Nicholas Hamm

	The ScanX Intraoral View scanner is a Wi-Fi-enabled digital radiography system for intraoral formats. The new scanner features a touchscreen and supports the simultaneous scanning of four plates. 

 is said to enable the intuitive, efficient and time-saving digitization of PSPs for all intraoral formats, sizes 0-4. 

	The scanner is said to offer superb image quality, up to 20 lp/mm. It has digital filters for what are said to be reliable diagnostics that allow the user to adjust the contrast and sharpness of images. The unit’s 4.3-inch touchscreen can display 16.7 million colors for what is said to be excellent image quality.

	The unit is said to increase efficiency by 300 percent when compared with other single-plate scanners. ScanX Intraoral View allows the user to check X-ray results with a preview function for the scanned images, and a preset scan mode is said to provide quick and reliable scanning. Wi-Fi connectivity allows the unit to be placed anywhere in an office. Even if the user’s IT network is down, the unit can still scan and save X-rays, as images are stored temporarily in the internal memory and are transferred later on.

	The Air Techniques PSP technology reportedly makes it very easy to switch to a digital workflow. PSP are said to be easier to position and sit more comfortably in a patient’s mouth, while handling is as easy as analog film without the need for chemicals or a dark room. With the ScanX Intraoral View, PSP diagnostics are said to be quicker, more reliable and more convenient. 

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The system is said to be the next generation of digital radiography systems for all intraoral formats.

Using the ScanX Intraoral View in your practice

	As a healthcare provider, you’re always looking for ways to help your patients be their best and their healthiest. While dentists concentrate mainly on oral health, it doesn’t end there.

	But as we’ve shown before, oral health is 

 to health all over the body. Did you know, for example, that postmenopausal women with gum disease are 

 to develop cancer in their esophagus or gall bladder or that missing teeth can 

 from Britain suggests that oral health could be incredibly important for elderly patient. According to a study of older British men, poor oral health was associated with a greater risk of being frail or developing frailty in older age.

Related article: Sleeping in dentures can pose major health hazards

	Frailty is very common among older people, 

 as much as 59.1% of community-dwelling elderly adults. It includes problems such as unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, weakness and slow walking speed. Those problems can then lead to other issues like disability, falls and even death.

	Researchers examined over 1,000 participants aged 71 to 92 and measured factors such as grip strength and walking speed. The rate of frailty was 19 percent.

	The researchers also looked at the oral health of each participant, which included a count of natural teeth and an examination of periodontal conditions. Of the population, 20 percent were edentulous and 64% had fewer than 21 teeth. For periodontal conditions, 25 percent had loss of attachment greater than 5.5 mm and 29 percent periodontal pocket depth greater than 3.5 mm.

	Overall, over a 3-year follow-up period, the risks of frailty increased with edentulous patients and those reporting only fair or poor oral health. Perhaps most importantly, the researchers found the more oral health problems, the greater the risk of frailty.

Related article: Could dentists stop stomach cancer?

	Dry mouth symptoms were also shown to increase the rates of frailty. Dry mouth is often caused by medications, and can create denture-related problems (like sores or ulcers) and can also negatively impact eating and swallowing ability.

	The researchers concluded that more research was needed to determine the cause of the link between frailty and oral health. However, they suspected the link is largely due to the negative impact on nutrition.

Influence of Poor Oral Health on Physical Frailty: A Population-Based Cohort Study of Older British Men

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

If you’re looking to help the elderly stay more active, start with their teeth.

Study finds link between frailty and oral health

	In 2016, the CDC estimated that 26,370 cases of stomach cancer would be diagnosed and result in 10,703 deaths. Dentists could help change that number, according to new research.

, conducted at the NYU College of Dentistry and published in the 

, found that the bacteria responsible for periodontitis are also associated with precancerous lesions in the stomach. These lesions, including chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia, can predict stomach cancer.

	“Our study reinforces earlier findings that poor oral health is associated with an increased risk of precancerous lesions of stomach cancer,” 

, professor of basic science and craniofacial biology at NYU Dentistry and the study’s corresponding author.

Related article: The top 10 dental discoveries of 2017

	Researchers were already aware that a variety of factors, like 

 colonization, cigarette smoking, and eating salt and preserved foods can contribute to stomach cancer, but many new cancer patients did not have these risk factors. Researchers hypothesized that the bacteria responsible for periodontitis are also responsible for chronic systemic inflammation that can in turn cause stomach cancer.

	To conduct the study, researchers examined a group of 105 patients who received an upper endoscopy. Out of that group, 35 had precancerous lesions, while the remaining 70 did not and were used as a control group. Researchers performed full-mouth examinations to assess periodontal conditions - including the colonization of several pathogens and the amount of oral microbial diversity.

	Compared with the control group, the 35 patients had higher levels of bleeding when probed (31.5 percent versus 22.4 percent), higher levels of two pathogens (

T. denticola and A. actinomycetemcomitans

) and less bacterial diversity in their saliva. Further analysis, which took into consideration sociodemographic factors, oral health behaviors and periodontal assessments found another bacterium (

) to be responsible, along with poor flossing habits and lower bacterial diversity in dental plaque.

	All of this led researchers to conclude that higher levels of the bacteria responsible for periodontitis, along with lower bacterial diversity levels in the mouth, could contribute to a higher risk of a patient developing precancerous lesions.

Related article: Are dentists causing a deadly infection in patients?

	“Based on our findings, treatment for chronic periodontal disease and control of periodontal pathogen infections should be included in future strategies for preventing stomach cancer,” says Li.

Chronic Periodontal Disease, Periodontal Pathogen Colonization, and Increased Risk of Precancerous Gastric Lesions

” can be found at the Journal of Periodontology. 

New research suggests a link between periodontitis and stomach cancer.

Could dentists stop stomach cancer?

	Despite advances in composite resins, dental amalgam still remains a popular option for posterior tooth restorations. Many assume that composite restorations are more likely to fail, especially in more challenging cases where there is a belief that amalgam will perform better. However, new research shows that it is not so much the filling that matters, but patient factors.

 published this week in the journal “Frontiers in Medicine,” authors from the University of Pittsburgh 

 School of Dentistry in Brazil found that factors such as genetics and tobacco and alcohol use are the main reasons for restoration failures.

	The study examined the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine Dental Registry and DNA Repository project, which keeps data on the population treated at the school. The authors examined all restorations of posterior teeth involving the occlusal and at least one proximal surface, and the status of those were examined at one, two and five years after placement. Overall, the study examined 6,266 amalgam and 2,010 composite restorations in 807 patients over a period of around 10 years. The authors also examined an additional 443 extensive direct composite resin restorations in anterior teeth.

Related article: 5 ways procedures are changing because of bulk fill technologies

	The results showed that overall, failure rates between amalgam and composite restorations are very similar. For the first two years, amalgam performed slightly better (A 0.09 percent lower failure rate up to the first year of follow-up, 0.74 percent up to the second year of follow-up), but 

 began to pull away from amalgams with a 2.05 percent lower rate of failure up to five years of follow-up. The authors noted that though these numbers seem small, over a large population group the cost savings could be substantial.

	So if rates of failure are the same, why do restorations fail, and why are composite restorations seen as more prone to failure? To answer this, the authors looked at a variety of factors that could potentially affect composite restoration failure rates, such as age, sex, diabetes and periodontal health status.

	Smoking was found to be a culprit in increasing failure rates, but interestingly, affected men more often than women. Alcohol was another factor, increasing the failure rate within two years.

	Perhaps most interesting is the role genetics play in failure rates. The researchers looked at 92 patients with a failed composite resin in either the anterior or posterior teeth. They compared those patients with 92 other unrelated patients, who matched with the other group by type of restoration and other factors such as age, sex, ethnicity, and tobacco and alcohol use. The authors could then examine the role matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play in failure rates.

Related article: 5 ways your composite choice may be costing you money – and making your patients unhappy

	MMPs are exposed and activated by acidic agents during the adhesive bonding process. The authors hypothesized that certain MMP alleles could increase the degradation of collagen fibrils at the resin–dentin-bonded interfaces, which could in turn lead to restoration failures.

 rs9923304 TT genotype was one example of an MMP linked to composite restoration failure. Other research has shown that that specific genotype is found in 23 percent of Whites, 14 percent of Chinese and Japanese, and 1.8 percent of Yoruba Africans.

	The authors conclude that composite restorations can fully substitute for amalgam restorations in ordinary dental practice, but to be wary of tobacco and alcohol use. They also suggest that more personalized care, such as genotyping rs9923304, may be useful in determining follow-ups to extensive composite resin restorations.

	Vieira AR, Silva MB, Souza KKA, Filho AVA, Rosenblatt A and Modesto A (2017) A Pragmatic Study Shows Failure of Dental Composite Fillings Is Genetically Determined: A Contribution to the Discussion on Dental Amalgams. 

A new study shows that composite restorations are superior to amalgam restorations.

Composite restorations aren’t the problem, patients (and their genes) are

Chances are, you’ll need to get a gift for a dental professional in your life soon. Whether it’s a birthday, a last-minute holiday gift, or you’re just trying to impress a boss, there’s always a reason to be on the lookout for gifts.

Fear not, because we’ve got your back. This is a list of some of the best gifts out there, gifts that are sure to make an impression! Some of them might 

 weird, but we’ll help explain why it just might be the most useful gift you’ve ever given.

Choose wisely from the following gifts. You just might be able to convince your co-worker that you didn’t forget about their birthday or your boss to finally give you that raise you’ve been asking for.

The 7 Weirdest Gifts for Dental Professionals

A guide to some of the best (and weirdest) dental themed gifts out there.

The 7 weirdest gifts every dental professional NEEDS

	Simplifeye reportedly connects you, your patients and your business using state-of-the-art consumer tech, and is the number one mobile experience for healthcare providers.

	Simplifeye is said to help you and your office reduce wait times and create a more personal patient experience.

	All your patients for the day are displayed on your iPhone and color-coded by procedure type. This is said to allow instant, secure access to your schedule in the office or on the go. The at-a-glance patient and procedure lists reportedly help you eliminate downtime and plan your day. 

	Simplifeye is said to remove the friction from coordinating check-ins and exam rooms through instantaneous communication. The system allows real-time integration with your PM/EMR, along with what are said to be easier, more intuitive provider notifications.

Related reading: How Simplifeye helps dentists stay up-to-the-minute with their practices

	Simplifeye on the Apple Watch is said to give you comprehensive appointment info the instant you need it. A tap on your wrist tells you when your next patient is ready to be seen and allows you to know your patient’s name and visit reason before you walk in the door. You can also see a quick rundown of medications, health alerts and previous appointments. 

	Simplifeye allows you to build your post-op call list with just one tap. You can even reportedly make secure phone calls without revealing your personal number, because patient callbacks are routed directly to your office telephone

How Simplifeye can help your practice become more streamlined and efficient.

Integrating Simplifeye into your practice

	Glidewell Laboratories, a provider of dental laboratory services and intraoral medical devices, recently unveiled the Newport Biologics™ line of bone grafting products.

	Featuring allograft and alloplast bone graft options, as well as resorbable barrier membranes and a collagen-based wound dressing, this product line is reportedly aimed at increasing clinician access to top-quality regenerative materials for use in cases marked by bone or soft tissue deficiencies.

	Newport Biologics’ products are reportedly carefully selected for the dental practice and processed in accordance with rigorous U.S. FDA regulations. The allograft materials are sourced from the University of Miami Tissue Bank and resorbable membranes are engineered to optimize handling characteristics. 

	Newport Biologics reportedly allows clinicians to treat the majority of grafting indications, including extraction socket regeneration, ridge augmentation, sinus floor elevation, periodontal reconstruction and peri-implant management. 

Related reading: Glidewell announces new line of bone grafting products

	Newport Biologics Mineralized Cortico/Cancellous Allograft Blend reportedly offers the best of cortical and cancellous features in an ideal mixture, designed to provide an osteoconductive matrix conducive to rapid site revascularization and structural integrity. 

	The Resorbable Collagen Membrane 3-4 is a strong, conformable collagen barrier membrane manufactured from purified porcine peritoneum tissue.

	The Resorbable Collagen Plug is a resorbable wound dressing made of collagen derived from bovine dermis. It can reportedly be used for the management of extraction sites. It is said to protect the wound bed, aid in wound healing and essentially reabsorb within 30 days of placement.

A closer look at Glidewell Laboratories’ new line of bone grafting products.

Applying the Newport Biologics™ line of regenerative materials in your practice

	A new study has found out how an oral bacterium, 

, is able to attach itself to human tissues.

	The bacterium can cause infective endocarditis, a type of cardiovascular disease in which bacteria cause blood clots to form on heart valves. The disease is fatal if left untreated, but even with treatment, the mortality rates are still up to 30 percent. The study is featured as one of the “Editors’ Picks” in the current issue 

, a team from that same university in conjunction with Professor Rich Lamont at the 

, found that the bacterium creates a molecular “lasso” to pull itself toward human tissue. 

	The lassoing process is known as the “catch,” and is accomplished by one end of a protein, CshA, produced by the bacterium. On the other end of that protein is a mechanism for the “clamp,” which allows the protein to attach itself to the heart tissues. Researchers believe that these “catch” and “clamp” actions are responsible for the first part of the disease, meaning that if they could be stopped, it would severely limit the bacterium’s ability to cause infection.

	Co-researcher Dr. Paul Race from Bristol’s 

, says: “What is particularly exciting about this work is that it opens up new possibilities for designing molecules that inhibit either the ‘catch’ or the ‘clamp’ steps in this process, or potentially both. The latter possibility is particularly intriguing, as bacteria are generally less likely to become resistant to agents that target multiple steps in an infective process.”

Dr. Angela Nobbs, from the School of Oral and Dental Sciences, who co-led the study with Dr. Race, adds: “With the molecular level insight that our study provides, it is now a realistic possibility that we can begin to develop anti-adhesive agents that target disease-causing Streptococcus and related bacteria.”

	Hopefully this research will lead to a better understanding of the methods of bacterial infection and even preventative treatment. But for now, workers in the dental profession use this as an example of why proper and effective oral cleaning is vital.

A new study from the University of Bristol claims to have found the mechanism by which a certain oral bacterium clings to heart tissues.

New study shows that oral bacteria can “lasso” onto heart tissues

	While bacteria attacking enamel is the main cause of caries, it’s not the only factor that should be considered, says a team of researchers at the University of Zurich. “We revealed that tooth decay isn’t just linked to bacteria, but also the tooth’s resistance,” says Thimios Mitsiadis, Professor of Oral Biology at the Center of Dental Medicine at the University of Zurich.

 from a team at the University of Zurich, as reported by the University of Zurich and published on February 7 by the journal 

 has found a gene complex responsible for the formation of tooth enamel. 

Related article: Could this drug mean the end of dental fillings?

	The team used mice with varying levels of enamel protein mutations involved in what is known as the Wnt signaling pathway. Because of this pathway, human and animal cells respond to external signals and specifically activate selected genes in the cell nucleus. The signaling pathway is essential for embryonal development, but also plays an important role in the development of 

	“All mice with mutations in these proteins exhibit teeth with enamel defects,” explains Pierfrancesco Pagella, one of the study’s two first authors. “Therefore, we demonstrated that there is a direct link between mutations in the genetic blueprints for these proteins and the development of tooth enamel defects.” 

Read more studies: New study finds that dental visits can reduce the risk for pneumonia

	The team was the first in the world to discover the specific reason why tooth enamel is, or sometimes isn’t, formed. “We discovered that three particular proteins involved in the Wnt signaling pathway aren’t just involved in the development of severe illnesses, but also in the qualitative refinement of highly developed tissue,” says co-first author Claudio Cantù from the molecular biologist research group lead by Prof. Konrad Basler. “If the signal transmission isn’t working properly, the structure of the tooth enamel can change.”

	Researchers hope that this new knowledge will eventually help prevent carious lesions in humans. Says Mitsiadis, “New products that hinder the progress of tooth caries in the event of defective tooth enamel will enable us to improve the dental health of patients considerably.”

A new study from the University of Zurich shows that genetic defects can affect enamel.

Genes can affect the development of caries

The Top 8 Dental Movies of All Time

It’s Oscars season, which means it’s time to round up the best movies out there.