Medisafe to acquire dental implant technology

Medisafe 1 Technologies has entered negotiations to acquire some proprietary dental implant technology. The company did not disclose whom it is negotiating with for this technology, which “promotes healing and enables real-time functional occlusion, improving the connection between bone and implant, and thereby increasing dental implantation success rates,” according to a company press release. Medisafe currently develops patented technologies that physically prevent unauthorized administration of prescription medications.

Ill. endodontist youngest ever to get certified

An Illinois dentist who recently earned his certification from the American Board of Endodontics at age 28 has become the youngest endodontist to do so, according to a news story in the Beacon-News. Aneel Belani, DDS, of Aurora is an endodontist in private practice with Elite Dental Specialists. He graduated from the West Virginia University School of Dentistry in 2008 and is also a part-time faculty member in the endodontics

A merger that changed restorative dentistry

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the merger that created 3M ESPE. In that time, the joint efforts of the research and development teams in Germany and the U.S. have yielded products that have had a significant impact on the practice of dentistry. For example, combining nanotechnology developed at the ESPE facility in Seefeld, Germany, with 3M’s direct impression materials yielded Protemp 4, the first nano-filled temporary composite. Ditto

AAO elects new officers

Michael B. Rogers, DDS, was elected president of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) for 2011-2012 during the AAO’s recent annual meeting in Chicago. In addition, John Buzzatto, DMD, MDS, of Allison Park, PA, was elected president-elect, and Gayle Glenn, DDS, MSD, of Dallas was elected secretary-treasurer. Dr. Rogers is in private practice in Augusta, GA, and has been active in organized orthodontics and dentistry for many years, including serving

Del. dentist honored for helping needy families

A Wilmington, DE, dentist has won recognition by the Crusade Against Cavities program sponsored by Dr. Fresh Dental for providing pediatric dental services to uninsured, needy families in the area. Brendan Fay, DDS, received 10,000 Dr. Fresh toothbrushes to be donated in his name to his charity of choice, the Delaware Oral Health Coalition, an organization that goes into underserved areas and equips Head Start teachers to educate children about

Restorative materials can change color after setting

Accurate shade matching is one of the primary challenges of aesthetic dentistry. Now researchers of a new study — sponsored by Ivoclar Vivadent — who tested several aesthetic restorative materials have found that most exhibited a perceptible color change after polymerization (Journal of the American Dental Association, June 2011, Vol. 142:6, pp. 658-665). Researchers from the department of restorative dentistry at Atatürk University in Turkey conducted the study to evaluate

Study: BPA changes uterus development

Exposure in the womb to bisphenol A (BPA) causes changes in female primates’ uterus development, new research suggests. The results were presented this week at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Boston. BPA is a synthetic, manmade chemical with estrogenic properties that is used in a variety of products, including dental sealants. In animal studies, exposure to BPA early in life has been shown to prompt various abnormalities in the

What causes diagnostic delays in head/neck cancer?

Patients’ lack of English literacy and their employment status do not contribute to delays in head and neck cancer diagnoses — in fact, quite the opposite, according to a presentation by researchers from New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting this week in Chicago. Diagnosis and management of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) involves a multidisciplinary approach.

VELscope part of large-scale oral cancer trial

LED Dental’s VELscope Vx will be utilized in a large-scale University of British Columbia (UBC) clinical trial designed to document the ability of tissue fluorescence visualization (FV) technology to increase the efficacy of surgery to remove oral cancers. Internationally recognized for its work in applying FV technology in the lungs, cervix, skin, and oral cavity, UBC has shown that FV devices can identify both occult and clinically visible premalignant and

Many in U.K. skip brushing before bed

Nearly half of the U.K. population (47%) has admitted to regularly skipping brushing their teeth at bedtime, putting their oral health at risk, according to a survey conducted by the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF). Women are the most likely to break one of the three golden rules for clean and healthy teeth, with 59% regularly skipping brushing their teeth at bedtime, compared with 35% of men. In contrast, relatively

Are low-level lasers helpful after third-molar surgery?

The application of low-level laser energy does not appear to have much effect in reducing pain, swelling, and trismus following third-molar surgery, according to a new study in Lasers in Medical Science (May 26, 2011). Researchers from the Barcelona University Dental School evaluated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of a low-level laser therapy (Laser Smile, Biolase) applied to the wound following the surgical removal of impacted lower third molars. Their

Strip system aids interproximal enamel reduction

ContacEZ has introduced the ContacEZ IPR Extra-Widener, the latest addition to its IPR Strip System product line. The strip is designed to aid interproximal enamel reduction. The strip is 0.20-mm thick and features double-sided extracoarse diamond. The design is intended to widen contacts for proper interproximal reduction without creating corners or excessive enamel reduction, the company noted. The IPR Extra-Widener is housed in an autoclavable plastic casing and can be