With the news that Gwyneth Paltrow has a pre-osteoporosis condition because of her vitamin D deficiency, the sunshine vitamin is getting lots of attention. What does this have to do with dentistry?

Vitamin D Deficiency…

• Allows bone resporption (as in jawbone degeneration)
• Allows increased inflammation (as in the symptom closely linked to periodontal disease)
• Affects almost 40% of Americans (that’s about half of your patients)

We know that dentists play an important role in a person’s medical team. Not all general medicine doctors are testing their patients’ vitamin D levels, though. As a dentist, you can inform and influence your patients to get their vitamin D level checked. Simple, cheap supplements (2000iu of D3) can boost vitamin D levels to a healthy state. Other ways to get the vitamin include getting out in the sunshine (but protect that skin) and through consuming dairy and fish products.

The ProMax 3D Max offers a number of powerful features that add up to attractive benefits for dentists and patients alike, said Planmeca’s President Bob Pienkowski.

The ProMax features ConeBeam technology that allows for full anatomical 1-to-1 visualization of anatomy without distortion, which greatly reduces the guesswork of interpretation.  This approach offers a significant improvement over film and 2D technology as a diagnostic tool for implants, orthodontics and oral surgery according to Pienkowski.

ConeBeam technology’s full visual “reality” has traditionally been reserved for Medical CT technology, but now this same visual “reality” can now be owned and implemented by any dental professional at a low cost and at 1/10^th the amount of radiation to the patient than traditional Medical CT.

Planmeca’s 3D ProMax follows the company’s clinical values that emphasize the use of the least amount of radiation to achieve the best results possible.  This commitment to “As Low As Reasonably Achievable” or the ALARA radiation principle keeps both dentist and patient safe.  The ability to have so many volume selections and use the least amount of radiation possible is made possible by PLANMECA’s patented Selectively Compliant Articulated Robotic Arm technology built into its ProMax platform. This robotic arm allows for precise imaging anywhere in the maxillofacial/cranial region.

“As a dentist, I realize that my patients are exposed to radiation through many sources and I strive to reduce their exposure as much as possible,” said Dr. Gene Antenucci, a dentist from Huntington, N.Y. and a spokesperson for Planmeca USA.  “Planmeca’s commitment to this technology means dentists have access to the best technology to accurately and safely diagnose their patients.”

The PLANMECA ProMax 3D Max has varying size volume selections from a 5×5.5cm to 23×26 cm, providing the best choice of volume based on clinical need.

“This means there is no need to take a ConeBeam volume of the entire head if only a single tooth site needs to be visualized,” Antenucci said.

But in select cases where the entire maxilofacial/cranial region is needed, the ProMax Max can easily fit that need as well.

Antenucci said Planmeca’s 3D ProMax will improve patient’s acceptance of treatment plan recommendations because a patient may or may not understand what is being presented in a 2D x-ray, but when shown a 3D rendering, the patient immediately grasps what the dentist is trying to communicate.

Adding value to a customer’s purchase, Planmeca also provides:

• Local Dental dealer support for timely mechanical support
• PLANMECA representative imaging training and technical phone/remote support for proper knowledge share
• Certified local IT companies for network assurance
• Monthly online community software and clinical trainings for continued growth
• For more information, contact your authorized Planmeca dealer or call 1 630-523-2300.  Or visit www.planmecausa.com for more information.

About Planmeca USA

Planmeca USA is the North American Subsidiary of  Planmeca Oy, Helsinki, Finland. Finnish Planmeca Oy is one of the largest privately held companies in the dental equipment market. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Planmeca designs, manufactures, and markets high-tech dental equipment suitable for private clinics and teaching environment. Planmeca’s product lines include dental care units, dental X-rays, digital imaging and software applications.

The company has been a forerunner in digital imaging and advanced, computer integrated dental care concepts for years. Planmeca is strongly committed to R&D and innovative solutions. Planmeca delivers complete dental solutions with integrated high tech device and software options with exquisite design. Planmeca products are designed and manufactured in Helsinki, Finland, and distributed worldwide via a comprehensive network of dealers operating around the world. More than 98% of Planmeca production is exported to over 100 countries.

The company is well established on high-tech dental markets worldwide. Planmeca has considerable market shares e.g. in the U.S., Japan, and several European countries.

Planmeca, established in 1971, is the parent company of Planmeca Group, a group of companies in the field of health care.

Now EVA is compatible with all major operating systems, including Windows 7 (32?bit and 64?bit
versions), Vista, and Apple’s Mac line. Now that the EVA drivers are updated to work with the newest version of Windows 7 operating system, EVA is fully compatible with computers purchased from popular retailers, like Best Buy and Staples. Our drivers are now universally accepted by all regular operating systems. The EVA sensor system continues to be easy to use and will integrate with almost all practice software and computer systems.

Unbeknownst to many doctors, Microsoft released two versions of Windows 7. One version is 32?bit
and one version is 64?bit. It isn’t easy to know which one is being purchased. Most digital sensors don’t
function when installed onto a Windows 7, 64?bit, computer. Now EVA does.

For more information, please visit our webpage, www.dent?x.com, or make the always free call to the
Dent?X technical support team.

About AFP Imaging
AFP Imaging is a leading state of the art diagnostic imaging supplier, is a market leader, whose products are
distributed worldwide with clinical applications for dental, medical and veterinary professionals. For over thirty
years, the Company has produced branded products that are installed in over 100,000 dental and medical
facilities. This base serves as reference points for future sales of equipment and software. The company’s
products are trademarked with brand names that include AFP, DENT?X, EVA and NEWTOM. For additional
corporate information please visit our corporate web sites at www.afpimaging.com.

iTunes is a free online application for your Mac or PC that organizes and plays digital music and video on your computer. It syncs all your media with your iPod, iPhone and Apple TV and the iTunes Store puts thousands of free podcasts at your fingertips,

A podcast is an episodic program delivered via the Internet and can be audio files, video files, documents or any combination of the three. The E4D Podcast is an exciting new feature from D4D Technologies that gives you an inside look at all that is current in digital dentistry. Topics include current and future software applications, upcoming events, testimonials by current E4D users and more, all shot at our state-of-the-art podcast studio at D4D’s global headquarters in Richardson, Texas.

To download the latest version of iTunes on your computer, visit http://www.apple.com/itunes/download. Then to find and subscribe to the E4D Podcast channel, either search E4D Podcast or subscribe directly at http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-e4d-podcast/id356385633.

Apple and iTunes are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.

About D4D Technologies LLC

www.E4D.com

D4D Technologies is taking the dental profession to a higher level of productivity, patient comfort, and convenience with its E4D Dentist™, E4D Labworks™ and E4D Studio™ Systems, all part of the E4D Sky™ Network of products. The systems use high-speed laser scanning technology to produce digital 3D impressions of teeth prepared for full contour crowns, inlays, onlays, smile designs, and no-prep veneers without the application of contrast agents. The intuitive DentaLogic™ software enables operators to customize restoration designs and send them wirelessly to the precision mill that uses the latest restorative materials to produce fine esthetic restorations.

Highly accurate, versatile, and easy to use, the E4D Systems provide significant productivity improvements allowing dental professionals to offer a healthier, more economical and more convenient solution with Same Day Dentistry™.

Headquartered in Richardson, TX, a suburb of Dallas, D4D Technologies has partnerships with major corporations in the dental profession: Henry Schein Dental is responsible for global sales and distribution; 3M ESPE and Ivoclar Vivadent provide restorative materials.

Contact Dalyce Willis dwillis@d4dtech.com; 214-432-6349 (direct)

On February 26^th, xconomy San Diego published an article that tells us the FDA is not pleased with a marketing brochure published by Novalar. The FDA instructed Novalar, maker of OraVerse, to amend the drug brochure. Read the letter here. The FDA claims that the brochure minimizes and omits risks and overstates benefits of OraVerse. Issues such as pain at the injection site, headache, and pain following a dental procedure are not mentioned in the brochure. In addition, the brochure states that OraVerse can be administered to children as young as four years old, while it is actually cleared for children six and older.

The Novalar CEO, Donna Jansen, says that the brochure in question is no longer in use. If you’re concerned that you may still have copies of the brochure in question, visit xconomy to download a PDF.

Visit KaVo and DIAGNOdent online here.

Thanks to Dr. Tom Hedge for providing video coverage of select vendor booths at the Chicago Midwinter Dental Conference!

(Savannah, GA) February 24, 2010 – Stage Front Presentation Systems today announced inVisionCam, a hands-free camera that generates high-definition video for use in dental instruction and teledentistry.

Featuring an integrated high-definition camera, light source and microphone mounted on an articulated arm, inVisionCam looks and moves like a dental light. Generating video is a simple matter of switching inVisionCam on, positioning it to illuminate any dental area, and speaking in a normal voice. As the instructor or dentist focuses on dentistry, inVisionCam generates smooth, jitter-free HD video, with easy repositioning as needed.

“inVisionCam introduces a unique no-fuss, no-assistance-required approach to dental video,” said Phil Smith, new markets manager at dental equipment manufacturer A-dec. “I would expect most dental professionals working in teaching or teledentistry to consider it worth a close look.”

In its basic configuration, inVisionCam is ready to serve as a video component in Stage Front’s Multimedia Teaching System (MTS), which currently delivers audio/video to student bench-tops in over half of U.S. dental schools. Optional broadcast and storage add-ons enable video routing to distance learning and teledentistry facilities, or to a storage device for replay on demand.

“The need for inVisionCam became clear in our experience with dental schools,” said Steve Stephens, Stage Front president. “Several instructors have told us that a video camera that doesn’t require handling or an assistant would be a welcome addition to MTS. We designed inVisionCam to meet those instructors’ needs, and added broadcast and storage options to enable wider use within the field of dentistry.”

inVisionCam is available directly from Stage Front at pricing below $30,000, including installation. Stage Front will demonstrate inVisionCam in booth # 527 at the 2010 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition, March 1-2, in Washington, DC.

About Stage Front Presentation Systems

Established in 1978, Stage Front designs and deploys high-impact technical systems that help people educate, communicate, and entertain. For institutions of higher learning, Stage Front equips teaching spaces to deliver curriculum via a variety of electronic sources including computer, broadband television, DVD, document camera, electronic whiteboard, microscope camera, and other forms of audio-visual input. From the simplest large-screen display to complex distance learning applications, Stage Front has the solution for virtually any educational need. For more information, visit www.sfps.net.

Before caries fully develops, we see demineralization. Icon, a product by DMG America, treats incipient dental caries by filling and stabilizing demineralized areas. Icon is more aggressive than remineralization, yet more conservative than placing a filling. You can treat a demineralized lesion as deep as to D-1 in a single office visit. The micro-invasive treatment works for proximal and smooth surfaces; kits are available for each. It arrests dental caries quickly and without causing pain.

To view a video of how Icon works, visit http://www.drilling-no-thanks.com/en/demonstration.html.

DMG America
242 S Dean St
Englewood, NJ 07631
Phone: 800-662-6383

With Pulpdent Tuff-Temp Resin, temporaries are tough, impact-resistant, and grip the teeth. Chipping, breaking, debonding, and recementations are minimized or eliminated.

Tuff-Temp is designed to grind and powder, producing crisp and accurate margins that do not soften or distort. It does not gum up or clog finishing instruments. Exceptional results can be achieved by trimming with a slow speed acrylic bur, fine grit diamond bur, or finishing and polishing disk system. A fast application of Tuff-Temp Provisional Glaze provides enhanced esthetics and patient satisfaction during temporization.

Tuff-Temp is dual cure. It both self-cures and has a light cure option to produce a final set, full strength restoration on demand. The fast light cure option is also ideal for use with a clear vinyl polysiloxane template.

For alterations or smile design, the Tuff-Temp system includes Tuff-Temp Provisional Add-on, a shade-matching, light cure, flowable resin formulated from the Pulpdent’s proprietary rubberized-urethane chemistry.

Tuff-Temp is packaged in a 50 mL automix cartridge that fits into a standard one-to-one gun used for impression materials. It is available in six popular shades: A1, A2, A3, A3.5, B1 and Bleach.

Pulpdent manufactures high-quality products for the dental profession, including adhesives, composites, sealants, cements, etching gels, calcium hydroxide products, endodontic specialties and bonding accessories. For more information call 800-343-4342 or visit www.pulpdent.com.

About D4D Technologies LLC

D4D Technologies is taking the dental profession to a higher level of productivity, patient comfort, and convenience with its E4D Dentist™, E4D Labworks™ and E4D Studio™ Systems, all part of the E4D Sky™ Network of products. The systems use high-speed laser scanning technology to produce digital 3D impressions of teeth prepared for full contour crowns, inlays, onlays, smile designs, and no-prep veneers without the application of contrast agents. The intuitive DentaLogic™ software enables operators to customize restoration designs and send them wirelessly to the precision mill that uses the latest restorative materials to produce fine esthetic restorations.

Highly accurate, versatile, and easy to use, the E4D Systems provide significant productivity improvements allowing dental professionals to offer a healthier, more economical and more convenient solution with Same Day Dentistry™.

Headquartered in Richardson, TX, a suburb of Dallas, D4D Technologies has partnerships with major corporations in the dental profession: Henry Schein Dental is responsible for global sales and distribution; 3M ESPE and Ivoclar Vivadent provide restorative materials.

Contact Dalyce Willis dwillis@d4dtech.com; 214-432-6349 (direct)

CADapalooza ’10 begins with a Millin’ Around Welcome Reception on the evening of Thursday, June 17, 2010 for all registered attendees at the stunning Gaylord Texan Resort (www.gaylordtexan.com). On Friday, June 18, 2010, participants will enjoy watching the future of dentistry unfold at the largest domed venue in the world. Take in the valuable lectures from the industry’s top visionaries in the comfortable leather seats or relax in the 33,000 square foot Club Level for breaks, lunch and interaction with leading manufacturers. All participants will have the opportunity to tour the stadium and end the evening with a cocktail reception at the Star Bar, which sits seven stories high overlooking the field for a whole new view of dentistry. Saturday is a special day for all participants, who are invited to visit D4D Technologies’ global headquarters for Build-a-Crown™ Workshops and facility tours. Be there as CAD CAMbassadors guide you through the scan, design and milling of your own restoration, and work with ceramic experts to impart the ideal color and strength. If you already own a chairside CAD CAM system, you can elect to participate in Advanced Design Workshops from experienced designers to maximize your productivity in design and material handling. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind event!

See and experience the future of CAD CAM Dentistry at CADapalooza ’10 – space is limited so register yourself and your team today. Registration is $295/person (can be charged by credit card or Henry Schein Dental account) before June 1, 2010 and $395 on-site or after June 1, 2010. Up to 9 CE hours available. To register, visit www.CADapalooza.com.

To reserve your hotel room at the Gaylord Texan Resort through a special ‘CADapalooza’ room block, call the Gaylord Texan at 817.778.2000 or visit www.gaylordtexan.com. Transportation to and from the Gaylord Texan to Friday’s CADapalooza full-day program and Saturday’s Build-a-Crown™ Workshops is included, as well as up to 9 CE hours.

CADapalooza ‘10 is sponsored by D4D Technologies, Henry Schein Dental, Ivoclar Vivadent, 3M ESPE and Premier Dental. Go to www.CADapalooza.com to register or for more information!

About CADapalooza

CADapalooza is an annual conference designed to provide attendees with the most recent information and a vision of the capabilities of chairside and laboratory dentistry using products and technologies offered by D4D Technologies and Henry Schein Dental.  The interactive venue will also feature the latest applications and techniques utilizing materials designed especially for digital dentistry today and in the future.

First, it is pertinent to know that the American Dental Association has a resolution in with Congress, proposing why access to oral health care is imperative to the overall health of the nation.  Outlining the reasons why such coverage is essential, this resolution speaks of how prevention and maintenance are key factors of dental care and this can be achieved with broader coverage and greater access to dental facilities in areas where these facilities are lacking.  Educating the general public on the relationship of dental health and overall health can help to increase the success of health care reform.  The ADA proposes that those that are in greater need be first in line for care, such as children, elderly and pregnant women.  They also impress that privately  funded care can be beneficial for small employers to provide, since most dental problems can be avoided with proper routine care.

If this resolution is seen into fruition, how will it effect the practice of dentistry?  Concerns have arisen with some dentists about how this will affect their costs .  Will there be tax increases?  Will you feel as if you are being penalized for being successful?  These are some of the questions that are being asked.  The concern is that nationalized dental health care will result in higher bureaucratic costs and a lower standard of care.  Will this necessarily happen?  That seems to be the fear about any kind of national care put into place.  The fact remains that having access to dental health care will result in increased wellness overall.  In order to be part of the solution, the dental community needs to work  with lawmakers to make sure that care does not decrease because of greater access.

Submitted by Submitted by Millennium Dental Cosmetic Dentistry, in Los Angeles, Ca.

During this exclusive event, Bill Blatchford DDS, Robert Lowe DDS and Ron Zokol DMD will be sharing proven clinical techniques and sound business rules to enable you to have a quality, profitable practice during any economy.

• Not only will you Earn 16 CE Credits but you will gain valuable knowledge and understanding in:
• New technologies, including dental lasers and digital impressions.
• Implant procedures for General and Advanced Practitioners
• New to market materials – and which materials to use for the specific clinical situation
• Clinical solutions for restorative problems that save chair time
• Delivery techniques for indirect restorations
• How you can lower your overhead to 45% – 55%
• Increase your revenue and have more time off
• How thousands of dollars are sitting in your patient charts
• Implementation of new technologies that can help the “bottom line” of your practice
• Implementing and maintaining the marketing aspect of staying profitable

These topics only scratch the surface. For a full outline of our globally recognized speakers and a complete course description, please visit www.ddsmarketingsolutions.com or download our brochure to register now at http://tinyurl.com/sandiegodentalseminar

Seating is limited so register today to secure seating for you and your team. A pre-registration discount applies through February 5th, 2010. We look forward to seeing you.

Dr. Brunski’s idea developed as the I-Denti-Fied chip, and he’s so passionate about the product that he gave up a 20-year career as a general dentist to market it in the US. After finding that a Luxemburg manufacturer created the technology in 2007, Dr. Brunski began his research. Since, he has hooked up with a company that stores health records that can be “unlocked” with a code kept in the chip.

The small computer chip, about the size of a grain of rice, is implanted into to a prosthetic tooth or onto a tooth, where it’s not felt by the patient or rejected by the body. This particular I-Denti-Fied product is called The Tooth Tag™. It is FDA-approved, HIPPA compliant, and completely safe, according to Dr. Brunksi. A 16-digit patient record code in the chip can only be accessed with a special tool, a gun-style reader. Then, a call center, open 24/7, can access the information and send it to emergency care centers.

A person with the chip is given a keychain USB and a sticker for his driver’s license. This alerts health professionals that the wearer’s health records are accessible immediately. The stored records can include information about the wearer’s medical problems, as well as X-rays, DNR authorization, family members to contact in case of emergency, and more. All this for $150 the first year and a membership fee thereafter.

Learn more, read testimonials, and see a video at www.i-denti-fied.com. Look for the “Fore Healthcare Profesionals” page.

SOURCE: http://www.post-trib.com/news/2021677,chiped-tooth-0201.article

WPT™ is a minimally invasive procedure to treat periodontal disease without scalpels or sutures in a general or specialty practice.  Lares Research provides a full two-day advanced training course dedicated to laser treatment of periodontal disease using WPT™.  Live patient video of WPT™ and subgingival calculus removal can be viewed on the Lares Research website at www.laresdental.com.

Lares is a recognized leader in the development, manufacture, and distribution of oral cutting technology, supplying dentists with precision handpieces and high performance lasers worldwide.  The company has been an innovator in the field of dental lasers since it began offering lasers to dental clinicians in 1997.  For more information, call 888-333-8440, ext. 2050, or go to www.laresdental.com.

My team joined me at the conference. They updated their OSHA training and enjoyed the event more than last year. We’ll be attending the Chicago Midwinter Conference in February. I predict that the exhibit hall and classes will be crowded at Chicago, just like they were at Rocky Mountain. I think our industry, as a whole, sees a light at the end of the dark economic tunnel we’ve been in for a while now. It’s very exciting!

There’s a heard of sheep in Italy that have wooden bones…kind of. Italian scientists at the Istec Laboratory of Bioceramics in Faenza have developed a process of converting rattan (wood) into a material that appears to closely mimic natural bone tissue. Heat, carbon, and calcium, along with intense pressure and a phosphate solution, make the bone replacement material strong, yet porous enough for blood vessels and nerves to run through it.

As with traditional bone grafts, the grafted material is accepted by natural bone tissue, and the two unite into a solid, continuous structure. Scientists believe that the new bone replacement material may be used in human studies in about five years.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8446637.stm

• New Year’s Resolutions for Dentists
• Genetics of Cavity-Causing Bacteria
• Another Dentist Sues YELP.com
• Ape Molars Give Evolution Insight
• Staff Needed for Mobile Dental Unit

You’ll probably find posts by some of your favorite trade journals and organizations, as well. Go to www.Facebook.com/dentalblogs to become a friend today.

Facebook membership is FREE, and creating an account takes mere minutes.

Making the most of what you’ve got could save you money. In light of the economy we’re starting with in 2010, prudence dictates that we evaluate spending, tighten our belts, and maximize potential in every area of business. If you’ve seen appointment numbers decline, you might have thought about cutting back on overhead by reducing your hours or employees. Before you pull out the sickle, I encourage you to take every opportunity to fill that appointment log. Read the full blog post here: www.tips.tntdental.com.

Dentists, Use Your Words!

You don’t say much. If that’s the case, you’re missing out. Search engine spiders feed on words. In fact, if you write – not necessarily well, but just coherently – your words could significantly boost your online popularity. There are three main ways to post written content online for search engine boosting purposes…but first, the basics.

Basic No. 1
Get a website. If you don’t have a website, your online efforts have no nucleus.

Basic No. 2
Link to your website. Always, always, always link back to your website.

And as for those three primary ways to post…

Blog posts
Get a blog. Write on it every week, at least. Link back to your website’s pages. Don’t know what to write about? Read this tips blog. Don’t have time? Read about GhostPosts here.

Comments
Go to other blogs about dentistry, patients, or medicine, and post comments that… you guessed it. Link back to your website!

Articles
Write original articles for your website. These can be on any topic in dentistry, but they should…what? Link to pages on your website. Articles can be formatted like press releases to promote your new services or specials, patient education/information, how-to’s (brushing, flossing, etc.), for example.

If you don’t currently use words to your benefit, you should. They’re free, and if you follow the rules (no copyright infringement), they’re effective for online marketing.

TNT Dental employs a team of dental copywriters who understand writing for web and search engines. Our writers can help you get started, give you tips, or write on your behalf. Give us a call today at 877-868-4932 to learn more about the power of words for your success!