Dental Tribune International

Dentists to gather in Atlanta for Hinman meeting

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:15:51 +0100

NEW YORK, NY and ATLANTA, GA, USA: The Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting will be held 25-27 March. The theme for the meeting is ‘All Roads Lead to Excellence at Hinman.’

US$22 billion for health information technology, but not quite so much for dentistry

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:55:58 +0100

When the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) was signed into law in 2009, US$22 billion was set aside to improve patient outcomes through increased use of electronic health records (EHR) by clinicians during the next five years (2011–2015). The proportion expected to go to dentistry: negligible.

D. Walter Cohen: An iconic icon

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:48:19 +0100

Each generation has a different concept or image of an icon of contemporary culture. D. Walter Cohen is such an icon of dentistry. He is a pinnacle of energy and accomplishment with a glitter of idealism. Even today, in his 80s, he will play tennis early in the morning before he practices periodontics at his office.

Enhancing dentistry with the dental-video procedure scope

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:37:41 +0100

Every once in a while a dental product comes along with the ability to change our lives for the better, such as the high-speed handpiece. The Dental Procedure Scope is also one of those powerful tools.

Practice transition planning

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:26:30 +0100

For most dentists, ownership of their dental practice is the major focus of their energy expenditures, financial situation and professional lives. Years of blood, sweat and tears, coupled with the relationships formed with both staff and patients, have caused dentists to form a deep-seated emotional attachment with their practice.

Dentists should limit staff access to drugs

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:01:23 +0100

TUCSON, USA: Dental offices and the pharmaceuticals used there present the risk of drug abuse, but dentists can put policies in place that help reduce the chance of illegal use of controlled substances, according to an article in Anesthesia Progress (2009, 56:112–113). Dr Joel M. Weaver writes that dentists who place too much trust in their employees make themselves and their practices vulnerable to people who abuse controlled substances.

Britons should have free dental care, Green Party says

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:59:06 +0100

LONDON, UK: Everyone in the UK should be able to access free, basic dental care, according to the Green Party’s new dental health policy. In the policy, the party claims that only half the UK population is provided with free dental healthcare and calls dentistry charges by the country's National Health Service (NHS) a ‘regressive tax’.

Dentists' association in Japan switches party support

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:30:01 +0100

HONG KONG/LEIPZIG, Germany: The Japanese Dental Association (JDA) has announced that it will cease its support of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in favour of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in the upcoming Upper House elections. The decision came after the DPJ told the Association it would support the idea of a dentist running on the party’s ticket and campaign for the candidate, who would run for a proportional representation seat.

Metal foam takes stress off implants

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:20:35 +0100

NEW YORK, USA/LEIPZIG, Germany: A newly developed metal foam that mimics the natural structure of bones could help to prevent the rejection of biomedical body replacements such as dental implants. The composite material, which is made out of 100% steel and aluminium, is lighter than solid titanium and has an extraordinarily high-energy absorption capability, a paper by researchers at the North Carolina State University, USA, reports. In addition, the modulus of elasticity of the foam has been proven similar to that of bone.

Public dental clinics in Singapore charge for missed appointments

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:39:23 +0100

SINGAPORE: As the first health-care institution in Singapore, the National Healthcare Group (NHG) is charging a deposit fee to patients who do not attend their appointments at the group’s five dental clinics. According to reports in the newspaper Strait Times, the fee of S$8 (US$6) will be waived for regular patients and those on public assistance or Medifund schemes. It will not be forfeited if the appointment is cancelled or rescheduled within at least three working days.

Ivoclar Vivadent launches second furnace generation

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:59:10 +0100

NEW YORK and AMHERST, NY, USA: The new Programat P500/G2 from Ivoclar Vivadent comes with a new touch screen colour display and a host of other new features that further enhance the firing process. The second-generation furnace, which is build on the tried-and-tested properties of its predecessor model, incorporates state-of-the-art power saving technology, which cuts power consumption in the stand-by mode by up to 40 per cent, the company says. This will reduce energy costs and helps protect the environment.  

Anti-tobacco programme set up in Indian dental clinics

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:03:52 +0100

CHENNAI, India: The Secretary-General of the Indian Dental Association, Dr Ashok Dhoble, has announced the launch of a new research and survey programme to reduce the incidence of tobacco-related oral diseases in India. For the programme, thousands of dental clinics in the country will be used as tobacco-intervention centres and engage in oral cancer detection in patients who come for dental treatment. Data from those screenings will also be collected through a special network.

Novalar enters licence agreement for launching OraVerse in Germany

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:40:14 +0100

NEW YORK, USA/LEIPZIG, Germany: Novalar Pharmaceuticals has announced to have chosen Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland as exclusive distributor of their OraVerse anestethia reversal technology in Germany. Sanofi-Aventis, one of the leading German pharmaceutical companies, will also have the option to extend the license to other countries in Europe, both companies said. They intend to launch the product in early 2011.

OHA gala raises US$400,000 for children’s dental care

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:53:55 +0100

CHICAGO, USA: Oral Health America (OHA), a non-profit organization founded in 1955 and headquartered in Chicago, held its 20th annual Gala and Benefit on Wednesday, 24 February, at Chicago’s historic Union Station. Nearly 900 guests participated in silent and live auctions to benefit OHA while networking with fellow professionals before the Midwinter Meeting. The event raised over US$400,000, the highest amount in the Gala’s 20-year history, for OHA’s programs that bring healthy mouths to life.

Interview: 'Patients demand instant aesthetic results'

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:12:01 +0100

Twenty years ago, a new umbrella organisation for the various aesthetic dentistry bodies in Asia was founded at the Prince Philip Dental Hospital in Hong Kong. Since then, the Asian Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry (AAAD) has grown significantly and now includes 12 members. Dental Tribune Online editor Claudia Salwiczek spoke with president Dr Sim Tang Eng, Malaysia, about the organisation and what does it do to promote the principles of aesthetic dentistry in dental practices in Asia.

More olympians screened for oral cancer

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:00:11 +0100

LONDON, UK: Dentists have screened a fifth of all athletes taking part in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver in Canada for oral cancer. Around 800 athletes sat in the dentist’s chair during the competition, with more than 70 dentists and their assistants on hand to practise preventative dentistry in addition to fixing teeth and mouths. Dental associations have welcomed the increased screening campaign that will also educate athletes on the importance of applying sun-cream to help prevent mouth cancers.

Isolite Systems introduces new isolation system at Chicago meeting

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:30:33 +0100

CHICAGO, USA: The Midwinter Meeting is traditionally the place where companies unveil new technology and new equipment. One of those companies, Isolite Systems, a maker of innovative dental isolation technology, introduced a new product, the Isodry^Ti. The new product was assessed while conducting market research on the company’s original, award-winning Isolite dryfield illuminator dental isolation system, the company said.

Medicom introduces next generation of Nitrile gloves

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

MT WOUDENBERG, The Netherlands: Allergic reactions have become a major health concern for both patients and healthcare workers who frequently use latex gloves. In addition, every time a healthcare worker takes off his or her examination gloves, washes their hands and then puts on another pair of gloves, they become predominantly vulnerable to dry, rough, irritated and cracked skin. Medicom now says to have found a solution to both problems by introducing the SafeTouch Rejuvenate Nitrile Plus to all major markets.

Chile dentists OK after earthquake

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

MIAMI, USA: The director of Salon Dental Chile Miguel Wechsler, the main dental expo in Chile, told Dental Tribune Latin America over the phone that the capital Santiago was only slightly affected by the recent powerful earthquake and that there was a tense calm in the nation, caught by surprise in the middle of the summer vacation. Mr Wechsler said that Chile's "strict building codes have saved thousands of lives, and 95 per cent of the infrastructure in the capital is intact."

Swiss implant group invites to Geneva symposium

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:34:51 +0100

LEIPZIG, Germany: The International Team for Implantology (ITI) has announced that it will discuss new clinical methods for diagnosis and treatment planning at its upcoming World Symposium in Geneva, to be held from 15 to 17 April 2010. The forum, which is open to implant specialists worldwide, will be complemented by two full-day pre-Symposium courses on soft-tissue management and bone grafting. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided from English into 12 other languages, including Chinese, Japanese and Korean, the organiser said.