What's On the Dentist's Mind: Trending Topics

Northpass Immersive, a medical technology manufacturer, recently launched BELLA VR, an intuitive Virtual Reality platform that helps patients cope with pain and anxiety by escaping with virtual experiences. Lightweight and compact, it has no wires and no controller and is easy to strap on and use. Patients...

Futudent’s new proCam is a miniature camera that can capture video and high-quality photos without interrupting dental procedures; it’s designed to be mounted on loupes, chair lights or other surfaces. The company’s new microCam is a lightweight camera designed for easy loupe-mounted...

qii is touted as the first drink for oral health and can reduce up to 52% of dental plaque, according to DoseBiome, a Toronto start-up focused on oral microbiome research. qii is made with organic tea and XyVita™, a xylitol-containing formulation that works by reducing acidity and the risk of tooth...

The tooth root pulp of wisdom teeth is rich with stem cells but the common methods for extracting it—drilling into, removing the top of or shattering the tooth—reduces the number of viable stem cells due to damaging heat from the drill, corrosive elements in the water used to rinse teeth,...

Ninety-nine percent of commercial dental insurance plans are currently purchased through standalone dental insurers. However, a new study finds that 60% of executives at dental and health plans across the country believe the percentage of standalone dental plans will significantly decrease in the next...

Xerostomia, or chronic dry mouth, affects about 64 million Americans each year and is a side effect of many common prescription drugs and autoimmune diseases like Sjogren’s Syndrome. While currently available saliva substitutes and topical therapies like toothpastes and mouthwashes have not proved...

The Center for Research and Technology in Education (CRET)—a group that helps dental schools integrate innovative equipment and products into their curriculum—recently shared the results of its 2017 Technological Readiness Assessment of Dental Schools. 

While CRET acknowledges a response...

Sharks and other creatures replace broken or missing teeth, so why can’t humans? Medical scientists believe we can, and research continues into methods that will enable us to activate our tooth-regeneration superpowers. Among the most recent promising discoveries is a medication already used to...

In 2017 and 2016 the ratio of dental school graduates was nearly 50/50. Here’s a closer look at the class of 2016: 

Graduates of advanced dentistry programs were 55.8% male and 44.2% female. Among graduates of these advanced programs, a higher percentage of female dentists are specializing...

A recent study measuring noise levels in the dental operatory environment found hazardous levels under two conditions:

The use of high-volume suction with an obstructed, thumb-operated air valve.

The use of high-volume suction with valve unobstructed in combination with a running handpiece. Although...

Last Fall, the American Heart Association released new blood pressure guidelines—the first comprehensive set since 2003—lowering the definition of high blood pressure. Previously, high blood pressure was defined as 140/90; now, 120/80 is considered elevated and 130/80 is considered Stage...

Stocks for companies that distribute medical supplies tumbled recently after Morgan Stanley warned dental investors that “Amazon is here,” and The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon has been holding meetings with hospital executives to learn more about the needs of the industry.

Amazon...

According to market research firm Grand View Research, the global restorative dentistry market will reach $25.9 billion by 2025, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%. The company attributes this growth to a variety of factors, including:

Increased enrollment in dental schools, fueling...

are the least likely to go to the dentist twice a year, due to factors like cost of treatment and lack of awareness and education about the importance of good oral health. 

Source: The Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America

With some of Invisalign-maker Align Technology’s patents expiring last year, a new crop of high-tech startups offering clear aligners with a “direct-to-consumer” business model are hitting the market. Hoping to tap into this $11 billion market* and appeal to the 65% of the population...

After being flat for several years, dental spending increased in 2016 for the second year in a row, according to the ADA Health Policy Institute’s report, U.S. Dental Expenditures 2017 Update. Specifically, the spending increase comes from programs covered by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services...