U.S. to see 36% increase in hygienists through 2018

The number of dental hygienists is expected to rise 36% through 2018, according to recent data disclosed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This projected growth is seen to address the increasing demand for dental care, ranking the dental hygiene career as among the fastest-growing occupations, according to CareerToolkits.com. The median annual salary for experienced dental hygienists is about $67,000, the site stated, citing government statistics.

Botox injections by NJ dentists face new restrictions

New regulations in New Jersey that will take effect in December may limit dentists’ ability to administer botox injections to their patients, according to a story on NorthJersey.com. The New Jersey State Board of Dentistry adopted the regulations in March. Under the guidelines, dentists would only be allowed to administer botox and filler injections to the “perio-oral area and associated tissue,” preventing them from providing forehead injections, the article stated.

Mom’s gum disease treatment safe for baby

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Pregnant women can safely be treated for gum infections without having to worry about their baby’s health, according to a new study. The concern among dentists had been that treating the problem could cause bacteria to get into the mothers’ bloodstream, where they could harm babies’ development. Gum disease — caused by a bacterial infection that breaks down gum tissue and can cause tooth loss

Slogan contest for Little Leaguers focuses on smokeless tobacco

Oral Health America’s National Spit Tobacco Education Program (NSTEP) is teaming with Little League International and the Chicago White Sox to launch its 10th annual slogan contest. To enter, little leaguers ages 14 and younger submit a phrase of up to 10 words that describes why spit tobacco is dangerous and deadly. The contest winner will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, PA,

Delcam to debut ‘open’ implantology system in U.S.

Delcam will launch its complete open system for the design and manufacture of dental implant restorations in the U.S. at the Western States Conference of Dental Laboratories in Reno, NV, on April 29-30. Delcam’s implantology system captures the implant position and orientation, and performs precision multiaxis milling of customized abutments, implant bridges, and dental bars, according to the company. An Internet-based management system, Delcam Dental Manager, tracks each stage of

Glidewell launches mini-implant system

Glidewell Laboratories has introduced the Inclusive Mini Implant System, small-diameter, self-tapping titanium implants that have been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for long-term applications. Glidewell offers two options for the mini-implant system: Purchase individual mini-implants or prescribe the Inclusive Mini Implant Overdenture. The mini-implants are available in three diameters (2.2, 2.5, and 3.0 mm) and three lengths (10, 13, and 15 mm) and provide many benefits, including

Study IDs protein problem in oral cancer

New research by University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine investigators has shown that a protein that helps cells stick together is frequently absent or out of place in squamous cell cancers of the oral cavity and esophagus, but it’s unclear if its loss causes the tumors (Cancer Cell, April 12, 2011, Vol. 19:4, pp. 470-483). The investigators report that mice engineered to lack this protein, called p120 catenin (p120ctn), in

Branam inks distribution deal with drugstore.com

Branam Oral Health Technologies has signed a national distribution contract with drugstore.com, giving Branam direct access to more than 3 million online customers for its line of all-natural pediatric dental care products. The all-natural, xylitol-based Branam product line is designed to prevent rather than just treat dental decay in children, according to the company. It was developed by Stephen Branam, DDS, a pediatric dentist who has practiced preventive and restorative

Levin Group debuts ortho reference set

Levin Group’s Orthodontic Division has released the Total Ortho Reference Set, a comprehensive collection of orthodontic practice management products exclusively for orthodontists. The new offering was developed to help orthodontists turn their office into a high-performance practice. It features four products: Book: Building the $2 Million Ortho Practice, written by Roger Levin, DDS, CEO and president of Levin Group. Book: Management Scripts for the Orthodontic Practice, which is designed to

Texas dentists concerned about mobile dentistry

Some dentists in Texas are opposing legislation that would allow mobile dental clinics to be reimbursed by Medicaid for providing sealants to low-income children at school, according to a story in the Texas Tribune. Mobile dental units already travel from school to school in many of the state’s low-income communities, providing free sealants to students, the Tribune noted. But unless a parent or guardian is present, the clinic can’t bill

Komet offers sonic tips for veneer-prep finishing

Komet USA has released the Komet SF8850 sonic tip for veneer-preparation finishing procedures. The tips are designed exclusively for use with the Komet SonicLine sonic handpiece. Developed in conjunction with Drs. Thomas Schwenk and Marcus Striegel of Nuremberg, Germany, the fine-grit tip is operated at low oscillation amplitude, which yields the fine surface necessary to provide a tight prosthetic margin, according to the company. The Komet SF8850 sonic tip is

Chewing robot wins prestigious science award

A former PhD student at the University of Bristol has been awarded first prize and the Paul Roell Medal in the prestigious Zwick Science Awards for his doctoral work in the area of dental materials testing. Daniel Raabe won for his development of the Chewing Robot, a mechanical mandible that mimics the action of a human jaw. The robot is intended for use in the testing of new types of