What is a Palate Expander? Palate (palatal) expanders are orthodontic appliances that create more space in a child’s mouth by widening the palate (roof of the mouth) over time. The goal of palatal expansion is to widen narrow palates in children and correctly align the upper teeth and jaw. This treatment can only be completed before the…
With the focus on Covid related business impacts and the delayed implementation, that some of the FDA’s Unique Device Identifier(UDI) program’s labeling requirements have become effective in the latter part of 2020 has not received as much attention as it otherwise may have. One question that has recently arisen relates to the application of UDI…
Q&A with Mary Borg-Bartlett and Gary D. Morgan, CDT, ASQ CQA of SafeLink Consulting, Inc. Safety of workers and patients is not an easy task in these difficult times. Dental labs must consider not only the regulatory side of protecting workers but also the practical side of how to manufacture under constraints being placed on…
Eliminating hazards from COVID-19 remains a top priority for OSHA. As workplaces reopen, OSHA will continue to ensure safe and healthy conditions for America’s working men and women and has released the following: https://www.osha.gov/memos/2020-05-19/updatedinterim-enforcement-response-plan-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19. In geographic areas where community spread of COVID-19 has significantly decreased, OSHA will return to the inspection planning policy that OSHA…
The excitement surrounding Digital Denture Technology is escalating throughout our industry. This technology is evolving at a rapid rate. But without prosthodontic principles and a deep knowledge of the science behind the digital design aspect, case success will be compromised. For years the removable side of the business has been pushed to the background and…
COVID-19 and Offshore Dental Work During the course of 2020, there has been considerable discussion in different publications in the dental market about offshore dental laboratory work. The American Dental Association in an ADA News article covered this topic for its membership this summer. The coverage of this topic started when a number of Chinese…
With the fairly substantial amount that a dentist charges for a crown or other restorative work these days, many of us have considered buying dental insurance privately or through your employer as a way to smooth out the cost of dental care over the year rather than having to come up with the full amount…
Due diligence is key when selecting an intraoral scanner (IOS). Value the importance of comprehensive, evidence-based evaluations to determine the most appropriate intraoral scanner for your clinical needs and practice style. Read the research, evaluate the technology, speak with colleagues and experience the different systems for yourself. Below are some of the essential considerations as…
It wasn’t so long ago (2004 to be exact) when there was only one zirconia available on the dental market. Now there are dozens! While this is a typical evolution for a material substitution, the number of options makes deciding which one to use difficult. The original zirconia was chalky white and substituted for…
For dentists and dental laboratories, the raw materials and equipment/technology used in the delivery of dental services is regulated in some manner by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To help dentists, dental laboratories and patients understand elements of how FDA is involved, this blog is a primer on key questions that many people…