Carlsbad, CA – (November 2, 2016) – Zest Dental Solutions (“Zest”), a leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of innovative solutions spanning the treatment of natural teeth through fabrication of dental implant restorations, today announced the acquisition of Iveri Whitening (“Iveri”), an innovative teeth whitening solutions provider. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. 

“Our solutions portfolio was broadened earlier this year with the acquisition of Danville Materials. With our focus now expanded to caring for natural teeth, the teeth whitening technology of Iveri will help our customers provide both in-office and take home teeth whitening products that are easy to use, less sensitive and require less time to obtain highly recognizable results.” said Steve Schiess, Zest’s CEO. 

Jag Dhamrait, Iveri founder, commented “Becoming a part of Zest is an important step for Iveri and will allow us to build on our already high level of patient satisfaction through expanded distribution capabilities provided by being a part of a larger organization. Our broad range of innovative whitening products provides dental professionals various options to deliver whitening results quickly, and comfortably ensuring a better patient experience and outcome. In addition, Iveri’s ability to manufacture all types of gel strengths and products will further increase our growing portfolio of OEM business.” 

For more information about Zest Dental Solutions, please visit www.zestdent.com. For more information about Iveri Whitening, please visit www.iveriwhitening.com

Carlsbad, CA – (December 13, 2016) – Zest Dental Solutions has launched a new way to think about FIXED full-arch restorations that addresses the inherent limitations of conventional screw-retained and cemented solutions such as the need for screw access channels or the potential for sub-gingival cement when attaching the prosthesis to the abutments. Fixed for the patient, yet easily removed by the clinician - LOCATOR F-Tx is a simplified, time-saving fixed attachment system for full-arch restorations with no compromise to prosthesis strength or esthetics. 

Optimized for efficiency and chair time savings compared to conventional screw-retained systems, LOCATOR F-Tx features a novel, “snap-in” attachment that eliminates the potential for sub-gingival cement or the need for retaining screws. Further adding to the flexibility of the system, LOCATOR F-Tx accommodates divergent/convergent scenarios up to 40 degrees between implants without the need for angled abutments. A patient friendly solution, the prosthesis is easily removed by the clinician for hygiene and maintenance visits utilizing a revolutionary prosthesis removal system that quickly disengages the prosthesis in a matter of minutes. 

“LOCATOR F-Tx represents a culmination of Zest’s many years of expertise with the LOCATOR® Attachment System and our deep understanding of full-arch solutions for edentulous patients” said Steve Schiess, Zest Dental Solutions President and CEO. “With LOCATOR F-Tx, we strived to create a simpler, more efficient system for fixed full-arch implant restorations requiring less chair time and providing higher patient satisfaction”. 

For more information about the new LOCATOR F-Tx Fixed Attachment System, please visit www.zestdent.com/ftx.

The Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology announced the 2016 Fall Pillar Scholarship winners and 2016 Education Access Grant winners.

The Pillar Scholarship winners are: Christopher Smith, CDT (Clearwater, Florida); Ghassan Halabia, CDT (El Cajon, California); Jeffery Davis, CDT (San Antonio, Texas); John Riaubia, CDT, TE (Marion, Texas); Kevin Prince (Warrenville, Illinois); Michael Brandon Patrick, CDT (Charlotte, North Carolina); Octavean Prince (Atlanta, Georgia); Olivia Carbajal (Carrollton, Texas); Rick Craighead (Tampa, Florida); Robert Block, CDT (Colorado Springs, Colorado); Robert Tankersley (Stow, Ohio); Sherleeta Simmons Talbot (Lithonia, Georgia); and Vickyann Cortes (Belle Chasse, Louisiana).

The Education Access Grant winners are: Bates Technical College (Tacoma, Washington); Durham Technical Community College (Durham, North Carolina); and Los Angeles City College (Los Angeles, California).

The Pillar Scholarship is designed to allow qualified dental technicians the opportunity to sit for the three examinations that comprise the Certified Dental Technician (CDT) examination process. Scholarship recipients will have their application and testing fees covered for them to take the written comprehensive examination, the written specialty examination, and the hands-on practical examination, one time each. The scholarship amount awarded varies upon the individual’s current certification process, but could potentially reach up to $935.00.

Modified and expanded in use from the original ADEA Grant, the Education Access Grant awards qualifying faculty members up to $750 to help cover the costs associated with attending an industry-related educational event (such as the National Association of Dental Laboratories Educator Conference), supplementing their institutional membership in ADEA, or a DLT educator or general educator course of their choice.

“It is due solely to the dedication from individuals and companies (dental laboratories, manufacturers, and suppliers) that the Foundation is able to offer these grants on a yearly basis,” Foundation Chair Jeff Stronk says. “With their regular contributions funding these two grants, we are able to encourage certification and support educational institutions in improving their program.”

All applications are accepted year round. Those interested in applying for 2017 grant/scholarship opportunities should visit dentallabfoundation.org and facebook.com/FoundationDLT. 

CHICAGO, December 14 – Oral Health America (OHA) recently received a $50,000 grant from Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation for Tooth Wisdom®: Get Smart About Your Mouth.

With this funding, Oral Health America will continue to grow Tooth Wisdom®: Get Smart About Your Mouth (TW:GSAYM), an oral health education workshop for community dwelling older adults. This workshop empowers older adults with a knowledge and sense of self-efficacy to care for their oral health. Delivered where older adults naturally congregate, the workshop covers the basics of daily care, with benefits going beyond a single day of health education, impacting the quality of life for older adults.

Through this grant from Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation, OHA will expand the training of the hygienists that lead the workshops with additional emphasis on cultural competency, health education theory, oral health and older adults.

“With so many disparities in oral health for older adults, the need for programming to increase health literacy and promote good oral health habits is crucial,” said OHA President and CEO Beth Truett. “We are grateful for Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation’s generosity in continuing our Tooth Wisdom® project.”

“Maintaining good oral health is crucial to the overall health of aging adults,” said Joe Lally, Executive Director of Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation. “We are so excited to partner with Oral Health America in their efforts to address the growing need for educational opportunities for older adults. The more we can educate, the better we can prevent serious problems.”

Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation focuses on choosing grant recipients that show innovative strategies to expand oral health access for Minnesota’s underserved populations; demonstrate significant opportunity to promote and expand preventive and education services; and show an ability to measure results.

Learn more about Oral Health America by visiting oralhealthamerica.org or call us at 312.836.9900.

(Newtown, PA)—AEGIS Communications, publisher of the journal Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, has announced a partnership with the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity (AO), the oldest international dental organization.

This strategic relationship will expand the already comprehensive offering of topics that Compendium delivers 10 times a year from dentistry’s key opinion leaders, researchers, and academics. Authors affiliated with AO will be contributing their works to Compendium, bringing readers an even more expansive look at dentistry.

“Compendium has been publishing for nearly 38 years,” says Louis F. Rose, DDS, MD, editor-in-chief of Compendium. “We see this partnership as key to bringing a new crop of high-caliber authors into this legacy, further educating and inspiring our readers. Our goal is to help the general practitioner render patient care, while adhering to ethics and accountability. Alpha Omega fits perfectly into our publishing philosophy.”

As with all original articles published in Compendium, AO content is receiving double-blind peer review by the prestigious Compendium Editorial Advisory Board. Articles will begin appearing in January and denoted by the AO logo.

“We are eager to develop this partnership to give our authors a platform for publication in one of the bastions of dental publishing,” says Steven Spitz, DMD, International Editor for AO. “Our goals at Alpha Omega have always been to help foster diplomacy, understanding, achievement, and education. This partnership is essential for establishing and promoting a dialogue about the dental care we provide patients.”

WATERTOWN, MA:  December 12, 2016 - Dr. Howard Glazer has dedicated the past four decades to the field of dentistry. This clinician, educator and former AGD President has evaluated many products over the years and describes ACTIVA BioACTIVE-RESTORATIVE as “revolutionary” in a recent interview with Compendium.  “With ACTIVA, we have the ability to treat the tooth from within” says Dr. Glazer, explaining that “ACTIVA is the first esthetic restorative to not only give us fluoride release and recharge, but also calcium and phosphate, which are the building blocks of tooth structure. This brings strength to the restoration and allows me to truly restore a tooth, not just repair it.” Click here to read the interview.

CARY, N.C. – It’s not too early to get started on healthy resolutions for a brighter, whiter smile. In addition to daily brushing and flossing routines, the North Carolina Dental Society recommends avoiding brushing too hard, biting your nails, grinding your teeth or chewing ice when trying to keep your pearly whites in tiptop shape. Breaking these bad habits can keep your mouth healthy and help avoid costly emergency trips to the dentist.

“Stress, anxiety and nervousness can trigger bad habits that destroy your mouth, such as biting your nails or clenching your teeth,” said Dr. Dan Cheek of Hillsborough. “Talk to your dentist about ways to break these tendencies. Something as simple as painting your nails or sleeping with a mouthguard could save you thousands of dollars in dental visits and corrective treatments in the long run.”

In addition, constantly snacking on sugary foods or using your teeth as scissors can lead to long-term oral health concerns or might even result in a painful dental emergency. The NC Dental Society suggests ways to break six nasty habits that can destroy your teeth:

·         Nail biting. Fight this nervous habit that can chip your teeth and impact your jaw by investing in bitter-tasting nail polishes and practicing stress reduction exercises.

·         Brushing too hard. You’re encouraged to brush for two minutes, twice a day, but choose a soft toothbrush and “massage” your teeth rather than “scrub” them.

·         Grinding and clenching. A nighttime mouthguard can help decrease pain and muscle soreness, and help avoid chipped teeth.

·         Chewing ice. Avoid chipped teeth and broken fillings by using a straw and drinking chilled beverages without ice.

·         Constant snacking. Grazing all day on sugary foods and drinks puts you at an increased risk for cavities, so eat balanced meals to feel fuller, longer.

·         Using your teeth as tools. Your teeth were made for eating, not to act as scissors or to hold things when your hands are full. To avoid cracked teeth, jaw injuries or accidentally swallowing something, always use the proper tool for job.

Visit MouthHealthy.org for more information about breaking the worst habits for your teeth. 

Charles McClemens, CDT, TE, attended the Biomechanics I & II course at the Kois Center through the Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology's 2016 Kois Center Education Grant.

The Foundation and the Kois Center created this grant in order to support the Foundation's purpose by making higher-level education more accessible to dental technicians working in a laboratory setting.

Pictured are McClemens and John C. Kois, DMD, MSD.

When more than 54,000 health care professionals convened at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center November 25-30, Cefla Medical Equipment was primed to show them its latest and greatest technologies.  At the 2016 GNYDM, dentists who thought they didn’t have space for 3D technology could see new possibilities in the wall-mounted MyRay Hyperion X5 3D/2D, displayed in booth #5625. Practices eager to elevate their diagnostic capabilities could also see the NewTom GO 2D/3D, aninnovative, suspended imaging system that was shown for the first time in North America in booth #2000.

“We know that today’s dental practices, especially those in large cities that have space considerations, are looking for ways to maximize patient care by investing in new technologies that offer just the right fit,” says Jim Norton, who leads Cefla Medical Equipment’s new product training program in North America. “Both the NewTom GO 2D/3D and the MyRay Hyperion X5 3D/2D units offer everything practices need to enhance diagnosis, communicate with patients, and deliver leading-edge treatment without taking up floor space.”

NewTom GO 2D/3D

NewTom emerged as a pioneering implementer of Cone Beam CT technology in the dental-maxillofacial field 20 years ago. As its new GO 2D/3D demonstrates, the company continues to pave the way for industry advances. Even the most demanding dentists will be impressed with the NewTom GO 2D/3D unit’s cutting-edge image acquisition technology and advanced NNT software to guide dentists to precise, accurate diagnosis. Also ideal for implantology, endodontics, periodontics, maxillofacial surgery and X-ray specialists, the new device’s ergonomics and software efficiency ensure exceptional results for many different types of practices.

MyRay Hyperion X5 3D/2D

Originally introduced at Expodental in Madid earlier this year, the MyRay Hyperion X5 3D/2D is making its U.S. debut at GNYDM.  It can be mounted on any wall suitable for housing an intraoral X-ray system. With 16-bit capability, it achieves better image quality than any previous technology and offers you options for both 2D and 3D capabilities. The X5 3D/2D’s Morphology Recognition Technology (MRT) calculates the size/volume of the patient and automatically adjusts the radiation dose for maximum safety. It also features 3D SMART (Streak Metal Artifacts Reduction Technology) function, which efficiently removes the typical metal-caused artifacts from 3D images, greatly improving the diagnostic ability of the image. Given that the X5’s iRYS software platform is compatible with other surgery management tools or processing/storage software, it’s no wonder the original Hyperion X5 won a Red Dot Design Award for Product Design.  

(Seattle—Dec. 7, 2016) A new study in the Journal of Dental Research suggests that dental problems commonly associated with cleft lip and palate may be caused by abnormalities in salivary glands and an imbalance of immune compounds in the mouth.

Dr. Timothy Cox, a craniofacial researcher at Seattle Children’s Research Institute and lead author, found that mice with a gene mutation that causes cleft lip and palate had problems in their salivary glands that affected gum tissue and oral health.

“We found that the cleft lip and palate gene mutation also resulted in abnormal salivary glands,” Cox said. “The result was a mouth environment that was too acidic and contained excess bacteria, which led to problems in the gums and more rapid tooth decay.”

In healthy people, salivary glands excrete saliva that contains protective immune compounds and balances the acidity in the mouth. The researchers found that a common cleft lip and palate gene mutation resulted in abnormal development of salivary gland ducts such that they could not properly pump the buffering liquid and protective immune compounds into the mouth.

“No one has systematically looked at salivary glands in cleft lip and patients because it is not part of the typical clinical assessment of these patients,” Cox said. “We know saliva contains protective immune compounds that combat tooth decay, and researchers have also observed that some children with cleft lip or palate have different salivary composition. This is a breakthrough because doctors and dentists could use this research to develop improved strategies for managing oral health in young cleft lip and palate patients.”

In the study, the researchers offered mice with the cleft lip and palate mutation and mice without the mutation a high sugar diet. After just 8 weeks on this diet, the mice with the cleft lip and palate mutation had almost no molar teeth left, while the mice without the mutation had only mild decay.

The researchers focused on the gene IRF6, the gene most commonly associated with cleft lip or palate. Many other genes have been linked to cleft lip or palate, and the researchers hope to understand if these additional genes are also associated with enhanced tooth decay. “Doctors who treat children with cleft lip or palate have observed for a long time that tooth decay is a problem, and one that can affect their quality of life,” said Dr. Michael Cunningham, medical director of the Craniofacial Center at Seattle Children’s Hospital. “It can also be a financial burden on families because many kids require extensive dental care, and eventually orthodontic care.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cleft lip and palate is one of the most common birth defects in the United States. Each year, 2,650 babies are born with a cleft palate and 4,440 babies are born with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate.

The next steps in the research include studying salivary composition in cleft lip or palate patients, as well as additional genes associated with cleft lip or palate to determine if they contribute to abnormal development of the salivary glands.

To view this study, visit the Journal of Dental Research website.

“We hope that as the research progresses, doctors and dentists can apply the findings in caring for cleft lip or palate patients and protect their teeth starting in early childhood and into adulthood,” Cox said.