
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Could Google be Hard at Work on "Terminator Glasses"?

Tuesday, February 28, 2012
PerioSciences Showcases its AO ProVantage Family of Antioxidant Oral Care Products

One of the best things about the Chicago Dental Society's annual MidWinter Meeting is the plethora of new products and new ideas that come bouncing out of the McCormick Convention Center every year. There are always some amazing things that are announced at the meeting, and the following information details one of them...
Dallas, TX – February 13, 2012 – PerioSciences, LLC (www.periosciences.com) will be launching the dental industry’s first antioxidant-based, topically-applied oral care products.
Specifically, the company will be presenting its AO ProVantage family of products, which contain the novel combination of antioxidants Phloretin and Ferulic. Phloretin and Ferulic have been shown in university based studies to neutralize free radicals which lead to oxidative stress commonly caused by dental materials, alcohol, nicotine, and the hydrogen peroxide used in teeth whitening products. Case studies reveal reduced inflammation and bleeding as well as accelerated wound healing in soft oral tissue. The AO ProVantage product line is as follows:
AO ProVantage: An antioxidant-infused gel designed for application on soft oral tissue is available in both a 30 ml and 15ml travel size delivers antioxidant to tissue and is extremely soothing upon application. Also contains antibacterial agents such as xylitol, menthol and thymol.
AO ProVantage BLAST: A higher concentration antioxidant gel is designed to be applied after tobacco use delivering the most advanced combination of antioxidants. The unique and strong combination of essential oils, and xylitol will freshen breath even after nicotine use. Package contains three .17ml airless bottles which are easy to carry.
AO ProRinse: An alcohol-free, mouth rinse that contains a proprietary antioxidant combination with the added power of catechins from Green Tea. This great tasting mouth rinse is extremely effective against general halitosis and also contains xylitol.
PerioSciences and its AO Pro product line are the result of more than 20 years of experience in the topical application of antioxidants. Company CEO Russell Moon’s earlier venture, SkinCeuticals, which commercialized topically-applied antioxidant skincare, paved the way for PerioSciences with strong anti-inflammatory results from Duke University testing. SkinCeuticals was acquired by L’Oréal in 2005.
PerioSciences was founded in 2008, when additional research at Baylor College of Dentistry and UNC Chapel Hill School of Dentistry further confirmed that specific combinations of antioxidants neutralize free radicals / oxidative stress in the oral cavity. Antioxidants naturally occur in saliva, and abnormally low levels of salivary antioxidants have been associated with oral disease, such as oral lichen planus (OLP), temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), periodontal disease (PD), and even oral cancer.
For more information about PerioScinces and its AO Pro family of products, please visit www.PerioSciences.com or call 1-800-915-8110.
About PerioSciences:
PerioSciences researches, formulates, and markets topically applied, antioxidant-based oral care and oral hygiene products. The company markets to dental professionals, hygienists, and other health care professionals such as cardiologists, rheumatologists, and medi-spas. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, PerioSciences' objective is to establish a new category of products – antioxidant-based oral care. PerioSciences will provide the most advanced products for patients and a state-of-the-art business model for practitioners while maintaining a long-term commitment to research.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Impressions from the Chicago MidWinter Meeting
Although it doesn't seem possible that it is time for the MidWinter Meeting again, another has slipped off the calendar.
This year's event at McCormick West in Chicago was an amazing event for me. I was busy in a series of meeting after meeting events.
After 3 hours of sleep on Tuesday night, I left KC at 8 on Saturday and headed for Chicago. Upon my arrival in the Windy City, I jumped in a cab and headed downtown to a full hands-on editorial meeting with the rest of the crew from Dental Products Report. There I was delighted to see the return of my good friend Steve Diogo to the magazine's staff. Steve has been given the job of heading up the electronic and social media side of Advanstar so it looks like we will be spending a fair amount of time working on new projects together. I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about that.
There are also quite a few things coming down the pipe from Dental Products Report. Although I'm not at liberty to discuss these new and exciting ideas, trust me when I say 2012 is going to be a year of surprises that will delight you. One of the E media things that you can look forward to in the not too distant future is my complete Twitter feed showing up on the DPR homepage.
I'm also going to be working on a couple of new video initiatives that will spotlight some fun and much needed areas of information when it comes to dentistry.
I also had a multitude of meetings with companies that are looking to bring game changing products to market this year. Once again, I'm not at liberty to discuss these but I walked away from several meetings buzzing with excitement about the changes that these products can bring to the practice of dentistry. Suffice it to say that the only constant in the industry is change.
On Friday night, after most of the meeting was either relaxing with an adult beverage or heading off to sleep a few of us convened to begin the discussions and arguments that always result from the Pride Institute Best In Class Technology Awards voting. This is the 4th year of the panel voting on the latest and greatest of products in our proud profession. Over the past years this meeting has been a combination of fun and arm wrestling. Trust me when I say that this year's meeting was all that and more. The winners will be announced on the June cover of Dental Products Report magazine and I've got to say that I'm incredibly proud of the panel that I'm part of in the decisions that we made.
The work that we do is always a labor of love and afterwords even though tensions may have run a bit high in the meeting, we always end up as friends. This year was no exception.
I was excited about the media in general as my friends in the industry indicated to me that dentistry continues to improve and strengthen as a business. However, we also continue to see incredible improvements that benefit the patient, and in the end that is truly what this great profession is all about.
So suffice it to say that I'm excited about what 2012 holds in store. Sorry I can't tell you more about some of the amazing things that are happening, but trust me when I say you'll see them soon enough and like me you will be thrilled!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Stress and How it Starts from the Top Down

Saturday, February 25, 2012
The World’s First Android™-based Control Screen in the Dental Laser Industry

The photo above is one I snapped while interviewing the folks at Millennium Dental Technologies during the 2012 MidWinter Meeting in Chicago. The screen on this device is actually a Samsung Galaxy Tab device powered by Android. Millennium is using Android based tablets as the controller system for their PerioLase Nd:YAG surgical lasers. The idea is pretty leading edge in that they are allowing users to upgrade the firmware in their lasers by either upgrading the tablet that runs it or by upgrading the Android App. Read on for all the info.
PerioLase® MVP-7™ for the LANAP® protocol brings together advanced science and developing technology.
Cerritos, CA (February 27, 2012) Millennium Dental Technologies announces the first laser in the dental industry to incorporate an Android-based digital display and control system. The PerioLase MVP-7 for the LANAP protocol combines its advanced laser components with the latest LCD display technology for the optimum operating experience.
The enhanced display integrates the absolute latest developments in the tablet industry into the PerioLase MVP-7 digital dental laser, and also provides a consistent platform to continually take advantage of the explosive growth and development in the electronics industry.
Millennium Dental Technologies is breaking the paradigm of the planned obsolescence built into the manufacturing of capital equipment within the dental industry. By integrating the open-platform Android operating system, the PerioLase MVP-7 will enable new display device integration and upgrades without the purchase of a new laser.
“Currently, in the industry, a device upgrade means a completely new laser at high cost. Millennium’s constant practice of ‘Kaizen’ has allowed us to break through this paradigm and provide true device upgradability,” remarks Robert H. Gregg II, DDS, president and co-founder of Millennium Dental Technologies.
The new streamlined user interface increases usable display space to allow the doctor to focus on the clinical procedure, with intuitive operating controls and engaging graphics. The 360-degree mounting system increases clinician comfort during the procedure, with a wide range viewing angle and increased flexibility of laser placement in the operatory.
“Operating system upgrades can be done in the field through encrypted hardware authentication, with less downtime to the clinician,” explains Patrick McCormick, CFO of Millennium Dental Technology. “This enables to the clinician to maintain patient treatment schedules and efficiency, while giving them the power to stay abreast of the exploding high-resolution, flat screen display technology.”
Chief Technical Officer, Delwin McCarthy, DDS explains, “The transformation to the Android-based platform is fully backward compatible. All existing PerioLase MPV-7 laser devices can be merged with the advanced display and control, an important benefit to our LANAP-trained clinicians.”
Millennium Dental Technologies is exploring forward compatible upgrades including evolution to Electronic Medical Records (EMR), the Obama initiative for integration of electronic dental records and systems, and seamless communication with case management software.
The PerioLase MVP-7, a free-running pulsed Nd:YAG laser was developed specifically to support the LANAP protocol and, through product relevancy and a dedicated management team, is the longest-lasting laser system still being sold today in the history of the dental laser device industry. The LANAP protocol is a patient-accepted, evidence-based laser gum disease surgery, developed with the purpose of helping patients save their natural teeth and avoid the fear and pain associated with traditional gum surgery.
ABOUT MILLENNIUM DENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Headquartered in Cerritos, Calif., Millennium Dental Technologies, Inc. is the developer of the LANAP® protocol for the treatment of gum disease and the manufacturer of the PerioLase® MVP-7™ digital dental laser. By providing a simple and comfortable experience with unique bone-building clinical results, MDT’s FDA-cleared LANAP protocol removes the fear from gum disease treatment, offering a vastly less painful and less invasive regenerative treatment alternative to conventional scalpel/suture flap surgery; its PerioLase® MVP-7™ is a 6-watt free-running variable pulsed Nd:YAG dental laser featuring digital technology and 7 pulse durations—the most available on the market—giving it the power and versatility to perform a wide range of soft- and hard-tissue laser procedures. Established in 1990, the company’s founding clinicians, Robert H. Gregg, II, D.D.S. and Delwin K. McCarthy, D.D.S., continue to operate the company with a shared vision and purpose: To create better clinical outcomes in periodontal disease patients—and to remain true to the guiding principle—“It’s all about the patient.” For more information, visit www.LANAP.com.
Friday, February 24, 2012
News from the Chicago MidWinter Meeting: Patterson Dental and RevenueWell Get Serious about Practice Marketing

Patterson Dental comes to this year’s CDS Midwinter meeting with a brand new product and a renewed focus on helping its customers succeed in the Internet age. Its new partner, Chicago-based RevenueWell Systems, developed a breakthrough online service that helps dental offices cut costs, attract new patients and engage existing patients with very little effort from the doctor and staff.
RevenueWell is an online system that uses information from the office’s existing practice management software (e.g. Eaglesoft, Dentrix) to automatically communicate with patients, let them access their accounts online and help practices send out highly targeted, effective marketing campaigns to the patient base.
One of RevenueWell’s main value propositions is its ability to completely automate over 20 types of common patient communications. RevenueWell does this by analyzing each patient’s appointment, procedure and account data and sending them timely emails, postcards, letters, SMS messages and automated voice calls based on the practice’s settings. Some of these communications, like appointment confirmations, birthday cards, welcome packets and post-op instructions, are focused on improving the practice’s operations and delivering better patient care. Others are geared at bringing patients back into the office for recommended treatment and maintenance. This includes:
- •Recall and reactivation communications that use a combination of email, SMS and direct mail messages to ensure that patients stay current with their hygiene appointments
- •Expiring insurance benefits reminders that remind patients to use their insurance benefits before the end of the year
- •Video treatment plan follow-ups, an industry-first feature that automatically follows-up with patients who have had a treatment plan created for them but didn’t yet make an appointment to start treatment
RevenueWell takes a similarly comprehensive and automated approach to solving its customers’ other marketing and patient management challenges. From automatically collecting online patient reviews to asking patients for referrals to establishing and maintaining a practice’s profile across 100+ online destinations, the system makes the best out of today’s online technologies to make practice marketing easy.
“RevenueWell is the first company that we saw in the marketplace that not only gets the technology aspects of online marketing, but was willing to invest into applying these concepts uniquely to the dental field”, said Tim Rogan, Vice President, Marketing. “Most other providers make generic software that works the same way for auto dealerships, hair salons and opticians. At Patterson, we feel that such diversification may be a strategy not to lose, but it’s not a strategy to win and provide real value to our customers. RevenueWell has done their homework, worked very closely with our EagleSoft team, and brought to market a product that finally delivers on the promises of others out there.”
Patterson Dental is the only nationwide distributor of the RevenueWell Suite, and offers professional installation and support for the product through its state-of-the-art Patterson Technology Center.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
PerioSciences Showcases its AO ProVantage Family of Antioxidant Oral Care Products at Chicago Midwinter 2012
Dallas, TX – February 13, 2012 – Exhibiting for the first time at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting at booth # 4236, PerioSciences, LLC (www.periosciences.com) will be launching the dental industry’s first antioxidant-based, topically-applied oral care products.
Specifically, the company will be presenting its AO ProVantage family of products, which contain novel antioxidants Phloretin and Ferulic. Phloretin and Ferulic have been shown in university based studies to neutralize free radicals which lead to oxidative stress commonly caused by dental materials, alcohol, nicotine, and the hydrogen peroxide used in teeth whitening products. Amazing case studies reveal reduced inflammation and bleeding as well as accelerated wound healing in soft oral tissue. The AO ProVantage product line is as follows:
AO ProVantage: An antioxidant-infused gel designed for application on soft oral tissue is available in both a 30 ml and 15ml travel size delivers antioxidant to tissue and is extremely soothing upon application. Also contains antibacterial agents such as xylitol, menthol and thymol.
AO ProVantage BLAST: A higher concentration antioxidant gel is designed to be applied after tobacco use delivering the most advanced combination of antioxidants.
The unique and strong combination of essential oils, and xylitol will freshen breath even after nicotine use. Package contains three .17ml airless bottles which are easy to carry.AO ProRinse: An alcohol-free, mouth rinse that contains our proprietary antioxidant combination with the added power of catechins from Green Tea. This great tasting mouth rinse is extremely effective against general halitosis and also contains xylitol.
PerioSciences and its AO Pro product line are the result of more than 20 years of experience in the topical application of antioxidants. Company CEO Russell Moon’s earlier venture, SkinCeuticals, which commercialized topically-applied antioxidant skincare, paved the way for PerioSciences with strong anti-inflammatory results from Duke University testing. SkinCeuticals was acquired by L’Oréal in 2005.
PerioSciences was founded in 2008, when additional research at Baylor College of Dentistry and UNC Chapel Hill School of Dentistry further confirmed that specific combinations of antioxidants neutralize free radicals / oxidative stress in the oral cavity. Antioxidants naturally occur in saliva, and abnormally low levels of salivary antioxidants have been associated with oral disease, such as oral lichen planus (OLP), temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), periodontal disease (PD), and even oral cancer.
For more information about PerioScinces and its AO Pro family of products, please visit www.PerioSciences.com or call 1-800-915-8110.
About PerioSciences:
PerioSciences researches, formulates, and markets topically applied, antioxidant-based oral care and oral hygiene products. The company markets to dental professionals, hygienists, and other health care professionals such as cardiologists, rheumatologists, and medi-spas. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, PerioSciences' objective is to establish a new category of products – antioxidant-based oral care. PerioSciences will provide the most advanced products for patients and a state-of-the-art business model for practitioners while maintaining a long-term commitment to research.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Exorvision Scores Again with New ET19ATM Monitor

Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Fisher-Price® Kid-Tough® Portable DVR Puts Preschoolers' Favorite TV Shows in the Palm of Their Hands

New device enables parents to digitally record any content that comes from their home cable box or satellite system and take it on the go!
EAST AURORA, N.Y., Jan. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Watching TV shows on the go has never been easier for preschoolers, thanks to the Fisher-Price® Kid-Tough® Portable DVR. Even new TV episodes can be recorded for viewing on this cool, kid-friendly, hand-held device.
Recording TV shows is easier than finding the remote! It takes parents only a matter of minutes to simply attach the Kid-Tough Portable DVR to its base unit that is connected to their TV and set top box (DVR, cable box, satellite box, digital converter box) and they can record their children's favorite TV shows. Recording can even be programmed for up to 24 hours in advance of the show's air time.
The Portable DVR has easy-to-use, kid-friendly controls and contains a rechargeable battery for 4-6 hours of play time (the battery re-charges when the unit is docked). The built-in memory accommodates up to 2 hours' worth of content. Families heading on a cross-country road trip can expand the memory and stock up on the latest TV episodes before they leave the driveway by purchasing an additional memory card for the micro SD card slot. This will help minimize the "are we there yet?" hollers from the back seat!
In addition, the device features a 3.5 inch touch-screen interface and a slick, high-end design that preschoolers will love, in either pink or blue.
The Kid-Tough Portable DVR will be available this summer at major retailers nationwide.
Monday, February 20, 2012
The Routes the Nukes Take

Sunday, February 19, 2012
Beam Brush Sends Toothbrushing Stats to Your Smartphone

Saturday, February 18, 2012
MIS Implants/PeriZone™ Video Explains Mechanism of Action for its PerioPatch® Hydrogel Wound Dressing for Oral Pain and Inflammation

Fair Lawn, NJ (February 14, 2012) – MIS Implants Technologies, a leading manufacturer of dental implants and superstructures, recently created an animated video that clearly displays the mechanism of action for its oral wound management product, PerioPatch®, the first product from its newly-established brand within the oral health division, PeriZone™.
The PeriZone PerioPatch was created to provide relief from the signs and symptoms of oral inflammation and trauma, as well as protect oral wounds from further irritation.The patch, with a unique combination of herbal ingredients, securely adheres to moist intraoral tissues upon contact, providing a gentle, shielding barrier. PerioPatch absorbs wound exudates, and in turn promotes natural healing.
MIS Implants Technologies, Ltd. created the video to identify the appropriate patient profile, demonstrate proper application, and display the healing process with assistance from PerioPatch in a format that is visually compelling and easy to understand. In the length of one minute and ten seconds, the company intends to provide this information to dental professionals quickly and clearly.
The video can be found on PeriZone’s website (www.periopatch.com), or by clicking here, and will officially be introduced to the dental community at the upcoming Chicago Midwinter Meeting, booth #4727.
The PeriZone brand is new to the dental landscape, having launched in June of 2011, and strives to provide dental professionals and patients with state-of-the-art oral healthcare products that are unparalleled in quality and performance.
About MIS Implants Technologies, Ltd.
MIS Implants Technologies, Ltd., headquartered in Israel, was founded in 1995 and has served as a leading high-tech research and dental implant production company for many years. The company spans the globe, with distribution in almost 70 countries worldwide, and specializes in the complete cycle of production – including the design, development, manufacturing, and marketing of an advanced comprehensive range of dental implants, superstructures, surgical kits, and tools, as well as the newly developed line of oral health products. MIS has been committed to providing the dental community with significant research and top-of-the-line products that continually keep their customers smiling. The 2011 launch of PeriZone™, reflects this same commitment to dental professionals and consumers worldwide. The oral health division’s goal is to provide dental professionals with superior, innovative products to ensure the greatest level of patient care.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn has Surgery for Oral Cancer

Thursday, February 16, 2012
A Major Update to the Google+ iOS App with a Cool Photo Backup Included

Wednesday, February 15, 2012
LIfe on the Road - Why Travel is Glamorous Until You Actually Travel
I frequently say that this blog is about "technology and life", so you can file this post under the "life" column.
I spend a fair amount of time traveling in my second job as tech editor, lecturer, and consultant. By a fair amount, I mean on average of at least 2 trips per month… sometimes more. It's enough to give me a healthy perspective on those individuals whose job pretty much requires them to travel for a living. That's a job I greatly respect and would never want to have. Travel nowadays is difficult and frequently stressful.
While often people think the travel part of my job is exciting, I'm afraid that frequently isn't true. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I get to go to some amazing places and/or do amazing things, but those trips are definitely in a slim minority compared to the garden variety trip to lecture at a major meeting or to a group. Here's a little tale from the past weekend to illustrate this point.
On Friday I was set to lecture to a group in Duluth, MN. The crowd was tremendous and I the location of the meeting was in a building built in the 1920's. This building actually was a men's club from the turn of the century and had 4 rooms for guests to stay in. It was an amazing building and my 2 room suite had the incredible ambiance of turn of the century elegance. If you are into antiques, I'm talking an amazing old bathtub, steam radiators, paned glass, oak beams… the entire place was breathtaking. However, the getting there and getting home isn't nearly as amazing as the group who invited me or the location.
I knew we were in for a cold snap in the central US, but no one who travels much really wants to travel with a bulky winter coat. So I took my medium weight Scottevest jacket which has tons of pockets and keeps one reasonably warm without taking up 2 seats on the plane. Living in KC means I get few direct flights so I had to hop to O'hare and then on to Duluth. This particular trip had a later departure than some so I didn't arrive in Duluth until about 11:15 pm.
My hosts had contacted a local cab company to make sure someone would pick me up. We landed and I found out we were the last flight in that night. Shortly after I got my bag, most of the lights in the airport began to go out. We also landed to a temp of 10 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind of probably 15-20 mph. It was bitterly cold and my cab was nowhere to be found. I called the cab company and was told my ride was 5 minutes away. After 10 minutes I checked in to see where they were and was told the cab was now 2 minutes away. I patiently waited another 10 minutes before calling again. This time I was told that an error had been made and that the original cab was not available and another was now being sent. It would arrive in 10 minutes. So… 20 minutes later my cab arrived. By now I think there was one other person in the airport besides myself. I clambered into the cab and we headed to my destination. I fell into bed at about 12:30.
Travel can be difficult to plan and this trip had an added wrinkle. In order to get home on Friday evening, I could not fly back out of Duluth. There simply wasn't a flight option that would get me back to KC that night. So, I was lucky enough to have a friend of mine drive down to see part of the lecture on Friday and then drive me back south to Minneapolis where I could catch a flight home from there.
It was a drive of over 2 hours, but the time really went by fast as we chatted and laughed. It really was a great time. I was dropped at the airport at about the same time I got an automated call from United telling me my flight had been delayed for an hour. With only an hour layover in O'hare, I knew this was bad news. I went inside the airport and found help at the United check-in area. There the nice ladies told me that my flight had literally just moments before been cancelled. It seems there was snow in Chicago and things were backing up. However, Debbie, the Untied agent, was an angel and managed to get me the last seat on an earlier flight which was also delayed and would be leaving at about the same time as my original. I would be getting to O'hare at about the same time as I had planned in the first place and making my connection would be no problem.
I went through security and munched on a burger as I waited for my flight. However, this was going to be "one of those trips". As I nibbled on my dinner, I got another automated United call letting me know that my new flight was further delayed and would be leaving 30 minutes later than I originally planned. This would give me 30 minutes to make my connection, which is about the bare minimum you ever want to have. I didn't hold out much hope now, but when you travel you often don't have lots of choices.
We ended up boarding 15 minutes earlier than planned and now my hopes once again were buoyed with the hope of seeing my beloved home before Saturday. Alas, my plane pushed back from the gate and then we sat… and sat… and sat. I knew it was now over. I was stuck. I didn't have a chance.
We departed at last and I tried to relax as best I could. I *really* wanted to get home, but there wasn't' much chance of that.
We landed in Chicago and began to taxi. There was only 10 minutes before my flight left and I knew I would never make the flight. Then the unlikely happened. As I turned on my iPhone, I received yet another automated call from United to tell me that my connection was delayed. Suddenly I now had 30 minutes to make the connection. I got off the plane and took off on a run. As I said before, it was just 'one of those trips' and it was proven again when I ended up having to run from the very end of Terminal 1 in O'hare to the very end of Terminal 2. I don't know if there is a greater distance to cover in O'hare, but if there is I don't ever want to have to cover it. This was a haul and I covered it in a jacket and dragging a rolling computer bag behind me. By the time I had actually gotten off the plane, I only had 20 minutes and I know the door is more or less closed at 10 minutes prior to takeoff. I really had to hustle. I arrived at my gate panting and covered in sweat, only to be told, "Sorry we got it off the gate a few minutes earlier than we planned." I could see the plane a mere 20 or so yards away just sitting there, but they were not coming back. I was given a ticket for the 8:22 am Saturday flight.
I walked a bit and found an empty gate where I flopped, took off my jacket, and tried to cool off. What to do now? It was 10:15 pm and I had nowhere to go. I ended up deciding that sleeping in a bed was preferable to sleeping in the airport so I called the airport Marriott and got a room. I went downstairs to get a cab. I was beat, it had been a long day, and I just wanted to get somewhere. My bag, of course, was gone. That's one thing about checking a bag… if there is a problem like this, you can't get it back. All I had was my computer and the clothes on my back. I stepped outside to discover that it was 5 degrees Fahrenheit in Chicago with a 25 mph wind. That effectively made it -20… oh and did I mention that there was a cab line and no cabs? I waited 15 minutes in an arctic blast for my ride.
At long last cabs began to filter in and when I finally fell into mine, my ears and fingers were tingling and burning from exposure. "Airport Marriott," I said to the driver. I was beat, whipped, trounced by travel. Now I was home free, at least I'd be in bed in a few minutes. "What city is that it?" a voice from the front seat said.
I snapped back from my momentary state of relaxation. It seemed I was in the only cab in Chicago that was unaware there was a Marriott in close proximity to O'hare. He consulted a book. I gave him the address, which he asked to have repeated, and upon hearing it a second time he just shrugged and went back to the book. I Google mapped it on the iPhone and handed it to him. He looked at the map and just shook his head. After 20 minutes of this he rummaged somewhere in the front and pulled out a GPS unit. It was then, of course, that he realized in the tunnel like structure of lower O'hare that he could not get satellite access. We had to leave, find a place to park, and then punch in the address.
It was after midnight when I finally made it to the Marriott. God bless them, I told them I had no bag and they located a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, and other items for me. I managed to grab about 4 1/2 hours of sleep before heading back to O'hare and then the comfort of my home back in Kansas.
I'm thankful these types of trips don't happen very often, but they do happen. The funny thing is, the more you travel, the more you increase your odds of a nightmare like this happening. It's just the law of averages. So if you have a friend or relative that spends a fair amount of time in airports, remember to cut them some slack every once in a while. Sometimes we just can't help ourselves if we're a bit tired or grumpy.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Provia Labs Makes Chicago Midwinter Meeting Debut and Launches its Store-A-ToothTM Dental Stem Cell Preservation Service

Dentists can be at the Forefront of the Emerging Field of Regenerative Medicine
Lexington, MA – February 13, 2012 – Provia Laboratories, LLC will be exhibiting during the Chicago Midwinter Meeting at booth # 3346 to showcase its Store-A-ToothTM dental stem cell preservation service.
The Store-A-ToothTM service enables families to save their own adult stem cells – from baby teeth ready to fall out; teeth pulled for orthodontic reasons; and wisdom teeth being extracted. Dental professionals play a role in making patients aware of this option, giving families the choice to safely and securely store their stem cells today – in a convenient and affordable way – so that they can take advantage of future therapies in regenerative medicine and dentistry.
The company partners with dental offices to make it easy to educate and inform patients about the option to preserve their family’s dental stem cells. For those interested in the service, Provia works with the dental team to provide high-quality tooth collection, and arranges for the sample to be sent overnight to the lab, where the stem cells are harvested, tested, and cryopreserved for future potential use.
“New stem cell therapies are going to change medicine as we know it, and dentists will play a leading role in enabling this transformation,” states Howard Greenman, Provia Labs’ CEO. “There’s been a lot of media buzz about stem cell research in general, but most people are unaware that a very potent and plentiful source of viable stem cells exits in the dental pulp of healthy teeth.”
Dental stem cells have already been used successfully in people to regenerate alveolar jaw bone and to treat periodontal disease. “One of the first routine applications in the oral cavity for the use of mesenchymal stem cells from teeth will be to promote bone growth around implants so they integrate more quickly, similar to how cellular bone matrix products are used today,” says Dr. Nicholas Perrotta, DMD, who started providing the Store-A-Tooth service in 2011.
“In addition to potential applications in regenerative dentistry, dental stem cell research may lead to new treatments for a wide range of medical conditions, including type 1 diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease, spinal cord injuries, and Parkinson’s disease, to name a few,” explains Peter Verlander, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer for Provia Labs. “Dental stem cell collection and preservation gives parents the peace of mind that they are now equipped to take advantage of the breakthroughs in stem cell therapies that will arise from the research community.”
“Store-A-Tooth is less expensive than collecting stem cells from umbilical cord blood. In fact, we hear from many of our customers that they are thankful to have this opportunity to store their stem cells, especially if they missed the chance to save cord blood,” states Greenman. “Our mission is to make stem cell banking accessible to the millions of children losing teeth
every year.”
There are no fees or costs to dentists who wish to become an authorized Store-A-Tooth provider; in fact, dentists can generate incremental revenue for assisting with tooth collection. Provia Labs supplies all participating practices with patient education materials, practice tools, and dedicated support; training is simple, and there is minimal impact to existing workflow.
Dental professionals share Store-A-Tooth educational materials with their patients, who enroll directly with Provia Labs. The day of the appointment, the dentist simply places the extracted tooth into the Store-A-Tooth collection kit, which includes a proven transport device called Save-A-Tooth®. In use by thousands of dentists for over 20 years, the Save-A-Tooth is an FDA-approved and ADA-accepted device for transporting avulsed teeth for reimplantation. The Store-A-Tooth collection kit is shipped overnight to the Provia Laboratories facility, where the stem cells are processed and stored.
The Store-A-Tooth service is currently available to dental offices throughout the United States and internationally. To become a provider, visit www.store-a-tooth.com or call 877-867-5753.
About Provia Laboratories, LLC
Headquartered in Lexington, MA, Provia Laboratories, LLC (www.provialabs.com) is a healthcare services company specializing in high-quality biobanking (preservation of biological specimens). The company’s Store-A-Tooth service platform enables the collection, transport, processing, and storage of dental stem cells for potential use in future stem-cell therapies. The company advises industrial, academic, and governmental clients on matters related to the preservation of biological specimens for research and clinical use. In addition, Provia offers a variety of products for use in complex biobanking environments to improve sample logistics, security, and quality. For more information on dental stem cells, call 1-877-867-5753, visit www.store-a-tooth.com or www.facebook.com/storeatooth, or follow via twitter @StoreATooth.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Could Raspberry Pi Really Change Computing as We Know It?
A tip 0' the old electron to my pal Paul Hinman for the idea behind today's post.
I believe it was Scott McNeally (although I could be wrong about that) who, in the late 90's said "the network *is* the computer".
At the time, that statement was a little too early. We hadn't really gotten high speed data connections to proliferate yet and computing power was still lacking in lots of places. However, the penetration we are now seeing of people using The Cloud, I think that statement is playing out now all around us. Using someone else's computer to host blogs, travel data, calendars, email, you name it, is now so common some of us don't even realize we're doing it.
So if we're really just using a lot of our computers as terminals to access the cloud, do we really need those powerful computers all around us anymore? Enter the idea of Raspberry Pi, a small and affordable computer that may be all you need in the future. I can definitely see something like this taking hold & growing rapidly. When you think about it, most of us with newer smartphones are doing a lot of this already. Raspberry Pi just makes it a ton more affordable and leaves out the phone.
The idea is a tiny computer that costs $25 that can do most of the things you need to have done. Does this mean the desktop is dead? Maybe not, but it may mean the desktop isn't nearly as relevant as it once was.
Here is a bit of an overview from an article on TechRepublic:
In the last 60 years the computer has evolved from a machine that filled an entire room to a device that can fit in your pocket. And just as the electronics have shrunk, so has the price – opening up the prospect of cheap and pervasive computing.
One of the machines at the vanguard of the low-cost computing revolution is the Raspberry Pi, a $25 Linux box that will go on sale before the end of February. Despite its budget price the Raspberry Pi still packs a punch, with the multi-media capabilities of an original Xbox console, 1080p video playback, and general processing power of a Pentium II/III. Specs-wise the credit card-sized computer is powered by a 700MHz ARM chip inside a Broadcom BCM2835 has a single USB port and 128MB of memory, with an additional $10 buying a souped-up version with two USB ports, 10/100 ethernet and 256MB of memory.
Eben Upton, director of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, the Cambridge-based charitable body set up to produce the machine, predicts that Raspberry Pi will be the first of many $25 machines.
”In a year’s time everybody will be doing this. It’s not loss making, there’s money in it. I think there’s enough value that once we’ve proven that it’s doable a lot of people are going to jump in,” he told TechRepublic.
So does that have you intrigued? I sure has me considering some differing options. I'll probably be jumping in to get one, just to play. For the full article from TechRepublic, click here.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
FDA investigating illegal online sale of handheld dental X-ray units

FDA NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Feb. 10, 2012
Media Inquiries: Michelle Bolek, 301-796-2973, Michelle.Bolek@fda.hhs.gov
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
FDA investigating illegal online sale of handheld dental X-ray units
Devices could be dangerous due to unnecessary radiation exposure
The U.S Food and Drug Administration is warning dental and veterinary professionals to not purchase or use certain potentially unsafe hand-held dental X-ray units. The FDA is concerned that these devices may not be safe or effective and could expose the user and the patient to unnecessary and potentially harmful X-rays. The units, sold online by manufacturers outside the United States and directly shipped to U.S. customers, have not been reviewed by the FDA and do not meet FDA radiation safety requirements.
The Washington State Department of Health alerted the FDA after tests on a device purchased online revealed it did not comply with X-ray performance standards.
As a result, FDA is investigating the extent of the problem and notifying state regulatory authorities, dental professional organizations and other health organizations about the safety risks. To date, no adverse events have been reported.
A hand-held dental X-ray unit is a small, portable device that is intended for dental X-ray examinations. All units that have been cleared by the FDA bear a permanent certification label/tag, a warning label, and an identification (ID) label/tag on the unit. Use of these devices requires a prescription from a licensed practitioner.
“Health care professionals using these devices should verify they are purchasing and using those that have been reviewed and tested to meet FDA’s standards,” said Steve Silverman, director of the Office of Compliance in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
To ensure this, users should:
• Verify the presence of required labels on the device.
• Ask vendors whether the device has been reviewed and cleared by the FDA.
• Access the FDA Medical Device Approvals and Clearances searchable database to verify that the X-ray unit has been cleared by the FDA.
• Contact their state regulatory agency if they become aware of a device that may be hazardous or does not meet the FDA’s requirements.
The FDA will continue to monitor this problem and keep the public informed as new information becomes available.
Questions about this alert can be directed to the Division of Small Manufacturers, International and Consumer Assistance (DSMICA) at DSMICA@FDA.HHS.GOV, 800-638-2041 or 301-796-7100.
For more information:
FDA: Medical Devices
How FDA Regulates Veterinary Devices
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Google Releases Chrome Browser for Android
Introducing Chrome for Android
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 | 9:38 AM
In 2008, we launched Google Chrome to help make the web better. We’re excited that millions of people around the world use Chrome as their primary browser and we want to keep improving that experience. Today, we're introducing Chrome for Android Beta, which brings many of the things you’ve come to love about Chrome to your Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich phone or tablet. Like the desktop version, Chrome for Android Beta is focused on speed and simplicity, but it also features seamless sign-in and sync so you can take your personalized web browsing experience with you wherever you go, across devices.
With Chrome for Android, you can search, navigate and browse fast—Chrome fast. You can scroll through web pages as quickly as you can flick your finger. When searching, your top search results are loaded in the background as you type so pages appear instantly. And of course, both search and navigation can all be done quickly from the Chrome omnibox.
Simplicity
Chrome for Android is designed from the ground up for mobile devices. We reimagined tabs so they fit just as naturally on a small-screen phone as they do on a larger screen tablet. You can flip or swipe between an unlimited number of tabs using intuitive gestures, as if you’re holding a deck of cards in the palm of your hands, each one a new window to the web.
One of the biggest pains of mobile browsing is selecting the correct link out of several on a small-screen device. Link Preview does away with hunting and pecking for links on a web page by automatically zooming in on links to make selecting the precise one easier.
And as with Chrome on desktop, we built Chrome for Android with privacy in mind from the beginning, including incognito mode for private browsing and fine-grained privacy options (tap menu icon, ‘Settings,’ and then ‘Privacy’).
Sign in
You can now bring your personalized Chrome experience with you to your Android phone or tablet. If you sign in to Chrome on your Android device, you can:
- View open tabs: Access the tabs you left open on your computer (also signed into Chrome)—picking up exactly where you left off.
- Get smarter suggestions: If you visit a site often on your computer, you'll also get an autocomplete suggestion for it on your mobile device, so you can spend less time typing.
- Sync bookmarks: Conveniently access your favorite sites no matter where you are or which device you’re using.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Sprint Bringing LTE & Enhanced 3G Service to More Markets

Sprint adds to the list of cities to benefit from new and improved network technology by mid-year
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), February 08, 2012 - Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced that Baltimore and Kansas City are expected to receive 4G LTE and upgraded 3G service by mid-2012. Sprint recently announced that 4G LTE and enhanced 3G service are also expected by mid-2012 in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Sprint 4G LTE will enable faster speeds for data applications, and the enhanced 3G service promises better signal strength, faster data speeds, expanded coverage and better in-building performance.
The launch of these large metropolitan areas demonstrates the continued commitment by Sprint to invest in its network through Network Vision. Sprint customers in these areas will soon enjoy ultra-fast data speeds and improved 3G voice quality. Whether a Sprint customer is using a smartphone to share a video of a double overtime game between the Kansas Jayhawks and Missouri Tigers or a Baltimore chef is checking the Web via a mobile hotspot for a new way to serve crabcakes, Sprint 4G LTE will make it easier. And, when someone makes an important voice call, they can expect to find a clearer connection and a stronger signal in more areas.
"Sprint is investing in its CDMA network and delivering on our commitment to ensure customers experience superior wireless voice and data service at an unbeatable value," said Bob Azzi, Sprint senior vice president-Network. "We continue to deploy multi-mode base stations across Sprint's nationwide cell sites and are expecting improvements in voice quality, signal density and data speeds. Today's good news demonstrates the phenomenal progress that our teams are making toward implementing this new technology."
The initial devices already announced to run on 4G LTE will be Galaxy Nexus™, boasting a pure Google™ experience, LG Viper™ 4G LTE with eco-friendly features, and Sierra Wireless™ Tri-Network Hotspot, a 3G, 4G and 4G LTE mobile hotspot. More information is available at www.sprint.com/4glte.
Sprint has been a 4G innovator since first launching the technology in 2008. Sprint has launched more than 25 4G-enabled smartphones, USB connection cards, notebook/netbook products, mobile hotspots and routers. Sprint offers a proven, reliable 4G experience for millions of customers compared to other national wireless carriers. Additionally, Sprint is a leader in value, with Sprint Everything plans with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM, including unlimited data, texting and calling to and from any mobile phone in America while on the Sprint network. With Sprint's unlimited data plans, customers don't have to worry about throttling or data overage charges on their monthly bill as they might with tiered data plans from other carriers.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 55 million customers at the end of 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Dental Rat Specials
As most of you know, I'm a fan of the Dental RAT. If you've been thinking about either the RAT or the Boa, here is your chance!!!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Thanks to Ivoclar Vivadent for a Great Visit


Monday, February 6, 2012
Following Up on Stroke Victims by External Blood Flow Measurement

Saturday, February 4, 2012
Henry Schein begins shipping Dentrix G5 on February 2nd as part of extended launch Official launch announcement set for Hinman in March
In a continuing effort to try and bring you technology information on both dental tech and tech in general, I've received the following info courtesy of Henry Schein. I'm grateful for the support of companies who realize the readers of this blog appreciate the cutting edge info I try to provide. I'm honored to say that, more and more, I'm getting info that hits the blog here before it hits anywhere else.
To that end, here is a cutting edge announcement that should be of interest to Dentrix users...
Henry Schein, on February 2nd, began shipping Dentrix G5, the latest version of the Dentrix practice management system, as part of a phased release that will take several months.
Although the official launch announcement will not be made until the Hinman Dental Meeting in March, Henry Schein is delivering Dentrix G5 to new Dentrix buyers, as well as a restricted number of Dentrix customers as part of a controlled launch. “By extending the release over multiple months, we can ensure all users receive quality technical support if needed during software installation,” said Howard Bangerter, Dentrix Product Manager.
“However, if a Dentrix user on a current customer plan wants immediate delivery of Dentrix G5, they can call Dentrix Technical Support and we’ll send it,” Bangerter added.
New to Dentrix G5 is an improved, SQL database with encryption capabilities that improves performance and security of patient data.
With this release, Dentrix also becomes a “platform” for connecting with other dental applications, providing tighter integration with Dentrix eServices and third-party applications that access or share Dentrix data. “Providing other software developers the Dentrix G5 programming interface enables them to more easily create applications that work with Dentrix, supporting an entire ecosystem of digital solutions for dental practices,” Bangerter said.
Software developers are already releasing Dentrix G5-integrated versions of their dental applications. To see a list of vendors developing or releasing compatible products, visit: http://www.dentrix.com/products/dentrix/g5/
Dentrix G5 includes a number of new and improved features, including:
- Electronic Explanation of Benefits (eEOB) lets practices receive, review and automatically record remittance advice in the Dentrix Ledger.
- eClaims Attachment Notifications warn users to include attachments on insurance claims for carriers that require them, reducing rejected or delayed claims.
- The new Screen Capture utility lets users drag over any part of the visible screen to create a new document and save it to the Document Center. This is especially useful for creating claims attachments.
- Sequentially Numbered Daysheets record each time the Daysheet is printed or previewed. When combined with logon passwords it creates a gapless record that shows who has accessed the Daysheet and when.
- Dentrix Dentalink is a new add-on feature that provides secure instant messaging, letting users easily communicate throughout the office with minimal disruption to patient care and workflow.
- The new Dentrix Mobile upgrade is an add-on product that presents an improved interface designed specifically for Apple iPad and Motorola Xoom tablet users.
For more information on all of Dentrix G5’s new features, visit: http://www.dentrix.com/products/dentrix/g5
Friday, February 3, 2012
The Eco-Dentistry Association Rewards Consumers for Their Green Smiles
New Eco-Dentistry Badge Awarded to Consumers for Making Eco-Friendly Choices in Oral Health Care
Berkeley, CA (February 2, 2012) The Eco-Dentistry Association today launched a new way to reward consumers for visiting an eco-friendly dentist and making eco-friendly oral health choices: the “Eco-Dentistry Badge.” The award, created in collaboration with Practically Green®, an influential company using gamification and social media to motivate people to make planet-friendly choices, provides specific actions individual consumers and their friends can take.
The Eco-Dentistry Badge offers a deeply engaged digital experience for users by allowing them to track their eco-friendly oral health behavior, earning points for each initiative. The customized badge specifically encourages consumers to:
Use a toothbrush made from recycled or renewable materials, and properly recycle it when it’s time to swap for a new one;
Turn off the water while brushing;
Seek oral care products free from chemicals, toxins and alcohol;
Visit an eco-friendly dentist or participate in the EDA’s “Green My Dentist” campaign by sending a letter to their dentist encouraging them to “go green”.
Completing these actions allows users the opportunity to earn 65 points in the “Health” category of Practically Green’s badges. Consumers are able to share their progress earning badges through their own social media networks, and Practically Green will let consumers know of others in their community who have also earned the Eco-Dentistry badge. The theory is that individuals are more likely to lead a sustainable lifestyle when it is fun and their progress is tracked and shared with friends and the larger community.
“We want to empower individuals to make sustainable choices about their oral care and to remind them that simple steps can have a huge impact” says EDA Co-Founder Ina Pockrass. “Visiting a dental professional that shares an individual’s commitment to the environment forges a special bond of loyalty between patient and practitioner. Earning the Eco- Dentistry badge is a fun and easy way to remember that every action makes a difference and it will help stimulate the transformation of the dental industry.”
The Eco-Dentistry badge is available to all Practically Green users and it’s free to sign-up. Users can sign up at www.practicallygreen.com and once connected, individuals complete the “How Green are You?” quiz that assigns them a shade of green—ranging from barely green to superbly green. Consumers can start immediately earning badges and encouraging others in their network to do the same.
About the EDA
The EDA offers dental professionals’ practical tips on incorporating eco-friendly dental methods and practices, and offers the public access to dental professionals that share their values of wellness and environmental stewardship. The organization was co-founded by Dr. Fred Pockrass, a dentist, and his entrepreneur wife, Ina Pockrass, who together created the model for eco-friendly dentistry, and operate their own award-winning dental practice in Berkeley, California, the first in the country to be certified as a green business. They formed the organization to stimulate a movement in the dental industry to employ environmentally-sound practices, like reducing waste and pollution, saving energy, water and money, incorporating wellness-based methods and the best technological advances in dentistry.
More information can be found at www.ecodentistry.org