A former Fall River, MA, dentist has pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud charges for inserting pieces of paper clips into patients’ mouths as posts in root canals instead of using standard posts made of stainless steel. Michael Clair, DDS, 53, formerly of Fall River and now of Maryland, billed the Medicaid program for the costs of the posts and submitted false claims using other dentists’ provider numbers, according to the
J. Morita has expanded its TwinPower Turbine product line with the addition of the mini Ultra series. The product line, which will be formally introduced next month at the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting, includes the new UltraM and UltraE. The UltraM is the smallest of the two with a head height of just 10.6 mm and 18 watts of power. Its head design accepts standard burs up to 20
Ormco has launched the Insignia Clearguide Express line of orthodontic aligners, designed for patients who require minor anterior tooth movements. Insignia Clearguide Express is initiated through the use of Insignia, Ormco’s 3D interactive smile design software. Orthodontists custom design the patient’s final smile with the Insignia software, taking into consideration unique facial features and their own treatment preferences. This provides patients with a 3D video morph of their final smile
LED Dental’s VELscope Vx oral cancer screening system has been approved for use by the dentists affiliated with Heartland Dental Care. All new and existing Heartland dental practices will have the option of adding the VELscope Vx system upon doctor approval, according to LED Dental. The system is exclusively distributed in the U.S. and Canada by Henry Schein. VELscope’s fluorescence visualization technology is the first technology to cleared by the
A study of 1,335 all-ceramic restorations placed between 1987 and 2009 has found that they are both predictable and reliably successful, with a 93.5% probability of survival over a 10-year period (International Journal of Prosthodontics, January/February 2012, Vol. 25:1, pp. 70-78). Only glass ceramic restorations placed between 1987 and 2009 were evaluated in the study, which was conducted by members of the clinical department of restorative and prosthetic dentistry at
Researchers from Temple University have developed a tactile imaging sensor that could help doctors identify cancerous tumors earlier. The sensor is designed to help doctors assess lesions, lumps, or tumors when doing physical exams by detecting the size and shape of the lesion or tumor, as well as its elasticity and mobility, according to the university. Studies have shown that cancerous lesions and tumors tend to be larger and more
A New York dentist has launched a brushless toothbrush designed to decrease tooth decay and gum disease. Jack Gruber, DDS, of New Hyde Park developed the PeriClean brush to address problems associated with a bristled toothbrush, according to a press release. The brushless toothbrush eliminates abrasion from typical toothbrushes, but has a slight degree of friction and variation to the surface to remove foreign matter and plaque buildup.
Some 4.3 million U.S. children did not get needed dental care in 2010 because their families could not afford it, according to an ADA News report. The number represents 7% of U.S. children younger than 18 and includes those not in an institution, according to the Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2010. The survey is conducted annually for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
Align Technology has issued a response to a January 18 press release by Ortho Caps relating to a patent infringement lawsuit Align filed against Ortho Caps on December 21, 2011. In the lawsuit, filed in the District Court of Düsseldorf in Germany, Align asserts that Ortho Caps infringes five Align patents with respect to the production and sale of Ortho Caps orthodontic aligners. In response, Ortho Caps is alleging that
Radiation therapy is an important part of head and neck cancer therapy, but most head and neck tumors have a built-in mechanism that makes them resistant to radiation. As a result, oncologists have to deliver huge doses of x-rays to the patient, damaging surrounding tissues and producing significant side effects. To overcome this resistance, researchers at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo and the University of Southern
The International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) have published the proceedings from the Workshop on Effective Use of Fluoride in Asia, which took place March 22-24, 2011, in Phang Nga, Thailand. This meeting was hosted by the Dental Association of Thailand and cohosted by the IADR, FDI World Dental Federation, and the World Health Organization (WHO). The proceedings are published in the February issue of Advances in Dental
The use of antimicrobial impregnated scrubs combined with good hand hygiene is effective in reducing the burden of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on healthcare workers’ apparel and may potentially play a role in decreasing the risk of MRSA transmission to patients, according to a new study from Virginia Commonwealth University researchers (Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, January 6, 2012). Previous findings have shown that hospital textiles may contribute to the