Root Canal Awareness Week, March 22-28, 2015, is a national effort to raise awareness of endodontists, so that patients and general dentists know to contact a specialist when a root canal is needed. It is an excellent time to explain the important role endodontists play in dental health, and to teach the public that root canals should not be feared.

If you're a patient and want to learn more about root canals, visit our Treatments and Procedures page. You can also use our Find an Endodontist search engine to locate a specialists in saving teeth near you.

Follow us on Twitter @savingyourteeth!

Dental professionals can print and share this Root Canal Awareness Week poster to show support, and AAE members are encouraged to use the 2015 Member Planning Guide and logos to help plan their activities.  

The American Association of Endodontists advocates for the valuable role that endodontists play on the dental team. Root canal specialists who bring high-quality care, compassion and comfort to patients deserve recognition for their service and commitment.

Talk to Us!

For more information about Root Canal Awareness Week and how you can be involved, contact the AAE at at 800-872-3636 (U.S., Canada, Mexico) or 312-266-7255, or send an e-mail to pr@aae.org.

Septodont has made a generous product donation worth nearly $240,000 to America's ToothFairy: National Children’s Oral Health Foundation. This donation of Toothfairy™ BPA-Free Pit & Fissure Sealant Kitswill be distributed to the America's ToothFairy Affiliate Network of nonprofit clinics and programs providing vital oral health services to vulnerable children across the country.

Dena Locklear, Program Manager at FirstHealth of the Carolinas Dental Care Centers, an America's ToothFairy Affiliate in Southern Pines, North Carolina, said that sealant donations make a signicant impact in their ability to provide preventive care to local children. "As a public health practice that treats low-income children, we provide a large number of preventive dental sealants," Ms. Locklear said. "The donation from Septodont has allowed us to provide this critical preventive service at no cost for underserved kids who need it most. We cannot adequately express in words our deep gratitude for the Toothfairy sealant donation!"

"Septodont is committed to providing the America's ToothFairy Affiliate Network the products and support they need to provide high-quality care to underserved children and their families," said Paul Mondock, Septodont Vice President for the Americas. "We are pleased to provide this donation of Toothfairy™BPA Free Pit & Fissure Sealant Kits to help children maintain healthy smiles."

“We are very grateful to Septodont, an America's ToothFairy Underwriter, for their commitment to the health and wellness of vulnerable children and their families,” said Fern Ingber, America's ToothFairy President and CEO. “This generous donation of ToothFairy sealants will ensure thousands of children receive the critical preventive services they need to protect their oral health."

Straumann^® is once again expanding its portfolio of regenerative solutions to better meet customer needs. Now, Straumann^® Membrane Flex™ joins Straumann^® Membrane Plus™, Straumann^® XenoGraft, Straumann^® AlloGraft, BoneCeramic™, and Emdogain™ to provide a single trusted source for dental implant and regeneration needs.

More than a barrier. Versatile flexibility.

Desirable handling characteristics

·       Because it’s not side specific, it’s easy to handle and to place

·       With outstanding flexibility, it easily drapes over defects and naturally conforms to contours

·       Flexibility with placement as it can be easily repositioned for precise placement

·       Can be placed dry or hydrated

·       Even when hydrated, does not adhere to gloves or instruments

·       Takes sutures or tacks with ease, for simple yet secure fixation

Dependable strength

·       Proven biomechanical strength enhances fixation assurance*

·       In pre-clinical testing, of the suture pull out strength was three times higher than BioGide^®*

·       Because of its significantly higher suture pullout strength, can be firmly anchored to surrounding tissue with minimal risk of tearing or detachment*

Supports wound healing

·       Biocompatible because it’s meticulously manufactured from highly purified intact porcine collagen and minimally cross-linked for predictable resorption

·       Reduced degree of inflammation and foreign body response as compared to BioGide^® in pre-clinical testing*

·       Protects the graft area from unwanted soft tissue infiltration during the initial phase of healing while still allowing for healthy nutrient transfer

·       Resorbs predictably over 3 to 4 months as new host collagen is simultaneously regenerated

·       With a slower initial rate of resorption than BioGide^®, it provides greater initial stability during the critical early weeks of healing*

·       Shown through in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical testing to exceed many of the performance characteristics of BioGide^®*

·       Available sizes: 15x20mm, 20x30mm, 30x40mm

This new offering along with other recent additions to the Straumann portfolio are more than products they provide customers with a total solution that yields patient satisfaction and practice success.

To learn more about the new Straumann^® Membrane Flex^TM visit www.straumann.us/bone/

* Data on file with manufacturer

As the global market for dental implants is shifting towards shorter treatment times clinicians require solutions that reduce chair time, improve efficiency and profitability, and meet the needs of specific anatomic situations. At the same time, patients are demanding solutions that deliver esthetic benefits of the implant in a shorter amount of time.

Building on the clinically proven features of the Straumann^® Bone Level Implant, the Straumann BLT  Implant introduces the powerful combination of Roxolid^®, SLActive^®, Bone Control Design^®, CrossFit^® Connection, Consistent Emergence Profiles^®, plus a tapered implant body.

Strength.  Speed.  Innovative Design.

·       Designed to deliver primary stability in all bone classes making them ideal for immediate placement and loading¹ even in challenging protocols

·       Shape mimics the root of a natural tooth, thereby facilitating immediate placement between two opposing teeth with limited space

·       Roxolid material delivers excellent biological properties and high tensile strength²

·       Roxolid may allow the use of smaller-diameter implants with the same clinical performance as regular-diameter titanium implants³

·       SLActive surface technology allows faster osseointegration and reduced healing time from 6 to 8 weeks to 3 to 4 weeks⁴

·       Bone Control Design maximizes crestal bone preservation

·       CrossFit Connection is designed to ensure precision against rotation and long-term mechanical stability

Additionally, the tapered design of the Straumann BLT helps overcome anatomical restrictions such as converging tooth roots and concave jaw structures. It’s well suited for one- and two-stage procedures with reduced intra-procedural times.

Dental implants have become the standard of care when it comes to replacing one or all of a patient’s teeth. The Straumann BLT features a full thread at the tip of the implant that allows for early engagement of the threads and the three cutting notches enable placement in an underprepared osteotomy. The design of the Straumann BLT delivers flexibility in challenging clinical and anatomical situations.

Brad McAllister, DDS, PhD, from Tualatin, OR, is an early adopter of the Straumann BLT Implant and had this to say “I have found the BLT design extremely beneficial for my single and multiple tooth immediate provisional cases. The new tapered apical design allows for very predictable insertion torques of 35Ncm and excellent primary stability.”

Clinicians trust that Straumann will deliver innovative solutions that help meet the changing needs of their patients. The Straumann BLT brings together more than 60 years of experience and scientific research, and gives clinicians a solution that is potentially less invasive and requires less chair time for the patient.

The University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) has received the largest one-time gift in the school’s 175-year history, a $1.5 million donation from alumni Frederick G. Smith, MS, DDS ’78, and Venice K. Paterakis, DDS ’81, that will establish the institution’s first endowed professorship. The new Frederick G. Smith, MS, DDS, & Venice K. Paterakis, DDS, Endowed Professorship in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery for the University of Maryland School of Dentistry will provide resources to fund the work of a distinguished faculty member, enabling this professor to pursue new areas of research and innovative teaching methods.

“As the world’s first college of dentistry, established in 1840, we celebrate our 175th anniversary this year. This historic gift pays tribute to the school’s illustrious past as a leader in dental and dental hygiene education while ensuring that the University of Maryland School of Dentistry will remain among the premier dental schools in the world,” says Dean Mark A. Reynolds, DDS ’86, PhD. “I speak for all of us here at the School of Dentistry when I express my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Smith and Dr. Paterakis for their generosity.”

“This gift enables the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery to further enhance our surgical training programs and pursue exciting new research endeavors,” says Robert A. Ord, DDS, MD, chairman of the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. “The generosity of Dr. Smith and Dr. Paterakis will positively impact not only our students and residents, but also the many patients in Maryland we serve each year.”  

The establishment of this first endowed professorship advances the School of Dentistry’s educational, research, patient care and service mission. The endowed professor will launch ambitious interdisciplinary initiatives within the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery’s educational programs and provide new opportunities for student involvement in cutting-edge research projects. Endowed professorships typically attract superior faculty members who are among the elite in their field.

“I’m proud to be able to play a role in enhancing the quality of the education that will be provided to future students. For me, it is extremely rewarding to contribute to the fiscal capacity of the institution,” Smith says. “I was fortunate enough to attend the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and I received an exceptional education.”

Smith, a Maryland native and vice president of Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcast Group, practiced oral & maxillofacial surgery in Hunt Valley for more than a decade before assuming a role in his family’s media business. In addition to his leadership position at one of the nation’s largest media companies, Smith is founder and president of the Gerstell Academy, a private school for children in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The academy, located south of Westminster, Md., teaches a curriculum focused on leadership, college preparatory academics, physical training and modern language fluency. Paterakis has practiced dentistry in the Fells Point/Inner Harbor area for more than 25 years. Smith, who also serves on the board of trustees for the University of Maryland, Baltimore Foundation, and Paterakis are generous supporters of many charitable organizations that serve the metropolitan area.

Zimmer Dental, a global leader in the provision of oral rehabilitation and regenerative products, has had a long-standing relationship with the NYU College of Dentistry. For the sixth consecutive year, these two organizations have collaborated to sponsor Global Implantology Week, a program that highlights recent developments in implant therapy.

Each year, a group of highly regarded industry experts and clinicians from more than 30 countries gather on the campus of NYU’s College of Dentistry for four days to exchange information on new advances in the field of implant dentistry. This intermediate-to-advanced-level course is CE accredited by NYU and is designed to expand the participant’s knowledge and usage of dental implant procedures.

This year’s program will consist of a series of didactic presentations which will cover a wide variety of topics including: soft tissue management, esthetics, smile design, ridge augmentation, single tooth restoration, tilted restorative solutions, digital technology and implant options for predictable results.

The 2015 Global Implantology Week program features a strong roster of world-renowned clinicians including:

Christian Coachman, CDT, DDS 

“Digital Smile Design Using Technology for Treatment Planning & Case Presentation”

Anthony Sclar, DMD, OMS 

“State of the Art Implant Esthetics”

Edgard El Chaar, DDS, MS, Perio 

“Advanced Techniques in Hard & Soft Tissue Surgery”

Stephen Chu, DMD, MSD, CDT, Pros 

“Prosthetic Management of Immediate Implant Placement”

Dimitar Fitchev, Ph.D., DDS, Pros 

“Immediate Loading: Surgical & Prosthetic Keys to Success”

Monish Bhola, DDS, MSD, Perio 

“The Latest in Implant & Facial Esthetics”

In addition to the lectures, a number of other interactive activities and events are planned during Global Implantology Week including:

Product Fair and Clinical Poster Presentation Session

Optional tour of the Zimmer Trabecular Metal Technology manufacturing facility and Zimmer Institute in Parsippany, New Jersey

Evening New York City Harbor Cruise with Clinical Poster Presentation

“We are proud to collaborate with NYU’s College of Dentistry to organize this prestigious event. Each year, Global Implantology Week brings together hundreds of clinicians from around the world to New York City to exchange information on the latest clinical and technological developments in implant dentistry. Zimmer Dental understands the importance of providing world-class educational opportunities to dental industry professionals. Global Implantology Week is an outstanding example of our commitment to advancing the practice of implant dentistry on a worldwide basis” said Jeremy Curtis, Vice President of Marketing & Education for Zimmer Dental, Inc.

For additional information on the 6th Annual NYU/Zimmer Dental Global Implantology Week program, please click here or contact: Elizabeth DeLuca at (800) 854-7019 or (760) 929-4220 (outside the U.S.).

“It wasn’t long ago when the techies were the only ones who seemed to know much about digital dentistry,” reflected Frank Higginbottom, DDS.  The professor and active practitioner followed with a prediction: “However, five years from now, conventional analogue impressions may be a thing of the past.”

            He’ll present his program, The Digital Restorative Process, at the Academy of Osseointegration’s upcoming 30^th Annual Meeting in San Francisco. He created the course to help dentists understand their options in digital implant treatment planning and efficient use of new technology in their work flow. The use of digital radiology, treatment planning, digital placement, digital impressions, and CAD/CAM restorations are a reality.

Reflecting on his own experience, he recalled never feeling particularly inclined to anything “hi-tech”, yet sharing dentists’ typical orientation for gadgetry. Still, for him, going digital meant going out on a limb and applying a concerted effort, dedicating himself fully to making it work. At first he didn’t realize how much his practice changed. Once he did, pursuing the digital workflow became more exciting than defying.

“Everything fit better. Scans were more accurate,” Dr. Higginbottom said about his initial observations. That sensibility hasn’t changed. He joked, “All digital technologies could go away as long as I could keep my intra-oral digital scanner.” For those concerned about the costs, he said his current model cost about 25K and he spent nearly 14K on impression materials the year prior to acquiring it.

Imparting practical knowledge to both digital newcomers and seasoned dentists is important to the well-published researcher; he believes the profession must grasp critical concepts and integrate technology into their workflow to move forward effectively and provide better patient care.

Laboratory owners would say that close to 30 percent of analog impressions are inadequate.  “In my experience of close to 2100 restorations placed only 9 of the restorations were unusable when the digital impression was used”. “Yet, for CAD/CAM to be a good investment, you need to make 12 to 13 crowns per month to support the purchase of a 120K system. Remember, if you use an in office CAD/CAM system, you don’t have to have a second appointment or fabricate a provisional. This optimizes chair time and additional expense.”

The change from analog to digital technology may seem drastic and sudden to many, but Dr. Higginbottom said it has been a long time coming.

“Digital technology is moving increasingly faster and it’s important for both general dentists and specialists to be educated and be equipped for it,” he said. He pointed out that another contributing factor is the shrinking dental laboratory technician pool, and added, “Most dentists don’t even think about the fact that their dental laboratory technicians have been operating in a digital world for 15 years or more.”

In fact, he expects that it won’t be long until the majority of restorations fabricated by most commercial labs will be CAD/CAM-type. “Wax-ups will be remembered as a thing of the past too,” he predicted.

From CAD/CAM and intraoral imaging to computer-aided implant dentistry, including design and fabrication of surgical guides to digital radiography, including cone beam computed tomography and beyond, digital dentistry and its advantages are here to stay, said Dr. Higginbottom. The improved efficiencies are worth the challenges and include cost, time, accuracy and predictability of outcomes.

“Imagine a world where temporaries don’t get lost,” said Dr. Higginbottom. “Or, perhaps you don’t have to make them at all.” Take this opportunity to visit the exhibitors and investigate these technologies and what they can do. You can then decide if they will benefit your practice. The Digital Restorative Process will be held as part of the Restorative Track from 8:00 a.m. until noon on Friday, March 13 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. For more information or to register, visit https://www.osseo.org/events/meetings/2015/index.html.

“It wasn’t long ago when the techies were the only ones who seemed to know much about digital dentistry,” reflected Frank Higginbottom, DDS.  The professor and active practitioner followed with a prediction: “However, five years from now, conventional analogue impressions may be a thing of the past.”

            He’ll present his program, The Digital Restorative Process, at the Academy of Osseointegration’s upcoming 30^th Annual Meeting in San Francisco. He created the course to help dentists understand their options in digital implant treatment planning and efficient use of new technology in their work flow. The use of digital radiology, treatment planning, digital placement, digital impressions, and CAD/CAM restorations are a reality.

Reflecting on his own experience, he recalled never feeling particularly inclined to anything “hi-tech”, yet sharing dentists’ typical orientation for gadgetry. Still, for him, going digital meant going out on a limb and applying a concerted effort, dedicating himself fully to making it work. At first he didn’t realize how much his practice changed. Once he did, pursuing the digital workflow became more exciting than defying.

“Everything fit better. Scans were more accurate,” Dr. Higginbottom said about his initial observations. That sensibility hasn’t changed. He joked, “All digital technologies could go away as long as I could keep my intra-oral digital scanner.” For those concerned about the costs, he said his current model cost about 25K and he spent nearly 14K on impression materials the year prior to acquiring it.

Imparting practical knowledge to both digital newcomers and seasoned dentists is important to the well-published researcher; he believes the profession must grasp critical concepts and integrate technology into their workflow to move forward effectively and provide better patient care.

Laboratory owners would say that close to 30 percent of analog impressions are inadequate.  “In my experience of close to 2100 restorations placed only 9 of the restorations were unusable when the digital impression was used”. “Yet, for CAD/CAM to be a good investment, you need to make 12 to 13 crowns per month to support the purchase of a 120K system. Remember, if you use an in office CAD/CAM system, you don’t have to have a second appointment or fabricate a provisional. This optimizes chair time and additional expense.”

The change from analog to digital technology may seem drastic and sudden to many, but Dr. Higginbottom said it has been a long time coming.

“Digital technology is moving increasingly faster and it’s important for both general dentists and specialists to be educated and be equipped for it,” he said. He pointed out that another contributing factor is the shrinking dental laboratory technician pool, and added, “Most dentists don’t even think about the fact that their dental laboratory technicians have been operating in a digital world for 15 years or more.”

In fact, he expects that it won’t be long until the majority of restorations fabricated by most commercial labs will be CAD/CAM-type. “Wax-ups will be remembered as a thing of the past too,” he predicted.

From CAD/CAM and intraoral imaging to computer-aided implant dentistry, including design and fabrication of surgical guides to digital radiography, including cone beam computed tomography and beyond, digital dentistry and its advantages are here to stay, said Dr. Higginbottom. The improved efficiencies are worth the challenges and include cost, time, accuracy and predictability of outcomes.

“Imagine a world where temporaries don’t get lost,” said Dr. Higginbottom. “Or, perhaps you don’t have to make them at all.” Take this opportunity to visit the exhibitors and investigate these technologies and what they can do. You can then decide if they will benefit your practice. The Digital Restorative Process will be held as part of the Restorative Track from 8:00 a.m. until noon on Friday, March 13 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. For more information or to register, visit https://www.osseo.org/events/meetings/2015/index.html.

More than 450 children across the country without dental insurance received much needed dental care at no cost during the Kool Smiles "Sharing Smiles" free care day on Sunday, February 22, 2015.

Bone chilling temperatures and inclement weather in many of the 13 states where Kool Smiles offices offered free dental care didn't stop families from bringing in their children for a range of dental procedures.  Although the free care day provided an opportunity to address immediate dental needs, it also underscored the dental access challenges families face and theoverall lack of coverage for dental care.

"Throughout the day, we were reminded that there are still children who are unable to consistently access dental health care and all the benefits that come with it," said Dr. Polly Boehnlein, DDS, MS, a board-certified pediatric dentist and Managing Dental Director for Kool Smiles.  "While Kool Smiles is proud to offer a full range of dental services to traditionally underserved populations – including patients covered under Medicaid or State Children's Health Insurance Plans (SCHIP) – there are still children for whom regular, affordable dental care is still sadly out of reach."

While largely preventable, childhood tooth decay remains the most common, chronic childhood disease. It is five times more common than asthma and affects 42 percent of children ages 2 to 11, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If left untreated, dental decay can lead to pain, difficulty eating and chewing, and more serious infections - some of which can be life threatening.

"Children who have regular access to a dentist are likely to be healthier and happier," continued Dr. Boehnlein. "It is a rewarding experience to see children smile proudly and with confidence after receiving the dental care they need.  No child should be deprived of access to dental care due to family finances."

In addition, studies show complications from a lack of dental care at an early age can compromise a child's academic performance.  To that, Kool Smiles offers lesson plans to teachers for in-classroom education on proper dental hygiene practice. For more information on the Kool Smiles dental health lesson plans, click here.

Kool Smiles dentists, who provided more than $16 million in uncompensated care in 2014, also urge the entire dental professional community to bridge the dental divide in the U.S and reach out to families in need of care.  

The "Sharing Smiles" day of free dental care was made possible by the volunteer efforts of Kool Smiles dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, office managers, clinical team leads, and other staff members. Sharing Smiles Day is sponsored by the Benevis Foundation.

Regeneration of bone tissue could greatly benefit people with jawbone deficiencies due to tooth loss, infection, or trauma. While an ideal method of bone tissue engineering is not yet available, research with a collagen-hydroxyapatite-Mesenchymal stem cell composite is showing promise.

Hydroxyapatite is the main component of bone mineral and tooth enamel. A report in the Journal of Oral Implantology details researchers’ efforts to synthesize a collagen-hydroxyapatite composite through mineralization of collagen fibrils with nanometer-sized apatite crystals. The biological properties of the composite were evaluated by culturing with mouse and human mesenchymal stem cells.

Currently, the methods of bone repair and regeneration include the following bone graft types:

• Autografts:  grafting bone from the same person

• Allografts:  taking bone tissue from another person

• Xenografts:  collecting material from a nonhuman species

• Alloplasts:  using synthetic materials

Each of these methods has limitations that tissue engineering involving scaffolds and living cells can surpass.

The scaffold is an artificial structure that is combined with living Mesenchymal stem cells to form a tissue engineering construct that can repair or regenerate bone. Mesenchymal stem cells, which can differentiate into a variety of cell types, are used to precipitate bone growth.

The current study tested three ratios of collagen to hydroxyapatite: 80:20, 50:50, and 20:80. Both the 80:20 and 50:50 composites supported attachments and proliferation of mouse mesenchymal stem cells and human periodontal ligament stem cells in laboratory tests. The 50:50 ratio had the best mechanical properties suitable for bone grafting applications.

The authors report that these findings indicate a strong potential for collagen-hydroxyapatite composite complexes in bone tissue regeneration. The composites are porous and sponge-like, and show good biocompatibility and biomimetric properties.

Alveolar bone deficiency is a limiting factor for dental implant-supported prosthetic therapies. The effective formation of new bone offers a basis for further procedures to successfully repair teeth and jaws.

Full text of the article, “Porous Collagen-Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds With Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Bone Regeneration,” Journal of Oral Implantology, Vol. 41, No.1, 2015, is available at https://www.joionline.org/doi/full/10.1563/AAID-JOI-D-12-00298