Michael Quirk

From BIOLASE's NewTom VG3 to new upholstery for dental chairs, this week's product roundup offers great products and practical solutions to enhance patient care and increase performance.

 digital panoramic imaging system received FDA clearance, and the company expects to ship the first units in June.  Find out the full story 

 offer a flexible and abrasive bristle design that gives dental lab work a uniform finish.  Reportedly, the discs are ideal for removing light oxide, heavy cleaning, semi-finishing, blending, and more.  The brushes come in three coarses (fine, medium and course) and are available in packages of four and 48.

Superior Upholstery's replacement upholstery program replaces old worn out cushions with completely assembled, easy-to-install new cushions.  Practitioners simply send the old cushions back to Superior so they can recycle the core plastic, wood and metal parts.  Memory Foam and the Relaxor System with heat are also available.  For more information, or to place an order, call 407-841-2313 or head to 

A single use, customizable impression tray, 

 COE Adjust-a-Tray allows practitioners to adjust a single impression tray into 141 different configurations by snapping off unwanted portions.  This allows for greater storage space that would otherwise be taken up storing multiple trays, plus there is no need to add wax to the tray's posterior portion.  View the full story 

Pentron Strada's first patient education video uses easy-to-understand animation to explain post and core procedures in layman's terms.  The rest of the site houses various other patient education materials, including infographics, discussion boards, news articles, and more.  Click 

The Prexion 3D Eclipse digital scanner's versatile functionality offers dedicated 2D cephalometric and panoramic options, plus a 3D CBCT modality that is said to deliver high-quality images and diagnostic clarity.  Find out more about this new CBCT scanner by reading the full story 

The Ti-Max Z45L by NSK Dental is said to be the world's first 45° contra-angle electric handpiece, offering access to hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. For more information, check out the full story 

Articles

From BIOLASE's NewTom VG3 to new upholstery for dental chairs, this week's product roundup offers great products and practical solutions to enhance patient care and increase performance. NewTom VG3 

The latest dental product news with the weekly product roundup - May 17, 2013

Life is full of necessary evils.  Waiting in line at the DMV. Paying taxes. Wearing orthodontic braces.  Looking back on when 

, it's hard for me not to think the experience was a little like going to high school: I'm glad I did it, but I'm equally glad I never have to do it again.

Fortunately for those currently facing the prospect of braces, 

 has managed to take much of the "evil" out of that particular necessity. 

 braces are clear, removable and totally effective, offering the same results as traditional metal braces without, well, the metal braces. Clear. Removable. Effective.

Communicating those benefits to your patients should be easy, but it never hurts to have help. This infographic from 

 vividly illustrates what Invisalign braces are, how they work, and the results patients can expect.

Click on the version below to make it larger:

Looking for more information?  Check out this video detailing how Invisalign works and what it can provide patients receiving cosmetic dental treatment.

Life is full of necessary evils.  Waiting in line at the DMV. Paying taxes. Wearing orthodontic braces.  Looking back on when I had braces, it's hard for me not to think the experience was a little like going to high school: I'm glad I did it, but I'm equally glad I never have to do it again.

Dental Infographic: Dream Smiles Made Clear with Invisalign [VIDEO]

A new study published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics finds solutions for dental practitioners who seek a low exposure alternative CBCT scanner.

The study, which was authored by Dr. John Ludlow, a researcher in imaging technology and radiation dosages, compared effective doses of radiation from the 

 with those from conventional 2D and medical CT imaging alternatives.  Using dosimeters in adult and child anthropomorphic phantoms, the researchers read the absorbed dose and used the data to calculate what amount was effective. 

The results showed that the i-CAT FLX Quick Scan+ protocols resulted in substantially lower doses than standard protocols for the child (P = 0.0167) and adult (P = 0.0055) phantoms.  The researcher notes, however, that while reductions in dose come with reductions in image quality, such low dose volumes are still useful for particular tasks.

“Studies such as this allow practitioners to compare the relative risk of different examinations, techniques, and equipment,” said Dr. Ludlow. “Together with information on image quality and diagnostic utility, practitioners can make evidence-based decisions on when to prescribe radiographic imaging and what technologies and techniques to use in acquiring diagnostic images.”

 to access the abstract for Dr. Ludlow’s research, or visit the 

 on Dental Products & Reviews for more information about the low-dosage scanner.

i-CAT FLX provides significant radiation dose reductions, study finds

DPR addresses common questions surrounding this complex part of the 

, with Fred Freedman, vice president of marketing and member relations for the 

, on hand to offer additional insight into what it means for dental device manufacturers, dentists and patients.

	What is the medical device excise tax and what is it supposed to accomplish?

According to Freedman, “the medical device tax is a 2.3% excise tax on all manufacturer’s medical devices sold in the U.S. The funds generated from the tax are supposed to help fund the expense of the new Affordable Care Act.”

It already has. The IRS started collecting the tax on Jan. 1 of this year.

	What kind of medical devices does the tax apply to?

Contrary to claims made by several chain email and social media posts in circulation recently, the medical device excise tax does not apply to non-medical items like sporting equipment, tires, coal, and fuel-inefficient vehicles.

Also, it’s important to note that the tax doesn’t apply to the kind devices that consumers – in this case, dental patients – purchase. This means that toothbrushes, floss, and other consumer dental products aren’t taxed through the ACA.

According to the IRS’s final regulations, a “taxable medical device” is one that is listed as such through the FDA under 

 of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as well as 21 CFR part 807. In the text of the act, this includes devices that “are being manufactured, prepared, propagated, compounded, or processed…for commercial distribution.”

According to 21 CFR part 807, this includes diagnostic devices, prosthetic devices, surgical devices, therapeutic devices, and many other common accessories dentists use.

“Typically all devices found in the local dentist office are subject to the tax, unless that device – or a similar one – can be purchased over the counter. Everything from a handheld mirror to a digital radiography system is subject to the tax,” says Freedman.

“Many lawmakers are surprised when told that the medical device tax includes most items stocked in a dental office; they assumed the tax was levied on manufacturers making the most expensive and technologically sophisticated devices found in hospitals.”

For a detailed look at what particular devices are subject to taxation, check out the American Dental Association’s list of 21 CFR part 872 devices.

 impacted by the tax, many manufacturers of dental equipment will be. To be subject to taxation, a manufacturer must receive more than 50% of aggregate gross receipts from medical device sales; in particular, companies earning more than $5 million but not more $25 million must connect 50% of sales to medical devices, while those earning more than $25 million must connect 100% of sales to medical devices.

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if the tax will force manufacturers to pass the additional cost onto dentists and patients, although many – the DTA and the ADA included – feel this is likely the case.

“Simply put,” says Freedman, “it increases the costs of oral healthcare for dentists and ultimately the patient.”

	Who is responsible for assessing and collecting the tax?

As Freedman explains, “manufacturers are responsible for assessing themselves and paying the tax to the United States Treasury. Failure to pay the tax can result in severe financial penalties.”

	Will the tax affect how dentists and labs are able to work together?

Since many components that dentists use to fabricate customized dental devices are listed in 21 CFR part 872, many have wondered if they will be responsible to assessing the tax. 

According to the ADA, the answer is no. “If any components that the dentist uses to fabricate the devices are on the FDA list, however, the manufacturer or supplier will add the tax and the dentist will pay it at the time of purchase. 

This also means that if a dentist purchases, for example a finished bridge from a domestic dental lab, the excise tax should not be applied to them.”  Many dental laboratories have already sent dentists letters explaining this.

	What is the medical device excise tax’s overall impact on dentistry?

To answer this, it’s important to first look at what is the purpose of the entire law, namely to decrease overall healthcare costs and make affordable treatment more readily available to those currently left out under the current system.

Should it have this effect – which remains to be seen – then perhaps the negative impact of the tax on manufacturers will be balanced by the throngs of newly insured Americans seeking treatment and the overall lower cost of doing so. Nevertheless, advocacy organizations in the dental industry like the DTA predict much more harmful outcomes.

“It raises the overall cost of oral healthcare in the United States and has a negative impact on new jobs, making US manufacturers less competitive in the international marketplace for dental products and equipment,” Freedman explains.

“One very important point is that the US dental community provides a lot of attractive manufacturing career opportunities. The wages paid to employees in the dental manufacturing sector enables families to buy houses, send children to college and pay taxes in their communities. These are exactly the types of jobs the US government should be supporting, not hampering with burdensome taxes.”

	Will the medical device excise tax hamper innovation as many claim it will?

Again, this remains to be seen. Still, Freedman thinks “overall, less profits and working capital impacts the funds available to perform new research and development. US dental devices are coveted around the world because of the innovative, affordable and reliable qualities of the devices. A higher manufacturing cost due to new taxes translates into fewer devices being sold. With fewer devices being sold, there are less funds available for new research and development.”

	Have advocacy organizations like the DTA weighed in on the medical device excise tax?

“The DTA, along with virtually every medical device and healthcare organization, strongly opposes the new medical device tax for many reasons. It increases the cost of healthcare, it impacts new jobs and research, it makes US products less competitive in the global marketplace, and increases the cost of healthcare for the US government, largely because the Department of Defense is one of the largest purchasers of healthcare devices,” explains Freedman.

“It is an unfair tax on small manufacturers, in some cases amounting to a 50% tax on profits. There are very few provisions for dental care in the Affordable Care Act, so the entire oral care manufacturing industry is being taxed but will derive very little in terms of driving new patients to the dentist, or an increased demand for oral care devices in the US.”

DPR addresses common questions surrounding this complex part of the Affordable Care Act, with Fred Freedman, vice president of marketing and member relations for the Dental Trade Association, on hand to offer additional insight into what it means for dental device manufacturers, dentists and patients.

Obamacare FAQ: The medical device excise tax in the Affordable Care Act

The complexity of the new law has left many dental practitioners scratching their heads, wondering what they need to know and how it will affect their practice.  

With this in mind, DPR gathers 5 essential elements of the law that every dentist, office manager and dental office employee needs to know.

	1. There is no stipulation for adult dental care in the new law.

Qualified health plans certified through the law are required to cover “essential health benefits.” And while children’s oral health services fall under this definition, stand-alone dental plans for adults do not.

The ACA requires consumers to purchase health plans that cover a wide range of services – from visits to a psychologist to breast pumps – but makes no mandate towards dental coverage. 

While the law does stipulate for coverage of medically necessary orthodontics for children, it is mostly silent on dental coverage for adults, or how the new law affects dentists.  All dental practices – even those that prefer not to offer pediatric dentistry – should expect a flood of requests for these services once the new law is in effect.  In turn, mandated coverage for children may cause some parents to drop their own dental plans as a way to save money.

	2. Your practice is probably eligible for small business health care tax credits.

Designed to help small employers afford the cost of health care coverage for their employees, the small business health care tax credit is specifically targets employers with low and moderate-income workers. 

Since 2010, businesses that have fewer than 25 full-time workers, pay average annual wages below $50,000, and contribute 50% or more towards individual health insurance premiums have qualified for a small business tax credit of up to 35%.  In 2014, this tax credit jumps to 50% and is available to qualified small businesses participating in the 

	3. All employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, which includes dental offices with employees, are required to provide each employee with a notice informing them of the new health insurance marketplace coverage options by Oct. 1.

Two notices are available here for printing – one for employers who 

In any case, be sure to check with your human resources manager and CPA to make sure you’re doing everything the new law requires of you.

	4. The Affordable Care Act does not cut Medicare benefits.

, the ACA is actually expected to save the average Medicare recipient approximately $35,000 over ten years.  And while Medicare still won’t cover routine dental care services like checkups and cleanings, coverage for “medically essential” dental services will remain unchanged.

	5. The EHR Incentive Program rewards dentists for using certified EHR software and products.

The EHR Incentive Program encourages dental practices to adopt “meaningful use” EHR technology.  The Certified EHR Technology Grant Program authorizes grants to manufacturers for offsetting the costs related to purchasing, leasing, and developing, and to dental practices for implementing EHR technology that’s designed to improve patient safety and reduce errors.

With this in mind, be sure to take advantage of the groundswell of certified EHR software that’s specifically designed to help you meet the requirements of the new law.  Check out DPR’s recommended EHR products below, or view the government’s (very long) list of certified EHR solutions 

Confused by the Affordable Care Act?  You’re not alone.   The complexity of the new law has left many dental practitioners scratching their heads, wondering what they need to know and how it will affect their practice.   With this in mind, DPR gathers 5 essential elements of the law that every dentist, office manager and dental office employee needs to know.

Obamacare: 5 things every dentist needs to know about the Affordable Care Act

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

, or “ObamaCare,” on the dental industry.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is designed to move the nation’s healthcare system toward better integration and substantially alter the way private insurers finance healthcare.

which is introduced by by ADA President Robert A. Faiella

, is a question and answer session designed to give dentists updated information on the law and its potential effects on dentistry in general. 

Some topics addressed in the first article include key provisions of the ACA, health benefits exchanges and issues about them that concern the ADA, how the law affects dental employers and consumers, and more.

 to read a shareable, printable version of the first article on the ADA’s website.

A new series of reports from the American Dental Association analyzes the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or “ObamaCare,” on the dental industry.

ADA article series addresses the Affordable Care Act's impact on dentistry

From clinical techniques to practice management advice, DPR revisits 2013's most-viewed articles that showed you how to enhance performance and better your practice.

The patient presented with a lower right quadrant of mandibular teeth with existing defective restorations, interproximal caries, and in the case of the first molar, excessive occlusal wear. The treatment plan was: 1) A disto-occlusal direct composite restoration on tooth No. 29; 2) An indirect ceramic MOD onlay/crown for tooth No. 30; and 3) A mesio-occlusal direct composite restoration on tooth No. 31. The plan was to complete the composite restorations before master impression for tooth No. 30 to restore proper proximal contour to those teeth so the ceramist would have ideal proximal surfaces on tooth Nos. 29 and 31 to build to.

	How to choose the right impression material

Accurate impressions depend on proper technique as well as desirable material characteristics. Elastomeric impression materials (polyethers, polyvinyl siloxanes, and hybrids) are popular impression materials because of their excellent physical and mechanical properties including excellent detail reproduction, high elastic recovery and good dimensional stability.

There are many impression materials available from many manufacturers to choose from. Making the right impression material choice for you helps avoid making a bad impression on your patients.
	The preferred elastomeric impression materials on the market are polyvinyl siloxanes (PVS) and polyethers (PE). Polyethers are known for their hydrophilic properties and good flowability. Polyvinyl siloxanes, on the other hand, are known for their excellent elasticity, high tear strength and stability. The decision to use one over the other varies among clinicians and is based on personal preference.

In recent years, a new class of impression materials has emerged. The polyether/polyvinyl hybrids were developed to combine the best features of both materials.

Dr. Cathia Bergeron, DMD, MS, walks the viewer through an esthetic build-up anterior restoration.

Each week, DPR explores a different dental technique how-to with our Technique Geek e-newsletter series. We feature video techniques of a product in use, offering step-by-step examples of clinical success. In this case, while incorporating two opacities of 3M ESPE Filtek™ Supreme Ultra Universal Restorative, Dr. Cathia Bergeron, DMD, MS, walks the viewer through an esthetic build-up anterior restoration of two broken teeth (No. 8 and No. 9) using a dual-shade technique.

Here are some proven ways to reduce the number of no-shows and broken appointments.

Broken appointments and no-shows can turn a well-scheduled day into a wreck.  Scheduling is one of the most difficult management systems in the practice. When you work hard to access a well-scheduled day only to have it fall apart at the last minute, frustration results. In this Morning Huddle video, Cathy Jameson from Jameson Management offers some proven ways to reduce the number of no-shows and broken appointments, from giving patients a reason to come back to your practice to rescheduling patients who are cancelling appointments while you have them on the phone.

The oral systemic link relates to how the body is connected to the mouth and diseases can be affected by oral health. This is why Stephanie Pietrantonio Lodding, RDH, says it’s of upmost importance to get your team on board and talking to patients about the oral systemic link. In this Morning Huddle video she addresses specific health concerns that are linked to oral health, plus how to get your practice conveying the right information to patients.

In this Morning Huddle video, dental consultant Penny Limoli of Limoli and Associates talks about the importance of the intraoral camera. The intraoral camera is the most underused case presentation tool in a dental practice. In this video, she tells you how  to get the most out of your intraoral camera, and that means improving case acceptance in your practice and reducing broken appointments.

In this Morning Huddle video, Misty Absher Clark of Jameson Management lays out how you and your team can grow and maintain excellent relationships with new and existing patient referral sources.

Nurturing referrals is not only desirable but also necessary in any practice. The vast majority of your patients will come to you as a result of personal and professional referrals. Your referral sources must know what services you offer, be confident in your ability to access excellent results, benefit from referring to you and like you and your team.
	
	

How many new patients did you get last year? How many did you get last month? How were they referred to your office? If you don’t know the answers to any of these questions, you may need to start keeping better track of your new patient numbers.
	
	As part of our Monday Morning Huddle tips to get your team talking, Jill Nesbitt, MBA, dental consultant and office manager, tells you how to know your numbers so you can track new patient flow into the practice.

In this Technique Geek case, Bisco Inc. offers a video how-to with Dr. Robert E. Rada demonstrating how he uses Bisco’s TheraCal LC protectant/liner to help reduce potential for post-operative sensitivity.

Lining dental material is frequently used beneath dental restorations to reduce the potential for post-operative sensitivity, but takes on a much greater role long-term in serving as pulpal protectants.

In this Technique Geek clinical how-to video, 3M ESPE offers a video that features Dr. G. Aboudharam demonstrating how he used two opacities of Filtek™ Supreme Ultra Universal Restorative and a dual-shade technique to restore a premolar that was exhibiting primary caries.

The top 10 most-viewed how-to articles of 2013

 and its business partners report raising a record annual contribution to support 

 (DLN), a national nonprofit organization that offers dental care to disabled individuals, and those who are elderly or medically fragile.

The contribution occurred in conjunction with the Patterson Leadership Summit in Minneapolis, an annual event that gathers the North American Patterson Dental management team to discuss patient experience and practice lifestyle improvement initiatives for the coming year.

We are excited to report that 2013 contributions to Dental Lifeline Network programs will exceed $236,000 – a record amount and a more than 12 percent increase over funds raised in 2012,” said Patterson Dental President Paul Guggenheim. “This overwhelming support from our dental industry partners demonstrates what can be accomplished when we work together in tangible ways to transform the lives of needy people who have no other way to receive dental treatment.”

 (DDS) program recruits a combined 18,600 volunteer dentists and laboratories to assist patients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Donations provided during the Patterson Leadership Summit go to support these services, which DLN says offered 7,337 special needs individuals $23.3 million in dental therapies in 2012.

Every year we embrace the opportunity to connect with business partners at our Leadership Summit,” Guggenheim said. “But through our ongoing support for DLN we also have the opportunity to help more people and impact our industry as a whole, which makes this event truly rewarding.”

 for more information about how you can donate your money or service to this worthy cause.

Patterson Dental and its business partners report raising a record annual contribution to support Dental Lifeline Network (DLN), a national nonprofit organization that offers dental care to disabled individuals, and those who are elderly or medically fragile.

Patterson Dental provides record charitable donation to Dental Lifeline Network

Said to be ideal for placing 3.25mm and 4mm diameter implants in 8.5 to 13mm lengths, 

 offers two insert options: one for Certain® and External Hex Components, and one for Certain alone.

“This kit really makes implant placement simpler for those who use tapered implants and who may be less familiar with our system,” said Bart Doedens, BIOMET 

 president. “With the new design, it makes it easy to find the tooling you need, for a smoother implant procedure.”

Other features of the kit include a reduced footprint for a better fit in smaller autoclaves; a latched clamshell design for easier access; clear pathways that follow BIOMET 

 surgical guidelines; product descriptions for identification and population; three empty spaces for additional instruments; easily accessible wrenches located on the insert; and a silicone mat for additional instrument storage.

For more information about the Tapered Implant Slim Surgical Kit, or to place an order, call 1-800-342-5454 or head to 

Said to be ideal for placing 3.25mm and 4mm diameter implants in 8.5 to 13mm lengths, this compact set of instruments offers two insert options: one for Certain® and External Hex Components, and one for Certain alone.

BIOMET 3i’s Tapered Implant Slim Surgical Kit offers versatile insert options and more

Digital Media Director Steve Diogo recently chatted with Dr. Christopher Walinski to highlight why employing diode lasers for pain management represents an exciting new frontier in the dental industry.

According to Dr. Walinski, the dental community has been slow to realize the enormous potential in using diode lasers for this purpose, despite years of clinical research supporting its substantial success in treating TMJ, increasing the speed of tooth movement and more.

Join Dr. Walinski, a San Diego dentist and Clinical Research and Education Director for Biolase Inc., for an informative overview of the science supporting the use diode lasers to relieve pain. 

		The fascinating science supporting this largely underutilized method of pain management in dentistry

		The proper wavelengths for various indications

		How to offer relief from the symptoms of TMD and other joint-related pain

		How diode laser therapy is used in orthodontics to significantly shorten treatment times

		The ways in which diode laser therapy dramatically improves the results of surgeries you’ve already performed

Click here to register for the webinar today!

Catapult University was founded to provide dental professionals a trusted resource for continuing education and product information. It was created with the understanding that the demands facing today’s clinicians are greater than ever. Catapult provides modern dental education that fits the busy schedules of modern dentists.