One million dental implants are inserted every year in Germany, and often they need to be replaced due to issues such as tissue infections caused by bacteria. In the future, these infections will be prevented thanks to a new plasma implant coating that kills pathogens using silver ions.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Convergent Dental, Inc., a privately held dental device company, today announced thatSolea®, the first FDA cleared CO2 9.3 micron dental laser for hard and soft tissue, has also been cleared to perform osseous tissue procedures. With this expanded indication, Solea can be used to treat not only cavity preparations and soft tissue surgery, but also bone cutting, shaving, re-contouring and resection. Convergent Dental will be showcasing Solea at ADA 2015 in Washington, D.C. from November 5-10, 2015.

Solea’s osseous tissue clearance allows dentists to perform procedures ablating bone with speed, precision and less bleeding. As a result, patients may experience less post-operative discomfort and faster healing times. These benefits improve the patient experience, reduce chair time and increase the economic impact for a dental practice.

“Convergent Dental’s rapidly expanding clinical indications for Solea is another example of their commitment to innovation,” said Dr. Simon Bernstein. “With this new osseous tissue clearance by the FDA, Solea’s unique 9.3 micron wavelength continues to create the opportunity for minimally invasive dentistry.”

“This osseous tissue clearance is a critical component of our long term grow strategy. It adds even greater value for our current customers who can add more procedures to their repertoire and makes Solea a compelling option for specialists including periodontists and oral surgeons,” said Convergent Dental CEO Michael Cataldo.

Convergent Dental‘s focus on continuous innovation has made it the fastest growing all-tissue dental laser company in the United States. Practitioners interested in learning more about Solea and its latest FDA clearance for osseous tissue procedures can emailinfo@convergentdental.com or call 1-844-GO-SOLEA.

Bonus resource: A Drill-Free Future: How Lasers Deliver for Your Patients and Your Practice

Download Inside Dentistry's free eBook, sponsored by Convergent, here. 

NEW  YORK – Leveraging more than 30 years of successful dental laboratory operations, Brooklyn’s Elegant Dental Laboratories launched a laboratory supply and lab-to-lab outsource division, Elegant Direct, which will immediately start serving laboratories’ every need.

As the restorative dental industry becomes increasingly competitive, Elegant Direct offers laboratory owners a cost-effective alternative to supply-chain management, while also providing lab-to-lab outsourcing services with prices and turn times laboratories need to remain efficient. With intuitive online shopping and the capability to manage order history, Elegant Direct’s online portal further streamlines laboratory management.

“With a full complement of materials, consumables, and outsourcing services, Elegant Direct allows lab owners to manage costs and save time with an all-in-one solution for supplies and outsourcing,” Elegant Dental Laboratories owner Gary Fingerman said. “Instead of spending time managing vendors and suppliers, Elegant Direct allows lab owners to focus on growing their business.”

At the heart of Elegant Direct’s rollout is its signature line of full-contour zirconia, Elegance premium zirconia. Offering a full line of affordable discs for every indication, Elegance premium zirconia provides seven formulations, including preshaded, anterior, and high-translucency options. Manufactured from Tosoh zirconia to exacting consistency, Elegance premium zirconia is the monolithic zirconia developed by technicians for technicians. Available as pucks or as milled restorations through Elegant Direct’s outsourcing services, the full line offers versatility to suit any case.

“After working with many brands of zirconia for more than a decade, we’ve learned what leads to successful outcomes,” Fingerman said. “We collected the best of the best, and unified them under the Elegance name.”

In addition to Elegance discs and precision-milled restorations, Elegant Direct provides laboratories with a full range of support services, from supplying burs and other consumables to offering scanners, mills, and scan body libraries, all priced to help its partners manage costs without sacrificing performance.

With its commitment to providing high-quality supply and outsource services to laboratories, Elegant Direct extends Fingerman’s original mission for his dental laboratory: provide patients with premier restorations at prices everyone can afford.

With the launch of NSK Dental LLC’s new communication campaign, their promotion website has been re-launched after undergoing renovations. This site aims to increase awareness of the NSK brand in the American market, and will serve as the platform from which an assortment of information will be relayed regarding NSK Dental LLC.

A Facebook page has also been launched in the hope of strengthening their relationships with those involved with NSK Dental LLC, through this page.

MELVILLE, NY-- Air Techniques, Inc., a leading innovator and manufacturer of dental equipment, will unveil VacStar Neo, the next generation of dental wet vacuums at the 2015 American Dental Association (ADA) annual meeting. VacStar NEO follows a legacy of consistent and reliable vacuum performance while maintaining a space-saving, compact design.

The new VacStar NEO features a variable frequency drive (VFD) pump delivering high performance, quiet operation utilizing the latest in water and energy saving technology. VacStar NEO keeps your suction high and your utility bills low. The axial flow impeller and housing design uses up to 85% less water than conventional wet ring dental evacuation systems. That translates into a savings of up to 150,000 gallons of water each year. The VFD pump decreases RPMs when demand goes down using on average 70% less electrical energy than conventional systems. These energy saving features will dramatically reduce your water and electric bills while supporting you as an eco-friendly business owner.

“The VacStar NEO provides new industry standards in energy savings without compromising on performance,” said Gregory Kass, Air Techniques’ Utility Product Manager. “Our goal is improve the user experience and produce products that not only support their practice needs but improve their overall user experience.”

Air Techniques is North America's leading and largest manufacturer of dental air compressors and vacuum systems, with over 50 years of experience. NEO is the latest line of utility equipment by Air Techniques to hit the dental market. This next lineage of product lines feature cutting edge energy and space saving designs. VacStar NEO now joins the newest air compressors from Air Techniques, the AirStar NEO.

Each system is backed by a five year limited warranty for unlimited hours – the best of its kind in the industry. VacStar NEO is offered in four different models and can accommodate up to 7 simultaneous Users. All systems can be purchased through Air Techniques’ large dealer network. Visit Air Techniques at booth 2037 during the ADA and see the new VacStar NEO firsthand.

For more information visit: www.airtechniques.com. Become a fan of Air Techniques on Facebook and follow the company on Twitter.

VITA North America and Nobel Biocare recently teamed up to offer a comprehensive two-day, hands-on training course on fixed implant dentures in VITA North America’s state-of-the-art facility. Co-taught by Inside Dental Technology Editorial Advisory Board member Dennis Urban, CDT, and Nobel Biocare’s Joe Perillo, the training course highlighted fixed implant dentures, focusing on the cross-department communication and fusion between the implants and denture.

Participants learned about the clinical aspects of impression taking, record base and occlusal rims, and the expectation that a technician should have from the clinical office prior to bar fabrication. The hands-on portion of the program introduced each participant to an understanding of the bar to ridge relationship and how to properly set denture teeth. Each attendee had an opportunity to set up an edentulous hybrid case.

Pictured (from left): Billy Hollier, CDT (VITA North America), Tarek Baba (VITA North America), Dan Elfring (Pickle Prosthodontics, Colorado Springs, CO), Rick Flair, CDT (Digital Dental Arts, Phoenix, AZ), Jim McGuire, CDT (VITA North America), Dennis Urban, CDT, Instructor, Matt O’Connell, President (VITA North America), Scott LaDouce (LaDouce Dental Lab, Saginaw, MI), Joe Perillo, CDT, Instructor and Nobel Procera Education Manager, Carlos Rojas (Pinto’s Studio Dental Lab, Los Angeles, CA), Dr. Burton Melton (Burt Melton, DDS, Albuquerque, NM), Arkangel Lopez (Universal Dental Studios, South Gate, CA), Tim Trapp (Nobel Biocare), Lisa Graye (VITA North America).

(Charlotte, NC, November 4, 2015) – Today, America’s ToothFairy: National Children’s Oral Health Foundation kicks off its second annual Virtual ToothFairy Ball and Online Auction. Taking place November 4-16, this event engages caring companies and individuals across the dental industry and beyond to save the smiles of vulnerable children. 


Corporations and individuals are participating by purchasing virtual "tables" for $5,000 and by donating items for the silent auction. Each table sponsor will have a $5,000 ToothFairy Grant awarded in their name to a member of the America’s ToothFairy Affiliate Network, a collaborative alliance of nonprofit clinics and community programs serving vulnerable children. Last year, the more than $200,000 raised through the event was distributed as ToothFairy Grants to support smile-saving programs from coast to coast.


Table sponsors for this year’s event include: 3Mgives Foundation, Cetylite, Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation/Thomas Engels, Dentsply, Dr. Cherilyn Sheets and Mark Moehlman, Hanley Wood Marketing, Heartland Dental, Henk van Duijnhoven, Henry Schein, Invisalign, IQ Dental Supply, Inc., Ivoclar Vivadent, James Ingebrand, Orabloc by Pierrel Pharma, Patterson Dental, SciCan, Sheets, Paquette & Wu Dental Practice, Sirona, Thomas & JoAnn Prescott, TSC EcoSolutions, Inc., and Ultradent.


Dental professionals, industry members and the general public are invited to visit the auction websitetoday and bid now through November 16. Thanks to generous underwriters, 100% of event proceeds will be allocated directly to oral health education and treatment programs for children in need.


Auction items for dental practices and dental companies include:

·       Full page ads in Compendium and Dental Products Report

·       A day with Dr. Gordon Christensen including a private personalized course and lunch

·       Schick Dental System from Sirona

·       Pentamix™ Lite Automatic Mixing Unit, Paradigm™ DeepCure Curing Light, and Elipar™ DeepCure-S Curing Light from 3M ESPE

·       Pioneer Elite Laser, NC350 Electric Lab Engine, and LED Plus Curing Light from Patterson Dental

·       Two-day hands on course and 5 DVD set from Practical Clinical Courses

·       Over the Shoulder Practice Observation Day & Dinner with Sheets, Paquette & Wu Dental Practice

·       M11 UltraClave Automatic Sterilizer from Midmark

·       Nomad Handheld X-ray Unit and and your choice of handpieces from KaVo Kerr Group

·       IRIS Intraoral Camera from Digital Doc

·       Products from 3M ESPE, Septodont, DMG America, Dr. John’s Candy, GumChucks, KaVo Kerr Group, Mydent International, and Shofu Dental


The auction will also include exciting trips and personal items including:

·       Trips to Costa Rica, Sonoma’s Wine Country and the 2016 ESPY Awards

·       Tickets to Minnesota Wild hockey, Charlotte Hornets basketball, and Arkansas Travelers baseball

·       Hot Air Balloon Rides

·       Apple Watch and Apple iPad Mini 3

·       Tickets to a show at Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis

·       Autographed Dale Earnhardt Jr. Die Cast Car donated by The Dale Jr. Foundation

·       NFL replica helmet autographed by Carolina Panther Luke Kuechly

·       GoPro Hero3+ Camera

·       Art by Maria Fernanda Lairet

·       Handbag by Silvia Tcherassi

·       Sazingg yellow gold and black rhodium ring

·       And more!

“The Virtual ToothFairy Ball and Online Auction is an excellent opportunity for dental practices to access great deals on top dental equipment and products, while also supporting vital oral health education and services for children,” said Fern Ingber, America’s ToothFairy President and CEO. “We invite dental practices, the broader dental industry, and the general public to participate so that every child has the tools they need for a lifetime of good health.”


BLOOMFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Preventive dental checkups are important throughout one’s life, and, arguably, even more essential during pregnancy. All infections in the mother, including tooth decay and gum disease, may pose a risk to the baby’s health as well. However, a national survey released today by Cigna (NYSE:CI) finds that 43% of women don’t go for a dental checkup while expecting even though 76% admit to suffering from oral health problems during pregnancy, such as bleeding gums or toothaches.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy can worsen certain oral health conditions such as gingivitis and more serious gum disease. The Cigna survey found that only 55% of women rate their oral health as very good or excellent during pregnancy, a drop from 63% prepregnancy. Without a checkup, women might not even be aware of problems beginning to affect their teeth and gums. More than a third (36%) of expectant mothers admit that it has been more than a year since their last preventive dental visit. Cost is the primary reason why pregnant women say they skip dental checkups, even among those with dental benefits.

“Dental checkups are so important that most dental benefit plans cover preventive care visits every six months with no or low out-of-pocket costs. Some dental benefit plans even have special maternity programs with additional services like extra cleanings or discounts on oral health prescriptions,” said Dr. Miles Hall, Cigna's chief clinical dental director and licensed dentist.

“Small cavities or early stages of gum disease may not be painful, but both get worse if left untreated. Regular dental checkups are critical for identifying and treating problems before they get more complicated and more expensive to treat – the very situation everyone wants to avoid,” adds Dr. Hall.

Dental Benefit Plan Maternity Programs

The survey of expecting and new mothers found that those who took advantage of a dental maternity program through their dental benefit plan had better oral health habits than those who did not participate or did not have a program available to them. The survey found that:

·             62% of women brush their teeth at least twice a day. That percentage climbs to 76% for those who are participating or who have participated in a dental benefit plan maternity program.

·             48% of women floss at least once a day. That percentage surges to 81% for women who are participating or who have participated in a dental benefit plan maternity program.

The survey suggests that these improvements in dental hygiene habits may be why 74% of women who are participating or have participated in a dental benefit plan maternity program rate their oral health as very good or excellent compared to 55% of pregnant women overall.

The Physician’s Influence

Oral health ties to overall wellness, however many medical professionals don’t include oral health as part of their patient discussions. While 97% of women said that they saw their medical doctor/obstetrician during their pregnancy as frequently as directed, only 44% said that oral health was mentioned in those visits. Yet these discussions may have a significant impact. Compared to other expectant mothers, women whose doctors talked about their oral health during pregnancy are about twice as likely to:

·             have a dental checkup while pregnant (77% vs. 41%)

·             read materials about the importance of oral health (87% vs. 42%)

“The number of missed opportunities to discuss oral health as part of medical checkups for both mother and baby is an eye opener,” said Dr. Stacie Rivers, Cigna medical director for maternity programs and a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist. “There is a clear action step for physicians, and significant gains to be made when there is an integrated effort to help patients understand the connection between oral health and overall wellness.”

The effects of the doctor’s influence seems to last beyond delivery -- while only 43% of new mothers have had a dental checkup since giving birth, that percentage climbs to 63% for women whose doctors discussed oral health during maternity visits. Postpartum dental visits are also important, particularly as dental hygiene habits may slip once baby arrives. More than one-third of new mothers (36%) say they are brushing and flossing less frequently than before the baby – many blaming lack of time.

Similarly, pediatricians can help babies start the path to good oral health. Half of new mothers (50%) clean their infant’s gums daily, but nearly two-thirds (65%) do if the pediatrician discussed their baby’s oral health. However, 34% of new mothers say the pediatrician has not discussed care of their child’s teeth and gums with them.

Oral health information for pregnant women, new mothers and their families can be found by visiting www.cigna.com/dental-resources.

About the Survey

Healthy Smiles for Mom and Baby: Insights into Expecting and New Mothers’ Oral Health Habits is a national survey of 801 pregnant women and new mothers (within the past 12 months) between the ages of 21 to 45. Half have dental benefits. The survey was fielded August 12 to August 16, 2015 by M/A/R/C Research. The sampling error is +/- 3.5% at a 95 percent confidence level.

CHICAGO, Nov. 3, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Susan E. Brackett, DDS, MS, FACP, has been installed as President-Elect of the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) for a one-year term that will ascend to the role of ACP President in late 2016. Dr. Brackett was sworn in during the 45th Annual Session of the ACP held in Orlando from Oct. 21-24, 2015.

Dr. Brackett has been a dedicated leader to the ACP throughout her career. For six years, she led the ACP Public Relations and Communications Division on the ACP Board of Directors. She helped paved the path for the ACP to develop a 60 member strong ACP Spokespersons Network of which she is a proud member today. In addition, Dr. Brackett's leadership has resulted in the creation of annual scholarships for new practitioners and educators to gain valuable public relations skills for the life of their practice early in their career. Moreover, Dr. Brackett has led a task force for the ACP to review its strategic plan to align with the mission of the College and member needs assessment to make recommendations for 2016-2018 strategic directions for the ACP.

She has also served as ACP Secretary and as a member of the ACP Education Foundation (ACPEF) Board of Directors for nearly 10 years, and during her tenure won the highest honor as the 2013 ACPEF Founders Society Award for her role as a prosthodontist and a philanthropist. In addition to the ACP, Dr. Brackett has consistently shown her expertise and dedication to the Prosthodontic specialty treating patients in her private practice in Oklahoma City as well as publishing essential literature. She is a co-author of an award-winning textbook, Fundamentals of Tooth Preparation, as well as the Fundamentals of Fixed Prosthodontics, third edition. Dr. Brackett and her patients are also featured in ACP's cosmetic dentistry video as well as digital dentistry b-roll footage that Fox45 Baltimore, First Coast Living in Florida, and CNN Accent Health have aired during news segments and in physician offices respectively.

Prosthodontists are specialized dentists with advanced training in oral health issues, who are committed to improving patient outcomes. From implants, crowns, veneers and tooth whitening, to full-mouth reconstruction, Prosthodontists specialize in digital dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and sleep apnea solutions.

The ACP is the only Prosthodontic specialty organization whose membership is based solely on education credentials. ACP members must be in or have completed an ADA-accredited advanced education program in Prosthodontics. 

CHICAGO, Nov. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- This weekend at the American Public Health Association meeting, leaders in dentistry and public health joined together to launch the Canada-United States Chapter of the Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future (the Alliance). TheAlliance aims to facilitate collaboration among the various professional groups who impact oral health with a specific focus on children under the age of six.   

Worldwide, 60–90% of school children and nearly 100% of adults have tooth decay.i In fact, dental caries (which includes all stages of tooth decay) is the most common, yet preventable, chronic disease on the planet. The impact of this disease has a profound impact on children in North America. In Canada, an estimated 2.26 million school days are missed each year due to dental related illness.ii In the United States, a child is five times more likely to seek emergency room treatment for dental problems than for asthma, often because they can't see a dentist, are uninsured or can't afford routine dental care.iii 

There are multiple steps in the formation of a cavity. First, bacteria that develop on the teeth between twice-daily brushing break down sugars in all the foods we eat and drink. These bacteria produce acid, which can attack and dissolve tooth enamel. Ultimately, calcium is lost from the enamel, resulting in a weak spot, the first stage of cavity development. If left unchecked or untreated, tooth decay continues and a cavity develops. With proper management and intervention, early forms of tooth decay – known as caries – can actually be stopped and reversed. 

"Too often, we accept the occurrence of cavities as the status quo," said Margherita Fontana, DDS, PhD, Professor, University of Michigan School of Dentistry and Chapter co-chair. "We know caries management is achievable by utilizing evidence-based approaches to reverse, stop and prevent tooth decay, and by establishing inter-professional partnerships that can help reduce disparities in certain populations of children."

National Declaration to Elevate New Way of Looking at Caries 

As part of the launch event, national leaders signed a declaration committing to the goals of the Alliance. As an initial goal, the ACFF Canada-US Chapter will aim to facilitate inter-professional collaboration for caries prevention and management, by increasing the number of medical offices that routinely recommend brushing a child's teeth with fluoridated toothpaste, a healthy diet and the use of fluoride varnish.

"Collaboration is essential for comprehensive prevention and management of caries in both Canada and the U.S.," said Alyssa Hayes, BDent(Hons), MSc, FRCD(C), Assistant Professor, University of Saskatchewan, and Chapter co-chair.  "We need to commit to developing systems at various jurisdictional levels which encourage the policy makers and all health professionals to work together in addressing this disease. Collectively we can educate the public and encourage leaders in health care to take action." 

About The Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future (ACFF)

The Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future, a non-profitable charitable organization, is a group of worldwide leading dental experts who have joined forces to help implement changes to dental health practices across the globe. The aim of the Alliance is to promote initiatives to stop the development and progression of tooth decay in order to move towards a Cavity-Free Future for everyone. To achieve this goal, the Alliance believes that collaborative action is required to raise awareness of dental caries (tooth decay) and positively influence people's dental health habits.

The Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future is supported by Colgate Palmolive Company; the company supports improved oral health through its partnerships with the dental profession and government and public health agencies.