Industry News

2014 brought many new innovations, technological advances and exciting product launches – but more entertainingly, it also gave us some very, very strange stories.  Here are the seven most peculiar, strange – and mildly alarming! – dental stories that we read in 2014.

The end of one year and the beginning of another is always a great time for reflection, introspection, and planning.

Previously, we found our Zen through the right instrumentation that suits the needs and desires of you as well as all the great gums you are gardening on a daily basis. You have learned the tools to get you towards therapy bliss through instrumentation. Now, how about how to take it to the next level and be a great business partner with your employer to acquire these awesome accoutrements?

The Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology has announced the upcoming launch of a new Virtual Full Denture Training Program.

Recent research published in the journal Microbiome found that as many as 80 million bacteria are transferred during at 10-second French kiss. The study also found that people who kiss each other nine times a day or more share similar oral bacteria.

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland have found a critical reason to treat periodontal disease as soon as possible.

A recent study published by researchers in Japan found that elderly patients who wear dentures while they sleep have a higher risk of developing pneumonia than those who remove them.

In the fight against dental caries, we commonly utilize exogenous materials such as fluoride or sealants. However, a recent study has found that a key tool for fighting caries-causing bacteria may be our own saliva.

As many of you are aware, patient privacy and data security has taken center stage over the past two decades. It started with HIPAA in 1996, then the HITECH Act in 2009 and the “final” HIPAA law, the Omnibus Rules, that were enacted in March 2013 with a September 2013 deadline. For many practices, the rules and regulations are a paradigm shift in how you need to practice.

I consider myself to be a pretty decent dentist, but I’ve never considered myself to be the kind of guy who could tell his CPA, “Don’t worry about filing for me this year. I’ve got this.” I mean, we all have our core competencies, but mine lie more in the area of linear thought, sketching schematics, programming, clinical testing, and that sort of mundane stuff.

Sikka Software Corporation reviewed U.S. states and identified those where practices are doing the most number of specific procedures, including endodontics, orthodontics and implants.

Opening a practice can be a daunting task full of many unknowns. One practitioner shares her top tips for making the process easier.

Would you ask a patient to invest in veneers before treating their dental pain? Not likely! Nor would you have your car painted if it needed a transmission, brakes, tires and a front-end alignment. So, why would you consider refreshing your office (fit and finish) without first addressing the challenges that have evolved since the days that the carpet was new, the paint was fresh and the wall coverings were in style? 

In a move that brings together a leading lab distributor and support partner and a major manufacturer of dental lab equipment and materials, Amann Girrbach and Custom Automated Prosthetics (CAP) have announced a North American partnership for distribution, sales and customer support.

Each year, Dr. John Flucke shares his predictions for emerging and continuing dental industry trends in the coming year. Here are his predictions for 2015.

Recent research out of the University of Adelaide in Australia is challenging the belief that people with tooth loss actually need dentures.

New research out of England has found that weaning in human babies is tied to prenatal tooth enamel growth rates.

In a new agreement that could provide dental labs with more outsourcing options, Ivoclar Vivadent has announced a new partnership with BEGO USA through its association with Wieland Precision Technology to provide digital alloy options with Selective Laser Melting and CAD/Casting.

Stem cells have been buzzwords in the medical industry for many years now, but little has been said about the dentist's role in regards to storing stem cell tissue for future use. What do dentists have to do with stem cells? They may provide a patient's last chance to bank potentially life-saving tissue.

An independent study was recently conducted to determine patients’ satisfaction with their current dentures, changes or improvements they would like in the future, familiarity with various esthetic options, source of denture information, and final purchase potential.

There are many changes in our profession lately; from the types and numbers of procedures we accomplish to the types of continuing education we need, even the way we get products is changing. It is an exciting and unprecedented time in dentistry.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the proposal of new standards to reduce the release of mercury into the environment from dental offices.  

While oral hygiene habits and diet influence the risk of tooth decay, genetics are also at play in regards to susceptibility for dental caries development … genetics that can also determine hair disorders. 

While coffee may stain your teeth, research from Boston University has found that your morning java can provide some surprising dental health benefits.

This year's annual session in San Antonio featured the debut of many innovative new (and improved) products. In this months' edition of Technology Evangelist, we take a look at some of the products that really stood out.

Halloween season can feel like a real-life horror movie for dentists, with all of the candy, sweets and sugar damaging seemingly healthy smiles.  This year, help your patients avoid the dental risks of too much sugar with a Halloween candy buy-back program.

Remember when the must-do item on the dental marketing checklist was yellow pages advertising? Well, times have certainly changed. According to Google, 97% of all consumers search for local businesses online, and that includes dental patients. If today’s patients are online, then that is clearly where dentists need to be. Here’s a checklist for your online marketing efforts as we near 2015.

The Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology (The Foundation or FDLT) has announced several ways for dental labs to gain financial assistance to continuing education programs.

SML (Space Maintainers Laboratories) has announced the relaunch of their website SMLGlobal.com.

Author Robin Hobb wrote “One must plan for the future and anticipate the future without fearing the future.” At the recent 2014 Converge Session of the National Association of Dental Plans a few trends emerged that help us to plan for the shifting dental benefit landscape.