Medgadget » Dentistry

Next Generation DentalVibe Pain Relieving Device Unveiled

Gene Ostrovsky — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:26:26 +0000

A new generation of the DentalVibe dental injection pain relieving device has recently been released.

The new version of the device, which vibrates the gums to drive the brain’s attention away from the pain caused by the injection needle, sports more power, deeper penetration, and a couple other features to make it a more effective tool in the dental office.

Novel Glass Ceramic Puts a Bang in Your Bite

Gavin Corley — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:38:03 +0000

Chemists from the Otto-Schott-Institute for Glass Chemistry at Jena University in Germany have produced a new kind of glass ceramic with a nanocrystalline structure. The material has high strength characteristics and optical properties which make it ideal for use in dental applications.

The ceramic material comprises magnesium, aluminum and silicon dioxide, a combination known for its high strength properties. So far the new material has demonstrated a strength five times greater than comparable denture ceramics. By making the ceramic optically similar to natural teeth the researchers have overcome the major barrier for use of the material in dental applications.

Dental Plasma Brush Painlessly Cleans out Cavities

Gene Ostrovsky — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:22:27 +0000

A team of researchers from University of Missouri, University of Tennessee, and Nanova, Inc (Columbia, MO) have been working on a new dental “plasma brush” for cleaning out cavities and preparing teeth for fillings. The device uses “cool” plasma to affect chemical reactions while remaining painless to the patient.

So far laboratory trials haven’t revealed any side effects, except that fillings tend to be 60% stronger when applied in conjunction with plasma therapy. Human clinical trials are expected to begin early next year and if everything goes well we may see this technology in dental offices by 2013.

Brace Yourself: AcceleDent Device Could Cut Orthodontic Treatment Time in Half

Brian Klein — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:15:01 +0000

Dental braces work by applying force to teeth in order to gradually realign them by reshaping surrounding bone. Although the time it takes for patients to wear braces varies considerably, it generally takes longer than one year. To help speed the process, OrthoAccel Technologies (Houston, TX) has developed the AcceleDent system, which uses vibration to help the process go considerably faster. The AcceleDent is a removable and non-invasive appliance that a patient wears in the mouth for 20 minutes daily. The device, which recently was cleared by the FDA, will soon be available in the United States, according to the manufacturer.

In a randomized clinical trial, the device demonstrated with statistical significance that it could accelerate teeth movement by 106% during the initial alignment phase and 38% to 50% during closure of extraction space. There was no evidence of damage of teeth roots or other adverse events caused by the appliance in the study.

Teeth Defender: a Videogame to Help Kids Overcome ‘Dentistophobia’

Stanley Darma — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:29:31 +0000

A group of research students from the Technical University of Delft, The Netherlands, have developed a game to help children overcome their fear of dentists. The game will be played with 3D glasses and a game controller, while the children sit on the dentist’s chair. The project was initiated by Rob Kooij and the testing program was supported by many dentists.

The students have been working on this ‘serious game’ since September, but the gameplay isn’t perfect yet. In the game itself you will have to defend a row of teeth: the bad guys are represented by soda and candy, while the good guys are (of course) toothpicks, tooth paste and dental floss. The boss fight consists of a battle with a big bacteria monster. And if you open your mouth at the right moments, the game image will remain sharp. If you don’t, the image will become vague.

Medtronic launches Artisan System for Bone Graft Protection In Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery

Justin Barad — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:37:50 +0000

Bone grafting is the use of either native, cadaveric, or artifical bone pieces to fill a void where you would like new bone to grow. Often at first, bone grafts have poor structural qualities and need hardware to protect them, the bone around and to keep them in place. In Oral-Maxillofacial surgery bone loss is often caused by infection, trauma, tumors and other conditions.

Medtronic has announced the launch of its Artisan space maintenance system which is a set of a customizable titanium mesh, special screws for mesh fixation, as well as socket screws. The mesh is specifically designed for the protection of bone graft and has unique handling and structural properties for this purpose. The socket screws in particular are being marketed as ground breaking since the umbrella-shaped screw design allows for the protection of bone graft while eliminating the need to lift a second flap for the removal of the screw.

A Cavity-Filling Fluid That Regenerates Tooth Enamel – Is This The End Of The Dental Drill?

Scott Jung — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:58:58 +0000

Perhaps someday, the bi-annual trip to the dentist may become much less intimidating, thanks to researchers at Leeds University in the UK who have developed a completely pain-free way to fill cavities.

Taking inspiration from the principles of regenerative medicine, the process involves a special peptide-based fluid. Suspended in water, the peptide fluid, known as P 11-4 is clear and has a similar viscosity as water. Under certain conditions, namely when placed in contact with saliva that surrounds a tooth, the fluid forms a gel scaffold that fills the microscopic holes that are cavities. The scaffold, which mimics proteins that are found in growing teeth, attracts hydroxyapatite and other minerals to regenerate actual tooth enamel within weeks.

Hanako 2 Dental Robot Simulates a Real Patient

Gene Ostrovsky — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:51:45 +0000

A year ago we reported on a dental robot developed in Japan to help train dentists to work with patients. The research team involved in Hanako’s development just announced the Hanako 2, an improved, more realistic simulator thanks to a collaboration with Japan’s, and probably the world’s, leading love doll company.

More from DigiInfo TV: Ultra Realistic Dental Training Robot…

New Super Strong Metallic Glass For Dental Implants

Scott Jung — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:23:29 +0000

From Caltech and Lawrence Berkeley National Labs comes a new kind of glass that has both the strength and toughness of steel. In fact, this glass is stronger and tougher than steel, or any known material.
The new glass is made of palladium and silver with small fractions of metalloids. The addition of these metals allows the glass to withstand enormous amounts of pressure and strain. However, the cost of palladium is very high, making this glass impractical for large scale applications such as planes or cars.

New Device Removes Noise Caused By…Dental Drills

Scott Jung — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:00:01 +0000

From London comes the latest “why didn’t I think of that” application for noise-canceling technology!
We can think of very few people who enjoy going to the dentist. You have to hold your mouth open and still while your teeth and gums and poked and prodded, and worst of all is that lingering fear of the drill. You can probably already hear that high-pitched whining in your head, picturing your powertool-wielding dentist boring a hole into your face.