Dental Tribune U.S. Edition

News Dental Tribune U.S. Edition | January 2012 A3 Publisher & Chairman Torsten Oemus t.oemus@dental-tribune.com Chief OPerating OffiCer Eric Seid e.seid@dental-tribune.com grOuP editOr Robin Goodman r.goodman@dental-tribune.com editOr in Chief dental tribune Dr. David L. Hoexter d.hoexter@dental-tribune.com managing editOr u.s. and Canada editiOns Robert Selleck r.selleck@dental-tribune.com managing editOr Fred Michmershuizen f.michmershuizen@dental-tribune.com managing editOr Sierra Rendon s.rendon@dental-tribune.com managing editOr shOw dailies Kristine Colker k.colker@dental-tribune.com PrOduCt & aCCOunt manager Mark Eisen m.eisen@dental-tribune.com marketing manager Anna Kataoka-Wlodarczyk a.wlodarczyk@dental-tribune.com sales & marketing assistant Lorrie Young l.young@dental-tribune.com C.e. manager Christiane Ferret c.ferret@dtstudyclub.com Dental Tribune America, LLC 116 West 23rd St., Ste. #500 New York, N.Y. 10011 (212) 244-7181 Published by Dental Tribune America © 2012 Dental Tribune America, LLC All rights reserved. Dental Tribune strives to maintain the utmost accu- racy in its news and clinical reports. If you find a fac- tual error or content that requires clarification, please contact Managing Editor Robert Selleck at r.selleck@ dental-tribune.com. Dental Tribune cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims or for typographical errors. The publisher also does not assume responsibility for product names or statements made by advertisers. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and may not reflect those of Dental Tribune America. editOrial bOard Dr. Joel Berg Dr. L. Stephen Buchanan Dr. Arnaldo Castellucci Dr. Gorden Christensen Dr. Rella Christensen Dr. William Dickerson Hugh Doherty Dr. James Doundoulakis Dr. David Garber Dr. Fay Goldstep Dr. Howard Glazer Dr. Harold Heymann Dr. Karl Leinfelder Dr. Roger Levin Dr. Carl E. Misch Dr. Dan Nathanson Dr. Chester Redhead Dr. Irwin Smigel Dr. Jon Suzuki Dr. Dennis Tartakow Dr. Dan Ward Tell us what you think! Do you have general comments or criti- cism you would like to share? Is there a particular topic you would like to see articles about in Dental Tribune? Let us know by e-mailing feedback@dental- tribune.com. We look forward to hear- ing from you! If you would like to make any change to your subscription (name, address or to opt out) please send us an e-mail at database@dental-tribune.com and be sure to include which publica- tion you are referring to. Also, please note that subscription changes can take up to six weeks to process. DENTAL TRIBUNE The World’s Dental Newspaper · US Edition Prototype tool uses 'cool flame' to improve fillings A “painless” cavity-cleaning dental in- strument is moving closer to market re- ality after lab results showed it reduces the cost of restorations while increasing the strength and potential lifespan of fillings. According to the lab results, in less than 30 seconds, the plasma brush uses chemical reactions to disinfect and clean out cavities for fillings. In addition to the bacteria-killing properties, the “cool flame” from the plasma brush forms a better bond for cavity fillings. The chem- ical reactions involved with the plasma brush change the surface of the tooth to create a substantially stronger bond with the filling material than occurs without use of the device. The effort to bring the plasma brush technology to market is backed by the National Institutes of Health Small Busi- ness Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the National Science Foundation, both of whom have contributed funding. The university researchers who cre- ated the device believe that results from human clinical trials now under way will support efforts to secure investor fund- ing and enable the next steps needed to place the product on the market. If the studies go well and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration clears the use, the researchers’ time line suggests the plas- ma brush could be available to dentists as early as the end of 2013. The university researchers behind the plasma brush have formed the company Nanova to bring the technology to market. “There have been no side effects re- ported during the lab trials, and we expect the human trials to help us im- prove the prototype,” said Qingsong Yu, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of Missouri, Columbia. The University of Missouri, where much of the initial re- search was conducted, holds a co-patent for the plasma brush with Nanova. The university has a policy of sharing patents with its researchers and supporting ef- forts that turn such research into viable businesses. The researchers said that more than 200 million tooth restorations are per- formed every year in the United States at an estimated cost of $50 billion to pa- tients and insurers. The team’s statistics also indicate that replacement fillings comprise 75 percent of a dentist’s work. “The plasma brush would help reduce those costs,” said Hao Li, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the University of Missouri College of Engineering. “In addition, a tooth can only support two or three restorations before it must be pulled. Our studies indicate that fillings are 60 percent stronger with the plasma brush, which would increase the filling lifespan. This would be a big benefit to the patient, as well as dentists and insur- ance companies.” Li, along with Yu and Meng Chen, formed Nanova, with Chen serving as chief scientist and leading the plasma brush device development through the SBIR program. The research and develop- ment team also includes Yong Wang from the School of Dentistry at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and Liang Hong from the School of Dentistry at the Uni- versity of Tennessee, Memphis. Human clinical trials are expected to begin in early this year at the University of Tennessee, Memphis. (Sources: University of Missouri, Nanova) Researchers say 'painless' plasma brush creates sturdier, longer-lasting bond between tooth and filling By Robert Selleck, Managing Editor Engineers at the University of Missouri say the 'painless' plasma brush with its 'cool flame' better prepares cavities for fillings than current technology. Photo/University of Missouri “ Page A2 demonstrates leadership, outstanding character and exemplary academic per- formance. The scholarship just award- ed money to its first recipient, David Moghadam. “We selected our criteria based on what we learned from Dr. Cinotti,” said Echo, class vice president. “It is because I hold Dr. Cinotti in such high regard that I decided to help establish this scholarship in his name.” Ranucci, class treasurer, agreed. “Not only was Dr. Cinotti my Little League baseball coach, but as I grew up he turned out to be a major guiding force in my life,” he said. “We all thank him for making such a wonderful difference for us.” If you would like to contribute to the William R. Cinotti Endowed Scholarship, or learn how to establish a scholarship, contact Andrea West, New Jersey Dental School director of development, at (973) 972-1039 or at westan@umdnj.edu. The American Dental Association (ADA) has updated its Practical Guide to Creating an Employee Office Manual, which assists dental practices in creating customized employee office manuals. Written and reviewed by a team of ADA professionals, the book addresses many common employment issues and contains sample forms, checklists, poli- cies and procedures. These documents are included in Microsoft Word format on the book’s accompanying CD-ROM for quick and easy customizing for each dental practice’s unique needs. New and updated features include: updated sample job descriptions and in- terview questions; new sample policies on using cell phones, electronic commu- nications and social media — on and off the clock; new chapter on patient man- agement;updatedsectionsontheHealth InsurancePortabilityandAccountability Act and Occupational Safety and Health Administration policies; new perfor- mance evaluation forms; and expanded section on natural disaster preparation The ADA Practical Guide to Creating an Employee Office Manual is available electronically and in hard-copy by call- ing (800) 947-4746 or through the ADA Catalog online at www.adacatalog.org. The hard-copy book with CD-ROM is $89.95 for ADA members and $134.95 for non-member dentists. The guide is also available as an e-book on the Barnes and Noble Nook in its en- tirety or in individual chapter down- loads on www.adacatalog.org. ADA updates its guide to creating employee manual