Tigran presented it's rotating titanium brush for cleaning dental implants

According to the manufacturer, the rotating titanium brush not only reduces treatment time significantly compared with traditional manual treatment, but also allows for easier reach of both narrow cavities and implant threads, and hence improves treatment results.

Many dentists obtain unsatisfactory cleaning results with the traditional method of using a surgical hand tool. According to Tigran Technologies, the titanium brush demonstrates excellent results in cleaning the implant threads without damaging the implant surface, something that other methods often do.

“The PeriBrush has a gentle polishing effect deep into the structure of the implant’s surface, which makes it ideal for cleaning dental implants”, said Dr Dirk Duddeck from the University of Cologne’s Dental School, one of the dentists who evaluated the PeriBrush.

“Using the titanium brush for cleaning dental implants is a real time- and cost-saver for the dental practice. A reduced treatment time per patient means higher profitability for our customers,” said Björn Sellert, CEO of Tigran Technologies AB.

Following a thorough cleaning procedure, the jawbone around the implant needs to be stabilised. Tigran’s main product for this is a bone regenerative material based on titanium. PTG (porous titanium granules) is used for rebuilding jawbone resorbed owing to peri-implantitis and other dental diseases.

In 2010, the number of implants placed was estimated to be approximately 11 million globally . About 16 per cent of dental implant patients worldwide are affected by peri-implantitis, which can lead to implant loss if left untreated.

Source: www.dental-tribune.com

Eating apples can be up to four times more damaging to your teeth than carbonated drinks.

"It is not only about what we eat, but how we eat it," the Daily Mail quoted Professor David Bartlett, head of prosthodontics at King's College London Dental Institute, who led the study, as saying.

"Doctors quite rightly say that eating apples is good, but if you eat them slowly the high acidity levels can damage your teeth. The drinks most often associated with dietary erosion, particularly cola, showed no increased risk.

"The results emphasise that dietary advice should be targeted at strong acids rather than some of the commonly consumed soft drinks," he stated.

In the new study, the researchers looked for links between teeth wear at several sites in the mouth, and diet in more than 1,000 men and women aged 18 to 30.

People who ate apples were 3.7 times more likely to have dentine damage, while carbonated drink consumers had no additional risk.

Fruit juice increased the likelihood of damage to the enamel around the top of the teeth near the gums fourfold, while lager, which is acidic, raised the chances of dentine damage threefold.

Some apples contain as much as four teaspoons of sugar, which contributes to raised acid levels in the mouth.

One suggestion is to eat your apple with milk or a piece of cheese as both contain calcium, which neutralises acid. Drinking water immediately after eating an apple will also help, washing away harmful effects.

Source: ANI

Oral health challenges remain high in Southeast Asia, expert says

During a keynote speech she held last week on the occasion of the annual Research Day organised by the University of Washington's (UW) School of Dentistry in Seattle in the US, Dr Waranuch Pitipha pointed out that many people in the region still lack access to adequate dental care.

In addition, infection control in dental clinics as well as distribution of health care workers such as dentists is still highly inadeguate, she said. She urged dental students to consider global oral health in their research agenda.

Research Day is an annual event held by the UW School of Dentistry to recognise its standing as a national leader in dental research. Besides Dr Pitipha, this year's event also saw participation by UW staffers Dr Tim DeRouen, Dr Christy McKinney and Dr Carey Farquhar.


Harvard-educated Dr Pitipha who is currently working as principal for Khon Kaen University, an international recognised school of higher educatiuon in Thailand, has been cooperating with UW for five years in order to train oral health clinical researchers. The programme which also includes Thammasat University in Bangkok recently received a million dollar grant from the US National Unstitute of Health to continue operations for another five years.

Source: www.dental-tribune.com

Centre for the Dental Arts Testimonies Part 4

Testimony by S.K.
“When I first came to Dr. Blum I had a fear of pain and feeling the expense I was going to have to prepare for. Dr. Blum and his staff made financial arrangements for me to be able to begin and continue to feel secure, and never made me feel as if they could not help my situation because of my financial insecurity. When I began to understand the care and loving ways, and how they treated each patient with personal needs, it secured my thoughts and emotions. I was able to take a step back and understand that they truly care and take pride, not only in their work but also for me. I would receive calls the morning after my surgery to check on me, which made a difference. This is a truly dedicated team. Thank you Dr. Blum and his staff for helping me through the very difficult times.”

Testimony by M.H.
“When asked to write a testimony about Dr. Blum and his office I didn’t quite know what to say. Dr Blum has been my dentist for almost 20 years. He has helped me with everything from cleaning, to cavities, and dental implants.

Let me say, I am not an easy person to deal with when it comes to my mouth. I lost a good portion of my teeth in my early twenties and did not want to go to the dentist, but I didn’t have a choice. I saw Dr. Blum’s office and decided to call and make an appointment. During the first visit (which I was terrified!), he sent me for a root canal to another dentist. After going back to Dr. Blum’s office and telling him how horrible I felt, he made sure all of my visits from then on were painless. About a year ago, after listening to everyone about implants, I approached Dr. Blum about them and went for the consultation.

We started to do the implants on March 1, 2007. It was a long process, but definitely worth it. When you can call your dentist and say “it’s me”, it can be very comforting. Every one of Dr. Blum’s staff worked with me through the process (listened to my venting), but my smile today is well worth it. I have to learn to talk where I can show my teeth, and how to smile. I covered up my smile for so long; I can now smile with pride. No one knows that I have implants, because of how real they look. If you ever want a professional and painless dentist, I would turn to Dr. Blum and his entire staff.

I listen to the radio and hear all these advertisements about same day implants without any pain. Implants are a process, and if you want them to be beautiful and pain free, it is a process well worth it. I am extremely happy with my smile and I would recommend Dr. Blum and his entire staff at The Centre for the Dental Arts to family, friends, and anyone in need of high quality dental care.”

Testimony by A.M.
“This is not like coming to a regular dentist office; it’s like visiting a friend.”
A.M. has been a patient of Dr. Blum’s for over a decade. She makes the two and a half hour drive to come and visit us, and we are proud to have such a dedicated patient.