Dr. Dale Miles cautions dentists not to miss important clues revealed about the patient’s overall health on the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Doing so can result in serious problems for the patient—and a lawsuit for the dentist.

“I have been involved in at least four lawsuits in which cone beam data was vital to either the plaintiff’s or the defendant's case. The defendant is most often the dentist,” he said.

Dr. Miles is presenting at the Academy of Osseointegration’s (AO) 2016 Annual meeting next February in San Diego as part of the Morning with the Masters sessions on the program. Dr. Miles’ session will address, “Appropriate Interpretations of CBCT Scanning in Implant Dentistry: How to Avoid Missing Vital Information and Anatomy.”

Morning with the Masters sessions are designed to provide a more personal interaction with world-renowned experts. The attendance is limited in each session to keep them small. 

Many dentists may be at risk for missing important changes in their patient’s scans. Dr. Miles hopes to eliminate these risks by sharing information he feels has been lacking. He said cone beam technology enables dentists to identify abnormal pathology and its causes, but he cautions dentists not to rely only on manufacturer training to learn how to recognize the changes revealed in scan data.

An experienced presenter for the dental community, Dr. Miles is excited to present information to dentists and specialists—both those who are experienced and those who are performing implant dentistry for the first time. “It’s our job to be able to recognize abnormalities within the patient’s x-ray examination and to make the appropriate referral if needed,” he said. “The right use of cone beam technology can improve the health of the patient—and the health of the dentist’s practice.”

All Morning with the Masters sessions occur concurrently. Two of the ten sessions are complimentary, including one presented in Mandarin on “Fundamental Perspectives of Implant Esthetics,” presented by Dr. Dehau Li, and “How to Get Your Paper Published,” presented by Dr. Steven Eckert.Other topics include issues surrounding the hard and soft tissue factors, digital technology, cementing technique, managing Full Arch, Terminal Dentition, and other common concerns.

For a full list of the sessions, please visit AO’s website, (meetings.osseo.org/sessions/morning-with-the-masters)

Dr. Miles believes all dental implant professionals should attend the annual meeting. From changes in technology and techniques to changes in materials, clinicians need to be as current to provide the best patient care possible.

The 31^st Annual Meeting is set for February 17 to 20, 2016, in San Diego. You can register to attend at www.osseo.org. Follow AO on Facebookand Twitterusing #AO2016 to stay up-to-date. 

The National Association of Dental Laboratories released an FDA alert for members regarding the use of CAD/CAM for in-house milling of most abutments. The alert states that laboratories are not permitted to use CAD/CAM for in-house milling of most abutments:

Benco Dental, of Pittston, Pennsylvania, will distribute digital dentistry solutions by Montreal-based Dental Wings Inc., the companies announced. Included in the offerings: Dental Wings coDiagnostiX™ implant planning software, the DWOS suite of prosthetic design software, as well as Dental Wings desktop impression and model scanners.

Dental Wings recently released connectivity technology called DWOS Synergy that allows CBCT DICOM files and surface scan STL files to be merged and shared live between Dental Wings coDiagnostiX implant-planning software and DWOS prosthetic design software.

DWOS Synergy provides an integrated surgical-prosthetic design environment where every aspect of the implant case can be considered and designed collaboratively between the clinical and laboratory teams over a secure Internet connection. The resulting plan can then be used to produce a drill guide and an immediate prosthetic or custom tissue former prior to the surgery.

"We are excited to be joining forces with Benco’s great team in bringing meaningful digital workflows to their dentist customers that improve the efficacy, predictability, and clinical success of their implant cases,” said Michael Rynerson, CEO of Dental Wings. “Benco has an outstanding reputation in the industry, so naturally we are honored to be working with them on advancing digital solutions.”

Benco Dental Vice President of Marketing Paul Jackson said, "Cone beam X-ray has become the standard of care, and doctors want to make the soundest use of their investment. coDiagnostiX is the best software for planning fabrication of surgical guides, reduced time, and accuracy placing implants. The software’s features are the perfect platform for multi-disciplinary treatment planning. Dental Wings products, with their proven capabilities, align with Benco Dental’s commitment to greatly impact our customers’ bottom line and enrich the patient experience."

December 10 at 7 pm est

Join our expert panel for an interactive webinar on the topic of adhesion and how to prevent case failures and sensitivity in dental restorations. Become part of the debate during a live Q&A session. 1 ADA/CERP credit will be provided.

Sign Up Now!

Inside Dental Technology Editorial Advisory Board member Olivier Tric, MDT, will host a hands-on course on porcelain veneers on February 5-6 in Los Angeles, California.

The course, "Porcelain Veneers on Refractory from A to Z," will be held at Advanced Technology Center. It will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day and will be worth 16 CE credits.

The course costs $890 if registered by December 1, $995 for the next month, and $1290 if registered in 2016. For more information and to register, go to atccourses.com.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of their upcoming 40th Anniversary in 2016, OCO Biomedical, Inc., a proven global leader in world-class dental technology, training and instrumentation, will showcase their innovative, multi-dimensional theme, "Changing Implantology Today," at the 2015 Greater New York Dental Meeting (GNYDM).  This event, the nation's largest dental meeting, congress and exhibition, opens Friday, November 27, and runs through Wednesday, December 2, 2015, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 West 34th Street, New York City.  OCO Biomedical Technical Sales Representatives will be onsite at Booth #4524.

Highlights Of OCO's "Changing Implantology Today" Showcase:

SPECIAL EVENT: "OCO Biomedical: Changing Implantology Today"

'Live' Surgical Demonstration And Lecture

Monday, November 30, 2015, 2:30-5:00 p.m. – Aisle 6200, Room 5

Charles Schlesinger, DDS, OCO Biomedical Chief Operating Officer/Director of Clinical Affairs, will present a 'live' surgical demonstration and lecture that introduces the fundamentals of immediate/early load technology made possible by the advancement of implant design pioneered by OCO Biomedical. This surgical seminar will be held at the GNYDM Live Dentistry High-tech Arena on the Exhibit Floor.

Preview of OCO Guided Surgery Kit and System at the New Products Pavilion

Preview/availability of the updated, expanded 2016 OCO Regenerative Products Catalog

Distribution of the 2015/Early 2016 OCO Course Schedule

Registration information is provided with a schedule of expanded nation-wide locations and dates.

Enrollment information for the Third Annual 2016 OCO Biomedical International Dental Implant Symposium  (July 22- July 23, 2016, Albuquerque, New Mexico)

An intranasal form of naloxone hydrochloride (Narcan, Adapt Pharma, Inc), a drug that stops or reverses opioid overdose, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under a fast-track approval process.

Naloxone hydrochloride has long been given by intramuscular injection to stop or reverse the effects of opioid overdose, in particular respiratory depression. It usually works within 2 minutes but must be given quickly to prevent death.

The nasal form will be easier for first responders and others to deliver, and will eliminate the threat of contaminated needle sticks. Until now, unapproved naloxone kits have combined the injectable form of naloxone with an atomizer to administer the drug nasally.

No assembly is required for the approved nasal product, and anyone can administer it, even those without medical training. The product can be given to adults and children. It is sprayed into one nostril while the patient lies on his or her back, and can be repeated if needed. The FDA cautions that the person administering the drug should still seek immediate medical attention for the patient.

Drug overdose deaths have risen steadily for the past decade and now surpass motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of injury death in the United States. The increase is due in large part to prescription drug overdoses, as well as a rise in heroin use.

"Combating the opioid abuse epidemic is a top priority for the FDA," Stephen Ostroff, MD, acting FDA commissioner, said in an FDA news release. "We cannot stand by while Americans are dying. While naloxone will not solve the underlying problems of the opioid epidemic, we are speeding to review new formulations that will ultimately save lives that might otherwise be lost to drug addiction and overdose."

The approval follows an expedited review of data from clinical trials in which nasal administration achieved the same or higher levels of naloxone as those obtained with intramuscular injection, and in about the same amount of time.

The FDA's priority review program facilitates approval of drugs that are expected to significantly improve the safety or effectiveness of the prevention, treatment, or diagnosis of a serious medical condition. The FDA approved the nasal spray in less than 4 months.

"We heard the public call for this new route of administration, and we are happy to have been able to move so quickly on a product we are confident will deliver consistently adequate levels of the medication — a critical attribute for this emergency life-saving drug," Janet Woodcock, MD, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in the FDA news release.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) designed and conducted clinical trials to determine that the intranasal formulation worked as quickly and effectively as the injectable form. NIDA then worked with its partners in the private sector to obtain approval from the FDA.

"This easy-to-use intranasal formulation will no doubt save many lives," Nora Volkow, MD, director, National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health, explained in the news release. "While prevention is the ultimate goal, the drug's successful development illustrates how public/private scientific partnerships can play an important role in responding to a national crisis right now."

Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell proposed a targeted strategy for addressing the opioid epidemic that includes increasing access to and use of naloxone in March. In July the FDA sponsored a public workshop at which addiction and advocacy groups demanded expanded availability of the lifesaving drug.

Naloxone nasal spray can cause severe opioid withdrawal in patients who are opioid dependent.

Source: Medscape

Charlotte, NC ‐ Sirona Dental, Inc., the company that pioneered digital dentistry, today announced several upcoming SIROWORLD Celebration events scheduled in conjunction with major dental trade shows leading up to the annual SIROWORLD Celebration event taking place Aug. 11‐13, 2016 in Orlando.

“SIROWORLD is the event we always dreamed of creating for the dental community,” said Sirona President Michael Augins. “SIROWORLD is an all-encompassing, epic‐scale educational experience that could not be contained to only celebrating in August 2016; therefore, we are celebrating SIROWORLD throughout the year at various industry trade shows.”

SIROWORLD festivities currently planned in conjunction with major dental trade shows include:

– The kick‐off celebration, taking place during the Greater New York Dental Meeting on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015 at the TimesCenter located in the heart of New York’s vibrant Times Square District. Attendees will be treated to an evening of dental education, networking opportunities, delicious food and drinks and special guest speaker Daymond John, an award‐winning business executive and star of the ABC network’s show “Shark Tank.”

Additionally, Dr. Mike DiTolla will present the latest technology advancements in dentistry, and Fred Joyal of 1‐800‐DENTIST will share how dentists can take their current social media strategy, tactics and implementation to the next level of customer engagement, profitability and ROI.

– At the Chicago Dental Society meeting, Sirona is hosting a SIROWORLD Superheroes of Dentistry party on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016 at the House of Blues. Attendees are encouraged to dress in their best super hero costume.

– A special SIROWORLD event is also planned during the California Dental Association ‐ South meeting scheduled in May 2016. More details, including location, special celebrity speaker, date and time, will be announced at the SIROWORLD kick‐off celebration in New York City on Nov. 29th.

SIROWORLD is a membership‐based community in which like‐minded visionaries gather to create the largest network of technology‐driven dental professionals. The perks that coincide with a membership are undeniably beneficial. Membership includes access to the annual SIROWORLD event featuring three days of world‐class educational sessions, abundant networking opportunities, unsurpassed entertainment and special celebrity appearances. Additionally, SIROWORLD members may attend exclusive educational events at major US trade shows, get optional VIP access/reserved seating and join special SIROWORLD trips (eg, IDS visit or Sirona Bensheim visit), all while learning from and connecting with the greatest minds in digital dentistry and being among the first to learn about new software and updated technologies from Sirona.

“We are excited to launch these SIROWORLD events and continue our longstanding tradition of delivering world‐class education and outstanding entertainment to the dental community,” said Augins. “Having several events throughout the year leading up to the annual SIROWORLD event in Orlando planned for August 2016 will showcase the best of SIROWORLD on a national stage. Certainly, all participating dental professionals will be enriched as a result attending these celebrations.”

Pricing for SIROWORLD is now available at $1,995 a year for a membership and $2,995 a year for VIP membership and includes entrance into all of the celebration events planned at the trade shows and the annual event in Orlando. Total Office membership packages are currently available for $5,995, for a total savings of $4,000 off list price, and include SIROWORLD membership for up to six people. For further details on SIROWORLD membership and information, please visit www.SIROWORLD.com or contact your Patterson representative.

About Sirona Dental, Inc.

Sirona, the dental technology leader, has served dealers and dentists worldwide for more than 130 years. Sirona develops, manufactures, and markets a complete line of dental products, including CAD/CAM restoration systems (CEREC®), digital intraoral, panoramic and 3D imaging systems, dental treatment centers, and handpieces. Visit www.sironausa.com for more information about Sirona and its products.

Today’s dental implant clinicians will learn about the past, present, and future of implant dentistry at the Academy of Osseointegration’s (AO’s) 2016 Annual Meeting. Speakers from all over the world will present data to promote the development of dental implant technology, as well as clinical and surgical best practices.

The 31st Annual Meeting is set for February 17-20, 2016, in San Diego. You can register to attend at https://www.osseo.org.

“We are giving attendees a nice balance,” said Dr. Peter Moy, 2016 Annual Meeting program chair. “We are not just pushing the high-end procedures, but also looking at what techniques we have performed in the past and whether they are becoming outmoded or remain a standard of care.”

From computer software to stem cell research, growth factors, and other biologic materials available today, implant dentistry is evolving continually. Dr. Moy and the 2016 Annual Meeting Committee designed the 2016 Program for dental implant experts to share new research, information on best practices, and exchange ideas.

This year, the AO is excited to add a hands-on workshop session on Wednesday afternoon, February 17, 2016, the day before the official start of the main program. Several of AO’s corporate sponsors will provide hands-on experiences for those attendees who want to arrive a day early and take advantage of these training sessions. Course descriptions will be provided in the program book due out later this year. Sign up early, as there will be a limited number of participants and the sessions are expected to fill to capacity.

In addition, next year’s Annual Meeting will also feature more than 50 clinical presentations; an expansive Exhibit Hall; hundreds of E-Posters, as well as Oral Scientific Abstracts and Oral Clinical Research Sessions; Corporate Forums; Lunch and Learn Sessions; a Young Clinicians Lecture Series; and a TEAM Program and Laboratory Technician Program.

The theme of the 31st Annual Meeting is “Globalization of Implant Dentistry: A World Collaboration.” Dr. Moy credits AO’s President Dr. Russell Nishimura for the theme, which speaks to AO’s commitment to facilitating the exchange of scientific and clinical knowledge on a global level.