In discussions of workforce issues and the media, New Zealand has been touted as an example that dental therapists can help improve the oral health of underserved populations in the U.S. The latest example is a brief published in March by the Pew Children’s Dental Campaign, “Dental Therapists in New Zealand: What the Evidence Shows.” But that report contains an error that undermines Pew’s overall premise, according to the ADA:
A steady change is taking place in the restoratives market as patient and practitioner preferences for dental materials evolve. Not surprisingly, the use of gold continues to diminish, according to Michael DiTolla, DDS, director of clinical education at Glidewell Laboratories. Michael DiTolla, DDS. Michael DiTolla, DDS. “In 2011, gold was 3.5% of the restorations that we did here and that dropped another half percent [in 2012],” Dr. DiTolla said. “Compare that
Dux Dental has added a new size to its PeelVue+ sterilization pouch product line. The new PeelVue+ Teal pouch measures 7 1/8 x 13 13/16 inches and is designed for steri-cages, steri-mats, and five-instrument cassettes. There are now 13 different sized pouches in the PeelVue+ product line, the company noted in a press release. PeelVue pouches have internal and external chemical indicators, and guide the user to the proper close
To ensure that pregnant women receive appropriate and necessary oral care, the Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA) has collaborated with several organizations to produce a resource for dentists called “Considerations for the Dental Treatment of Pregnant Women.” The guide is designed is to help dentists understand the importance of providing oral health services to pregnant women and making appropriate decisions about these patients’ treatment options. It provides answers to basic
Align Technology appears to have moved a step closer to excluding ClearCorrect from the U.S. clear aligner market. An International Trade Commission (ITC) administrative law judge yesterday issued an initial determination finding that ClearCorrect and ClearCorrect Pakistan infringe seven patents asserted by Align in an ITC investigation initiated last year, Align noted in a press release. But ClearCorrect maintains that the ITC judge’s ruling will have little impact on its
The Creighton University School of Dentistry will open a new department of diagnostic sciences with the start of summer clinic on May 13. The new department will be chaired by John Shaner, DMD, MS, an associate professor of general dentistry and the director of clinical teams, according to the university. The department aims to increase clinical efficiency in the school’s clinic and will focus on the identification of head and
Ormco has released the Lythos digital impressioning system. The Lythos digital impressioning system. Image courtesy of Ormco. The Lythos digital impressioning system. Image courtesy of Ormco. Lythos is designed to deliver dual-arch capture in an average of seven minutes, according to the company. The Lythos wand is ergonomic for the operator to allow for comfortable access to the posterior. Lythos’ open system allows data to be integrated with orthodontic labs
Educating adolescent patients with diabetes about oral hygiene can go a long way toward improving their overall health, according to a study presented at the recent International Association for Dental Research (IADR) meeting in Seattle. The researchers found that less than half of the adolescents with type 1 diabetes in their study strongly agreed that taking care of their gums is as important as taking care of their medical health.
A $4.5 million grant to the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry will be used to provide dental care for children. The grant, from the First 5 Riverside County Children and Families Commission, will provide dental health screenings for about 5,500 children a year and treatment for about 700 children a year, the university noted in a press release. The grant will expand access to much-needed dental care for children
OrthoAccel Technologies has introduced the AcceleDent Aura orthodontic treatment. AcceleDent Aura’s SoftPulse technology generates micropulses that accelerate bone remodeling, which has been shown to accelerate tooth movement by up to 50%, the company explained in a press release. The product’s gentle micropulses may also help reduce patients’ discomfort and make treatment more comfortable, according to OrthoAccel. Patients use AcceleDent Aura for 20 minutes each day, during which time they can
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers several advantages over conventional radiography when diagnosing dental abnormalities in children and for orthodontic treatment and surgical planning, according to a new study in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (April 20, 2013). Researchers from the University of Würzburg selected 16 patients (mean age, 10.8 years) from 1,500 orthodontic patients: three with a mesiodens, nine with supernumerary teeth other than a mesiodens, one with
A Long Island, NY, periodontist has partnered with numerous interdental brush manufacturers to establish the Interdental Brush Buyers’ Club (IBBC). Formed by periodontist Paul Crane, DMD, the club utilizes software designed to provide dental professionals with a continuous supply of free interdental brush samples while encouraging the use of interdental brushes by patients through education, incentives, and availability at a discounted price. Through partnerships with brush manufacturers including Sunstar Americas’