J. Morita updates handpiece maintenance system

J. Morita has added increased power and a standard five-hole connection option to its Lubrina automatic handpiece maintenance system, the company announced. Lubrina cleans and purges handpieces and various other equipment via a rapid air blow system. The air flow speed has been increased, resulting in more power, according to the company. Lubrina also offers a long blow-out mode to help ensure proper maintenance and maximize service life. Lubrina is

British baby born with 2 incisors

Breast-feeding can be uncomfortable at the best of times, but one mother who found it particularly painful was amazed to discover her new baby had two lower incisors already erupted, according to a story in the Daily Mail. Patricia Caulfield, 25, of Liverpool, U.K., said she noticed her daughter had two tiny pearly whites the day after she was born. Two weeks later, she had grown two molars as well,

Lawyers in denture cream lawsuit seek delay

Attorneys have requested a delay in a consolidated lawsuit filed against GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Procter & Gamble that alleges the zinc in these denture adhesives can cause numerous health problems and that the manufacturers failed to properly warn consumers about these risks, according to a story on aboutlawsuits.com. The request, which was made December 1, asks the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to extend the deadline

DentalEZ unveils RAMVAC Badger at GNY show

The DentalEZ Group released its latest utility room offering at the recent Greater New York (GNY) annual dental meeting in New York City, the company announced. The new RAMVAC Badger is a lube-free, waterless alternative to wet ring or aging dry vacuum systems. It is a dry vacuum unit designed to replace most traditional water ring pumps. Intended for up to three users, the Badger is lightweight, flexible, and compact

Diode laser inhibits dentin demineralization

Diode-laser energy appears to inhibit root dentin demineralization without causing harmful thermal effects, according to a new study in Lasers in Medical Science (November 20, 2010). Researchers from Federal University of Ceará in Brazil evaluated the effects of a low-intensity diode laser (808 nm) on dentinal chemical composition and prevention of demineralization. They also monitored intrapulpal temperature changes during the course of irradiation. Forty dentin specimens were randomly allocated into

Prolonged preop antibiotic regime enhances BRONJ outcomes

Combining surgery with long-term preoperative antibiotic therapy yields the best treatment outcomes in patients suffering from bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ), according to a new study in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (November 29, 2010). Researchers from Rurh-University Bochum in Germany evaluated the role of the duration of preoperative antibiotic therapy within an otherwise standardized treatment protocol of patients with BRONJ stages I and II. They used

New toothbrushes designed to make brushing fun

Ashtel Dental will begin marketing Brush Buddies, a new toothbrush line featuring five whimsical characters, in January 2011, the company announced. The Brush Buddies family features a dog, a cat, a cow, a pig, and a monkey. Each Brush Buddies character talks along with a playful melody that, when activated, plays for the recommended brush time of two minutes. Brush Buddies aim to educate kids on healthy brushing habits in

Erbium laser enhances endodontic outcomes

Using erbium-laser energy in wet canals in conjunction with EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) irrigation during root canal surgery yields cleaner root canal walls and more open tubules, according to a new study in Lasers in Medical Science (December 1, 2010). Researchers from the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health conducted an in vitro analysis of the debriding ability of an Er:YAG laser system equipped with a newly designed radial and

Salivary diagnostics featured at AADR symposium

Presentations from the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) Fall Focused Symposium on Salivary Diagnostics held last month in the Washington, DC, area will be available in early 2011, according to the organization. AADR created the Fall Focused Symposium to provide networking opportunities and exchange of ideas, and to offer small regional symposia focused on cutting-edge technology and techniques. The two-day scientific program featured a keynote address on salivary diagnostics

Align Technology responds to FDA warning letter

Align Technology received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on November 18 following an onsite inspection of Align’s corporate headquarters between June 29 and August 9, 2010, and is now working to inform the agency of the steps it has taken in response to the warning letter, the company announced. The FDA inspection resulted in the issuance of a Form 483 Notice, which contained four

Crosstex offers fluoride varnish with xylitol

Crosstex International, a subsidiary of Cantel Medical and a provider of infection control and preventive products, has introduced Sparkle V 5% sodium fluoride varnish with xylitol. Sparkle V delivers the optimum fluoride dosage that dries to a natural tooth shade on contact, according to the company. The nonclumping formula sets rapidly in the presence of saliva, eliminating the need to isolate teeth. The single-use package includes a bendable brush applicator

Are obesity and periodontal disease linked?

Dentists in clinical practice can expect a higher prevalence of periodontal disease among obese adults, although the evidence pointing to a direct link between obesity and periodontal disease is limited, according to a new study in the Journal of Periodontology (December 2010, Vol. 81:12, pp. 1708-1724). Study author Benjamin Chaffee, a graduate student in the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley, and Scott Weston, DDS, who