CHICAGO  – Carla Y. Falcon, D.D.S., M.D.S., is the recipient of the Foundation for Endodontics 2016 Endodontic Educator Fellowship Award. Designed to encourage a career in endodontic academics, the Educator Fellowship Award provides $250,000 over five years to individuals who commit to a minimum of five years of teaching.

"Thanks to generous support from our sponsor, Edge Endo, the Foundation is proud to award our flagship grant for 2016 to Dr. Falcon," said Foundation for Endodontics President Dr. Peter A. Morgan. "Dr. Falcon has shown great commitment to the specialty of endodontics and as an educator, will instill in her students the critical thinking needed for successful endodontic diagnosis and treatment."

Dr. Falcon is entering her second year as an assistant professor in the Department of Endodontics at Rutgers, where she also completed her dental degree and endodontic training. Dr. Falcon applies her critical mind and bachelor's degree in engineering to endodontics regularly; she recognizes that understanding the biological rationale for endodontic treatment is as important as clinical expertise.

"This is what excites me most about education," Dr. Falcon wrote in her fellowship application. "Fostering and developing the philosophy and methodology of endodontic treatment that the student will take forward beyond graduation and that will continue to govern their endodontic therapy during their dental lifetime."

Dr. Falcon's strong interest in teaching was evident throughout her education as she tutored in the campus writing center during her undergraduate years and worked as a clinical floor instructor in her residency. As the Edge Endo Endodontic Educator Fellow, Dr. Falcon will be able to balance her dream of a career in full time academics with the financial practicalities of her life.

"Edge Endo is excited and humbled to know that Dr. Falcon was chosen as the 2016 recipient of the Foundation for Endodontics Educator Fellowship Award," said Edge Endo CEO Dr. Charles J. Goodis. "Dr. Falcon embodies the enthusiasm that I felt, and still feel, in my endodontic practice. We salute her in her on-going teaching efforts and look forward to a long relationship with the Foundation for Endodontic Educator Fellowship Awards."

Since its creation in 2001, the Foundation for Endodontics' Endodontic Educator Fellowship Award has recognized endodontic educators and the critical role they play in strengthening the specialty. A list of past recipients is available at https://www.aae.org/aae-foundation/funding/fellowship-award-recipients.aspx.

Irwin Smigel, DDS, renowned father of esthetic dentistry, President of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics, and Inventor of Supersmile® Intelligent Smile Care, has passed away today at his home in New York City. He is survived by his wife Lucia, daughter Bellanca, son Robert, six loving grandchildren, and his sister Eileen Schrott.

Perhaps the most respected dental professional of the modern era, Smigel introduced the first-ever cosmetic bonding procedure in 1979 on the nationally televised hit TV show, That’s Incredible, demonstrating how easily and painlessly people could beautify their smiles in as little as one visit to the dentist.

Regarded for years in professional circles around the world as the “Father of Aesthetic Dentistry,” Smigel was officially recognized in June 2009 by the National Museum of Dentistry, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, in a permanent installation called The Smile Experience, an exhibit that pays homage to his contributions to the field.

Smigel published more than 110 articles on a range of esthetic dentistry topics, attends annual dental shows, often as the keynote. Smigel founded the American Society for Dental Aesthetics (ASDA) in 1976, and was  instrumental in the establishment of aesthetic sciences societies around the world, including France, Japan, Korea, India, Brazil, Turkey and Israel.

In recognition of Smigel’s pioneering achievements in esthetic dentistry, New York University College of Dentistry established the Smigel Prize in 2000 to honor significant contributions to the field by others throughout the world.

Smigel was the inventor of  Supersmile® Intelligent Smile Care, a clinically proven collection of premium whitening, breath-freshening and cavity-fighting formulations designed to deliver the most comprehensive, safe and effective oral care - at home - to prolong the health and beauty of teeth and gums between dental visits. Developed especially for his patients with bonded teeth, veneers, caps, crowns and dentures – who complained of staining due to the materials’ porosity – Supersmile is today the No. 1-recommended tooth whitening system by cosmetic dentists.

Smigel, whose Manhattan practice attracted an A-list clientele of celebrities, politicians, editors, executives and socialites, has been featured as an expert in countless fashion and beauty magazines including Allure, Harper’s Bazaar, Men’s Vogue, New Beauty, New York Magazine, New York Times, Shape, Vogue and W among others.   

Smigel was a graduate of New York University College of Dentistry.

Nobilium has completed the acquisition of the Triumph investment business from INDENCO, based in Corona, California.

The entire Triumph investment product line will be manufactured and packaged in Albany, New York, and distributed out of Nobilium’s many distribution centers in the US. Triumph investments are ideal for pressable ceramics including zirconium and lithium disilicate materials.

Move over aspirin, a new formulation of ibuprofen might prove to be a "wonder drug." In a research report published online in The FASEB Journal, scientists used mice and rats to show that ibuprofen arginate may allow people to take higher doses without the cardiovascular side effects that are associated with current formulations found in over the counter products. In addition to being better tolerated, ibuprofen arginate also is released into the bloodstream more rapidly than the current formulations, likely providing faster pain relief.

"While more experiments are required, our observations show that ibuprofen arginate provides, in one preparation, a COX-2 inhibitor and arginine supplement," said Jane A. Mitchell, PhD, a researcher involved in the work and Head of Cardiothoracic Pharmacology, Cardiothoracic Pharmacology and Vascular Biology Section at the National Heart and Lung Institute at the Institute of Cardiovascular Medicine and Science at the Imperial College in London, England. "Whilst remarkably simple, our findings are potentially game-changing in the pain medication arena."

The scientists used a range of approaches from experiments using single types of cells to whole laboratory animals in which blood pressure was measured. In the first approach, mouse cells were studied in dishes where the normal arginine was removed from the growth solution. They found that the arginine contained in ibuprofen arginine could work in exactly the same way that regular arginine works in cells. The second experiment involved blood vessels from mice and rats, to which an artificial compound to block the protective effects of the normal arginine contained in all tissues, was applied. In this experiment, ibuprofen arginine reversed the block and restored blood vessel function to normal levels. The third experimental approach involved measuring blood pressure in live rats and blocking the protective effects of normal arginine in the body, which caused an increase in blood pressure. Study results demonstrated that ibuprofen arginine worked just like regular arginine to restore blood pressure to normal levels. Arginine formulations of ibuprofen could act to negate the harmful cardiovascular consequences caused by high doses of these common anti-inflammatory painkillers.

"This is a nifty idea and the results are clear," said Thoru Pederson, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. "The potential for human use is attractive, not only for attenuating the cardiovascular risk, but also to the extent that this formulation may circumvent moving certain patients onto opioid painkillers, fraught with their own dangers."

ProSomnus Sleep Technologies, featuring the award-winning MicrO₂^® Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Snore Device, announced that it has separated from MicroDental Laboratories. This strategic move enables ProSomnus to operate as a standalone business and concentrate resources on partnering with dentists to treat the rapidly growing number of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

OSA is a sleep breathing disorder affecting an estimated 20 million adults in the United States. OSA has been linked with an increased risk of stroke, cardiovascular problems, motor vehicle accidents, depression, memory loss, and snoring. The economic impact of OSA is estimated to be between $65 billion and $165 billion per year.

“ProSomnus invents and manufactures devices that enable dentists to treat more patients who are suffering from OSA. Tens of millions of adults have undiagnosed OSA, millions of adults have abandoned CPAP, and dentists can help,” says Len Liptak, CEO of ProSomnus Sleep Technologies. “Separating from MicroDental Laboratories enables ProSomnus to accelerate development of the key products, processes, and programs that are integral to this plan.”

ProSomnus Sleep Technologies is a member of HealthpointCapital’s portfolio of investments. HealthpointCapital is a value-driven, research-oriented private equity firm that has invested in innovative dental and orthopedic medical device companies.

“A few years ago, HealthpointCapital identified the obstructive sleep apnea market as an attractive opportunity,” says Laing Rikkers, Managing Director at HealthpointCapital. “HealthpointCapital invests in innovative device companies that are addressing underserved healthcare issues, and ProSomnus fits this profile. We look forward to partnering with the leadership team at ProSomnus to expand the oral appliance therapy segment of the sleep apnea market.”

Every day, thousands of Americans wake up on their first day of retirement with no dental health benefits. An estimated one in five low-income seniors lives with dental pain.

The Santa Fe Group and its partners are seeking to change that. At their recent salon, Expanding Oral Healthcare for America’s Seniors, leaders came together to develop initiatives to improve the understanding on aging and oral health. 

Speaking with Compendium at the meeting, Beth Truett, CEO of Oral Health America, reflected on how extremely important this salon could be for people’s lives going forward. 

Every day, thousands of Americans wake up on their first day of retirement with no dental health benefits. An estimated one in five low-income seniors lives with dental pain.

The Santa Fe Group and its partners are seeking to change that. At their recent salon, Expanding Oral Healthcare for America’s Seniors, leaders came together to develop initiatives to improve the understanding on aging and oral health. 

In this interview, Joan Gluch, PhD, RDH, PHDHP, Division Chief and Professor of Clinical Community Oral Health at Penn Dental Medicine, explores including dental hygienist in a public health perspective to provide much-needed care to older citizens.

Young Dental and Wrigley are excited to introduce Wrigley's Orbit^® Prophy Paste and Gum packs. This first-of-its-kind product lets patients experience the signature flavors of Orbit gum both during and after dental appointments.

Each co-pack contains a single-dose cup of Orbit-flavored prophy paste in the brand's Bubblemint, Spearmint and Peppermint flavors, and a piece of corresponding Orbit sugarfree gum. The new Orbit Prophy Paste has a smooth, rich consistency that effectively removes stains and easily rinses away.

"We are thrilled to debut Orbit Prophy Paste and Gum packs. There is no other product like this on the market and there was no better partner for us than Wrigley's Orbit brand, which offers a treat like experience, with the oral health credentials to boot," saidSteve Wright, Director of Marketing at Young Dental. "Hygienists have told us they're excited to offer patients the flavors they love along with something special to take home!"

Research shows that when brushing isn't possible, chewing sugarfree gum like Orbit stimulates saliva, which helps to neutralize plaque acids and maintain tooth remineralization. More than just a free sample, when dental professionals provide the Orbit sugarfree gum from the co-pack they're offering patients a fun way to help keep teeth clean while on-the-go.

Wrigley makes treats that brighten people's day, and that's the role the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program has played within the dental community as well. "Wrigley is a bright spot of information, tips and resources to help dental professionals improve the experience for their patients and ultimately grow their practices," said Michelle Green, U.S. Marketing Communications Manager for Wrigley. "The new Orbit Prophy Paste and Gum pack is so exciting, because it's a way hygienists and dentists can make their patients' visits that much more enjoyable." Further, it's a way to spark additional conversation about oral care and the benefits sugarfree gum can bring to that routine.

For more information or to request a free sample of Orbit Prophy Paste and Gum packs, go to youngdental.com/orbit. You can learn more about the science behind the benefits of chewing sugarfree gum and sign up for tips and insights to help grow your practice at wrigleyoralhealth.com.

Over twenty years ago, Dentsply Sirona launched the first one bottle adhesive: Prime&Bond® in the US. Next generations were known as Prime&Bond® 2.0 and Prime&Bond® 2.1. 

With more than one billion applications and counting, its successor Prime&Bond® NT™ has been an integral part of restorative procedures for almost 2 decades. The most recent family member, the high-performance dental adhesive formerly known as XP Bond, is now being integrated into the Prime&Bond umbrella brand as Prime&Bond XP. 

All of the product’s favorable properties will remain fully intact: there will be no changes either to its technology or to its chemistry. Only the name will be changed in order to show practitioners that this adhesive, too, stands for unrivaled Etch&Rinse excellence. Prime&Bond XP—formerly XP Bond—achieves great adhesion values and excellent marginal integrity both with light-curing composites and together with the Self Cure Activator also with dual- or self-curing composite cements, making it suitable for all direct and indirect restorations. 

When Prime&Bond XP is used in conjunction with the Self Cure Activator (SCA) and a Dentsply Sirona cement such as Calibra® Ceram or Calibra® Automix, it can be used entirely without the light-curing step. This means that the fit of the restoration remains undisturbed and unaffected by a previously cured adhesive layer. 

This universal applicability has also been confirmed by an in-vitro comparative study1 under the direction of Professor Roland Frankenberger of the University of Marburg. Prime&Bond XP—then still under the name of XP Bond—provided excellent marginal integrity for ceramic inlays even without light-curing. 

Prime&Bond XP is a reliable partner for all direct and indirect restorations.

This high-performance Etch&Rinse adhesive, formerly known as XP Bond, is now being integrated into the best-in-class family of Dentsply Sirona Prime&Bond adhesives. 

References 

1. Frankenberger R; (2007) Marginal quality of self-etch and etch-and-rinse adhesives versus self-etch cements; Dent Mat; doi: 10.1016/j.dental.2007.04.003 (available from DENTSPLY on request).