infected with hepatitis and HIV, noted an infection-control compliance expert. The good news is that there have been no confirmed cases of occupationally acquired HIV, in which infected patients have transmitted the virus to dental

Why a hygienist should pick out your toothbrush

The plethora of consumer choices in the toothpaste aisle of the average local grocery store is often fodder for stand-up comedians or anyone reminiscing about simpler times. If that’s overwhelming, they’d be shocked by the vast array of over-the-counter (OTC) products available on the exhibition floor at last week’s ADA annual meeting in New Orleans. In an ADA 2013 talk entitled “The Myths, Legends, and Realities of Over-the-Counter Products,” presenter