Zimmer launches trabecular metal implant

Zimmer Dental is now offering the Trabecular Metal dental implant in the U.S. and select global markets. The Trabecular Metal dental implant features an osteoconductive midsection that is structurally and biomechanically similar to cancellous bone, according to the company. Portions of the implant also utilize Zimmer Dental’s MTX microtextured surface, which has been documented to achieve high levels of bone-to-implant contact, Zimmer said. Human studies of the Trabecular Metal dental

Baseball great blames smokeless tobacco for cancer

Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Tony Gwynn underwent surgery today in San Diego to remove a cancerous lesion in his mouth, according to an article on ESPN.com. This is the second time in two years that Gwynn has developed a malignant growth in his right cheek. He blames smokeless tobacco for the cancer; he dipped during his entire 20-year career with the San Diego Padres and for 10 years after

Glidewell introduces scanning abutments

Glidewell Laboratories is now offering Inclusive scanning abutments for clinical use. Compatible with most major implant systems, these abutments can be used with any digital impression system to capture the location, angulation, and connection orientation of the implant in the patient’s mouth, according to Glidewell. This eliminates the need for conventional implant impressions. By using Inclusive scanning abutments and partnering with Glidewell Laboratories to restore their implant cases, dentists get

Smile for a Lifetime event raises $75K

The Smile for a Lifetime Foundation (S4L) has raised $75,000 at its second annual fundraising event at the 11th Annual Damon Forum — a clinical education and practice-building conference for orthodontists sponsored by Ormco. The funds will help S4L continue its mission of encouraging orthodontists to provide free, quality orthodontic care to individuals with financial challenges and special orthodontic needs, according to Ormco. One of S4L’s most successful fundraisers to

Accreditation issues shut down dental hygiene program

A dental hygienist training program in California abruptly shut down last week, leaving its students — many of whom had prepaid up to $45,000 for the three-year program — wondering what to do next. On February 7, students in the dental hygiene program at the Institute of Medical Education (IME) received a letter stating that the institute would no longer be able to continue the program because its accreditation status

PerioSciences to unveil antioxidant-based oral care products

Exhibiting for the first time at the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting next week, PerioSciences will launch what it says is the dental industry’s first antioxidant-based, topically applied oral care products. PerioSciences will present its AO ProVantage family of products, which contain a combination of the antioxidants phloretin and ferulic. Phloretin and ferulic have been shown in university-based studies to neutralize free radicals that lead to oxidative stress commonly caused

Mydent donations aid Pa. hygienists

Mydent International is partnering with expanded function dental assistants in Pennsylvania and the Harrisburg Area Community College Dental Assistant Program to help support their continuing education (CE). In Pennsylvania, the State Board of Dentistry requires dental hygienists to obtain three CE hours of coronal polishing and fluoride placement. Mydent International is donating ear-loop masks, nitrile gloves, prophy paste, and gauze to the college.

Kan. bill would expand dental hygienists’ functions

A bill approved February 13 by the Kansas House Health and Human Services Committee would make several changes to state law to allow dental hygienists to provide more types of care to underserved patients. Among other things, HB 2631 would add a new class of dental hygienist who would be able to perform more procedures than currently allowed, including certain types of temporary fillings, smoothing chipped teeth, adjusting dentures, and

Nanoanalysis compares hypersensitivity toothpastes

Nanoscale analysis using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) has given Indiana Nanotech and 3M ESPE visual proof of Clinpro toothpaste’s hypersensitivity benefits (American Journal of Dentistry, December 2011, Vol. 24:6, pp. 357-362). Teeth hypersensitivity occurs when nerves in the dentin are exposed to stimuli such as hot or cold drinks. Toothpastes that claim to relieve the pain of sensitive teeth are believed to work by blocking the tubules in

Calif. kids’ dental program not meeting needs

A new model for delivering dental care to poor California children that was supposed to control costs and improve children’s ability to see a dentist has fallen far short of expectations. Nearly two decades ago, the state made Sacramento County the testing ground for a new model intended to improve children’s oral health. But new data show the county has consistently produced one of California’s worst records for care, according

NJ firm to stop producing unapproved dental devices

A New Jersey dental products manufacturer has been ordered to cease operations after an investigation by the U.S. Food and Administration (FDA) found that several of the company’s products had not undergone appropriate regulatory review. Accurate Set and the company’s president and owner, Cornell Adams, have agreed to stop manufacturing and distributing certain dental products as part of a consent decree of permanent injunction. Under the terms of the consent

Dentsply Tulsa launches rotary endodontic file

Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties has introduced Vortex Blue, a new rotary endodontic file. Standard nickel-titanium (NiTi) files try to revert to their original shape, but the proprietary processing of Vortex Blue rotary files reduces shape memory, giving the file the ability to naturally follow the curvature of the canal, according to the company. The Vortex Blue file uses a new method of processing NiTi wire that results in a blue