Taking the week Off...

Every year I try and take some time off between Christmas and New Year's Day.

It's a chance to unplug and spend time with the ones I love.

To that end, no posts this week.

I'll be back next week.

Enjoy the holidays!!!

NORAD Tracks Santa!

It's Christmas Eve!  And that means one thing.  Santa is on his way around the world delivering gifts to all the good little girls & boys.

Want to know where Santa is on his journey right now?  Then go to NORAD Santa to follow him on his Christmas Eve journey.

Every year NORAD (the part of the US Military that tracks incoming attacks from missiles or strategic bombers) uses their highly sophisticated tracking system to lock onto & track Santa's sleigh.

You can see exactly where Santa is & you can even watch as the reindeer pull his sleigh through the sky!

Want to know more about Santa's journey & when he will be at your house?  Just call 1-877-HI-NORAD & a volunteer from the US armed forces will answer the phone & tell you when to expect Santa at your house!

Or, if you'd prefer, you can just sit at your computer, phone, or tablet and track Santa.  Just click here for the live Santa Tracker Feed.

Merry Christmas!!!

My Friend Jackie & Why Radiation Dosage *Matters*

The lady in the picture above is very special to me.  A few years ago I decided to get involved with 3D dentistry by having a cone beam 3D device placed in my office.  My good and trusted friends at Goetze Dental helped me decide on the best piece of equipment for me, and that piece of equipment turned out to be the Gendex CB-500 HD.  I was amazed at the quality of the images it produced and was thrilled it was part of our workflow.

Shortly after it was installed, my phone rang and I was told there was someone named Jackie on the line.  I had never met Jackie before, but it wasn't long before we grew close.  It turned out that Jackie was helping to market the new device and the company was wondering if I would be willing to work with them to let other doctors know how easy it was to learn to be a "3D Dentist".  I love dentistry and I love teaching my peers.  I told them I'd be honored to help bring my story to doctors thinking about incorporating 3D into their practices.

Over the years that followed, Jackie and I have gotten to be very close friends.  She's an amazing lady who has faced some difficult challenges and she is a fighter!!!  I am so proud of her and so proud of her strength and ability to fight.  She has taught me a lot about life and has become a symbol of the fighting spirit that we can all embrace.

Recently, Jackie made a blog post and I thought I would share it with all of you.  Jackie has worked with Gendex and DEXIS for quite a while now.  She loves what she does and she loves the companies she works for as well as loving the people at those companies that she works with day in and day out.

You can sense her love for those people and those companies in the words she uses in the post.  I've been a writer for most of my life and I *love* it when I read something and you can feel the power and the emotion in the words.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did when I first read it.

Jackie, I'm proud of you!  I'm sharing these words so that others can read them and feel your strength and passion through them.  I hope others are as touched and moved by your post as I was... and continue to be.

Take a read:

The winter holidays bring with them both happiness and reflection — it’s a time of looking back on memories and looking forward to hope. That’s why this story, my story means so much to me. As Manager, Public and Media Relations for DEXIS, I have many reasons to be thankful. I am grateful to be an integral part of a company with a conscience. DEXIS gives back to the community through donations of equipment and time, through worthy causes such as Give Kids a Smile, Mission of Mercy, and TeamSmile, just to name a few. Attending these events has allowed me to meet the dentists and associates who use our products every day, and share their skills with people whose finances often preclude vital dental care for them and their children.

I also thank DEXIS for their devotion to research and development. Besides producing the most popular X-ray system on the market, DEXIS also has developed low-dose X-ray and no-dose dental imaging systems, like the DEXIS™ Platinum sensor and CariVu™. This is particularly important to me. After several bouts with cancer, radiation therapy treatments, and periodic follow-up scans to monitor my progress, and so much radiation exposure, I am now reluctant to further expose myself to X-rays of any kind. I know that thousands share my concern. The American Cancer Society notes that more than half of all people with cancer get radiation therapy as part of their treatment.* It is very satisfying to work for a company that I know cares about this issue and works toward reducing the amount of radiation to obtain dental images. When I go to my dentist, long-time DEXIS owner Dr. Ted Hadgis, I know that he is obtaining the images that he requires for a thorough diagnosis with the ability to control dose to best meet my needs, including the use of no-dose options whenever possible.

For the New Year and all year round, I am thankful for many things — for love of family, support of dear friends, the healing power of medical technology, and Team DEXIS, for their knowledge, philanthropic spirit, innovation, and dedication to continuous improvement that helps dentists provide better care.

Learn more about CariVu at www.dexis.com\carivu.

2014 Enter to Win CariVu

*http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003019-pdf.pdf

Indications for use: www.dexis.com\ifu

The Top Apple App of 2014 Is...

The Apple App store is a huge business.  What started out a few years ago as a couple of programs, has blossomed into a way of life for many of us and a business for others.

It is estimated that Apple has over 1.2 million apps available for download.  Amazing huh?

So amazing, in fact that some apps become a franchise/brand unto themselves... Angry Birds anyone?

Have you ever stopped to consider which one is most popular?  Games come & go, but some apps become fairly ingrained in our collective consciousness.

The top app for 2014 is Elevate, a personal trainer for your brain.

Fox Business has a great article on the app.  To read the article, click here.

Flucke's 10 dental practice predictions for 2015

It's that time of year again.  Time for my technology predictions.

This article is always fun, but always a bit stressful because it really bugs me to get things wrong... and invariably, that happens with this project.

So here are the topics:

1. Smart Equipment
2. The Cloud Connection
3. The Electronic Health Record
4. HIPAA
5. Open Source CAD/CAM
6. 3D and 3D Integration
7. Security
8. Backups
9. Evolving Magnification
10. 3D Printing

For the full article, head on over to Dental Products Report!

Also, thank you so much for your support and for reading both here on the Blog, on dentalproductsreport.com, and also in every issue of Dental Products Report.  I'm honored that you continue to read my articles and I'm proud to be able to give you the info I hope you need.

Could Alcatraz Escapees have Survived?

On June 11, 1962, 3 men attempted a bold escape from a federal penitentiary affectionately called "The Rock".  Frank Morris and 2 brothers John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin pulled off a complicated and many have felt "impossible" plot to escape Alcatraz in a raft made of raincoats.

The 3 inmates disappeared into the night and were never heard from again.

Over the years there has been a lot of speculation and even a fairly decent movie starring Clint Eastwood about the jail break.  

It seems that this subject is something that both urban legend loving folks and science loving folks alike have an interest in this particular piece of history.

Heck, even my heros, the guys with the perfect job (other than mine), The MythBusters, took a look at this one.  And their trial showed that it was *possible* to have gotten off the island and survived.

However, despite all the romantic tales of the 3 inmates surviving, the vast majority have felt they met with a rather quick and unfortunate end.

But wait just a moment...

It seems that science isn't quite done with this one... yet.

2 Durch researchers have presented some very interesting data that indicates *scientifically* that this little escapade may darn well have been doable and survivable.

Take a look at the article from Wired and let me know what you think.

Apple Halts e-sales in Russia Due to that Country's Continuing Economic Struggles...

Here's an interesting bit of info when you take into consideration the current situation facing the Russian Ruble.  Although economics is not my area of expertise, from what I understand, the current decrease in global oil prices combined with economic sanctions due to the Russian situation in Ukraine has begun to cause a bit of a meltdown in the Russian economy.

The value of the Ruble is falling dramatically and to help prop it up, the country recently increased interest rates to something in the neighborhood of 17%.

As the value of the Ruble falls, that means that the costs of American goods, goes up.  Recently Apple increased the cost of the iPhone 6 by 25% to help compensate for the drop in value of the Ruble.

Now comes word that Cupertino has decided to stop e-sales to the troubled country.

This is especially interesting because there are not many retail outlets for Apple products in Russia and there are NO Apple stores in the country.  That means that the bulk of Apple's sales in Russia come via e-sales.  Basically this means that the country now has an extremely limited access to Apple products.

In the big picture what does this mean?  It's hard to say, but I always like to see what the big boys do to help evaluate a situation.  It has been estimated that last year Apple sold 1 billion dollars worth of products in Russia.  When a company like Apple suddenly cuts off a huge chunk of that much money, I see storm clouds on the horizon for the Russian economy.

Thoughts?  I'd love to see some comments on this.

High-tech home gift guide

We're all a little rushed over the holiday season and I'm no exception.

So, a short post today, but well worth the read via Fox News.

Here is the link.

Read & enjoy.

Also, looking for drone?  Take a look here.  

DEXISTM Wins Another Group Of Peer-Elected Awards!

The imaging products of DEXIS have garnered the “Best” in 3 categories—Digital X-ray Sensor, Digital Image Management Software, and Intra-oral Camera, of the 2014 Townie Choice Awards! A TCA winner for many years, this marks the fourth con- secutive year that this DEXIS trio of products has gained these particular accolades.


Hatfield, PA (December 12, 2014) DEXIS, a brand of the KaVo Kerr Group, is proud to announce that Dentaltown has chosen the DEXISTM Platinum digital intra-oral sensor, DEXISTM digital imaging software, and DEXcamTM 3 intra-oral camera as winners of the 2014 Townie Choice awards. DEXIS sends its appreciation to Townies across the nation, clinicians who use technology in everyday practice, and whose votes reflected their loyal use of DEXIS products.
Dentaltown states, “For over a decade, Townies have voted on the most comprehensive list of peer- recommended products and services in dentistry. Winners have become recognized as the most reliable and reputable in dentistry. By voting in the Townie Choice Awards, [Townies] improve the profession by advancing the best technologies and practices used by dentists around the world, helping them practice better dentistry. One vote can impact dentistry for thousands of practices and millions of patients.” To this point, the DEXIS Platinum single-size sensor offers dentists remarkable image quality, patient comfort, ease of use, portability, and time savings. DEXcam 3, a direct-USB intra-oral video camera, adds to the capabilities for patient education and communication.
DEXIS digital radiographs and photographs are combined for use in diagnostics and in patient communication within the DEXISTM Imaging Suite software. This program streamlines workflow and integrates with practice management software, digital pans and select 3D products. DEXIS goTM, the supporting application for DEXIS Imaging Suite, increases portability and patient education opportunities even more. DEXIS go displays all radiographic and photographic images within a patient’s record so dental professionals can communicate with patients using an iPad®.
“DEXIS products have won Townie Choice recognition over the years, and each year, it is still just as exciting that dental peers take their valuable time and effort to vote for us,” says Richard Matty, Director of Marketing for DEXIS. “We are thrilled that our intra-oral imaging products are helping them to achieve their goals in diagnostics and patient education. Dentists use DEXIS imaging products every day, and on almost every patient, and for this, we always strive to maintain the level of excellence that keeps our dental professionals loyal to our brand.”
Team DEXIS is grateful for the positive feedback on these products, continuing its legacy as the most highly awarded digital X-ray system. These votes of confidence encourage the pursuit of the development of new digital dental imaging solutions that can aid in better dental care.
Indications for use: www.dexis.com\ifu 

Vitamin Supplement Successfully Prevents Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

As someone that has been around high pitched whining dental handpieces for more than half my life, I'm starting to feel like my high end hearing is starting to fade a bit.  It might be all of that loud music in my youth too, but on second thought... probably not.

Anyway, there is good news for all of us who either *are* experiencing hearing loss or will at some point in our lives.  It seems researchers have discovered a way to both prevent it *and* help restore it.

Read this press release for all the info:

NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO—December 2, 2014—Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College and the Gladstone Institutes have found a way to prevent noise-induced hearing loss in a mouse using a simple chemical compound that is a precursor to vitamin B3. This discovery has important implications not only for preventing hearing loss, but also potentially for treating some aging-related conditions that are linked to the same protein.

The researchers set about trying to prevent this nerve damage by giving mice NR before or after exposing them to loud noises. NR was successful at preventing damage to the synaptic connections, avoiding both short-term and long-term hearing loss. What’s more, NR was equally effective regardless of whether it was given before or after the noise exposure.Published today in Cell Metabolism, the researchers used the chemicalnicotinamide riboside (NR) to protect the nerves that innervate the cochlea. The cochlea transmits sound information through these nerves to the spiral ganglion, which then passes along those messages to the brain. Exposure to loud noises damages the synapses connecting the nerves and the hair cells in the cochlea, resulting in noise-induced hearing loss.

"One of the major limitations in managing disorders of the inner ear, including hearing loss, is there are a very limited number of treatments options. This discovery identifies a unique pathway and a potential drug therapy to treat noise-induced hearing loss," says Dr. Kevin Brown, an associate professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and first author on the paper. Dr. Brown conducted the research while at Weill Cornell.

The researchers chose NR because it is a precursor to the chemical compound nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which had previously been shown by Dr. Brown and co-senior author Dr. Samie Jaffrey to protect cochlea nerve cells from injury. However, NAD+ is an unstable compound, calling into question whether it could be used out of the petri dish and in a live animal. That led the scientists to use NR instead.

Methods for synthesizing NR were recently developed by Dr. Anthony Sauve, a professor of pharmacology at Weill Cornell and co-author of the study. This resulted in quantities of NR that were sufficient to test in animals.

"NR gets into cells very readily and can be absorbed when you take it orally. It has all the properties that you would expect in a medicine that could be administered to people,” said Dr. Jaffrey, a professor of pharmacology at Weill Cornell.

Beyond just preventing hearing loss, the researchers think the results may have broader applications because of the underlying way NR protects nerve cells. The scientists showed that NR and NAD+ prevent hearing loss by increasing the activity of the protein sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), which is critically involved in the function of mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell.

The researchers hypothesized that it was this enhancement of SIRT3 that was behind the protective properties of NR. To test this, they manipulated SIRT3 levels independently of NR to see if they could still prevent noise-induced hearing loss by administering NR. Sure enough, deleting the SIRT3 gene in mice abolished any of the protective properties of NR. The researchers also showed that a new strain of mice, generated in the lab of co-senior author Dr. Eric Verdin at the Gladstone Institutes and engineered to express high levels of SIRT3, were inherently resistant to noise-induced hearing loss, even without administration of NR.

SIRT3 decreases naturally as we age, which could partially explain aging-related hearing loss. Additionally, some individuals carry different versions of the SIRT3 genes that result in reduced enzyme activity, which may make them more susceptible to noise-induced hearing loss.

Dr. Verdin, an investigator at the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, says, "The success of this study suggests that targeting SIRT3 using NR could be a viable target for treating all sorts of aging-related disorders—not only hearing loss but also metabolic syndromes like obesity, pulmonary hypertension, and even diabetes."

Other scientists who participated in this research include Sadia Maqsood, William Harkcom, Dr. Wei Li, and Dr. Sauve from Weill Cornell, and Jing-Yi Huang and Dr. Yong Pan from the Gladstone Institutes. Funding was provided by Weill Cornell, the NYS DOH Spinal Cord Injury Fund, the Gladstone Institutes, and the National Institutes of Health.

20 Tech Hacks You Should Know...

A short post today, because, well because the link tells you everything.

I was sent a link to a great story on MSN regarding some tech hacks everyone should know about (hint #1 is pictured above).

So... follow the link and get educated.  Some of these are really, really smart!

Here is the link.

Sony's PS4 Network Goes Down...

It seems that things are tough for Sony lately.

Last week the company had over 100 terabytes of data stolen.  That included some yet to be released movies that were made available for download.

Monday, a group called Lizard Squad knocked the PS4 network offline.  They left a message on the login screen saying "Page Not Found!  It's not you.  It's the internet's fault."

This same group took Microsoft's Xbox Live network offline last week. However both of these game console network hacks seem unrelated to last weeks big Sony break-in.

Security continues to be a large problem in the world of tech...

Tired of Capcha's? Google is Your Friend...

If you've ever filled out an online registration form, you are familiar with "Capcha" the squiggly letters your are required to enter into a box.  The idea is that an automated system can't read those squiggly letters... only a human can.

Well it turns out the smart people at Google have figured out a way to find out if your are human or not just by following the movements of your mouse.  It seems that humans move the mouse differently than automated systems and simply asking someone to click a check box can determine whether the person is real or automated.

For all the details, check out Wired.com

A Little Big for Your Stocking... but a Drone Could be the Perfect Gift this Christmas

As many of you know, I am a drone flyer.

I bought mine around 2 years ago and have had an absolute blast with it ever since.

I would suggest doing a little research on one before purchasing, in fact I would even suggest buying a less expensive model before buying one of the more expensive models as it takes a bit of learning before you get really good with one.

I was lucky in that my past history of gaming and working with 3D software helped me more than I realized it would.

We are now hearing all kinds of stories and seeing all kinds of photos and videos being filmed by these flying drones & it is a real kick to be part of it.  The process started with me reading an article in the geek magazine Wired and the rest for me is history.  It has also propelled someone from the magazine to leave and run his drone company.  Read that story here.

There are lots of companies out there and lots of models to choose from.  If you are a regular reader, you've even seen some of them here.  However, I love the company that Chris Anderson left Wired to pilot.  It's called 3D Robotics.  In my opinion, if you like the idea of really getting into this, the company Chris started is the way to go.  Check out their website here.

Heck, someday Santa may be delivering using one of these...

DEXIS And TeamSmile Demonstrate Teamwork In Bringing Dental Care To Underserved Children

TeamSmile®, a unique national dental outreach program, gains continued support from DEXISTM, a brand of the Kavo Kerr Group, for the 7th consecutive year.
Hatfield, PA (December 3, 2014) Since the inception of the TeamSmile program in 2007, DEXIS has been a proud supporter through its donation and maintenance of its digital imaging systems, DEXISTM Platinum sensors, CariVuTM caries detection and DEXcamTM intra-oral cameras, as well as financial contributions. TeamSmile partners with dental professionals and athletic organizations to bring together athletic role models and underserved children in communities across the country at events held throughout the year. These events allow the children to obtain free screening and treatment and also learn about the importance of their overall health. DEXIS has rededicated efforts to assist TeamSmile with company volunteers, on-site systems and funding.
By partnering with professional sports organizations, TeamSmile creates an experience that develops bonds between children’s organizations, oral health professionals, surrounding communities, and the athletes that solidify the message that oral health care is vitally important to long-term health. Understanding that these patients deserve the very best, volunteer dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists and educators provide the highest level of care and use industry-leading materials and equipment. Through this experience, children are taught that the mouth and body are linked for overall health, and they receive free oral health education, screening, and treatment.
Dr. William Busch is the founder of TeamSmile. His loyalty as a DEXIS owner and his vision for helping others are driving forces in the continuing success of the program. He explains, “I have been practicing dentistry for 25 years, and have been a DEXIS owner for 15 years. Being able to help give the gift of a healthy smile to children in the community by using DEXIS imaging—the very best digital technology dentistry has to offer, is a dream come true. In an outreach environment, we only have one day to make an impact. Being able to quickly capture images not only gives us more clinical time with the children, the images help us to educate them about the benefits of a healthy smile.”
“We are so happy to lend our continued support to TeamSmile,” states Candy Ross, Director of Industry and Professional Relations, Dental Technologies, NA for the KaVo Kerr Group. “Participating in TeamSmile events over the years has given us the opportunity to play a role in serving those who need it the most. When I attend these events, I see how our systems help speed the triage and diagnosis process so that the volunteers can treat more children. And that’s what it’s all about—the kids.” 

About DEXIS
DEXIS is an industry leader in developing high quality digital imaging solutions for the dental community. Since its introduction to the United States in 1997, DEXIS has become the most highly awarded intra-oral digital X-ray system with numerous awards from dental researchers and well- respected dental publications. The company has a strong history of supporting national and international outreach programs including Give Kids A Smile®, TeamSmile® and Mission of Mercy®. For more information about DEXIS, visit www.dexis.com.
DEXIS is a member of the KaVo Kerr Group. KaVo Kerr Group is a global portfolio of leading dental brands that share common values of Trust, Experience, Choices, Quality and Smart Innovation. Brands include KaVo, Kerr, Kerr Total Care, Pentron, Axis|Sybron Endo, Orascoptic, Pelton & Crane, Marus, Gendex, DEXIS, Instrumentarium, SOREDEX, i-CAT, NOMAD, Implant Direct and Ormco. With over 500 years of combined experience and proven solutions, KaVo Kerr Group uniquely serves 99% of all dental practices. Visit www.kavokerrgroup.com for more information. 

PeriRx, LLC Covering all Bases During Its Greater New York Dental Meeting Debut

Company’s Launch of its SaliMark™ OSCC Salivary Test for Oral Cancer

Includes Free CE Course, Free Industry Reception and Free Test Kit 

Broomall, PA – November 24,  2014 – PeriRx LLC, a premier developer of breakthrough, non-invasive, oral diagnostic technology, will be making its national debut at booth #1506 during the Greater New York Dental Meeting from Sunday, November 30^th  to  Wednesday, December 3rd at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

“We’re very excited to be making our official debut at the Greater New York Dental Meeting,” said Stephen M. Swanick, CEO and founder of PeriRx, LLC. “We’re using a variety of ways to engage with members of the dental community and tell them about SaliMark™ OSCC, the most clinically-advanced salivary test for oral cancer, which is scheduled to ship before the end of the year.”

Development of this simple-to-use, painless and noninvasive test was based on the strong scientific foundation of NIH-funded research with initial discovery and pre-validation work conducted by Dr. David Wong of the University of California at Los Angeles.  What’s more, more than a decade of National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and National Institute of Health- supported research make SaliMark™ OSCC the world’s most scientifically-validated molecular DNA biomarker test for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

In addition to exhibiting at booth #1506, PeriRx will be introducing SaliMark OSCC in the following ways:

• Free CE Course: “Salivary Testing for Early Diagnosis of Oral Cancer" (course code #3240) will be given on Sunday November 30th, 2014 at 9am.  Attendees will receive $15.00 lunch voucher at the end of the course which can be used at any Javits restaurant.  Course presenters are Jack Martin, MD, Neil Gottherer, DDS and Mark Cohen, DDS. 

• Free Industry Reception: This press conference for the entire industry will feature some late-breaking research data presented by the PeriRx executive team that further confirms the efficacy of SaliMark OSCC for early oral cancer detection. Several other industry leaders are expected to say a few words regarding the importance of these latest findings.  This free event will take place on Monday, December 1^st from 3:00 - 4:00 PM at booth # 5430.
• • Free SaliMark OSCC Test Kit: Any dental practice owner who pre-registers and creates a PeriRx online ordering account, will receive one free SaliMark test Kit in order to get familiar with the test, the protocol and the lab results. Simply visit http://perirxsecure.com/register.php to register your practice and set up an account.*  
  For more information about PeriRx, LLC or its SaliMark OSCC salivary test for oral cancer, visit www.PeriRx.com, call 610-544-3500 or send an email to info@PeriRx.com.
  * Not yet approved for sale in the state of New York. New York practice owners who register online will be kept on file and notified immediately when SaliMark is approved for sale and use in their state.
  
  
  About SaliMark™ OSCC
  Development of this simple-to-use, painless and noninvasive test was based on the strong scientific foundation of NIH-funded research with initial discovery and pre-validation work conducted by Dr. David Wong of the University of California at Los Angeles. The SaliMark OSCC test also has the distinction of being the first of its kind assay in the world to aid in the identification and early detection of oral lesions at the highest risk for cancer.  Recently, the SaliMark OSCC test underwent a PRoBE (prospective-specimen-collection, retrospective-blinded-evaluation) design study which is the most rigorous biomarker validation available. In addition, PeriRx successfully completed a validation of the mRNA markers at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and the St. Johns Providence Health System in Detroit. 
  About PeriRx LLC:
  Based in Broomall, Pennsylvania, PeriRx LLC is a premier developer of breakthrough, non-invasive, oral diagnostic technology that will help clinical professionals detect and treat diseases sooner and enhance the practice of wellness management.  
  The company was founded in 2008 to explore, innovate, and develop novel therapeutics or devices focused on the oral inflammatory/systemic connection. The PeriRx executive team consists of CEO and founder Stephen M. Swanick, an entrepreneur and experienced drug and device development professional; Dr. Neil Gottehrer, a practicing dentist; and Dr. Jack Martin, a cardiologist. 
  PeriRx obtained its patented and patent-pending technologies from inventor Dr. David Wong’s firm RNAmeTRIX and the Regents of the University of California at Los Angeles. PeriRx and RNAmeTrix have ongoing agreements which ensure the continuing research and development necessary to advance product development from clinical trial, through regulatory approval, and into commercialization.

Cosmedent Announces their 2015 Ultimate Aesthetics Course with Dr. Corky Willhite

Dr. Willhite has been teaching about composites for quite a while now.  Trust me when I say you can learn a lot from him.  Here is some info on his latest course offering...

January 22-23-24, 2015 (Thur., Fri., Sat.)
8 A.M. — 3 P.M.; 8 A.M. — 3 P.M.; 8 A.M. — Noon
$3,995 — Continental Breakfast, lunch and materials included. AGD subject codes: 254 and 780.

The Ultimate Esthetics Course Summary:

Composite is the most versatile restorative material available for making minor or major changes in dental appearance. With proper technique, the function and longevity of composite rivals porcelain while providing benefits other procedures can’t match.
This comprehensive course (half of which is hands-on!) will teach you a systematic, step-by-step technique, as well as diagnostic and marketing skills to help you achieve predictable success with anterior composite restorations.

What You Will Learn:

• Learn a systematic, step-by-step technique for predictable success with anterior composite.
  
• Make freehanded composite veneers look as good as porcelain veneers.
  
• Transform dark discolored teeth into bright, natural shades.
  
• Learn verbal skills that will gain patient interest and increase treatment acceptance.
  
• Make Class III, IV, and V restorations look totally invisible.
  
• Practice a step-by-step layering technique, using opaquers and tints
  for predictable shade and incisal translucency.
  
• Achieve a long lasting, natural and stain resistant polish every time.
  
• Learn how occlusion and excellent function are incorporated to enhance success.
  And much more... 
  

Missing Ohio State Football Player Found Near Ohio State Campus

When I built my new office about 7 years ago, it turned out to be an avalanche of blessings in more ways than I could have ever imagined.

One of the blessings, and one that I would not have thought of prior to construction, was my close friendship with they guy who ran my building project. That man, Tom Baugh, is a pretty big guy. It wasn't until we were way into the building project that I found out he had played in the NFL for a while.

We bonded over the building (both the structure and the project) and have been friends ever since. Over the years , one of the things we've both taken an interest in is head trauma. Me, because I was in a massive car wreck when I was 23 that resulted in massive head trauma, Tom because of his NFL career and all the things that go with it.

I've also taken an interest in Chronic Traumatic Encephaly (CTE) because of what I do for a living. Tom began discussing some of the info that he had on the subject and I became an "info-nerd" on CTE.

The latest on the potential results of CTE came this weekend with the suicide of an Ohio State player. Now, as someone who has a degree in psychology I'm the first to say you cannot say one thing caused this. Suicide is a complicated subject and it may take quite some time before the true reason(s) are known. However, CTE very well could have played a part. I hope open minds examine this case and that a thorough autopsy is done on this young man's brain.

Here is the story from USA Today:


Missing Ohio State football player Kosta Karageorge was found dead Sunday of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Columbus Police confirmed.

Sgt. Richard Weiner said Karageorge, who had been missing since Wednesday after sending a text message about concussions, was found in a dumpster near campus with a gun.

"The Ohio State University Department of Athletics was shocked and saddened to learn today of the death of student-athlete Kosta Karageorge, a senior from Columbus," the school said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Karageorge family, and those who knew him, during this most difficult time."

The 6-5, 285-pound defensive tackle had tattoos that helped confirm the death, Columbus police said. An official police report is expected later this week.

Karageorge's mother told authorities he has had concussions and spells of confusion, an earlier police report said. She said he texted a message Wednesday citing the concussions and saying he was sorry if he was "an embarrassment."

After Karageorge went missing, the team's physician, Jim Borchers, said he could not comment on the medical care of student athletes. But, he added, "We are confident in our medical procedures and policies to return athletes to participation following injury or illness."

Julian Bailes, neurosurgeon with the NorthShore Neurological Institute of suburban Chicago, said it is too early and the information is too incomplete to speculate on whether the death was related to concussions or the brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

"It's somewhat conjecture to think that's what led to his (apparent) suicide. We just don't know," said Bailes, a CTE researcher. "He is certainly not the typical CTE guy, only in college and so forth. So you don't know.

"The other things, which are often associated with suicide, are mental health issues and/or drug or substance abuse. I just don't know. I just read a little bit about it the day he went a missing.

"There are so many factors associated with suicide. You just don't know."

CTE is diagnosed by examination of the brain after death. Researchers have linked the disease to repetitive head trauma. It was diagnosed in the brains of former NFL players who committed suicide, such as Mike Webster, Junior Seau and Dave Duerson.

"(Whether to have the brain examined) would be up to his family and then maybe even the medical examiner, depending on the circumstances of his death," Bailes said.

"If there's a legal issue of circumstances, was it foul play or unknown or so forth, the medical examiner could chose to do it. But otherwise the family would have to request it."

The Buckeyes defeated Michigan on Saturday, 42-28. Defensive lineman Michael Bennett said afterward that Karageorge missed practices and that teammates started getting nervous Thursday.

Contributing: Scott Gleeson and Gary Mihoces of USA TODAY Sports; and The Associated Press.


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