Align Technology debuts iTero app for Invisalign

Align Technology previewed the Invisalign Outcome Simulator, the company’s first chair-side application powered by the iTero intraoral scanner, at the Chicago Midwinter Dental Meeting last week. This interactive application is designed to increase patient acceptance of Invisalign treatment by showing prospective patients — in a matter of minutes — an image of how their teeth will look after Invisalign treatment, the company noted in a press release. The simulator uses

Hygienist sues dentist over unpaid overtime

A dental hygienist in Texas is suing her former employer claiming she was not paid for overtime hours despite consistently working more than 40 hours a week, according to a story in the Southeast Texas Record. Teri L. Burgoon filed her lawsuit against Norman J. Pomerance, DDS, of Denton, TX, on February 21 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division. Burgoon worked for Dr.

NCOHF creates tooth fairy ‘kids club’

With a little help from Brady Reiter, young star of the new movie Tooth Fairy 2, the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF) has launched the America’s ToothFairy Kids Club. The America’s ToothFairy Kids Club was developed to provide children with fun and educational tips and activities designed to promote good oral health habits, the NCOHF noted in a press release. Reiter and Larry the Cable Guy, who co-stars in

More people going to ERs with preventable dental problems

State budgets already strained by the recession are shouldering an extra burden to cover expensive emergency room (ER) treatment for toothaches and other avoidable dental ailments, according to a new report by the Pew Center on the States. “A Costly Dental Destination” estimates that preventable dental conditions were the primary reason for 830,590 ER visits by Americans in 2009, a 16% increase from 2006. States can reduce hospital visits, improve

AAE promotes Root Canal Awareness Week

The American Association of Endodontists is gearing up for the 2012 Root Canal Awareness Week (March 25-31), a national effort to raise awareness of endodontists. While 63% of Americans want to avoid getting a root canal, even more (69%) want to avoid losing a permanant tooth — something a root canal procedure can help to prevent, according to the AAE. Unfortunately, the fear of root canals is based on outdated

NJ dental board to decide teeth-whitening case

The New Jersey dental board should decide if teeth-whitening services offered by nondentists at mall kiosks and beauty salons constitutes the practice of dentistry, a state appellate court has ruled. The New Jersey Dental Association (NJDA) filed a 2010 lawsuit against Beach Bum Tanning, an East Coast chain with 17 locations in New Jersey, that has been offering its clients teeth whitening alongside its tanning services. Last summer, a New

New radiotherapy technique for oral cancer less invasive

Researchers at the University of Granada and Virgen de las Nieves hospital have developed a new radiotherapy technique they say is less toxic than other approaches used to treat cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx. More than 70% of oral and pharynx cancers treated with surgery require supplementary treatment with radiotherapy occasionally associated with chemotherapy, due to the high risk for recurrence and spread through the lymph nodes, said

New oral bacterium linked to heart disease, meningitis

Researchers have found a new bacterium, thought to be a common inhabitant of the oral cavity, that could cause serious disease if it enters the bloodstream, according to a study in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (February 21, 2012). Its identification will allow scientists to work out how it causes disease and evaluate the risk that it poses, the journal noted in a press release. The bacterium

Ultradent to distribute Triodent products

Ultradent Products will become the exclusive U.S. distributor of Triodent products beginning April 1, according to the companies. Triodent’s flagship product is the V3 Sectional Matrix System with the V3 Ring. Other key Triodent products include: Triotray Pro and Triotray Low Wall, two rigid and accurate dual-arch impression trays with single-use inserts The non-stick and ultra-contoured SuperCurve matrix The 360° Cervical Matrices for composite and glass ionomer WedgeGuard, the interproximal

Biolase expands dental laser line

Biolase Technology introduced a new line of Waterlase all-tissue lasers last week at the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting. Biolase said the Waterlase MDX lasers complement its existing Waterlase iPlus dental laser system. Two models of the Waterlase MDX are available. The 8-watt Waterlase MDX 300 improves on Biolase Waterlase MD platform with an updated user interface, a new laser engine, and a lightweight and more flexible titanium fiber cable.

RI may cut adult Medicaid dental services

Rhode Island has become the latest state to consider dramatically reducing Medicaid dental services for adults. A proposal by Gov. Lincoln Chafee could save the state $2.7 million, according to a story in the Boston Globe. Rhode Island is facing a $117 million budget deficit, the Globe noted. The proposed cuts, which are included in Chafee’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year, would target routine dental services but retain

LED Dental partners with major PR firm

LED Medical Diagnostics, parent company of LED Dental, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Edelman, the world’s largest public relations firm. Edelman will work closely with LED Dental to communicate the key benefits of the VELscope VX and highlight the importance of identifying oral cancer in its earliest stages to increase the chances of survival, the companies noted in a press release. The VELscope VX uses a proprietary cancer