Garrison Dental Announces FitStrip IPR System Kit

 

FitStrip IPR System Kit

Garrison’s newly devised FitStripTM Interproximal Finishing and Contouring System has been expanded to include a
comprehensive interproximal reduction kit. The new IPR kit provides clinicians with all the diamond abrasive strips and
gauges necessary to quickly and accurately prepare teeth and measure interproximal space for advanced aligner
treatment.

This complete kit includes ten diamond coated abrasive strips (two each of .11mm, .21mm, .30mm, .40mm and .50mm),
two interchangeable handles and stainless-steel IPR gauges.

FitStrip represents the best solution for IPR (interproximal reduction), creating the space needed for minor movement of
teeth when necessary. Working in concert with orthodontic treatments such as Clear CorrectTM, Invisalign®, Six Month
Smiles® and others, the color-coded strips provide the roadmap for achieving the desired IPR quickly, easily and
effectively. No other system provides FitStrip’s level of flexibility and ease of use.

In addition, the original FitStrip kit and new Universal FitStrip kit include both single-sided and double-sided strips. All the
strips feature the unique ability to be adjusted from straight, for contact reduction, to curved, for interproximal contouring,
with a simple twist of the color-coded barrel thereby eliminating clinician hand fatigue. The interchangeable handle easily
attaches to any of the FitStripTM components significantly improving clinician ease of use and patient comfort. The
clinician’s hand stays outside the mouth providing a clear field of view and easier operation.

The FitStripTM is indicated for use in IPR, contact reduction, interproximal finishing and contouring, crown and bridge
cement removal/clean up as well as separating inadvertently bonded teeth.

Color coded and conveniently organized, the FitStripTM Interproximal Finishing and Contouring System also has a complete
selection of refills available. Contact Garrison Dental Solutions at 888-437-0032 or visit garrisondental.com for more
information.

About Garrison Dental Solutions
Garrison Dental Solutions, established in 1996, is a privately held company specializing in the design,
development and manufacturing of product solutions to improve the quality and efficiency of dentistry. The
Company is the industry leader in sectional matrix systems and its products are sold globally. Please visit
www.garrisondental.com for more information.

Ultradent Donates $10,000 to Humanitarian Medical & Dental Education Charity To Kick Off Holiday Season

 

Ultradent Products Inc. announced on November 27, 2018, known nationally as “Giving Tuesday,” that it would donate $10,000 toward a Humanitarian Medical and Dental Education Fund started by the Adams, Gladwell, Durham Foundation based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The money will go toward providing professional medical and dental education to underserved populations through online lectures and hands-on training provided to students through virtual reality programs. “We’ve basically created online education with hands-on education via virtual reality technology that allows the students to actually perform procedures as if they were on an actual human, in an actual lab, but via technology,” says Dr. Mark Durham, a prosthodontist and co-founder of the Adams, Gladwell, Durham Foundation. He adds, “The challenge on the planet today is that there is progress in some areas and the lack of progress in others which leads to problems for people—humans just like you and I,” adds Durham. “The solution is scaling education. If we can share this information with a lot of people they can start doing things that have never been done before and really create another renaissance, which would be beautiful for humanity. So what we’re doing is investing in systems and technology that we’re developing that allows us to go into areas of the world and deliver education for a fraction of the cost, with some of the best minds.”

The push to provide education in place of services, they believe, could change the world. “It’s teaching them how to fish, per se, instead of just doing the procedure for them,” added Dr. Nathan Adams, an oral surgeon and co-founder of the foundation.

As for their progress toward the goal of educating as many people as possible, Durham reports, “So far, the foundation has built three surgical modules for around $50,000, which can now be shared to any of the 7 billion people on the earth without us charging any of them a penny to download. This year, because we are getting faster at building modules, our team and our local collaborators have a goal to see eight modules built for the same amount of money. Imagine the amount of people that will receive surgical training with the additional eight modules we build together!”

To learn more about this wonderful cause, or to donate, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/smarty.

Ultradent gladly supports hundreds of humanitarian efforts every year, worldwide. This includes donations toward major disaster relief efforts as well as smaller, individually run humanitarian missions. To learn more about Ultradent’s humanitarian efforts, please visit ultradent.com/company/humanitarian.

My Thoughts Regarding Xorvision DENclarity Monitor

 

 

As a clinician, one of the most important diagnostic tools I have is radiography.  Next to my own eyes, radiographs are the next most important part of my diagnostic armamentarium.

However, x-rays are useless if you are unable to read them.  A doctor can own the best sensor in the world, but if the image is viewed on a suboptimal monitor then diagnostic accuracy is lost.  That’s the reason that doctors should pay close attention to the monitors they use in their practices.

Because the monitor makes such a difference, for the past several years, I’ve been using monitors from Exorvision in my practice.  Their latest effort, the 24” DENclarity is truly a homerun product.

The DENclarity is exclusively designed for use in a dental office.  It has an incredible grayscale and an amazing 1000:1 contrast ratio.  This means that subtle nuances in radiographs are picked up clearly and diagnostic accuracy increases.

The monitor is also sealed and a glass overlay protects the LCD.  This means that the DENclarity can be disinfected by spraying disinfectant directly onto the screen and molding.  The plastic housing of the monitor is strong and resistant to staining or discoloration from solutions.

It also uses a special low voltage power system that greatly increases safety in a healthcare environment.

In addition to its healthcare features, the monitor also supports a wide range of inputs.  HDMI, VGA, Video, Audio, TV Coaxial, USB, and a headphone jack are all present which makes connecting to the DENclarity easy and predictable no matter what input you may need.  It also has a TV tuner allowing the monitor to double as an over the patient entertainment system.

In the world dentistry, it’s imperative to find the right equipment for each situation we face.  I find the DENclarity monitor to be the right choice for my practice. Human beings perceive somewhere around 85% about their environment through the eyes.  For clinical diagnosis, co-diagnosis with the patient, and educating the patient through the sharing of clinical images, I find the DENclarity to be the best way to engage that 85%.  This monitor is highly recommended.  

Allergy Practice Pays $125,000 to Settle Doctor’s Disclosure of Patient Information to a Reporter

 

This is posted directly from the Department of Health and Human Services website.  I’ve posted this to remind everyone in healthcare that even though a patient can discuss their Protected Health Information with others, we cannot.  There is a great lesson to be learned here:

 

Allergy Associates of Hartford, P.C. (Allergy Associates), has agreed to pay $125,000 to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and to adopt a corrective action plan to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. Allergy Associates is a health care practice that specializes in treating individuals with allergies, and is comprised of three doctors at four locations across Connecticut.

In February 2015, a patient of Allergy Associates contacted a local television station to speak about a dispute that had occurred between the patient and an Allergy Associates’ doctor. The reporter subsequently contacted the doctor for comment and the doctor impermissibly disclosed the patient’s protected health information to the reporter.

OCR’s investigation found that the doctor’s discussion with the reporter demonstrated a reckless disregard for the patient’s privacy rights and that the disclosure occurred after the doctor was instructed by Allergy Associates’ Privacy Officer to either not respond to the media or respond with “no comment.” Additionally, OCR’s investigation revealed that Allergy Associates failed to take any disciplinary action against the doctor or take any corrective action following the impermissible disclosure to the media.

“When a patient complains about a medical practice, doctors cannot respond by disclosing private patient information to the media,” said OCR Director Roger Severino. “Because egregious disclosures can lead to substantial penalties, covered entities need to pay close attention to HIPAA’s privacy rules, especially when responding to press inquiries.”

In addition to the monetary settlement, Allergy Associates will undertake a corrective action plan that includes two years of monitoring their compliance with the HIPAA Rules. The resolution agreement and corrective action plan may be found on the OCR website at http://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/compliance-enforcement/agreements/allergyassociates/index.html

 

Mistake by Two Factor Authentication Company Compromises Users vis SMS

 

Most of us use 2 factor authentication at least some of the time with some of the websites we work with.  Usually banking, Google, Apple, and others will help prevent data theft through this process.

 

In a nutshell, you log into a site and before you can access your info, the site sends you a text message with a multiple digit “security code” that you must then enter before the website will allow you entry.  Since most of us live and die on our phones nowadays and always have it with us, sending a message to your phone is a pretty good way of ensuring your identity.

 

That is, it’s a pretty good way IF the company providing the security code is practicing good security themselves.  However, a recent case has come to light where just the opposite was happening.

 

It seems that a company called Vovox is one (of many) companies that act as a "gateway” which sends the 2-factor codes to the user’s phone.  The idea, of course, is that the 2-factor process allows for better confirmation that the person requesting access to the site is indeed the individual who needs access.  It’s  another link in the security chain that helps prevent data and identity theft.  Now, thanks to security researcher Sebastien Kaul it has come to light that Vovox had made a critical mistake in safeguarding the data of the individual’s requesting the 2-factor authentication.

 

What Kaul discovered is that Vovox had a database of over 26 million text messages sitting on a server.  The database was not encrypted nor was it password protected.

 

The information contained passwords in plain text, account security codes, package tracking info, medical appointment reminders, and more.

 

The communications were from companies the likes of Google, Microsoft, banks, medical institutions, and others.

 

According to TechCrunch, “Each record was meticulously tagged and detailed, including the recipient’s cell phone number, the message, the Voxox customer who sent the message and the shortcode they used.” 

 

When notified, Vovox promptly removed the database.  The problem here is that even if users provide *perfect* security, we are still at the mercy of people further downstream from us.  Obviously, the best course for anyone to pursue is to remain “security vigilant”, but to also be aware that even with our best efforts, leaks are possible.  A tip of the electron to Sebastien Kaul for discovering this and helping to make sure the info was secured.

Ultradent Introduces the All-New Omni-Matrix™ Disposable Retainer and Matrix

 

—Ultradent Products, Inc., is pleased to introduce the all-new Omni-Matrix disposable retainer and matrix, a superior circumferential matrix band solution. Designed to perfectly customize to any preparation, the band’s circumference can be easily adjusted simply by twisting the handle, and the pivoting head allows it to access any quadrant of the mouth. Once the restoration is complete, the Omni-Matrix band easily releases without disturbing the restorative material.

The Omni-Matrix disposable retainer and matrix features an unmatched body design that is ideal for both single and simultaneous restorations. Its innovative shape allows superior procedural visibility and patient comfort, and its ultra-thin burnishable stainless steel adapts to all preparations. Additionally, its unique winged and wingless styles meet individual case needs while its disposable design saves time and money.

To learn more or to purchase the Omni-Matrix disposable retainer and matrix, call 800.552.5512, or visit ultradent.com.

About Ultradent Products, Inc.

Ultradent Products, Inc., is a leading developer and manufacturer of high-tech dental materials, devices, and instruments worldwide. Ultradent’s vision is to improve oral health globally. Ultradent also works to improve the quality of life and health of individuals through financial and charitable programs. For more information about Ultradent, call 800.552.5512 or visit ultradent.com.

New Research Shows that Certain Oral Bacteria that Cause Periodontal Disease may also Cause Esophageal Cancer

 

My good friend and co-worker at DPR, Kristen Mott, has written a  good article about a recent discovery that the bacteria that cause periodontal disease (gum disease) may also be linked to esophageal cancer.  While only about 1% of cancers diagnosed in the U.S. each year, it is a terribly debilitating disease.  Also, 1% seems like a small number until you read that it represents 17,290 new cases this year.

 

Here’s a portion of Kristen’s well written article:

 

Oral bacteria has been linked to a wide range of serious medial conditions, including pancreatic cancer, stroke and lung cancer. New research shows that oral bacteria may also be linked to esophageal cancer.

Esophageal cancer makes up about 1 percent of all cancers diagnosed in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 17,290 new esophageal cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2018.

While previous research has shown that periodontal disease caused by certain oral bacteria has been linked to several types of cancer, Jiyoung Ahn, an associate professor in the department of population health and the department of environmental medicine at NYU Langone Health in New York, wanted to investigate the connection between oral microbiota and the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) or esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

According to the study, Ahn and her colleagues collected oral wash samples from 122,000 participants in two large health studies: the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition cohort and the National Cancer Institute Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. According to the research, in 10 years of follow-up, 106 participants developed esophageal cancer.

In a prospective case-control study, the researchers extracted DNA and sequenced oral wash samples, which allowed them to compare the oral microbiomes of the esophageal cancer cases and the cancer-free cases. Certain bacteria types were found to be associated with a higher risk of esophageal cancer, such as the Tannerella forsythia bacteria, which was associated with a 21 percent increased risk of EAC. Another periodontal pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivitis, was associated with a higher risk of ESCC.

However, the researchers also discovered that a few types of oral bacteria were associated with a lower risk of EAC. Bacterial biosynthesis of carotenoids was also associated with protection against esophageal cancer, according to the study. Ahn told Science Daily that certain bacteria may actually have a protective effect, and future research on the topic is required.

The American Dental Association says additional research is needed to examine whether certain bacteria could play a role in preventing esophageal cancer.

For the full text of the article, follow this link to Dental Products Report.