Affordable portable dental chair developed
Dental chair fully reclines into an ergonomically correct position without the aid of gears or a motor, also folds into a dolly to help transport supplies. With its minimal weight and small size when collapsed, doctors can more easily overcome one of the primary challenges to providing care in remote areas: transporting their dental chair. LINK
Dentists learn with virtual drill
Last issue we brought you news about simodont and dentsim and now a dental school in UK also comes up with its own virtual preclinical lab.
Their patients need not be afraid though, as these want-to-be dentists are practising on 3D virtual-reality jaws, not the real thing.
The 14 work stations lined up in a lab at Europe’s largest dental school, King’s College London, use a technology that allows the student to learn how much pressure they should use when drilling.
The device, called HapTEL (haptics in technology-enhanced learning), received the excellence in education innovation award at the Medical Futures ceremony earlier this month. SEE other TWO Systems CLICK HERE
The project is a collaboration between dentists from Guy’s Hospital, technical developers from Reading University and Birmingham City University, and e-learning professionals from King’s College London. CLICK HERE
Tooth sensitivity is a big problem in India
Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, the market leader in oral care, today announced the findings from a survey commissioned to gauge the existing condition of tooth sensitivity in Indian metro cities. Conducted by research firm Nielsen across six cities (Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad), the survey covered 1800 respondents. The findings reveal that although tooth sensitivity is increasingly becoming a common oral health problem, awareness about this condition is fairly low.
Of the six cities surveyed, the incidence of Sensitivity is highest in Hyderabad with more than half (55%) of the population claiming to suffer from the problem. Another southern metro, Chennai, follows this count with similar claims from 53% of the respondents. However, less than half of the respondents from cities like New Delhi (46%), Mumbai (42%) and Kolkata (36%) claim to suffer from Sensitivity. However, interestingly, inhabitants of Kolkata are most aware of this condition being called ‘Sensitivity’. The survey also reveals that the incidence of Sensitivity is lowest in Bangalore with only 18% of the respondents claiming to suffer from the problem. MORE HERE
Syringe design takes fear out for kids
With the Angelus Alligator, the only thing a child will see prior to receiving local anesthesia is a cartoon-looking device made of flexible rubber that fits over the needle and syringe, hiding them from young patients’ eyes.
Detection of dental root fractures by using cone-beam computed tomography
Dentomaxillofacial Radiology (2011) 40, 290-298
Study concluded that CBCT provided high-quality 3D images which were valuable for detecting dental root fractures and for planning the treatment strategy. The sensitivity of CBCT images for the detection of root fractures was 89.5%, which was much higher than that of dental radiographs (26.3%). The presence of root canal fillings did not significantly influence the sensitivity of dental radiographs, but reduced the sensitivity of CBCT scans. The overall specificity of both dental radiographs and CBCT scans was high and comparable and remained largely unaffected by the presence of root canal fillings.
Dentsply buys astra zenca
U.S. company Dentsply International secured a bigger bite of the global dental market by buying AstraZeneca’s dental implants and medical devices unit Astra Tech for $1.8 billion.
Dentsply, which beat off bids from rival medical technology groups and private equity firms, said the acquisition would increase its revenue by around a quarter and be accretive to earnings immediately. NEWSLINK
Red laser light enhances teeth whitening
When used to activate bleaching gel, low-level laser energy increases the effectiveness of teeth whitening, according to a study in the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry (June 15, 2011).
Researchers from São Paulo State University wanted to assess the effectiveness of a low-intensity red laser for activating a bleaching gel, as well as its effect on the temperature of the bleaching gel and the dental pulp.
They immersed 40 extracted bovine teeth in coffee for 14 days to darken the teeth. The specimens were then randomly distributed into two groups of 20: the control, which did not receive light, and the experimental group, which received light from an appliance fitted with three red laser diodes.
A green-colored, 35% H2O2-based bleaching gel was applied to the teeth for 30 minutes and changed three times. Both before and after bleaching, the teeth were assessed to obtain the L*a*b* values.
The researchers found a significant difference in color between the groups (p = 0.016), and the experimental group presented a significantly higher mean variation (7.21 ± 2.76) in comparison with the control group (5.37 ± 1.76). While there was an increase in pulp temperature in the experimental group, it was not sufficient to cause damage to the pulp.
New blue-light device IDs early caries, biofilm
A team of scientists from the University of Liverpool has won a Medical Futures Award for a fluorescence-based device they say can identify early caries and biofilm before it is visible to the human eye.
The innovation, dubbed iDENTifi, comprises a clinical digital camera that incorporates qualitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) technology to take images of the mouth using blue light and special filters that reveal caries and biofilm. The images can then be transferred using wireless technology to a computer, laptop, iPad, or smartphone for immediate assessment and evaluation by a dental care professional.
Gujrat plans to have its own regulatory body for post graduate courses
State health minister Jay Narayan Vyas indicated that the government is mulling creating a state level body on the lines of the Medical Council of India, which will be empowered to approve post graduate level courses.
Vyas said, “There is a shortage of specialty doctors in the state. Moreover, the number of resident doctors is inadequate. After the formation of the state level medical council, the issue is likely to ease.” LINK
ALso read MCI secretary resigns amid controversy
LAST POST _ Dental Council of India decides to go soft of experience issue of Dental college teachers
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