J. Morita USA will no longer supply the AZ Ultrasonic piezo scaling system, effective immediately. This decision was made to allow the company to focus on other segments of the dental market, according to J. Morita. The company will continue to offer service, support, and replacement parts for five years.
Smoking doubles the risk of developing esophageal cancer in people with Barrett’s esophagus, according to a new study in Gastroenterology (January 13, 2012). The study, which was conducted over 13 years by an international team of researchers, involved more than 3,000 Barrett’s esophagus patients. The researchers found that those who smoked tobacco were twice as likely to develop esophageal cancer than those who did not. “We found that tobacco smoking
Using ornidazole in conjunction with scaling and root planing achieves significantly better clinical results in treating moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis than periodontal treatment alone, according to a new study in the Journal of Periodontology (January 5, 2012). Antibiotics such as lincosamides (clindamycin), macrolides (spiramycin, clarithromycin), penicillins (amoxicillin with clavulanic acid), and tetracyclines (doxycycline) have been used in the past as effective adjuncts for treating various forms of periodontitis, according
Komet has introduced a 12-mm “perio-length” diamond for crown preparation in cases involving gingival recession. The extra-long diamond allows the operator to maintain position and angle of the handpiece and avoid interference with adjacent teeth, permitting the preparation and refinement of crown margins at the proper angle in patients who have longer, exposed crown lengths, according to the company. This instrument is specifically designed to correspond to the extra-long, crown-preparation
Patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for head and neck cancer reported increasingly better quality of life after treatment than patients receiving other forms of radiotherapy, according to a study presented at the recent Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium in Phoenix. At a January 27 press conference, Allen Chen, MD, a radiation oncologist at the University of California, Davis, reported the findings of a quality-of-life questionnaire that was
A jury in Nevada has found in favor of a Winnemucca dentist who was sued for malpractice over an endodontic procedure he performed in 2008. Plaintiff Natasha Stilwell sued Jeremy Keener, DDS, after the procedure temporarily left her face and a portion of her nose with raw sores and lockjaw, according to a story in the Silver Pinyon Journal. Although she suffered no long-term injury, Stilwell sued to recover medical
Grape seed extract can kill head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells in both cell lines and mouse models while leaving healthy cells unharmed, according to a study in Carcinogenesis (January 19, 2012). “It’s a rather dramatic effect,” said Rajesh Agarwal, PhD, an investigator at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and a professor at the Skaggs School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, in a press release. It depends in large part
Radiation dose can influence the development of apical periodontitis in patients undergoing radiotherapy for cancer, according to a study in Clinical Oral Investigations (January 6, 2012). Researchers from Ghent University analyzed the effect of the radiation dose of oral radiotherapy for cancer on the presence of apical periodontitis in 36 patients without dental prescreening or specific preventive measures. All patients had been diagnosed with cancer in the head and neck
Building cosmetic dentistry in a tough economy Every patient is a candidate for cosmetic dentistry. Even in today’s economy, people will continue to pay for the services that make them feel better about themselves, especially cosmetic dentistry. Market cosmetic procedures. Your practice has the potential to increase cosmetic treatment. Here are some effective ways to start: Hang signs in high-traffic locations (reception area, front desk, and clinical rooms) that promote
Idondivi has launched the 3D Click Guide, an analog model-based concept for building an adjustable surgical guide for 1-2 implants. The 3D Click Guide kit was designed and brought to market by a practicing dentist who saw the need for an economical and intuitive approach to the placement of these implants, according to the company. Most cases done with the 3D Click Guide do not require a cone-beam CT diagnostic
Align Technology reported record revenues for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2011 and all of fiscal 2011 (end-December 31). Total net revenues for the fourth quarter were $128.9 million, from $92.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. For the year, the company reported net revenues of $479.7 million, a 23.9% increase over net revenues of $387.1 million in 2010. For the quarter, Invisalign revenue of $118.9 million increased 28%
Zhermack, which specializes in the production of materials and equipment for dental practices and dental laboratories, recently marked its 30-year anniversary. Zhermack’s product range includes vinyl polysiloxane materials, C-silicones, alginates, plastic and metal impression trays, light- and self-curing trays, detergents, disinfectants and sterilization products, duplicating materials, dental stones, acrylic resins, and dental lab equipment. Founded in 1981, Zhermack products today can be found in more than 100 countries, and the
