This last week I got a chance to preview the in my practice. If you haven't heard of this machine, welcome to the new world of digital dentistry. The iTero performs an extremely high resolution 3-D scan of teeth, and from that scan can create models to fabricate study models, inlays, onlays, crowns or bridges. At its heart, it does away with the impression material, and all the problems that go with it: no more gagging, no more bubbles, no more retakes, no more distortion. In coming blog posts, I'll let you know what I think of the process itself. On the front end, Cadent was very professional with arranging the delivery. My staff was given a heads up so workflow was not affected. The machine arrived in a box just short of the size of a refrigerator since the unit is mostly pre-assembled. There were a few odds and ends to install, like the monitor, and camera. It also comes with a wireless router that they plug into your network. In the future, this will server as an access point to the internet to either the digital impression. It also allows them to connect to your iTero so if you need tech support or help with an impression, they can drive your machine from their home office on the east coast. Cadent also sent some brochures and a CD with information to help you market your new toy. Our trainer took around 20 minutes total to get the machine up and running before we were able to take our first digital impression. Next blog: Our first case.

AMD's laser facility is high-tech, the company is talent-packed, and everything from design to production happens at a lightning pace.

Soda remains to be one of those drinks that seem to be so good, yet so bad for you. As a dentist, we regularly warn people against the evils of soda drinks, especially Coca-Cola. Basically, instead of the bacteria oin your teeth taking a few hours to form acids that cause cavities following a sugar snack, Coca-Cola starts ripping minerals out of your teeth the moment it touches them. Because it is related to the acidity, it doesn’t matter if it is the diet version or not. The problem expands when considering that no one seems to know whether diet sweeteners like Aspartame are safe or not. The research has been inconclusive, and just Google “diet drink incidence of cancer” and you will find a ton of information on the subject. Digging further you will find all kinds of research on the effects of soda on bone density as well. Now researchers at the University of Minnesota have published an article that links the sugar in these drinks to pancreatic cancer. They did a study with over 60,000 people over 14 years. They found that if you drank two or more soft drinks per week (not day), you had a statistically significant increased risk of pancreatic cancer. That’s Stats 101 speak for “a heck of a lot more likely”. Like most cancers, there is not just one thing that could give you cancer. Things like environmental influence, diet, and genetics all play a role in its development. But if you know the source of at least one of these causes, it helps you do something about it. It seems that over the last few years, soda pop has been vying with smoking for the top spot as the least healthy habit (legal habit, that is). Quit either one, and I know that at least your teeth will thank you.  

Physorg.com has reported on a group of researchers from the University of Essex that have determined that people who have a negative bias toward something tend to be more susceptible toward stress.  Basically, if you are a glass-is-half-empty kind of a person, you are more likely to be anxious about things. Being a dentist, this isn’t exactly a shocker. I still have new patients that come in expecting the process to be downright miserable. They expect that they are to be treated poorly, that they will be in pain the entire time, and that they will never be right again after the appointment. Of course, it’s no wonder that this creates significant stress about the appointment. One time, I even had a new patient who was so completely nervous about the appointment, she would not go past the waiting room before she simply met me for the first time. It is so nice then to create a new and different experience for these patients in my office. Newer local anesthetics work better than ever, eliminating pain from the appointment. We use electric handpieces which are quieter and transfer less vibration to the tooth. Our digital x-ray sensor is more comfortable than film, and it works with over 80% less radiation to the patient. New bonding systems make the filling not only last longer, but help to seal the tooth for less sensitivity following the procedure. Plus, it turns out that if you stop and listen to someone, and pay attention to what their needs are, they can have quite a different experience. But… all offices are not created equal. Many people think that they will have the same experience everywhere. I believe that a patient-focused practice that uses that utilizes the latest clinical concepts and technology will always trump that negative bias, and the anxiety that follows. I don’t think we need a research grant to figure that out.

Rhuematoid arthritis, heart disease, stroke… all have been linked to the health of your mouth. If the gums are puffy and red from poor brushing or flossing, they will bleed easily during normal home care. The problem is that the bacteria in your mouth then have open access to the rest of your body via your bloodstream. For most people, the immune system can take this onslaught. But, for example, if you have certain predisposed heart conditions, you are more at risk for these bacteria to cause problems. Case Western Reserve University Researchers have now found a link to yet another population prone to having problems related to oral bacteria: Pregnant Mothers. They have in the past shown that oral bacteria can circulate to the uterus, and cause pre-term birth. Now, MSNBC is reporting on a case in which this same bacteria caused a child to be stillborn. In this case, the patient had heavy bleeding from her gums, which can be a classic sign of periodontal disease. Now it is well known that pregnant woman will have an increased amount of inflammation in their gums due to hormone changes. This is different. The idea here is that this particular patient was not in a normal healthy range in terms of her dental care, and the excess amount of bacteria potentially caused the damage. Now I have read all the pregnancy books which explicitly detail everything you should or shouldn’t be doing in pregnancy, from avoiding hot tubs and  sushi, to making sure you eat Folic Acid like candy. This is not necessarily one more thing to worry about. Just make sure good brushing and flossing is part of your daily routine. Dentists: you can educate patients on their risk level, and encourage frequent cleanings and good home care. Stay educated on the issues, so that you can be that trusted resource for your patients. I can guarantee, they will be asking about this. Update: Click Here to see a video with Yiping Han, Ph. D. talking about her ongoing research.  

  I love getting emails like this. Dentalcompare, as well as other media outfits in dentistry, received a poorly written but passionate letter about the evils of the dental industry. Specifically, the dentist called out Dentalcompare to be open and honest, and stop pandering to the companies that promote products on our site. Apparently, he feels thatVertise Flow by Kerr and Fusio Liquid Dentin by Pentron are the same products and we are all a bunch of big liars.  His unedited email is below:   “Dear all,  As you surely know Vertise Flow is the same as the Pentron product FusioLiquid Dentin, a self-adhering flowable composite.  Since Kerr/Sybron has been taken over Pentron mid 2008, it's just realistic that all new Pentron products will be marketed as Kerr products too, seen the far greater sales power of the Kerr corporation.  AND AS YOU ALL KNOW this,  why are you not "honnest" with your readers-dentists and say them that both products are the same ?!  And by extension, why do you not make a list of ALL private labelled products, coming from one and the same "real" manufacturer ?! Composites, adhesives, composite posts, ....  Kindly, [Name not printed]   I happen to have followed the development of Vertise Flow, and was able to clarify much of the information with Barbara Young in Media Relations with Kerr.   Specifically, Pentron was acquired by Kerr to gain the use and rights of Resilon technology, an endodontic filling material. Pentron developed Fusio completely independently of the Kerr product, and continues to market and sell Fusio as a separate product.   While Vertise Flow and Fusio are both basically a blend of bonding agent and composite, there are some clear distinctions in their formulations:  Vertise Flow uses OptiBond technology, with GPDM adhesive monomers. Fusio uses 4-MET monomers. This accounts for a difference in how the two products actually bond to dentin.   While these differences at first glance may seem trivial, their basic chemistries differ and are important in the way that each of these products interacts with tooth structure, and how each is used clinically. For example, the application techniques of Vertise Flow and Fusio differ, particularly in a liner capacity. Vertise Flow asks the clinician to brush the material onto the cavity floor and all walls, cure, and build the restoration with a traditional composite. On the other hand, Fusio asks the clinician to agitate the material onto the cavity floor, cure, and then proceed to etch and bond on all walls, cure, and build the restoration with a traditional composite.   Now, on to Dentalcompare. As clinical editor for this trusted resource for dentists and hygienists, we take great strides to ensure that our content is accurate and unbiased. We do not falsely represent anyone, and have no interest in

A young female patient presented with pit and fissure caries in teeth # 20 and 21.

A female patient presented after an early loss of tooth No. 30. Treatment began with a GALILEOS 3D scan, which was mirrored to 30 and designed with CEREC.

Dr. Bradley Dykstra uses a clinical case to demonstrate the applications and benefits of using Cadent's iTero digital impression system.

Originally marketed as “a replacement for traditional retraction cord,” Expasyl has many other clinical uses beyond the scope of its originally intended use.