UNC School of Medicine researchers led a study to determine risk factors associated with malnutrition among older adults receiving care in the emergency department. The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, suggests that food scarcity and poor oral health are major risk factors for malnutrition that leads an older adult – already at high risk of functional decline, decreased quality of life, and increased mortality – to land in the emergency department.

Tim Platts-Mills, MD, senior author of the study, said, “For patients who don’t have enough food at home, the solution is pretty obvious and likely much less expensive than paying for the medical care that results from malnutrition: there is an existing national system of food assistance programs, such as Meals on Wheels, and we believe we can use the emergency department to link patients in need to those programs.”

“Even though such programs are relatively inexpensive – about $6 per individual per day – many programs are underutilized and under-funded. We need to link patients to these programs and fund these programs,” added Platts-Mills, who is also co-director of the Division of Geriatric Emergency Medicine at the UNC School of Medicine.   

The study included 252 patients age 65 and older seeking treatment in emergency departments in North Carolina, Michigan, and New Jersey. Participants were screened for malnutrition and then asked about the presence of risk factors.

The overall prevalence of malnutrition in the study sample was 12 percent, which is consistent with previous estimates from U.S. emergency departments and about double the prevalence in community-dwelling adults (those who are not hospitalized and do not live in an assisted-living facility). Of the three sites, patients receiving care in the North Carolina emergency department had the highest rate of malnutrition, 15 percent. The researchers note that North Carolina also has one of the highest rates of older adults living below the poverty line (ranked third out of 50 states).  

Of the risk factors studied, poor oral health was found to have the largest impact on malnutrition. More than half of the patients in the study had some dental problems, and patients with dental problems were three times as likely to suffer from malnutrition as those without dental problems. Ten percent of patients experienced food insecurity – the definition of which was based on responses to questions regarding not having enough food, eating fewer meals, and going to bed hungry. Food insecurity was also strongly associated with malnutrition. Other factors associated with malnutrition that may contribute to the problem include social isolation, depression, medication side effects, and limited mobility. 

Collin Burks, a UNC medical student and the study’s lead author, said, “Improving oral health in older adults will be more challenging but also important. Medicare does not cover dental care. Fixing dental problems not only makes it easier for these individuals to eat but also can improve their self-esteem, quality of life, and overall health. We need affordable methods of providing dental care for older adults.”

Platts-Mills’s research group is now developing and testing interventions to link malnourished older patients identified in the emergency department to food assistance programs in the community. 

This research was funded through a research-training grant from the National Institutes of Health.

At the International Dental Show in Cologne, Germany, Dental Wings presented its Dental Wings 3D Printers—developed through a collaboration with RapidShape GmbH and Shera Werkstoff-Technologie GmbH.

Mike Rynerson, CEO of Dental Wings, says that these new products are " ideal solutions for dentists and labs looking to complete their digital suite with fast, robust, and flexible printers and proven dental materials."

The high speed, accuracy, and reliability of the new professional-grade 3D printers are combined with multiple certified materials, enabling dentists and laboratories to cover a wide range of applications, such as models, castable wax patterns, drill guides, temporary crowns and bridges, custom impression trays, and more. Like all Dental Wings products, these printers are open to third-party design software and materials.

To cover customers’ need for accuracy and productivity, Dental Wings 3D printers is available in three models: D20, D30, and D40. The D20 is touted as a compact solution for use in small labs and dental clinics. Dental Wings offers the D30 and D40 models’ power and flexibility to optimize productivity. All offer high-level precision and aesthetic dental products made from certified and bio-compatible materials.

A group of researchers has found that three siblings born with cleft lip and palate share a common gene mutation associated with the birth defect.

The gene intraflagellar transport 88 (IFT88) ensures transportation antennae (cilia) on embryonic cells travel to the right place, enabling the development of cartilage, bone and smooth muscle in the face and skull.

"Finding this birth defect in every single child in a family is like catching lightning in a bottle because it allowed us to pinpoint the gene mutation that is probably responsible," said Yang Chai, senior author of the study and director of the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. "Our finding that the gene IFT88 is involved in cleft lip and palate is unlikely to be mere coincidence."

However, because this study involved only three children, Chai said more investigation is needed to find a causal relationship.

The study -- a collaborative effort between the Ostrow School of Dentistry, the Keck School of Medicine of USC, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the nonprofit Operation Smile -- was published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics in January.

Operation Smile, an international nonprofit that provides free facial surgeries in developing countries, found and provided support to three siblings -- two boys and a girl -- in Mexico who were born with cleft lip and palate. Their mother did not have the congenital disorder, but their father did. Surgeons at CHLA repaired the orofacial abnormality.

In America, cleft lip and palate is the most common birth defect, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An estimated 7,000 children are born with cleft lip and palate every year.

"Although most people are not familiar with cleft lip and palate, it is a common congenital anomaly that impacts survival, feeding, speech and has long-term implications if not repaired early and correctly," said Pedro Sanchez, a co-author of the study, a medical geneticist at CHLA and an assistant professor of clinical pathology and pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine. "It occurs in approximately 1 in 1000 live births.

"Understanding the underlying causes of craniofacial disorders can one day lead to an intervention that can reduce the severity of this birth defect, thereby lessening the social, emotional and financial burden that these families face."

Genome Sequencing Locates a Key Gene Mutation

Researchers went through 32,061 unique gene variations to identify IFT88.

"If someone carries this mutation, they may have a higher chance of giving birth to children with cleft lip and palate," said Chai, associate dean of the Ostrow School. "Doctors can provide consultations to these patients before they give birth, so parents can have surgery lined up and seek out proper care for their newborns."

The study of IFT88 may eventually have far-reaching implications. Other congenital diseases tied to a genetic disorder of cilia on embryonic cells include retinal degeneration, hearing defects, polydactyly (extra fingers or toes at birth) and brain malformations.

Animal Model Supports Genome Sequencing Data

Genome-wide association studies usually use the data of hundreds or thousands of patients to identify a gene mutation, yet it is still an association study.

"In our study, however, the animal model and the human mutation match," Chai said. "In the animal model, there is no doubt. We have shown that 100 percent of the mice who have a single mutation in IFT88 have cleft lip and palate."

Dentsply Sirona and Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. have arranged a material partnership for CAD/CAM blocks, thus offering Kuraray’s high-quality and validated materials for dentists and dental laboratories through this partnership with Kuraray.

“As a material manufacturer, Kuraray Noritake Dental is globally recognized for their quality and esthetics. We are delighted to bring their expertise and quality into our CEREC and inLab customer’s hands,” says Roddy MacLeod, Group Vice President CAD/CAM Systems at Dentsply Sirona. "This valuable partnership enables Kuraray Noritake Dental and Dentsply Sirona to respond even more efficiently to the demands of contemporary CAD/CAM technology,” adds Kiyoyuki Arikawa, President at Kuraray Noritake Dental.

Based on this partnership, Dentsply Sirona will offer professional dental laboratories dedicated and optimized milling strategies for the multi-layered zirconia discs of Kuraray Noritake Dental. The Japanese material producer has considerable expertise in the laboratory market and launched globally with "Katana Zirconia," a selection of multi-layered zirconia discs to satisfy highest aesthetic requirements. The discs are made up of different layers depicting the natural structure of a tooth by combining a high-chromatic dentine core and an overlying translucent enamel layer.

With this partnership, Kuraray Noritake Dental and Dentsply Sirona hope to satisfy their customerss’ common wish for greater diversity and quality that both dentistry and dental technology place on CAD/CAM technology even more effectively.

At the International Dental Show in Cologne, Germany, this week, Prodways is presenting its next-generation 3D printers—the ProMaker LD series range. 

With the strengths of Prodways' exclusive MOVINGLight® technology, this new line combines a native resolutions of 42 µm per pixel and very high dimensional precision on all 3 axes, along with high productivity through its moving DLP®, making it possible to print up to 38 dental arches per hour on certain model printers at an optimal unit cost.

In order to adapt to a dental market in constant search for versatility and flexibility, this next generation of 3D printers—the ProMaker LD series—will offer a compact design, taking up less than 0.8 m² of floor space, with interchangeable production platforms of several sizes ranging from 165 x 150 mm to 450 x 445 mm, in order to fit into all environments. This choice of platforms meets the need to adapt to different production volumes, which may vary according to applications or over time, and makes it possible to optimise production times for small or medium-size runs.

The new ProMaker LD series range will also offer vats of various heights to reduce the amount of resin required for each application, with changes of vats and printing medium taking only a few minutes. Furthermore, it will feature a new user-friendly software interface, making it quick and easy to learn how to operate, as well as a built-in touch screen to control the production process.

The ProMaker LD-10—the first of three models in the LD series—will be unveiled in a world premiere at the IDS and will be available at the end of the year. 

The merger of DENTSPLY and Sirona combined the strongest brands in endodontics. The endodontic specialists DENTSPLY MAILLEFER and DENTSPLY TULSA DENTAL SPECIALTIES formed a new business unit, Dentsply Sirona Endodontics, in order to join forces and offer best in class endodontic solutions. The partnership with dealers, partners, and customers will be more important than ever before and supported by an extraordinary communication campaign, "Partner for a better future". 

Ballaigues/Salzburg, March 20, 2017. Dentsply Sirona Endodontics will be communicating its new brand positioning with a broadly conceived and inspiring campaign: “Partner for a better future”, which highlights cooperation based on real partnership and arising opportunities. It demonstrates that Dentsply Sirona stands for uncompromising quality in endodontics as well as the highest competence in consultancy and customer focus at its best. 

“Partnership is the core of our values” 

“While we are transitioning to a new name, our promise remains the same,” said Dominique Legros, Group Vice President, Dentsply Sirona Endodontics. “As we roll-out this new campaign, we will continue to highlight many different facets of partnership. Although we have a new name, the organization remains fully committed to its long-standing core values and key partners as we work together toward a better future.” 

Partnership refers to everyone in the world of Dentsply Sirona Endodontics, internally and externally: specialist partners and practitioners, dealers, cross-functional and international teams, universities, dentists and their patients the world over. The Company’s enduring core values are its Swissness, its commitment to endodontic excellence, and its renewed and growing passion for innovation through partnership. 

Another major element of the communication strategy will come to life at the IDS by publishing an emotional video on Facebook and LinkedIn. The star of the film is the passion that drives each individual and makes the innovation process logical and technical but also deeply emotional and richly human. “This film emphasizes the central role our partnerships are playing in the service of our Vision: saving a tooth to improve a life defines our common quest and passion”, explains Dominique Legros further. 

Real people in their real role – making a real difference 

The video features Gilbert Rota, Technology Expert R&D at Dentsply Sirona, Dr. Julian Webber, BDS, MS, Endodontic Specialist and Dr. Sarah Attal, MSc DDS Endodontic Specialist. They come together at Dentsply Sirona in Switzerland from across Europe and together they stand for “Partner for a better future”. 

Dominique Legros: "We are very proud of this campaign. Empowered through working together towards common goals we are definitely convinced: Through partnership, it is our conviction that we are all simply better together." 

SOMERVILLE, Mass., and Copenhagen, Denmark, March 16, 2017 — Formlabs, the designer and manufacturer of powerful 3D printing systems, and 3Shape, the global leader in 3D scanning and CAD/CAM software for dental practices and labs, today announced a partnership to introduce software integration solutions to bring seamless dental 3D printing workflows to the worldwide market.

As its first and flagship integration solution, Formlabs and 3Shape debuted a dental-3D printing workflow that streamlines the guide design and manufacturing workflow for dental practitioners, making it easier and more affordable than ever to produce surgical guides.

“The integration between the Form 2 and industry leading products from 3Shape enables dental CAD/CAM workflows so streamlined that even chairside 3D printing becomes possible,” said Gideon Balloch, Dental Product Manager at Formlabs. “3Shape and Formlabs share a commitment in pioneering powerful, seamless and accessible technologies. We’re excited to continue pushing new boundaries in digital dentistry together.”

With the Formlabs-3Shape integration solution, dental practitioners can create guides ready for surgery by scanning with 3Shape TRIOS intraoral scanners and designing with 3Shape Implant Studio software, followed by simply hitting ‘print’ with Formlabs’ PreForm software, to finally 3D printing and manufacturing the guides with Formlabs’ biocompatible Dental SG resin — all within a matter of hours. While it used to take weeks, the Formlabs-3Shape integration creates a cost-effective chairside 3D printing workflow that makes even same-day guided surgery possible.

“The streamlined workflow between 3Shape TRIOS Implant Studio and Formlabs printers is a tremendous benefit for doctors,” said Birk Ploennigs, 3Shape, Product Director Implantology. “We now have surgeons designing and printing their own surgical guides in hours using integrated 3D printers like Formlabs ’ instead of waiting weeks, and at a fraction of the cost. Because of the huge time and cost savings, doctors are now using guides on every surgery when clinically applicable. This has translated into faster and more predictable treatments for their patients.”

“The Formlabs-3Shape integrated workflow streamlines my practice and allows me to do guided surgery efficiently and affordably,” said Dr. Daniel Whitley III DDS PA. “I can go from patient scans, to planned case, to fully manufactured guide with only a few clicks of the mouse. It is really a significant pairing of cutting-edge technology from two innovative companies.”

Further integrations across 3Shape’s suite of powerful dental software, including Dental System and Orthodontic System, are under development and planned for release throughout the year. These will enable a wide range of workflows that include restorative and orthodontics study models, splints and 3D printed dentures.

See demos of the Formlabs-3Shape integrated workflow at IDS (Koelnmesse, Germany, March 21-26, 2017): Formlabs (Hall 3.1, stand L70), 3Shape (Hall 04.2, stands L090, N091 and N090).