Academy of Laser Dentistry Installs New President and Officers

The Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD), the only independent and unbiased non-profit association dedicated to improving patient care with the proper use of laser technology, recently installed Raminta Mastis, DDS, as its president.  The announcement was made during the ALD’s recent 25th Anniversary Meeting in Orlando. Dr. Mastis graduated from the University of Illinois College … Read more

‘Profession, Passion, Power’ Create Dentsply Sirona’s p3 Alumni Forum

Holding a leading position in a complex and competitive industry, such as dental healthcare, is no easy task. The right communication approach is a crucial component to influence the market. For over a decade now, Dentsply Sirona has been building the next generation of key opinion leaders from universities and private clinics with its p3 … Read more

Patterson Dental Announces Software Agreement with Solutionreach

Patterson Dental, a business unit of Patterson Companies (Nasdaq: PDCO), today announced a new agreement with Solutionreach, Inc. to distribute and support the company’s portfolio of software products for use in dental practices, starting June 1. Solutionreach’s cloud-based patient relationship management platform will be connected with Patterson Dental’s Eaglesoft and Fuse practice management systems. Fuse … Read more

Henry Schein Featuring Digital Technology at CDA Meeting

Henry Schein Dental, the U.S. dental business of Henry Schein, Inc., today announced its lineup of in-booth presentations and demonstrations taking place at the Company’s exhibit booth (#1362) during the California Dental Association (CDA) Meeting, May 17-19, 2018, in Anaheim, CA. Oral health practitioners will have an opportunity to attend DigiTALK panel discussions, which will … Read more

Program Uses Smart Toothbrush Data to Determine Dental Rates

Alex Frommeyer comes from a family of dentists. Now, he has a start-up that sells dental insurance, but with a twist. The Columbus, Ohio, company, called Beam Dental, started out by selling Bluetooth-connected toothbrushes, meaning that their product communicates with an app. Once they got people using it, the founders saw an opportunity to use more … Read more

Uneducated Parents Blamed for Children’s Poor Oral Health

Editor’s Note: Where does the responsibility lie? While this article is about British parents and their lack of education in good oral hygiene to pass along to their children, the story could be talking about any parent in any country. There’s no denying many Canadian parents have a “basic” understanding: brush for two minutes, brush … Read more

Dental Office Faces Cultural Appropriation Backlash

Editor’s Note: When reading this story about cultural appropriation in dental marketing, consider not only how to avoid a similar situation during promotions and holidays, but also your practice’s plan when faced with public backlash. There are many avenues to consider: Immediately responding is an obvious reaction, but what you say can drastically alter your … Read more

Dentistry Meets Cryptocurrency with Dentacoin

According to the American Dental Association, the average American pays $544 in out-of-pocket expenses annually for dental care. It turns out that the vast majority of dental expenses (90%) can be avoided with tri-annual checkups, regular cleanings and improved diet. However, 80% of the world’s population cannot afford good dental care and dentists have economic incentives to provide short-term procedures rather … Read more

Canadian Seniors Can’t Afford Basic Dental Care

Leslie Arlene Henderson has lost multiple teeth. She can’t remember the last time she had major dental work. And for the last year, she’s been in dire need of a root canal. But with only $1,000 in monthly income, the 62-year-old Parkdale resident is too strapped for cash to pay for anything beyond a basic dental … Read more

Poor Oral Health and Seniors Falling Correlated, Says Study

An April 29 article in Medical News Bulletin reports on the JAGES Project Longitudinal Study, which sent out questionnaires to roughly 40 thousand Japanese men and women over 65. The study found that poor oral health was associated with a greater incidence of falls in the elderly population. The study seemed to make a connection with the ability … Read more

List of “Never-Events” Aims to Ensure Patient Safety

Dental experts have drawn up a definitive list of scenarios that patients should never face in a bid to ensure excellent patient care worldwide. The checklist – which includes failing to note patients’ allergies and not screening for mouth cancers during check-ups – is the first international agreement of its type in dentistry. The experts … Read more

Ontario PCs Promise Dental Plan for Low-Income Seniors

A Progressive Conservative government would invest $98 million per year to help low-income access dental care, party Leader Doug Ford said Saturday. “Many Ontarians have dental insurance, but two thirds of low-income seniors cannot afford it,” Ford told reporters in Toronto. “They end up in the ER due to unbearable dental pain. More suffering for … Read more

Wearable Oral Sodium Sensor Helps Control Hypertension

For people who have hypertension and certain other conditions, eating too much salt raises blood pressure and increases the likelihood of heart complications. To help monitor salt intake, researchers have developed a flexible and stretchable wireless sensing system designed to be comfortably worn in the mouth to measure the amount of sodium a person consumes. … Read more

Cellular Messengers Linked to Growth of Oral Bacteria

A new UCLA-led study provides clear evidence that cellular messengers in saliva may be able to regulate the growth of oral bacteria responsible for diseases, such as periodontitis and meningitis. The study’s findings, which suggest that a body’s cellular messengers play an important role in managing the amount of good and bad bacteria in the … Read more

Henry Schein in Orthodontics Market with Simplified Treatment Process

Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), the world’s largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health, and medical practitioners, announced today that it has entered the rapidly growing market for orthodontic aligners with its proprietary SLX™ Clear Aligner System. The SLX™ Clear Aligner System is a complete solution that incorporates the popular … Read more

Convergent Dental Expands Executive Team

Convergent Dental, Inc., developers of Solea®, the industry-leading CO2 all-tissue dental laser system, is pleased to announce two new appointments to its executive leadership team. Daryl Donatelli recently joined the Company as Vice President of Marketing, and Charles Kerbage now holds the title of Vice President of Research and Development. In his new role as … Read more

Acupuncture May Help Patients with Dental Anxiety

Researchers have found evidence that acupuncture could help people who experience dental anxiety. Dental anxiety affects up to an estimated 30% of the adult population in countries world-wide. Patients can experience nausea, difficulty breathing and dizziness at the thought of going to the dentist, during an examination, and following treatment. Reasons behind dental anxiety can … Read more

Katy Perry to Perform at Dentsply Sirona World 2018

Global pop superstar, Katy Perry, will perform a live concert for Dentsply Sirona World event-goers on Friday evening, Sept. 14, during the annual event in Orlando, Florida. This Grammy-Award nominated artist is best known for her chart-topping hits, including “Roar,” “Teenage Dream” and “Firework.” Dentsply Sirona World is a three-day educational event in which thousands … Read more

3-D Printed Dentures Relieve Effects of Fungal Infections

Nearly two-thirds of the U.S. denture-wearing population suffer frequent fungal infections that cause inflammation, redness and swelling in the mouth. To better treat these infections, called denture-related stomatitis, University at Buffalo researchers have turned to 3-D printers, using the machines to build dentures filled with microscopic capsules that periodically release Amphotericin B, an antifungal medication. … Read more

Two Women Arrested For Performing Unlicensed Dental Work

Authorities say two Phoenix-area women have been arrested for allegedly performing unlicensed dental work on five unsuspecting victims at an office in Glendale. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office announced Wednesday that 45-year-old Melissa Pavey and 38-year-old Jolene Houchens are accused of performing unlicensed dental procedures including tooth extractions by utilizing drills, lasers and surgical tools. Authorities say … Read more