DentalBlogs feels your pain! Fortunately, the Internet has revolutionized how we research and gather information. These days, you can research anywhere, anytime. Five days a week, DentalBlogs brings dentists the latest news.

For up-to-the-minute dental technology news, befriend DentalBlogs on Facebook! At Facebook, we post dental news all day long. You may also want to subscribe to the feeds or emails for the following websites and blogs, so you can stay plugged in to dental technology developments 24/7.

The Emmott on Technology Blog – In the Dental Office
Dr. Emmott writes for Dental Products Report and owns a private dental technology consulting and training firm. His blog keeps dentists up to date with product reviews, trade show reviews, and interesting tips about a “paperless” dental office. If you’re interested in private consulting to set your practice on the forefront of technology, Dr. Emmott’s your man.

The Digital Dentist Blog – Computers
Dr. Lavine regularly posts tips about computer technology. If you want to keep your thumb on the latest geek news, get the RSS feed for this blog!

PracticeWorks TV – Videos About Dental Technology (Kodak)
If you like to watch videos, you may enjoy some of the features of PracticeWorks TV. At this site, you can view videos of dentists who’ve implemented technology – like a documentary – to see how they’re faring. Also, hear dentists and experts review some of the latest tools in dentistry.

Dental Products Report 2009 Tech Guide – Technologically Advanced Products
With featured articles and special sections for diagnostic, treatment, and management, the 2009 Technology Comprehensive Online Resource (COR) by DPR is a one-stop shop for the latest info.

TNT Dental Tips – Dental Websites & Internet Marketing
Once a week, TNT Tips brings dentists practical information on how to maximize a practice website. Topics include search engine optimization, blogging, marketing, and building and maintaining a unique dental website.

Pennsylvania Dental Association members think that romantic relationships in which both adult parties consent should not be considered sexual misconduct. Furthermore, they are concerned about trying to enlist young, unmarried dentists to work in rural areas. The Board counters this with the fact that California, Maine, Iowa, and Mississippi have similar regulations.

Quote Source: http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol36/36-42/2060.html

Article: http://www.ldnews.com/ci_10768939?source=most_emailed

GlaxoSmithKline is buying Biotene (by Laclede), the leading OTC treatment for dry mouth. Last year, Biotene sold $50 million across the globe, with more than half of the sales originating in the US. Learn more here.

One-third of us in the US take “excellent” care of our teeth and gums. A quarter of American parents think their kids do a fair to poor job cleaning their teeth. However, we think that a smile is the single most important physical attribute. Crest and the ADA teamed up for a survey that reveals how Americans view oral healthcare and their smiles. Read more here.

Antibacterial, OTC mouthwash does work, according to a new report by The Cochrane Library. However, some mouth rinses stain teeth. Read the article here.

SOURCE:

Science Daily

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080915122727.htm

Finally some good news regarding the economy! According to an article at http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_10043217, the York Daily Record website, while dental visits have dropped a little overall, the growth in sales and earnings at Dentsply International continues. Second quarter sales are up 17%+ over 2007, and earnings per share grew 23%. According to Dentsply, growth in the American market was about 1% for the company, but minus a few key inventory and production factors that held growth down, it could have been about 3%. Shareholders got a 4.5-cent dividend this week, and the company believes that the future looks good.

While no hard, reliable statistics are available on the number of people who suffer with dental phobia, you can learn more about the condition and its psychological effects here: http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/what_is_dental_phobia.html.  The ADA also has some good articles about dental fear. Visit them online at www.ada.org.

Dentists are persistent, and those who persist succeed. Take, for instance, Capt. Mehmet Danis, the CFB Kingston dentist who recently placed sixth in the 250-km, six-phase race across the Gobi Desert. The man didn’t even have a pair of trail running shoes, but instead wore street tennies.

What Not to Do

In Georgia, Columbia dentist Claudinette Varon-Castro was arrested and charged with five felonies for providing dentistry without a license from her home in Johns Creek. It seems she had the drugs and the training, but not the facility or the license to practice legally. Peter Trager, past president of the Georgia Board of Dentistry, says that “underground dentists” often provide care to illegal immigrants who can’t afford or are scared to go to a licensed dentist. Claudinette was caught in the act when she agreed to provide dental work for $180 or antibiotics for $60, cash.

D is the Key for Moms to Be

University of Manitoba researchers found that vitamin D levels in pregnant women relate directly to the condition of their children’s teeth. Moms-to-be should take their prenatal vitamins and drink plenty of milk, or they may become very close to their pedodontists a few years down the road.

Separators to Reunite Anti-Amalgam and Pro-Amalgam Groups?

This week, lawyers and patients went head on with the dental industry over dental amalgam (with mercury). Patients blame mercury for a slew of health issues, from autism to headaches to splotchy skin to poor memory. By installing separators to keep amalgam waste out of public wastewater, as dentists in nine states must do, the dental industry can appease the masses. Dental amalgam is the primary source of mercury in public wastewater. And since the FDA deemed amalgams unsafe for pregnant women and youngsters, all heck has broken loose in this ongoing battle. Separators will set a dentist back somewhere between one and three grand.

Black Tea for Great Oral Health

Most of the iced tea we drink here in the States is made with black tea, which contains polyphenols, which deter bacterial growth and infection in the mouth – and kick halitosis. Another benefit, the polyphenols reduce a person’s risk for heart attacks and strokes. Black tea also increases good cholesterol, improves blood flow, and neutralizes germs and viruses.

Volunteer Dentists Treat More than 1100 in Two-Day Event

Free Dental Clinic in West Virginia Serves More than 700

Tallahassee Pros Trained to Give Free Dental Care to Kids

Mobile Dental Clinic Ministers in Grifton

Dell Foundation Awards 2008 ‘Healthy Community’ Grants to 27 Non …

“A new report was released this week by the New England Journal of Medicine identifying new dangers of medical CT scans. Specifically, the research shows that unnecessary or overused patient CT scans have been found to cause an increased risk of cancer. But what about dental patients who are required to get a CT scan before dental procedures? Do they face the same risks?

In the dental industry, dentists needing to capture 3-D data of a patient’s mouth, face, and jaw prior to treatment planning and surgical procedures can send the patient out to get a medical CT. However, it is important for dental patients and dental practitioners to recognize and understand the differences between a medical CT scan of the chest, which is the one referenced in the latest research report, a maxillofacial CT scan for a dental procedure.

The radiation dose in a dental CT scan is significantly less-about 100 times less-than the levels released in this recent report on medical chest CT scans. Dental patients then, are not facing the same risks as stated in the report.”

With film you would not know about the problem until the film was processed and then you would have no reference point to return to to improve the image.

TeraRecon’s PreXion 3D is a revolutionary X-ray system that provides high-resolution solutions in dental imaging. Powered by TeraRecon’s proprietary image reconstruction and volumetric image rendering technology, PreXion 3D provides sharper images with more information than the traditional dental X-ray unit. It’s the ideal in-office imager for the specialist performing implants.

With TeraRecon’s clear and 1:1 scale images, accurate measurements assure that the optimum implant is placed. Patient treatment is improved with the powerful computed tomography technology and its precise measurement tools. Accurate dental implant planning and placing, orthodontic investigation, and improved general dental imaging are some of the many true benefits PreXion 3D delivers.

In just 19 seconds, TeraRecon’s PreXion 3D acquires 512 initial X-ray views which are ‘reconstructed’ into a 3D dataset of the patient’s anatomy. Conversion to DICOM 3 is built-in and compatible with all major 3rd party software and systems (NobelGuide, Simplant, ILS, I-Dent, Dolphin, and others).

Revolutionary 3D CBCT | PreXion 3D | TERARECON, INC..

Bridging: Bridging is usually done in order to link applications made by different companies. The images are not visible as part of the chart but can be accessed with a single click.

Integration and bridging are technically different but both work well and provide the user with a similar experience. Dentists should avoid using a stand alone image management system that is not linked to the patient record. A stand alone system will be much harder to use, take more time and is more prone to error or lost images.

True Portability
Unlike other “portable” x-ray instruments, the battery powered NOMAD™ offers true portability with cordless operation and freedom from line voltage fluctuation. With more than 100 exposures on one battery charge and a weight of under 4 kg, NOMAD™ is optimal for remote use and confined spaces as well as operatory functions.

Operator Protection
The external backscatter shield and internal radiation shielding protect the operator from radiation exposure.

Constant Potential Performance
The high-frequency, constant potential x-ray generator provides constant radiation output. This improves image quality while reducing the skin dose to the patient relative to traditional half-wave (AC) generators.

Ease of Operation
The lightweight NOMAD™ is designed for simple operation. The only operator input needed is the exposure time, which is entered on the user-friendly digital control panel. NOMAD™ is compatible with both traditional x-ray film and digital sensors, making it easy for you and easy for the patient.

More Convenience – Less Cost
Because the NOMAD™ Cordless Handheld X-ray System is completely portable, just one can replace multiple wall-mounted x-ray sources.

             Direct                                            Indirect

The fact is there is a considerable difference in ease of use and time required to acquire an image. With a direct system the dentist can be viewing the image in less than 10 seconds. With an indirect system the time from exposure to viewing is virtually the same as film.

See you there.

Microsoft Vista and Kodak Products
As many of you may know Windows Vista was released this year. Windows Vista is a significant upgrade from Windows XP with many changes that impact our products. We are in the process of enabling our products to run under Vista and we are taking the necessary steps to ensure we thoroughly test our products before we can recommend upgrading to Windows Vista.
However, at this time our current releases are not compatible with Windows Vista and should not be installed or run under the Vista operating system.
Until our products are enabled and tested under Vista, do not upgrade to Windows Vista, or purchase new equipment with Windows Vista until our products are ready. Note that our products are fully compatible with Windows XP and Windows XP is available as option with most equipment vendors.

Important Notice Regarding Microsoft Windows Vista.

Dentists or hygienist are often panicked that if they only have one sensor it might be in use when they need it so they must have several sensors.

That is silly. If an office can function with one automatic processor it can function with one sensor.

Larger offices often ask me how many sensors they need when switching to digital. The simple answer is how many automatic film processors do you need? If they are getting by with one processor they can almost always get by with one sensor.

Pixel and Megapixel. Pixel is short for picture element. Basically it is a dot on the computer screen. The dots are arranged in rows and columns and are so close together they appear to be connected. The dot can be a shade of gray or a color. A typical 800 x 600 image has 480,000 pixels. The more dots that make up an image the better the resolution. A megapixel is simply one million pixels.

8 bit or 12 bit. A bit is short for binary digit. In graphics the term refers to the number of different shades or colors a single pixel can display. An 8 bit image is 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x2 x 2 x 2 or 2 to the 8th power. If you do the math that comes to 256. Most monitors display an 8 bit image meaning each pixel could be one of 256 different shades of gray. A twelve bit image is 2 to the 12th power or 4,096. True color is 24 bits which allows for 16 million different shades. At most the unaided human eye can distinguish 100 shades of gray. Is the extra detail useless? It depends on the software.