Has anybody tried the new cement and core material called Anchor?

It was developed by John Kanca and is compatible with his Simplicity bonding system. It really sounds like a great material. It can be used to cement a post and then build up the core. It can also be used to cement crowns and bridges.

At the company´s website, Apex Dental the material is described as follows:

"Independent research along with your feedback suggests a perfect core material would combine the following characteristics:

* Ease of placement
* Bonds to tooth structure
* Ability to be contoured and prepared immediately
* High strength and rigidity
* Cutting resistance like tooth structure, carves like dentin
* Tooth shade under ceramic crowns
* Compatible with bonding agents
* Fluoride release
* High radiopacity (*)

A material that couples these features with the proper viscosity and delivery system would not only qualify as the best core material on the market today but also a top luting cement. Working hard to simplify your practice and ensure your clinical success, Apex has created a highly versatile product to function as both your core build up and luting cement."

Any thoughts or comments?

Posted by DDSGadget at 09:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I have tried several of those new aggressive friction grip burs in my air driven high speed dental handpiece. I tried Samuarai, Razor, Great White, etc.

In my hands I found that these burs cut a little better than plain old carbide burs. I am wondering if these aggressive burs cut better when they are used in higher torque electric handpieces. Has anybody found a carbide that
really cuts fast and aggressively like the advertisements, and that can also be used in an air driven dental handpiece?

Posted by DDSGadget at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

One of the most frustrating challenges in aesthetics is to pick the appropriate shades for crown and bridge.

I end up sending back about 25% of my dental cases for shade modification. I have talked with several dental labs about buying one of the computer assisted shade selection devices. I have also talked to the dental labs about taking digital photographs and e-mailing them. I do not have a good eye for aesthetics. What have you all been doing about this?

Posted by DDSGadget at 02:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Any thoughts on Zila´s ViziLite Oral Cancer screening device? Has anybody used this? How does this compare to other oral cancer screening tests?

Of note is that Zila, Inc. manufacturer and marketer of ViziLite(R) Plus, recently announced that it has reached an agreement where CIGNA Dental, one of the nation's leading dental insurance carriers, now covers the ViziLite Plus exam in some of its plans. ViziLite Plus is the most advanced technology in the marketplace for early detection of oral abnormalities that could lead to cancer.

Zila's Chief Executive Officer Dr. Douglas D. Burkett said, "CIGNA Dental's coverage of our ViziLite Plus exam in some of its plans, coupled with the growing demand for ViziLite Plus nationwide, validates the enormous potential of this product and our pipeline of products for the early detection of oral cancer. As early detection technologies like mammograms, Pap smears, and PSAs have increased the survival rates over the years for people with breast, cervical and prostate cancer, ViziLite Plus is quickly establishing itself as THE early detection technology for oral cancer, now the sixth deadliest cancer worldwide based on survival rates."

"There are several reasons people don't get cancer screening," said Scottsdale, Arizona dentist Paul Douglas. "They don't know about the exam, they think it will hurt, they fear the results or they can't afford it. Dentists are getting more involved in telling their patients about oral cancer and associated risks. We're showing how quick and simple the ViziLite Plus exam is. We're explaining the upside of early detection. And now, with CIGNA coverage available, we're able to provide the ViziLite Plus test, which normally costs around $65, at no or just minimal added cost. One American dies every hour from oral cancer. By putting a new light on this disease, maybe we can conquer oral cancer."

What are your thoughts?

Posted by DDSGadget at 01:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Any thoughts on the recent study from Canadian researchers who found that components found in red wine can help prevent periodontal disease?

The scientists from Universite Laval (Quebec, Canada), reported these results at the 35th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research. They conducted a study to investigate the role of polyphenols, including those from red wine, in scavenging free radicals released by immune cells stimulated with components of bacteria causing periodontal diseases. Because free radicals are generated by immune cells during periodontitis, it is critical to keep them at low levels to maintain healthy gums. Their results indicated that red wine polyphenols significantly modulate several inflammatory components released by macrophages (a population of host immune cells) in response to bacterial stimuli. Specifically, polyphenols efficiently scavenged and inhibited free-radical generation by host immune cells by controlling intracellular proteins involved in their release. These anti-oxidant properties of red wine polyphenols could be useful in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory periodontal diseases as well as other disorders involving free radicals.

Please note: The above is a summary of abstract #1080, "Red Wine Polyphenols Modulate the Oxidative Stress Induced by Periodontopathogens", by V. Houde, D. Grenier, and F. Chandad, of Université Laval, Québec, Canada, which was presented at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 10, 2006, in Pacific Hall of the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, during the 35th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research.

Interested readers may want to refer to an article in the March, 2006, issue of the Journal of Dental Research, "Anti-inflammatory Activity of a High-molecular-weight Cranberry Fraction on Macrophages Stimulated by Lipopolysaccharides from Periodontopathogens", by C. Bodet et al. of Laval University, Montreal, PQ, Canada (J Dent Res 85[3]:235-239, 2006).

Posted by DDSGadget at 01:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Does anybody have any thoughts regarding Periowave, a new periodontal treatment recently approved for sale in Canada? According to Ondine Biopharma, the manufacturer, Periowave (TM) is a topical photodynamic disinfection treatment for periodontal diseases.

At the Ondine´s website one can find the following information:

PERIOWAVE : How it works

Ondine´s proprietary treatment, Periowave uses a novel non-antibiotic approach for treating the underlying infection responsible for periodontal disease. After routine scaling, the dentist will apply the compound directly into the periodontal pockets and around the gum line of affected teeth. The compound quickly penetrates the plaque preferentially binding to multiple structural components in bacteria, including their toxic secretions. Laser light is then applied directly to the affected sites using a fibre optic probe. A powerful free-radical reaction destroys the targeted bacteria and the associated toxins such as collagenase. The procedure is expected to take under 20 minutes to complete for the entire mouth. Little or no pain will be involved, a significant advantage over current traditional treatments. Additionally, treatments will generally be administered by hygienists.

The PERIOWAVE Advantage:

Current therapies for oral-cavity disinfection include antibiotics and antiseptics. Antibiotics are less effective in the oral cavity as they must stay uncomfortably in place for long periods of time, frequently resulting in patient non-compliance. Ondine´s periowave treatment can be applied, activated, and then removed from the affected site, maximizing patient comfort. The benefits of this technology include:

* Rapid action
* Broad-spectrum efficacy
* High specificity to disease-causing bacteria, and
* Low levels of toxicity to host cells in vitro

During September 2005, Ondine announced that it had successfully completed the first human study of its Periowave (TM) photodynamic disinfection (PDD) system, in patients with chronic periodontitis (gum disease). This clinical study was a randomized, controlled study comparing Scaling and Root Planing (SRP) alone to Ondine's adjunctive photodynamic disinfection therapy. The addition of Periowave (TM) to SRP resulted in a statistically and clinically significant improvement in the primary endpoint, the periodontal attachment level.

In addition, Ondine recently established a Sales and Marketing division that will support the Canadian distribution alliance with Henry Schein Ash Arcona, the Canadian subsidiary of Henry Schein, the largest distributor of healthcare products to office-based practitioners. Henry Schein serves approximately 80% of the Canadian and United States office-based dental practices and dental laboratories.

Have any thoughts or comments regarding Periowave? Please leave them below.

Posted by DDSGadget at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)