Econo-Keys launches washable, wireless keyboard

Econo-Keys, a manufacturer of medical-grade peripherals, is launching the EKW-105 washable wireless keyboard this week at the Greater New York Dental Meeting in New York City. The EKW-105 is a completely sealed and disinfectable keyboard with the added benefits of radiofrequency (RF) wireless connectivity and an integrated touchpad, the company noted. The keyboard has a 30-foot wireless range and an expected battery life of six weeks. The EKW-105 has sealed,

Study compares cleft-palate treatment options

Different dental treatment options for bilateral cleft lip and palate may result in similar aesthetic appearance, but they produce definite differences in jaw function. People with clefts of the lip and palate often have dental anomalies as well. The number, shape, and position of teeth can be affected. In particular, the permanent lateral incisor is frequently absent or misshapen. A study in the Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal examines two primary treatments

Infinitt gains FDA nod for simulation software

Xelis Dental — new simulation software from Infinitt that enables dentists and implantologists to conduct surgical planning — has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance, the company announced. In October, Infinitt North America won its first contract for dental PACS (picture archiving and communications system) with Case Western Reserve University. With this new FDA clearance, Xelis Dental will be officially released in the U.S. dental market, the company

BioMers launches full translucent braces

BioMers, a subsidiary of Nanostart, has launched its flagship product line, the SimpliClear Full orthodontic system. Having launched SimpliClear Full in Singapore, BioMers now plans to bring the new product line to other Asian countries, Europe, and the U.S. The translucent dental brackets may be used to treat patients who even have severe misalignment of teeth, according to the company. “Earlier this year we launched SimpliClear Express, which was suitable

Zila releases Rotadent Plus rotary toothbrush

Zila has released the Rotadent Plus rotary toothbrush, which features three speeds, a brushing timer, and a charging base. The new model retains the features of the classic Rotadent, including a 360° sweeping action brush head with ultrathin microfilaments and a limited lifetime warranty, the company said. “Our Zila team has worked very hard to retain all the important clinical features of the original Rotadent while including significant advances in

New iPhone app eases kids’ dental anxieties

Fraser, a Minnesota nonprofit serving children and adults with special needs, and Delta Dental of Minnesota have released the My Healthy Smile app for iPhones and iPods. The app was developed to teach children about good oral health and to ease anxieties around dental visits. Eleven audio and visual social scripts help teach children what to expect at the dentist’s office and how to have good oral care at home.

Novartis loses 3rd ONJ/bisphosphonate trial

The family of a North Carolina woman has been awarded nearly $13 million in a lawsuit over bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), according to an article on Aboutlawsuits.com. The lawsuit, which centered around the drugs Aredia and Zometa, was filed against Novartis by Rita Fussman, who died of breast cancer last year. Her family alleged that Fussman suffered additional discomfort before her death due to the side effects of

EU to ban bisphenol A in baby bottles in 2011

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union (EU) will ban the use of organic compound bisphenol A (BPA) in plastic baby bottles from 2011 with the backing of a majority of EU governments, the EU’s executive Commission said on Thursday. “There were areas of uncertainty, deriving from new studies, which showed that BPA might have an effect on development, immune response and tumor promotion,” said John Dalli, commissioner in charge of

Report: Dental mercury puts millions at risk

A new report submitted by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) this month to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that mercury from dental amalgam restorations is putting millions of Americans at risk. According to the report, 67.2 million Americans are estimated to exceed the reference exposure level (REL) of 0.3 µg/m3 established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1995. If the more protective

Study: Few advantages for prenatal cleft palate diagnosis

A study published in the Cleft Palate—Craniofacial Journal has found little difference between mothers who were given a prenatal diagnosis of cleft lip and palate for their child and those who discovered the problem at birth (September 2010, Vol. 47:5, pp. 476-481). The authors conducted interviews with 235 mothers of children ages 2 to 7 years with orofacial clefts. Of these children, 46% had been identified prenatally with cleft lip

At-home and in-office whitening equally effective, study finds

Next time you are torn between recommending in-office or at-home teeth whitening for your patients, consider this: A new study has found that both techniques produce satisfactory and long-lasting bleaching results (Journal of the American Dental Association, November 2010, Vol. 141:11, pp. 1357-1364). This is the latest in a number of studies that have found that both techniques yield similar outcomes. Earlier this year, researchers reported from the International Association

Septodont supports dental programs for at-risk kids

Septodont has donated more than $10,000 in dental products to support oral health program affiliates of the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF), the company announced. Four NCOHF affiliates — Wilkes Public Health Dental Clinic, Central Community College, Indiana University School of Dentistry, and Community Health Centers of Arkansas — received a donation of Octocaine 50 anesthetic and needles that will help provide critical oral health services for children in