Impressions from the Chicago Midwinter

Well, I survived another meeting in Chicago! The Chicago Midwinter is always a whirlwind for me. It's a series of meetings, dinners, lectures, and prowling the exhibits for new and exciting ways to make the lives of our patients better.

Last year, I felt that the show was well attended and that doctor's were optimistic about the future. This year, that trend continues. The meeting was moved to the newly finished west building of the McCormick Place convention center. The new facility is gorgeous and really added to the event.

The attendance seemed good, especially on Friday when it was wall to wall in the classrooms and the exhibit hall most of the day. My class on advanced caries detection of Friday was a sold out event and I'd like to thank all of you who chose to attend. I'm always honored that you come to see me.

Most vendors reported they were happy with sales at the show although some of the smaller vendors I spoke with stated mediocre success. However, many vendors reported good sales and were happy with the meeting. My personal feel was that concern over the economy is definitely on the wane and things will only get better.

I saw some very interesting things that I'll try and post about in the future. Suffice it to say that last year, large innovations were not as frequently being developed, but there are many smaller products that are on their way to market that will offer us ways to improve patient's lives.

If you weren't able to make it to Chicago, it was a great time. Hopefully my Twitter updates provided some extra insight into the meeting.

However, the best part of travelling is getting back to your own place in the world. It really is true; there's no place like home.

Volunteers and Dental Companies Help Deliver Much Needed Care to the Country’s Youngest Citizens

Working with the American Dental Association to guarantee that underserved children have access to dental care, DEXIS® and Henry Schein Dental® provide assistance for Give Kids A Smile® for the eighth consecutive year.

Des Plaines, IL (February 25, 2010) As advocates of dental health, DEXIS and Henry Schein Dental are proud to announce their ongoing support of the American Dental Association’s Give Kids A Smile® (GKAS) program. Every day, children across the nation suffer from the pain caused by lack of proper and consistent dental attention. With the philosophy that a healthy smile should be possible for every child, GKAS events, starting during the ADA®’s Children’s Dental Health Month® (NCDHM), provide dental education and treatment to children whose families lack the funds for adequate care.

The first Friday in February heralds the kickoff for the GKAS program that delivers dental care to children all over the country. Services from X-rays and cleanings to restorative and oral surgery, are provided to hundreds of thousands of kids that may otherwise go untreated.

Once held for a single weekend, GKAS events now begin in the first week of February and continue for months thereafter, thus increasing the number of children that can be accommodated. Because of the generosity of volunteers and corporate partners, nearly 13,000 dentists and greater than 36,000 support staff in over 2,000 locations have treated more than 325,000 children—all within the first three weeks of February.

“We realize that the success of this important initiative takes all of us doing our part, from the corporate to the clinical,” states Henrik Roos, President of DEXIS. “As one of its founding sponsors, DEXIS is pleased to be able to continue its commitment to GKAS to help care for those children who are in such need.”

As founding sponsors of the Give Kids A Smile program, DEXIS and Henry Schein Dental have pledged and delivered long-term assistance to this important endeavor. For example, in 2010, Henry Schein Dental will furnish enough professional dental kits to serve 15,000 young patients.

DEXIS serves the dental community, as well as the public, by providing the use of digital X-ray systems and personnel to assist in taking radiographs for GKAS events at dental schools. DEXIS has encouraged the use of dental schools because these larger facilities, along with the utilization of its systems, allow clinicians to provide for a greater number of patients. “You can’t effectively run these events without digital radiography,” states Dr. Jeff Dalin. “The bottleneck in any large-scale screening tends to be standard radiographs. DEXIS allows us to have instant, clear images, and we were able to see more children, from toddlers to teens, with its use.”

Since its debut, coordinated by Dr. Dalin and his colleagues in 2002, GKAS has experienced remarkable growth. An estimated 4.5 million children have received much needed dental health care to date. The program has expanded to encompass both Mission of Mercy (MOM) and TeamSmile™ outreach initiatives for which DEXIS is also a participant.

For more information on the GKAS program, including the latest statistics, information on its background and sponsors, and how to volunteer, visit www.ada.org.

DEXIS is an industry leader in developing high quality digital imaging solutions for the dental community. In 1997, DEXIS introduced digital radiography on laptop computers — making it the first truly portable and affordable digital X-ray system. In 2001, DEXIS became the first intra-oral digital radiography system to be accepted by the American Dental Association into the highly prestigious ADA Seal Program. Today, DEXIS is the most highly awarded intra-oral digital X-ray system with numerous awards from dental researchers and well-respected dental publications. For more information on the DEXIS Platinum Sensor and to learn about DEXIS imaging solutions, visit www.dexis.com.

Gendex Announces CB-500 in HD!

I've had to keep this under my hat for a while as I've actually been using the HD in my practice sense January, but I was sworn to silence. At the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, Gendex has announced the GXCB-500 HD. The new CB-500 has a brand new sensor that provides incredible images.

For those of you who have already purchased the previous model, the unit can be upgraded to the new sensor. Here is all the info from the press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gendex Redefines 3D Imaging with High Definition

Gendex proudly introduces the GXCB-500 HDTM. Continuing its history of innovation, this leader in imaging incorporates an advanced High Definition sensor into its award-winning Cone Beam 3D solution.

Des Plaines, IL (February 25, 2010) Gendex launches the GXCB-500 HD at the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting, February 25-27, 2010. Along with the new High Definition feature, the GXCB-500 HD offers scan flexibility, fast workflow, and integration capabilities.

“We understand that dentists want and need radiographic options that help them better treat their patients and follow ALARA,” states Mark Hillebrandt, Director of Product Management for Gendex. “Therefore, we are pleased to offer the GXCB-500 HD which delivers this and more — it allows clinicians to select 2D pans or 3D scans, to choose scan size options designed to work with certain procedures, and lets them blend technologies for a wide variety of treatment options.”

High Definition “HD” in the product name stands for “High Definition” image quality as defined by the precise i-CAT®-powered 3D scans and the enhanced image quality of its 2D panoramic radiographs using patented i-panTM image capture technology.

Most Flexible 3D Scan Formats The GXCB-500 HD has a unique, adjustable 3D Medium Field of View that can be sized from as large as 8 x 14 cm to as small as 2 x 8 cm. This allows for the greatest flexibility of treatment covering a host of procedures from TMJ to implants to endo.

High-End Traditional 2D Panoramic Included Along with the ability to reconstruct a pan from the 3D scan, the new GXCB-500 HD includes a traditional, low-dose, high-end 2D panoramic. This $40,000 value advantage is built into the unit, making it an even better investment.

Fastest “Scan-to-Plan” Workflow Time is a valuable commodity in the dental office; with the GXCB-500 HD, clinicians can scan and reconstruct in as little as 30 seconds — then plan immediately. The GXCB-500 HD allows doctors to have a patient in the chair and a plan on the screen in only a few minutes.

Integrated Applications With the demand for high-tech treatment applications increasing, doctors will benefit from the GXCB-500 HD’s open software architecture, which allows integration with specialized restoration, digital impression, and CAD/CAM planning programs to efficiently gain more precise, reliable restorative and surgical results.

Powered by i-CAT The GXCB-500 HD utilizes industry-leading Cone Beam 3D technology from i-CAT to deliver its clarity, flexibility, and speed in imaging.

Gendex, known for its reliable, innovative, and affordable imaging equipment, offers a wide variety of solutions for both general dentists and specialists. The company’s strong history in x-ray manufacturing, along with a deep dedication to deliver products that exceed the needs of dental professionals, have earned Gendex recognition as a global leader. Learn more about the full line of Gendex products at www.gendex.com

Greetings from Chicago - And an Eaglesoft Scoop!

I'm in the windy city at the Chicago Dental Society's Midwinter meeting. I'll be tweeting when I can while I'm here from the show floor and different events I'm attending.

Hopefully I'll be able to dig up some good info for all of you.

He's the first tidbit. I have it on good authority that Patterson will be doubling the size of the Patterson Technology Center in Effingham, Illinois. The construction should take about 14 months and the staff will number about 600 when the facility is done.

Also, Eaglesoft 16 is currently in beta with about 50 offices. The release date is set for this summer and I should be getting my beta to try before too long.

More info as I get it...

Epocrates is now avialable for Android OS Phones

If you happen to be an Android user, Epocrates is now available!

I received the info on this new beta yesterday afternoon and the program is now available for download.

Here's the lowdown:

Special Notes:

The clinical content will not be updated for the beta version of this application.
This application is for Android devices with v1.6 or higher. If you have a version lower than 1.6, please contact your carrier for update information.
You can visit our Android site for additional product details.

WebOS 1.04 is Coming Soon...

In my rooting around the Internet is search of information, I've come across a couple of rumors concerning the latest update to the Palm Pre operating system, WebOS.

It seems the big buzz is that the next update will hit this week, perhaps as early Thursday. Anticipated upgrades include video (sweet!), a new way to launch cards, and maybe even Flash compatibility.

As usual it will be pushed out over the network when your phone is not in use of you can simply tap "Updates" from your launcher.

I'm anxious to get this one. Hopefully they will also do something to speed up the device and improve battery life as well. Those are my 2 biggest beefs.

Sopro LIFE evaluation to begin this week...

I'm a huge fan of digital caries detection. It's one of my passions and I love what it means to my patients. Over the past few years I've been lucky enough to have given quite a few lectures on the subject and I'm thrilled that the field keeps expanding with new ideas and devices.

Enter the Sopro LIFE. This is the newest player in the market, having received FDA clearance just over a month ago. The Sopro LIFE combines a caries fluorescing array of LED's in the body of an intraoral camera. The user can see the fluorescence of decay on the monitor while putting the device over the tooth.

The LED array is also capable of emitting a regular white light and the device can also function as a regular intraoral camera.

The device arrived in my office on Friday and I'm going to start putting it through some clinical tests this week. Hopefully I'll have an idea of how it performs before I have to leave for the Chicago Midwinter Meeting on Wednesday. If you're planning on coming to my Caries Detection lecture on Friday, I'll have a tad bit of info about it in the lecture.

More information will come as the testing progresses.

Western Digital My Passport for Rapid Backups

This weekend I picked up a WD My Passport 1TB drive for $199. That's right, a terabyte in the form factor of a deck of cards for less than $200. It's powered by the USB bus so it requires only the USB connection and no external power.

Besides the fact that it's a huge amount of storage in a fast, tiny footprint, it also comes with some great software as well. WD SmartWare is impressive so far. Simply install it and the program backs up your system and then monitors for file changes. When a file changes, it backs it up automatically on the fly. No more thinking about doing backups!

Of course, I'll continue to run Time Machine and do other backups as well, but this is pretty slick and a great thing for people who are "too busy" to backup.

The Ravages of Oral Cancers

I salute Roger Ebert, film critic, who allowed Esquire Magazine to take and publish the above photograph to show just what oral cancers can do.

Those of us in the oral health care field know of the terrible things the disease can do, but to most people, it's a very rare thing. It's rare, only because we don't discuss it. Dentists and hygienists are always looking for ways to detect this disease at an earlier stage. Whether it be by devices from Trimira, LED Dental, or ViziLite we in dentistry are trying to do all we can to find and prevent this disease.

CNN has a great article on Ebert and the NBA's George Karl. Make sure to read it.

HP and Others Ready Better Priced Tablets

A big thanks to Andre at XLDent (who actually has some free time to read the WSJ) for todays post.

It seems that in yesterday's WSJ the story was that HP and other companies that are in the business of Tablet PC's and other Tablet like devices are working furiously on ways to compete with the announced Apple iPad. HP executives will meet next week with Taiwan manufacturing partners to see if they can get a device that sells for less than $629. The magic 629 is what the iPad with a 3G connection will sell for, so its important to beat that price to increase market share.

In addition to HP, the article says Sony, Acer, and Dell are also all looking at ways to profit or capitalize on the soon to be exploding "slate" market.

Interesting enough, HP will actually call theirs a "slate" which IMO is what Apple should have grabbed, but what do I know about marketing anyway?

Of course the good news for all of us is that this will start a "category war" as companies jockey for a piece of the slate market. If they can get the input system to really work I can see these devices taking off and not just because of Apple. The idea of a mobile device that fits between the horsepower of a phone and laptop is intriguing to me and I think it will catch on, but it may be a bit slower in adoption than the iPod.

My prediction is that 10 years from now those of us who carry laptops around constantly will be carrying slates and laughing about laptops the way we laugh about "bag phones" today.

News Alert GlaxoSmithKline announced today that it will stop selling three versions of Poligrip because of concerns about health risks

February 18, 2010

Dear Dental Professional:

Since there is much news coverage about today's GlaxoSmithKline announcement, we wanted to make you aware of this news, as it may result in questions from your patients, your colleagues or members of the media in your area.

According to GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, this action affects three Poligrip products: Super Poligrip Original, Ultra Fresh and Extra Care. GlaxoSmithKline says it will remove zinc from its denture cream, following reports that excessive use has caused neurological damage and blood problems in consumers.

The company said it plans to reformulate the product without zinc, and that the words "Zinc Free" will appear on the new packaging. In a consumer advisory on its Web site, the company said it had "become aware of potential health problems associated with the long-term excessive use of our zinc-containing denture adhesive products." To download a copy of the complete advisory, please click here (168kb PDF).

Glaxo's voluntary action follows dozens of lawsuits filed against the company alleging Poligrip caused nerve damage, resulting in symptoms such as weakness and numbness, as well as blood problems like anemia. The company says its products are safe when used as directed, but some consumers use the cream excessively to help make their dentures fit

YouMail App for My Palm Pre... or Why I Love My Blog

Yesterday's post was about the new YouMail app for the Blackberry. In that post I mentioned that I would love to have that functionality for my Palm Pre, but that it wasn't available yet.

Well a reader was nice enough to let me know about YouView, a 3rd party app for the Palm Pre that gives me a fully functional visual voicemail program that completely integrates my YouMail account with my Pre.

All I had to do was download the file, pay the $3.99 fee to activate, and enter my account info. All of the voicemails, folders, contacts... everything I have in my YouMail account on the web was available on my phone in a few seconds. I can now see who called, listen to voicemails in any order, delete with a swipe of my finger, transfer from my inbox to a folder, and call the person back... just to name a few.

Here are some highlights:

• Completely visual - see who called, from where, and even their picture.
  
  
• You can still dial in like before (if you feel the need!).
  
  
• Return the phone call with a simple tap of your finger.
  
  
• Flag voicemails that need followed up so you don’t forget.
  
  
• Save time – Play messages in any order! Tap to play or swipe to delete.
  
  
• Organize – Stay organized by placing voicemails into folders.
  
  
• Voice-To-Text Transcriptions - Know if a message truly is urgent in situations when you can't simply dial or answer your phone. Read and respond to voicemail messages while in a meeting, class, movie or other busy setting.
  
  
• Custom Greetings - Easily have different greetings for your sweetie, your friends, your co-workers and your boss. Choose from a library of free greetings or upload any sound file as a greeting.
  
  
• Share voicemails with family, friends, or colleagues via text or email.
  
  
• Automatically hang up on unwanted callers before they can leave a voicemail.
  
  
• Easily let a pesky ex or telemarketers think your number is no longer in service.
  
  
• Effortlessly sync your YouMail contacts with your phones contact list using Palm’s Synergy technology.

If you'd like to download YouView, click here!

YouMail Releases New Version for Blackberry

YouMail could very well change the way you interact with your voicemail. From translations to text, text message notices of voicemail, the ability to save and forward messages via e-mail all make YouMail a critical part of my high tech life.

Now if you're a Blackberry user, YouMail is even better. I'm bummed that such an update isn't yet available for my Palm Pre, but I can dream. Here is the buzz:

YouMail Is Much Smarter

YouMail can now detect new voicemail WITHOUT needing TXT alerts or “polling”, leading to better battery life and no hassle with TXTs. Instead, YouMail reliably detects e-mail alerts going to your phone - just go to application settings, turn off “TXT alerts” and “polling”, and turn on e-mail alerts.

YouMail can now make sounds, flash the LED, and vibrate for new voicemails, just like you can for TXT, MMS, and E-mail messages. Check out your profile settings (may be called Sounds) and you'll find a new YouMail option– we’re now completely integrated with the BlackBerry’s built-in Notification service.

YouMail now gives you more greeting control: you can control what YouMail does with “unknown callers”, “blocked callers”, and “smart greetings”.

YouMail lets you try out our voice-to-text transcriptions with a single click from the application

YouMail Looks Much Better

We’ve made dates much easier to read – “today”, “yesterday”, “Mon 2/1”, etc.., and made it easy to see new messages by displaying the caller name in BOLD.

We’ve completely redesigned the screen that plays messages – which should make them easier to play and read.

YouMail Connects Better And Boots Faster

We’ve reworked YouMail to handle network problems much more efficiently, which will especially impact those of you with spotty coverage or unreliable WiFi connections. There is now much less data traffic, more efficient and less frequent authentication, and smarter connection attempts.

We now ensure that voicemail audio files on SD-cards when the phone boots up - so you can now upgrade YouMail without worrying about old voicemails having to all be downloaded again.

We now handled some relatively rare cases that caused problems downloading voicemails. Some Blackberry phones redirected our audio requests through other services – and this now just works. Other Blackberry servers only allow small files to be transferred – if you have this problem, just go to “Storage “ and choose the “chunk audio” option).

YouMail Has Better Troubleshooting

We now provide user-friendly information about the network and authentication status of the application – easily accessible from the about screen.

We’ve made it effortless for you to tell us if there’s problem – just click the “Send Log” button on the About screen, and it’ll create an e-mail telling us exactly what’s happened with your application. Just add a brief note about what you were doing, and we’ll be able to quickly diagnose any issue.

Enjoy – and don’t hesitate to give us feedback! We’re already hard at work on the next version.

Remember, you can download it now at: http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/724.

Lexi-comp Updates Blackberry Software for 2010

Lexi-Comp has made great strides in the last year with their mobile products. Their applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch are must haves and their catalogue continues to evolve. The latest evolution comes for Blackberry owners who want to have Lexi with them wherever they go. Teh Lexi-Comp On Hand software will now be available for RIM lovers as well.

Here is the press release:

Lexi-Comp, Inc., a provider of clinical information and drug data solutions for healthcare professionals, has released a new version of its BlackBerry applications, designed specifically for many of the features and enhancements now available in version 5.0 of the BlackBerry OS. Lexi-Comp handheld software solutions also include compatibility with Palm OS® and Palm® webOS™ devices (Pre™ and Pixi™); Pocket PC devices; the iPod touch®; smartphones, including iPhone® and Google Android™; and Windows Mobile® devices. Individual database and package options from the Lexi-Comp ON-HAND software library are now available for purchase by visiting Lexi-Comp's BlackBerry medical and dental software page.

The new BlackBerry 5.0 application includes four key enhancements to Lexi-Comp's current BlackBerry offering. All data can now be stored on an SD card, significantly increasing reliability by eliminating the need for a consistent cell or Wi-Fi connection. Users are able to view tables, charts, appendices, and images exactly as they are seen in Lexi-Comp's handbooks and Internet platforms. Also, downloading and updating the software can now be done over the air, with no cords or syncing required. Lastly, the interface is more user-friendly, with an overall cleaner presentation of information.

Lexi-Comp ON-HAND for BlackBerry 5.0 will feature nearly all of Lexi-Comp's clinical databases in the initial release, including Lexi-Drugs®, the most comprehensive pharmacology database available. Users can create and store personalized user notes within each monograph,as well as diagnose, find treatment options, and identify drug interactions in seconds. Clinicians can link to FDA warnings, PubMed, and additional resources directly from their device. Dental professionals can utilize this mobile technology to access the same photo-rich resources presented in Lexi-Comp's highly regarded printed dental manuals. Additional licensed resources, including Harrison's Practice, The 5-Minute Clinical Consultant, and Stedman's Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing, are also available. Planned enhancements to the 5.0 version will include the addition of Lexi-I.V. Compatibility™, Lexi-Drug ID™, and Lexi-CALC™.

To purchase or demo Lexi-Comp ON-HAND solutions for BlackBerry 5.0, visit Lexi-Comp's BlackBerry medical and dental software page. Lexi-Comp's top-rated technical support services are available by calling 1-866-397-3433 or by visiting their online support portal.

Google Chrome Releases Update for Mac

I've got to admit that even though I'm a Mac user, I don't find myself using Safari much anymore. It's been replaced by Firefox and more and more by Google Chrome. They are both good browsers, but when I'm in a hurry Chrome loads exponentially faster and has many of the same features. Firefox still has more bells and whistles though, and that's why it has continued to be my number one browser followed by Chrome at number 2.

Now Google has inched closer to Firefox with the release of its latest Mac browser update 5.0.307.7 beta. Now Chrome for Mac has extensions, bookmark sync, and more. Take a look at this video:

If you are a Mac user and want all the scoop on this latest release, take a peek at the Google Chrome Blog and get every last detail.

Manufacturers Look to Bring Glossy Screens to Flat Screen Televisions

I have several laptops and the last Windows machine I purchased had a glossy screen. I didn't know what to think of it at first, but it sure looked cool in the store. Once I got it home, I found that there were times that the shiny screen was actually a liability, causing me to have to reposition it to see properly.

Now there were times when it seemed to add to the viewing experience, especially when watching movies or video, but I found myself preferring the flat finish. When I bought my MacBook Pro I was really happy that it had the flat screen finish.

Now it seems that many TV manufacturers are pushing to add the glossy finish to the world of TV's. The problem for me is that repositioning a laptop screen is relatively easy, but a large flat screen TV... not so much.

I know that they look cool when you see them in the store, but I'd definitely make sure of the viewing potential before purchasing one. The reflective properties could really make for a less than stellar viewing experience depending on the layout of the room it is in.

FastMac Introduces Green Device Protection

FastMac has developed protective sleeves that are near and dear to my Midwest born heart. They have sleeves that are filled with soybean oil that provide amazing protection. The company has actually demonstrated putting M&M's in the sleeves and hitting them with a hammer. The amazing thing is that the candies come out in perfect condition!

They will be available next month with prices starting at $30. If you are looking for a great way to protect your laptop, this is the thing! Although not yet on the website, they will be when they are available.

PLUSTEK ANNOUNCES MOBILE SCANNER WITH AUTOMATIC DOCUMENT FEEDER AND USB POWER

CERRITOS, Calif. (February 11, 2010) – Plustek Technology Inc. (www.plustek.com/usa), a manufacturer of consumer, prosumer, professional and office imaging devices (including portable document scanners, sheet fed scanners, flat bed scanners, wide format scanners and surveillance products), today announced the new MobileOffice AD450 Scanner, the latest offering from Plustek’s award-winning line of MobileOffice scanners. The MobileOffice AD450 Scanner is one of the few mobile scanners on the market with an Automatic Document Feeder and the ability to run on USB bus or AC power, making it ideal for anywhere, anytime scanning.

The AD450 turns documents such as bank statements, legal documents, insurance papers, and medical records, and even embossed plastic cards, business cards, and photos into an easy-to-use or share digital format. Documents may be placed in the Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) and with the touch of a button scans can be saved in many popular formats including: searchable PDF, JPG, TIF and popular Microsoft Office file formats. Documents can be automatically sent to different destinations such as any folder in the user’s network, email, or directly to a printer.

The AD450's small footprint and its ability to scan rigid cards including insurance cards, credit cards and membership cards, make the AD450 ideal for front desk applications such as: patient intake stations, pharmacy prescription scanning, and more.

The MobileOffice AD450 can also be used on the road. Power for the AD450 is supplied by either the USB bus or AC power. This scanner is ideal for field based and remote workers, in-truck scanning, business travel and any setting where documents need to be scanned while away from the office.

SALES/PURCHASE
The MobileOffice AD450 is MSRP USD $269 and available at the end of February. All Plustek scanners can be purchased from authorized resellers, DMRs, VARs, and distributors including Ingram Micro and D&H. For more information, please contact Plustek at infoUSA@plustek.com.

Google Announces Intention to Build Ultra Fast Internet

You've got to love the minds at Google. It seems that since the US seems to be falling behind in the speed of Internet connections, Google has taken it upon itself to create a network capable of 1Gbps speed. Current broadband is about 20mbps.

Google hopes that these kinds of speeds will allow for new development and innovation. One of the things they envision is being able to download a full movie in HD in 5 mintes!

Of course, Google is an Internet company so anything that gets eyeballs online is good for the "big G", but offering to build the infrastructure is nothing short of amazing.

Now before you get all hyped for this to come to your town, they are doing this on a limited basis. Their plan is to have this service available to about 500,000 people which is no small number, but we've got 300 million here in the US.

The New York Times has a nice article on the whole thing.

Update on the iTero Evaluation

We have been working with the Cadent iTero for a month now. Since we began working with the device in early January, I have only taken one conventional vinylpolyether impression and that was on an unusual case. All other fixed prosthetic cases have been imaged and fabricated using the digital impression technology.

Results at this point have been outstanding. The cases we have sent out have had the occasional deep subgingival margin which has been created exactly. With those cases we've used a diode laser to better expose the margin.

Fit and accuracy have been better than with traditional means and seating appointments are less involved. We have used it with all ceramic and PFM restorations and have had equally good results with each.

One of the biggest advantages has been in workflow. The imaging is fast and easy which allows us to be more productive with a lower degree of stress.

We've also had tremendous feedback from patients who are impressed with both the technology and the fact that we've done away with the impression. I realized today I've only taken one impression in over a month and I haven't missed it a bit.

Reebok Set to Release Zig Tech in 30 Days

I've always been a sucker for a cool pair of athletic shoes. I love to run and because of that, my legs and knees take a beating so I'm always looking for ways to decrease the stress and strain.

Well... Reebok may be onto something here with the Zig Tech shoe line. The idea is basically a "lightning bolt" shape of a sole that is said to impart more energy to the legs than a standard shaped sole.

And never mind all the technology, they flat out just look cool. I think I'll have to be shopping for a pair as soon as they are available in March. Here's the press release:

CANTON, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–What would you do if you had more energy? Run faster? Train longer? On March 11^th, Reebok allows athletes to find out with the highly anticipated launch of ZigTech, the brand’s most technically advanced running and training shoe. ZigTech allows your key leg muscles to do less, so you can do more. Simply put, it’s like an energy drink for your feet.

Everything about Reebok’s ZigTech footwear is designed to conserve and return energy to the athlete for a soft and springy ride. The one-of-a-kind ZigTech bottom unit features an innovative, lightweight foam that is engineered into a dramatic, geometric, zig-zag shape. This unique zig-shaped sole absorbs the impact of heel strike and sends a wave of energy along the length of the shoe to help propel the athlete forward with each step.

“Traditional energy return is focused only on the vertical impact of the heel strike,” said Reebok’s Head of Advanced Innovation, Bill McInnis. “In contrast, ZigTech is designed to transfer energy horizontally along the zigs so the athlete gets that energy back in the forefoot.”

The lightweight, flexible bottom unit, minimalist upper, and whisper-quiet ground contact also contribute to making ZigTech a new standard in running and training footwear. In fact, by wearing Reebok’s ZigTech footwear, training longer just got easier. The technology causes up to 20% less wear and tear on key leg muscles, especially the shins and hamstrings.

“Shin splints are extremely common for pro athletes like me,” said NFL superstar Peyton Manning. “Wearing ZigTechs give players a bounce, an energy that lets us train longer with less strain on key leg muscles, like shins. This ultimately enables athletes to stay healthier during the season.”

Reebok’s ZigTech footwear collection is available for men and women in an array of bold, bright colors that will truly stand out in the gym. Edgy, trend setting athletes like football phenom Chad Ochocinco are big fans of the aggressive design. “I had my ZigTechs in the locker room and all my teammates were trying to check them out,” said Ochocinco. “ZigTechs stand apart from any training shoe out there. They are bold and confident, perfect for an athlete like me.”

Manning and Ochocinco are joined by last year’s Super Bowl MVP, Santonio Holmes, 2008 Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, World Series star pitcher Andy Pettitte, Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, Stanley Cup winner Sidney Crosby, NHL All-Star Alexander Ovechkin, boxing great “Sugar” Shane Mosley, basketball icon Allen Iverson, home run king David Ortiz, soccer standouts Thierry Henry and Ryan Giggs, and hundreds more athletes who run and train in Reebok’s ZigTech footwear.

ZigTech debuts at major retailers including Dick’s Sporting Goods, Foot Locker, Finish Line and on Reebok.com on March 11, 2010 for a suggested price of $100. The launch will be supported by a major marketing campaign including TV, print and online advertising. To learn more, visit Reebok.com/zigtech.

A Germanium Laser may Boost Storage and Computer Speeds

God bless the brains at MIT. The number of tech wonders they've developed stuns the imagination. Now there are reports of a developed Germanium laser that might very well change computing as we know it.

It seems that as processors and bandwidth get faster and faster, the big slowdown in our systems is the bulky, heat generating, and power hungry copper that moves the electrons around in our electronics. This is looking like the next bottleneck that will have to be overcome to increase computing speeds.

Well, MIT may very well have solved the bottleneck with the development of this laser. It seems that the laser might actually be able to be fabricated directly onto chips when they are manufactured. Imagine a computer chip with its own built-in laser! This would allow things to move around the computer at the speed of light with very little added heat.

There's no word on a timetable for deployment, but it's little discoveries like this that can often mean big changes and advancement on down the road.

The Chevy Volt is Coming... and You can Order One This Year

As most of you regular readers know, this fall I went green when I purchased a Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. While I'm still loving it every time I get behind the wheel (not to mention every time I can pass a fuel pump) this post isn't about me. It's about the next big thing in green driving.

The Chevy Volt has been shown at car shows and has been talked about for a few years now, but it seems that you'll finally be able to get your hands on one this calendar year. GM dealers should begin taking orders in September with a target delivery date of November.

The biggest/coolest thing about the Volt? Well there's tons of technology, but the big thing is 230 mpg. No, that's not a typo. See your Chevy dealer this fall.

Center for Esthetic Excellence Announces CE Course Schedule

The Center for Esthetic Excellence (CEE) in Chicago, Illinois has one of the most highly regarded faculties of any continuing dental education programs in the world. The CEE programs combine a lecture and “hands-on” class format and each course is limited to fifteen participants which is conducive to a more intimate learning experience. Learn skills that will take your career to the next level while practicing in-office techniques in a fully equipped ultra-modern facility. For more information or to see the 2010 schedule and course descriptions, please call 1-800-837-2321 or visit www.cosmedent.com.

OraPharma, Inc.’s ARESTIN® Honored for the Sixth Consecutive Year with Coveted 2009 Townie Choice Award

Warminster, PA (February 4, 2010) − OraPharma, Inc., a specialty oral health company dedicated to bringing scientific and technological products to the dental community, recently announced that its ARESTIN® (minocycline hydrochloride) Microspheres, 1 mg continues to be regarded as the standard of care for locally administered antibiotics (LAA) used as a part of comprehensive periodontal disease treatment by dentists and hygienists alike.
For the sixth year in a row, ARESTIN® was overwhelmingly named the LAA of choice in the 2009 Townie Choice Awards from Dentaltown, and is featured in the December 2009 issue. ARESTIN® is indicated as an adjunct treatment to scaling and root planing (SRP) procedures for reduction of pocket depth in patients with adult periodontitis.
The Townie Choice Awards were created to provide dental professionals with a peer-driven source of information when making difficult purchase decisions. What’s more, the Townie Choice Award is the only honor in dentistry that is bestowed directly from the clinicians who treat patients every day.
“Each product chosen by our readers plays an important part in their everyday professional success based on positive patient outcomes,” remarked Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD, editorial director, Dentaltown. “The Townie Choice Awards are very influential and provide an accurate profile of our Dentaltown community product loyalties.”
“We’re pleased and honored that ARESTIN® is consistently selected by dental professionals as an essential part of their standard of care when treating periodontal disease,” said OraPharma’s Product Director, ARESTIN®, Ben Sandefur. “We are dedicated to continuing this trend in 2010 with ongoing efforts to increase awareness of periodontal disease and the need for comprehensive periodontal disease treatment.”

For a complete list of all winning Townie Choice products, please pick up the December 2009 issue of Dentaltown, or log onto www.dentaltown.com.

About OraPharma, Inc.
OraPharma, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and commercializes therapeutics for the treatment of periodontal disease at various phases of progression. ARESTIN® (minocycline hydrochloride) Microspheres, 1 mg (www.myarestin.com) is indicated as an adjunct to scaling and root planing procedures for reduction of pocket depth in patients with adult periodontitis. OSSIX™ PLUS™ (resorbable collagen membrane) is used in guided bone regeneration (GBR) and guided tissue regeneration (GTR) procedures. For more information about OraPharma and its products, visit www.orapharma.com.

About ARESTIN®
ARESTIN® (minocycline hydrochloride) Microspheres, 1 mg is indicated as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) procedures for reduction of pocket depth in patients with adult periodontitis. ARESTIN® may be used as part of a periodontal maintenance program which includes good oral hygiene and scaling and root planing.

ARESTIN® contains minocycline, a tetracycline derivative, and therefore should not be used in children and in pregnant or nursing women. The use of drugs of the tetracycline class during tooth development may cause permanent discoloration of the teeth.

The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were headache (9.0%), infection (7.6%), flu syndrome (5.0%), and pain (4.3%). These occurred at a similar rate to SRP and SRP + placebo.

ARESTIN® and OSSIX™ PLUS™ are trademarks of OraPharma, Inc.

Down But Not Out... At Least Not Completely

Sorry for the lack of posts yesterday and today. I've been sick as a dog with some type of bug and researching for the blog has taken a backseat to Advil and lots of fluids. Posts will resume tomorrow.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled sneezing and laryngitis...

Amazon Changes Stance and Once Again Sells Macmillan Titles

It was a short lived decision, but Amazon has reinstated the selling of titles from publisher Macmillan after removing them on Saturday.

Macmillan wants to sell their books for more than the $9.99 that Amazon prefers for Kindle titles. Amazon had this to say, "We want you to know that ultimately, however, we will have to capitulate and accept Macmillan's terms because Macmillan has a monopoly over their own titles, and we will want to offer them to you even at prices we believe are needlessly high for e-books," the company said. "Amazon customers will at that point decide for themselves whether they believe it's reasonable to pay $14.99 for a bestselling e-book."

Rather than the $9.99 price tag Amazon prefers, Macmillan is using a pricing structure of $12.99 to $14.99 for e-book versions of bestsellers and most hardcover titles they are selling.

Whether this sticks long term is anyone's guess. One of the big advantages of the Kindle to me is price and instantaneous delivery. While I don't think twice about a $9.99 title, I might hesitate at a more expensive one.

Pogoplug Lets You Access Your Files Anywhere via the Internet

There are a lot of ways to get your information over the Internet, but all of them that I' aware of require you to pay a monthly fee. This is a little gadget called the Pogoplug that lets you share from attached USB drives to anyone/anywhere on the Internet that you specify. The cost is $129 and that's it. No monthly fees. There is even an iPhone app that allows you to access your files from your phone.

If you have the need to have data available anywhere, Pogoplug may be just what you are looking for. Check out their website for more info.