Michigan has added more than 64,000 children to the state’s Healthy Kids Dental program, bringing the total number of children enrolled in the program to half a million across 78 counties. Children living in Ingham, Ottawa, and Washtenaw counties now have access to dental care. The program expansion is due to the state budget that took effect this week. The program is available to Medicaid enrollees younger than age 21
Heraeus Kulzer has launched its new Flexitime Monophase Pro Scan impression material. The new material was shown in a recent international study of 46 dentists to be an improvement over the company’s Flexitime Monophase impression material, according the company. The three-month study demonstrated that the material delivers better precision, flexibility, and security. The material received high marks from the dentists participating in the study: 97% praised the readability of the
Chronic exposure to fluoridated water is not associated with an increased risk of hip fracture, according to a study published published by the International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) in the Journal of Dental Research (October 1, 2013). Researchers studied a large cohort of Swedish residents chronically exposed to various fluoride levels and found they did not have an increased risk of hip fracture. A team of researchers
3M ESPE has introduced its ESPE Imprint 4 VPS impression material, a material that has a 75-sec set time. The set time is sped up with an active self-warming feature that the company developed for the product. A unique chemical reaction causes the material to actively and quickly warm up to body temperature after the working time, substantially accelerating the intraoral setting. The usual working time is not affected, so
Young patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue have 100% fatality rates within 16 months of its appearance compared with a 50% three-year disease-specific survival among older patients, according to a new study in (Oral Oncology, October 2013, Vol. 49:10, pp. 987-990). SCC of the tongue is one of the most common head and neck cancers; nearly 13,000 new cases occurred in the U.S. in 2012, according
The University of the Pacific is offering free orthodontic evaluations to children and adults throughout October in recognition of National Orthodontic Health Month. The free visit to the university’s Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry will include a consultation with an orthodontic faculty member and resident, an opportunity to learn about treatment options, and information about the cost and length of treatment. The clinic is offering the free evaluation to
Oragenics has partnered with Intrexon to develop and commercialize genetically modified probiotics for the treatment of diseases of the oral cavity, throat, sinus, and esophagus. The partnership is expected to initially focus on therapies for Behcet’s disease and aphthous stomatitis. The collaborators will utilize their technical and clinical expertise with genetically modified oral microbes to pursue a novel, short-term therapeutic agent. The companies plan to design genetically modified probiotics that
Komet has launched the F360 endodontic file system, which features a simplified sequence that requires only two files. The files feature the company’s S-curve design and a thin instrument core to deliver cutting efficiency while respecting natural root canal morphology, according to the company. Only two files in sizes 025 and 035 are required for most root canal preparations. Their 0.04 taper promotes optimal debridement of the canal, maintains file
The aging baby boomer generation is bringing with it a number of healthcare concerns, among them an anticipated rise in cancer rates and osteoporosis diagnoses. What do these two conditions have in common? The increasing use of bisphosphonates to treat osteoporosis, and the role these drugs can play in the development of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) in cancer patients who undergo chemoradiation therapy. Dental professionals need to be aware
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company have begun their third annual collaboration for October’s National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM) with the theme of Brush, Floss, Rinse, Chew. As part of the effort, the Wrigley Company Foundation, in partnership with the ADHA Institute for Oral Health (IOH), is offering community service grants of $2,500 and $5,000 to dental hygienists who are pursuing projects intended to
Blizzident has released a 3D printed toothbrush that can be tailor-made to fit a person’s mouth. To make the brush, dentists take a digital scan of teeth, which is used to find the optimal placement of 600 bristles by simulating biting and chewing movements, according to a story in Business Standard. The dental scan is used to create a computer-aided design model of the brush that is then converted into
The California Dental Association (CDA) is encouraging parents and children to “rethink your drink” before consuming a sugary sports drink or juice during fall sports and school this fall. Water is adequate for most hydration needs, and the need for more than water to rehydrate during or after an activity is minimal, said CDA President Lindsey Robinson, DDS, a pediatric dentist. A 32-ounce sports drink can contain up to 14