Industry Insider
OraPharma, Inc (Warminster, PA) is a cutting-edge specialty oral healthcare company dedicated to bringing scientifically and technologically advanced products and services to the dental community, as well as providing educational support and training to the dental community. In keeping with this mission, OraPharma, Inc recently introduced the ARESTIN® Student Access Program for dental and hygiene schools.
According to ARESTIN product director John Lenart: “We have been working closely with the directors of leading dental and hygiene schools for several years to develop a program that will provide educational programming and hands-on training so that senior dental and hygiene students can appropriately incorporate locally administered antibiotics such as ARESTIN as part of a comprehensive periodontal disease treatment protocol.”
The program, which began in September 2007, is open to all accredited 2- or 4-year dental and dental hygiene schools that include instruction on the use of ARESTIN as part of a comprehensive periodontal treatment protocol.
For more information, call 800-553-6010 or visit www.orapharma.com.
J. Morita USA Announces Product Name Change
J. Morita USA, Inc (Irvine, CA) announces the product name change from Excel Bond LC Self-Etching Bonding System to Max Bond LC Self-Etching Bonding System. The quality and specifications of the product have not changed. J. Morita USA, Inc requests future use of the product name including articles and advertisements to list Max Bond LC Self-Etching Bonding System.
For more information, call 888-JMORITA (566-7482) or visit www.jmoritausa.com.
Crayola Holds Highest Quality Image among Dental Professionals and Patients
Sunstar Americas, Inc (Chicago, IL) has announced research that shows that among current popular kids’ brands, Crayola (Easton, PA) tops the list at No. 1 among consumers in brand awareness and reputable timeless appeal.
Since the beginning of Sunstar’s partnership with Crayola, GUM—the Crayola line of kids’ toothbrushes—has become a top seller among dental professionals and consumers alike.
Several GUM Crayola toothbrush and flossing products have recently become available with Sunstar, including GUM Crayola Games (kids can play a different game with each handle of the brush and colorful ultra-soft bristles are gentle on young gums); GUM Crayola Suction Cup Toothbrush (a colorful Crayola marker-shaped toothbrush where the angled bristle design aids children in effectively cleaning between teeth); and GUM Crayola Flossers (has an easy-to-grip handle designed especially for small hands and a narrow head for a more comfortable fit in smaller mouths).
For more information, visit www.sunstaramericas.com.
Dental Trade Alliance Foundation Names 14th Floor Solutions its Marketing Communications Agency
The Dental Trade Alliance Foundation (DTAF, Arlington, VA) announced that 14th Floor Solutions (Lake Forest, IL) will be responsible for its marketing communications.
“We are excited about this partnership between DTAF and 14th Floor Solutions,” says Charles Cohen, DTAF chairman. “Communicating the vision for our young foundation is one of our biggest challenges. 14th Floor Solutions brings substantial dental industry knowledge, an enthusiasm for our mission, and a real focus on creative-yet-practical solutions to the task.”
14th Floor Solutions has already redesigned the foundation’s fundraising materials and is working on several other projects that will increase the group’s focus and reach.
For more information about DTAF, visit www.dtafoundation.org.
For more information about 14th Floor Solutions, call 847-812-2879 or visit www.14thfloorsolutions.com.
Göteborg University Signs Agreement with BIOMET 3i
A collaboration agreement has been signed between the Institute of Odontology, the Sahlgrenska Academy of Göteborg University, and BIOMET 3i (Palm Beach Gardens, FL). The Institute of Odontology, recognized as an authority in dental implantology, is one of the world’s leading research institutions. In 2006, the Institute was ranked second with regard to scientific publications worldwide.
As part of the agreement, the Institute of Odontology will provide research and product development services to BIOMET 3i. Additionally, the Institute will use BIOMET 3i products for undergraduate and postgraduate training and teaching, as well as for patient care in the grad-uate clinics. Teachers at the Institute will also be available for external conferences and training.
For more information, call 800-443-8166 or visit www.biomet3i.com.
A-dec Helps Christina’s Smile Bring Dental Care to Needy Children
As many as 120 underserved children ages 6 to 15 received free dental care at a recent Christina’s Smile Children’s Dental Clinic visit to Oregon in August. The visit highlighted Christina’s Smile’s newest self-contained mobile dental treatment facility outfitted by A-dec (Newburg, OR) and other partners in the cities of Beaverton and Newberg, OR.
Underprivileged children often lack adequate access to healthcare, and dental care in particular. The costs often prohibit such families from receiving comprehensive dental care except through free clinics or other programs such as Christina’s Smile. A-dec has supported the Christina’s Smile program since 1998, and has contributed both monetary donations and dental equipment to help meet the program’s needs. The newest 53-ft trailer features three fully equipped state-of-the-art operatories with A-dec 500™ chairs and delivery systems, digital monitor mounts, operatory lighting, cabinetry, sterilization equipment, chairs, and stools.
Local dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants volunteered to offer dental care from the mobile facility, providing cleanings, sealants, fillings, crowns, root canal treatments, and extractions as needed. Approximately $70,000 to $80,000 worth of dentistry is delivered during each Christina’s Smile 3-day clinic across the United States.
Dr. Richard Garza, who treated underprivileged children in his Austin, TX, dental practice for years, developed Christina’s Smile Children’s Dental Clinic in 1989. The program has provided more than $14 million worth of dental care at no cost to more than 36,000 children since its inception. In 2007, clinics will treat approximately 2,400 children, providing more than $1 million worth of dental care to children who would not otherwise receive the care they so desperately need.
For more information, contact Dr. Richard Garza at 512-335-1445 or visit www.csmile.com.
New Web Site Launched for Patients to Submit HIPAA and Health Histories Online
SubmitPatientForms.com (Malverne, NY) is an inexpensive Internet service ($18.95 per month) that allows an unlimited number of patients to fill out their Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) forms, personal and insurance information, and medical/dental histories online in the privacy of their homes. Practices can link the forms directly from their Web site or can use this service without having a Web site. It saves valuable staff time and provides legible forms. The staff and patients will love it.
Patients can print a copy before they submit, at which time the practice gets an e-mail notification that a patient has registered. A staff person can go to a password-protected account and either view, print out a hard copy, or download the completed forms in PDF or JPEG format into the practice computer or electronic patient folder.
Practices can validate the patient’s insurance coverage and “red flag” any medical problems before they arrive.
The advanced software allows the use of a doctor’s original custom forms for a one-time setup fee of $249 and the ability for patients to complete forms for multiple family members using only one e-mail address for their account.
For more information, call 888-385-1535, e-mail info@SubmitPatientForms.com, or visit www.SubmitPatientForms.com.
Novalar Announces Exclusive License to Develop and Commercialize Antibiotic Fiber for Root Canal Therapy
Novalar Pharmaceuticals, Inc (San Diego, CA) has entered into an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement with the Forsyth Institute to develop and commercialize a product for the prevention of inter-appointment pain and bacterial reduction in endodontic treatment (root canal therapy). The product, an antibiotic-impregnated ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) fiber, was originally developed by the Forsyth Institute and Harvard School of Dental Medicine. “This technology is an excellent strategic fit for Novalar,” says Donna Janson, president and chief executive officer of Novalar. “A dental pharmaceutical pipeline will leverage the infrastructure we are putting in place to support the launch of our lead product, NV-101, a local anesthetic reversal agent.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Novalar will have an exclusive worldwide license for the technology from the Boston-based Forsyth Institute, an organization dedicated to scientific research and education in oral, craniofacial, and related biomedical sciences. Novalar will be responsible for all development and commercialization costs and activities. In return, Forsyth will be entitled to milestone payments and royalties on products sold.
“A local delivery system represents an opportunity to treat the infection effectively with a lower dose of medication—in this case clindamycin,” explains Dr. Bruce Rutherford, Novalar’s vice president, clinical development. Forsyth collected preliminary data on 57 endodontic patients and tested clindamycin-EVA, calcium hydroxide paste, and an untreated control group. At the conclusion of the 1-week period, patients treated with clindamycin-EVA fiber had no clinical signs or symptoms of pain or hypersensitivity. Patients in the control groups demonstrated substantially more pain and swelling.
“With this agreement, Novalar has taken another key step in building its future,” Janson adds.
For more information, visit www.novalarpharm.com.
CareCredit Vice President Appointed To ADA Give Kids A Smile® Advisory Board
CareCredit (Costa Mesa, CA) is pleased to announce that Cindy C. Hearn, vice president of marketing, will serve on the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Give Kids A Smile® Advisory Board.
As a member of the board, Hearn will provide strategic guidance to develop initiatives that will lead the program’s expansion. Currently, Give Kids A Smile is the nation’s largest charitable oral health program, delivering care to more than half a million children every year through 16,000 dentists and an additional 30,000 volunteers.
“Cindy Hearn will bring to the Advisory Board exceptional experience, with over 25 years of leading strategic thinking and marketing for CareCredit and other exceptional national brands,” explained Steve Kess, chairman of the Give Kids A Smile National Advisory Board. “We look forward to hearing her thoughts and ideas and know she will make a valuable contribution to the board.”
“Being asked to serve on the Give Kids A Smile Advisory Board is truly an honor. It brings together two things I am very passionate about—children and dentistry,” says Hearn. “Achieving oral health is often all about having access to care. It is amazing how the ADA and dental community have come together to provide access to children across the country who otherwise might not experience the benefit of quality dentistry.”
Earlier this year, CareCredit became a Founding Donor to the newly established Give Kids A Smile Fund that will support expansion of the program to a year-round access-to-care initiative.
For more information, call 800-300-3046 ext. 4519 (new to CareCredit) or 800-859-9975 (if already enrolled), or visit www.carecredit.com.
Academy of General Dentistry Launches Campaign to Focus on Tooth Erosion
Fruit, yogurt, citric, and soft drinks may seem like harmless snacks and beverages, but improper consumption and overuse may lead to devastating and permanent damage to teeth. It is known as tooth erosion, and an online member poll conducted by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) revealed that dentists feel tooth erosion is more common today compared to 5 years ago.
To help the public better understand tooth erosion as well as find the most effective treatment, the AGD recently launched a new print public service advertisement (PSA) campaign to educate the public about this issue. The AGD also created a special section on its Web site, www.agd.org, which provides free tools the public can use to learn more about this issue.
“Our profession and our members continue to see an increase of cases of this condition mainly due to changes in nutritional habits,” says AGD president Vinny Mayher, DMD, MAGD. “Members who participated in our survey felt that consuming soft drinks, as well as other foods with a low pH value, contributes to tooth erosion.”
For example, soft drinks, which contain acids, break down the tooth surfaces. These acids also damage tooth enamel over time by dissolving the mineral structure of teeth, thinning the teeth. Eventually, because of repeated exposure to acid, the tooth’s enamel will lose its shape and color.
As the damage progresses, the underlying dentin becomes exposed, causing the teeth to look yellow.
“To prevent tooth erosion, patients who eat or drink an acidic food or beverage should wait at least 20 minutes before brushing their teeth so as not to destroy the weakened enamel,” says David Bartlett, BDS, PhD, who led a discussion during the AGD’s Annual Meeting and Exhibits titled, “Acid Erosion—Why is it Important to My Patients.” Dr. Bartlett also suggests eating acidic foods within 5 minutes, instead of snacking on them throughout the day, and eating these foods just during meal times in order to minimize the amount of time the acid is on the teeth.
Frequently consuming and continual snacking on foods with a low pH value, such as fruit juices, pickles, fresh fruit, yogurt, honey, and raisins, can lead to irreversible dental erosion. Dr Bartlett says it is important to also beware of habits such as lemon-sucking and swishing soda in the mouth. “Doing this extends the amount of time that enamel and dentin are exposed to the acids and can increase the structural damage. But eating fruit as part of a balanced diet is good,” he explains.
Dr. Bartlett also encourages patients to talk to their dentist about the use of dentin bonding to help prevent tooth erosion. Dentin bonding is when the dentist paints a very thin layer on the surfaces of teeth showing signs of erosion.
“Together, with dietary advice and daily desensitizing toothpaste, the aim is to prevent and treat early,” says Dr. Bartlett.
Early signs of tooth erosion also consist of dentin hypersensitivity. In other words, if hot or cold foods and beverages cause pain or sensitivity this is an indication of tooth erosion. Dentists may also recommend daily use of over-the-counter fluoridated antihypersensitivity toothpaste with a neutral pH to help reharden softened tooth enamel.
“Early diagnosis and prevention of the effects of tooth erosion are fundamental to keeping teeth healthy for life,” says Dr. Bartlett.
For more information, visit www.agd.org.
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