dentist blog au: 01/21/13

Monday, January 21, 2013

SipDisc kits promote pediatric oral health

August 19, 2008 -- A new group of products created to support good oral hygiene and help prevent tooth decay is being introduced to dental offices nationwide by Benco Dental. The products include two new SipDisc kits for dentists and hygienists to distribute to their pediatric patients. The kits include daily brushing charts designed to encourage children to practice good daily oral hygiene habits.

Each kit features specially designed SipDiscs, lightweight paperboard die-cut disks that fit over juice and soft-drink bottles and cans, and firmly hold drinking straws in the correct position to help prevent tooth decay, erosion, and staining. The key to protecting the teeth from the corrosive effects of soft drinks, fruit juices, and sports drinks is to position the straw near the back of the mouth so the teeth aren't bathed in soda with every sip, according to a company press release.

Benco Dental representatives will introduce the new SipDisc packages to dental offices across the country as part of a "Back to School" program in August and September.

Lares offers customers free dental laser training

By DrBicuspid Staff

August 19, 2008 -- Dental laser manufacturer Lares Research of Chico, CA, is now offering free training programs to purchasers of its PowerLase AT hard- and soft-tissue laser, according to a company press release.

The company will collaborate with Masters of Laser Dentistry and the Montana Center for Laser Dentistry to provide this service.

The Masters of Laser Dentistry will provide a two-day basic-level training course for all new PowerLase owners, while the Montana Center for Laser Dentistry will provide a two-day advanced-level course. After a full year of laser use, buyers will be eligible for two additional two-day advanced-level training courses.

Dentist performs root canal on aging monkey

By DrBicuspid Staff

August 18, 2008 -- What do you do with an aging monkey whose incisors have worn away? Why, give it a root canal of course!

And that is exactly what 24-year-old Twiggy -- a lion-tailed macaque -- at the El Paso Zoo in Texas was scheduled to receive last week, according to a news story in the Las Cruces Sun News.

Animals in zoos can live much longer than in the wild and unexamined geriatric dental problems can become a problem, Dr. Victoria Milne, veterinarian for the El Paso Zoo, told the paper. Bridget Burris, D.D.S., a visiting dentist from Las Cruces, NM, was called in to perform the procedure.

"Milne said Twiggy will be given anesthesia, intubated, and put on a ventilator while Burris x-rays her and gets to work on the root canal, which is expected to take 45 minutes to an hour," the paper reported.