When stress takes a toll on your teeth
from The New York Times
With economic pressures affecting millions of Americans, dentists may have noticed a drop in patients opting for a brighter smile, but they are seeing another phenomenon: a rise in the number of teeth grinders. "I'm seeing a lot more people that are anxious, stressed out and very concerned about their financial futures and they're taking it out on their teeth," said Dr. Steven Butensky, a dentist with a specialty in prosthodontics (aesthetic, implant and reconstructive dentistry) in Manhattan.  More
 

New study evaluates surgical masks vs. N95 Respirators for preventing influenza among health care workers
from Infection Control Today
Surgical masks appear to be no worse than, and nearly as effective as N95 respirators in preventing influenza in healthcare workers, according to a study released early online today by JAMA. The study was posted online ahead of print because of its public health implications; it will be published in JAMA. Influenza is the most important cause of medically attended acute respiratory illness worldwide and the authors write there is heightened concern this year because of the influenza pandemic due to the H1N1 virus.  More
 

Product Showcase:    Blatchford Solutions "Blatchford BLUEPRINTS book brings you wisdom--the pearls from the King of Teeth. Read it and live it. You will be richer for it," contends Harry Beckwith, author of Selling the Invisible. Doctors and teams are pouring through the information, motivations, systems, visions and agreements that make successful practices work. It is pure inspiration from real people. More info

Dental device helps ease sleep apnea
from Ozarks First
Nearly 18 million people nationwide suffer from sleep apnea, according to sleepapneainfo.com.  And there are millions more who may have trouble catching some z's because their partner snores too loudly. But a simple device may be able to solve those problems. It's called a mandibular advancement device. It fits in your mouth like a retainer or mouth guard. But could make a big difference in the way you sleep.  More
 

Five-year follow-up of the Astra Tech OsseoSpeed Implant
from Dental Economics
A five-year follow-up study, made by researchers at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Heidelberg University in Germany, concluded that the OsseoSpeed implant shows very good results. "The mean marginal bone level change reported was -0.03 millimeters after five years, which is extremely good," says Dr. AnnaKarin Lundgren, head of Scientific Management at Astra Tech Dental. The OsseoSpeed surface characteristics and properties have been reviewed in numerous published articles revealing positive bone response.  More
 

The evolution of analgesia and anesthesia in oral health care
from RDH Magazine
Patient comfort is essential to create an aura of trust and feeling of comfort for the patient. In addition to commonly used local anesthetics and nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation, narcotics, hypnosis, virtual reality, and nonpharmacologic analgesics have been shown to be effective for dental pain. This article will discuss the evolution of analgesia and focus on local anesthesia in oral health care.  More
 

Do you drool too much? Study says consider surgery
from Reuters
If you feel as though you drool too much, studies suggest you should seriously consider surgery to take care of it, say researchers. Drooling is tough to treat, point out authors of a paper from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. That's because some of it is due to physical problems, and some is due to faulty wiring in the brain. However, among those patients who have surgery, most feel that they have a positive result, according to the new examination of more than 50 previously published studies.  More
 

Product Showcase:    DV-IS da Vinci Implant Solution DV-IS simplifies your implant needs utilizing two different custom abutments available for 90% of all implants. These precision milled, multi-platform abutments are available in either zirconia or titanium. Each abutment is individually designed from the final tooth shape using 3D optical scanning resulting in an abutment with outstanding function and aesthetics. More info For more details please call da Vinci at 800 874 7239.

Virginia Dentist assumes presidency of the American Dental Association
from Medical News Today
Ronald L. Tankersley, D.D.S., who practices oral and maxillofacial surgery in Newport News, Williamsburg and Hampton, Va., was installed as president of the American Dental Association and will lead the 157,000-member organization's efforts to protect and improve the public's oral health and promote advances in dentistry.  More
 

Many children still don't get Medicaid dental care
from The Associated Press via Google News
Two years after a 12-year-old Maryland boy died from an untreated tooth infection, more low-income children are getting dental care under Medicaid but many still don't ever see a dentist, government investigators. State officials told the Government Accountability Office that a lack of available funding, low provider participation and administrative burdens are some of the barriers to providing dental care to more children through Medicaid.  More
 

Product Showcase: Directa Luxator Instruments The ability to reduce trauma during tooth extraction is becoming increasingly important, especially for patients requiring subsequent implant placement with minimal bone loss. The Directa Luxator Instruments are especially designed periodontal ligament knifes with a fine tapered blade that compresses the alveolar, cuts the membrane, and gently eases the tooth from its socket reducing damage to surrounding tissue and keeping a better anatomy for an implant site. More info Click here to take advantage of our Special 4 + 1 offer.