Scientists at Oregon State University have found a gene involved in enamel production. In the latest research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a team led by Chrissa Kioussi and Mark Leid bred mice that lacked a gene known as Ctip2. The gene, called Ctip2, is a “transcription factor” that was already known to have several functions – in immune response, and the development of skin and the nervous system. Scientists can now add tooth development to
Université de Montréal Researchers have modified metal surfaces such as titanium producing a sponge-like pattern of nano pits that increased growth of bone cells, decreased growth of unwanted cells and stimulated stem cells, relative to untreated smooth ones. In addition, expression of genes required for cell adhesion and growth were increased in contact with the nanoporous surfaces. “We demonstrated that some cells stick better to these surfaces than they do to the traditional smooth ones,” says Dr. Nanci. “This is
SinusTech America have released a sinus lift kit that features a unique reamer design that cuts, lifts and elevates the floor of the sinus with minimal danger of damage. They claim that the technique minimizes the possibility of damage to the sinus membrane, forms an appropriate sized osteotomy site for implant placement and allows for the placement of bone grafting materials into the elevated sinus cavity.
A study in the November issue of the Journal of Endodontics claims that dental implants require much more follow-up treatment than root canals, according to a study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Their study results reported that the success rate for the dental implants was 98.4 percent; for root canals it was 99.3 percent. However, 12.4 percent of the dental implants required additional interventions, compared with 1.4 percent of the root canals. “Considering these results in
UC San Diego bioengineers and material science experts used a nano-bio technology method of placing mesenchymal stem cells on top of very thin titanium oxide nanotubes in order to control the conversion paths, called differentiation, into osteoblasts or bone building cells. Mesenchymal stem cells, which are different from embryonic stem cells, can be extracted and directly supplied from a patient’s own bone marrow. The researchers described their lab findings in a paper published this week in the Proceedings of the
Keystone Dental, funded by private equity firm Warburg Pincus, has settled an unfair competition lawsuit from Noble Biocare for $2million. “The settlement terms provide for Keystone Dental to pay $2 million to Nobel Biocare and that Keystone Dental not hire or solicit any current Nobel Biocare employee through February 1, 2009,” the world`s largest maker of dental implants said in a statement. Nobel Biocare filed a lawsuit in late 2007, saying Keystone Dental systematically targeted and hired Nobel Biocare`s sales
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Medtronic`s `Infuse Bone Graft` has been linked to life-threatening complications in dozens of patients. The FDA warned surgeons in July that it had received reports of life-threatening complications associated with using the product in surgeries on the cervical spine, around the neck. The agency said it received 38 reports over four years of side effects, mainly swelling of neck and throat tissue, which resulted in compression of the airway and other structures in
Dr. Schubert Sapian has designed a innovative root removal system that extracts the entire root without sectioning. A specialized extraction screw is driven into the largest canal then a cushioned silicone fulcrum tray is placed over the adjacent teeth and a pry bar is used to apply vertical pressure to the root resulting in its atraumatic extraction.
Implant pioneer Gerald Niznick`s Implants Direct concept of internet-based factory-direct-to-dentist implant sales plans on launching a copy of the Straumann implant design in September. Having already successfully marketed a copy of Nobel Biocare`s implant designs. Read this interview with an European trade journal for interesting details of the strategy.
Canadian researchers at the NRC Industrial Materials Institute (NRC-IMI) in Boucherville, Quebec have developed a porous titanium foam implant said to mimic a metallic version of bone. The titanium foam is made by mixing titanium powder with a polymer, and then adding foaming agents that expand the polymer when heated. Later, through a high-temperature heat treatment, the polymer is removed and the titanium particles are consolidated to provide mechanical strength to the porous structure. Porous titanium had previously been used
