Going to the dentist might have just gotten a little less scary for the estimated 1 in 68 U.S. children with autism spectrum disorder as well as children with dental anxiety, thanks to new research from USC.

VITA has announced that Matthew O'Connell has joined the company as the President of VITA North America, effective immediately. The announcement was made by VITA North America CEO Dr. Emanuel Rauter and the Board of Directors after a nationwide search.

"Matt's extensive experience in product sales within the dental industry and his enthusiastic attitude were keys in our decision," Rauter says. "We feel Matt is uniquely qualified to lead VITA North America."

O'Connell comes to VITA North America from Sonendo, Inc., where he was Vice President of Sales. For more than 20 years he was with Ormco International, most recently serving as Vice President of Global Sales. He also held sales and management positions at Ormco, based in Orange, California, and spent time in Mexico City, spearheading Ormco efforts in Latin America. O'Connell also served as the Managing Director of Ormco Europe, based in Amersfoort, Netherlands.

O'Connell's undergraduate degree is from San Francisco State University and he holds a Masters in Latin American Studies from University of California, Santa Barbara. He is married, has two daughters, and lives in Irvine, California. 

Washington – New research has suggested that Arginine, a common amino acid found naturally in foods, breaks down dental plaque. It could help millions of people avoid cavities and gum disease.

University of Michigan's Alexander Rickard discovered that in the lab L-arginine, found in red meat, poultry, fish and dairy products, and is already used in dental products for tooth sensitivity, stopped the formation of dental plaque.

Rickard added that this is important because bacteria like to aggregate on surfaces to form biofilms. Dental plaque is a biofilm, which accounts for more than 50% of all hospital infections. Dental plaque biofilms contribute to the billions of dollars of dental treatments and office visits every year in the United States.

Dental biofilms are the culprits in the formation of dental caries (cavities), gingivitis, and periodontal disease. Surveys indicate that nearly 24% of adults in the United States have untreated dental caries, and about 39% have moderate-to-severe periodontitis, a number that rises to 64% those over age 65.

Most methods for dental plaque control involve use of antimicrobial agents, such as chlorhexidine, which are chemicals aimed at killing plaque bacteria, but they can affect sense of taste and stain teeth. Antimicrobial treatments have been the subject of debate about overuse in recent years.

Pending further clinical trials to verify their lab findings, the researchers said L-arginine can take the place of the current plaque-controlling biocide substances, including chlorhexidine and other antimicrobials.

The mechanism for how L-arginine causes the disintegration of the biofilms needs further study, the researchers said. It appears arginine can change how cells stick together, and can trigger bacteria within biofilms to alter how they behave so that they no longer stick to surfaces, they said.

Their findings are reported in the current issue of PLOS ONE.

ATLANTA – Dentist job seekers across the nation will have the opportunity to explore more than 100 professional opportunities, participate in a Twitter chat with recruiters, and apply for positions online during the Kool Smiles Online Career Fair, which will take place May 11-15, 2015. The five-day, online event will feature current job opportunities for both general dentists and specialists, including dentists, dental anesthesiologists, traveling dentists, oral surgeons, and orthodontists.

The online career fair is hosted by Kool Smiles, a national dental provider with more than 125 affiliated dental practices in 15 states and the District of Columbia. Dentists and specialists interested in attending the career fair will need to complete a one-time registration prior to the event.

“We are always looking for qualified, passionate dental professionals that believe in making a difference, one patient at time,” said Dr. Diane Earle, Managing Dental Director for Kool Smiles. “Whether you are an established dentist or just recently graduated from dental school, our online career fair will help you explore myriad career opportunities and locations available with Kool Smiles.”

During the event, interested applicants will have the opportunity to participate in a Twitter chat with recruitment specialists, who can answer questions about current opportunities, career paths, company culture and benefits, along with any other questions job seekers may have. Interested candidates should tweet questions to @Kool_Smiles.

“We understand that dentists and oral health specialists have busy schedules,” added Earle. “We also understand that, in some cases, their job search may not be limited to just one city or region. Therefore, our online career fair will give job seekers the unique chance to explore dental career opportunities with convenience and ease, regardless of geographical location.”

The website will also house informational brochures and videos featuring the experiences of current dentists and clinical leaders.

“At Kool Smiles we are dedicated to providing much-needed dental care to traditionally underserved populations, further extending the benefits of oral health those who need it most,” said Earle. “Our mission and culture is what attracts so many of our dentists to the Kool Smiles family – and is the reason why so many dentists stay. In fact, 70 percent of our clinical leaders joined Kool Smiles as Associate Dentists and continued to grow from there.”

Kool Smiles offers competitive compensation plus benefits for all full-time employees. To see a full list of benefits, please click here.

Selecting the right dentists is critical to the success of each Kool Smiles office. Kool Smiles clinical leaders also want to ensure that every candidate gets a full understanding of the mission, company culture, and what they can expect in both the rewards and challenges of being a Kool Smiles dentist. As a result, after speaking with a Manager of Talent Acquisition, qualified candidates will be invited to meet with a member of the clinical leadership team in a Kool Smiles office for a thorough interview and office tour.

About Kool Smiles

As a leading children's dental health provider, Kool Smiles' mission is to improve lives by providing high quality dental care in a fun, compassionate environment. Founded in 2002, Kool Smiles has more than 125 affiliated dental practices across 15 states and the District of Columbia, primarily in underserved communities that have historically lacked access to dental care. Kool Smiles dentists are proud to offer care to kids and adults with almost any insurance plan, including State Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP), Medicaid and Tricare. Kool Smiles also provides oral health education programs through partnerships with community schools and organizations. For more information, please visit www.mykoolsmiles.com.

Anxiety disorders affect approximately one in six adult Americans, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The most well-known of these include panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social anxiety disorder. But what of brief bouts of anxiety caused by stressful social situations?

A new study by Tel Aviv University researchers, published recently in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, finds that anxiety experienced in social circumstances elevates the risk of bruxism—teeth grinding, which causes tooth wear and fractures as well as jaw pain. According to the research, led by Dr. Ephraim Winocur of the Department of Oral Rehabilitation at TAU's School of Dental Medicine and conducted by TAU doctoral student Roi Skopski in collaboration with researchers at Geha Mental Health Center in Petah Tikva, Israel, interaction with people is likely to trigger bruxism in the socially anxious.

"This is not a dental problem, but one with clear dental consequences," said Dr. Winocur. "If we are aware, then we can bring it into consciousness. Psychiatrists can identify patients predisposed to bruxism and can try to help prevent it, and dental experts will immediately know what to treat."

The researchers assessed 75 men and women in their early 30s using questionnaires. One group of 40 people had social phobia, characterized by excessive fear in social situations. Just under half of the group members were on antidepressant drugs—selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). A control group of 35 did not have social phobia. All the subjects underwent psychiatric and dental exams. Bruxism symptoms and oral habits, such as gum chewing, nail biting, and small jaw movements with no tooth contact ("jaw play"), were all assessed.

Although antidepressant drugs have previously been linked to bruxism, this study found no association. However, moderate-to-severe dental wear was found in 42.1% of the social phobia subjects and 28.6% of controls. The rate of jaw play was 32.5% in the phobia group and 12.1% in controls. Symptoms of awake bruxism were reported by 42.5% of social phobia patients and by 3% of controls.

"Interaction with people seems to be necessary to trigger bruxism in socially anxious people," said Dr. Winocur. "By treating social anxiety, we will be able to treat bruxism as well." Dr. Winocur is currently researching the effect of post-traumatic stress disorders on sleep and awake bruxism.

Source: Science Daily

Charlotte, North Carolina– Sirona’s Early Bird Registration for its upcoming CEREC^© 30^th (CEREC 30) Anniversary Celebration is quickly coming to an end. The company that pioneered digital dentistry is advising dental professionals to purchase tickets now for the three-day digital dentistry extravaganza before special Early Bird Registration offers expire on May 31.

Following a full review of ticket-sales momentum and current registration numbers for the event, Sirona said event tickets are selling at an extremely rapid pace, and the company is urging dental professionals to take advantage of the special pricing before the CEREC 30 Early Bird Registration special comes to an end.  

“A number of very attractive incentives are offered for early registrants including lower ticket prices, VIP Packages offered at a reduced price, and more,” remarked Sirona Dental, Inc. President Michael Augins. “We are extremely pleased with the outstanding level of interest so far and based on current registration trends, we project that Sirona’s CEREC 30 Celebration event will be the most well-attended CEREC Anniversary Celebration to date. Securing a spot early enough at the world’s premier digital dentistry festival ensures that dental professionals will receive maximum purchase packages at the lowest prices.”

The three-day digital dentistry extravaganza will be held at The Venetian and The Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas from September 17-19. Tony Robbins will headline a lineup of vibrant business motivational speakers including Magic Johnson, a two-time Hall of Famer turned business entrepreneur and philanthropist, and Fred Joyal, renowned speaker on dental practice marketing. Attendees will also enjoy musical entertainment from the Grammy-award winning rock and roll band Train.

In addition, the CEREC 30^th Anniversary Celebration will provide up to 18 CE credits across a comprehensive spectrum of digital dentistry topics and tracks, and feature an exhibit hall showcasing top dental companies and their products and services. 

Treating gum disease reduced symptoms of prostate inflammation, called prostatitis, report researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and the Departments of Urology and Pathology at University Hospitals Case Medical Center.

Monika Kuhn-Temmler

*30. März 1942 † 27. April 2015, Kettenbach is saddened to announce the unexpected death of their company’s leader, who passed away after a short battle with a severe illness.

As managing proprietor, she led our company since 1972. A master of economics by trade, a true entrepreneur in spirit and a charismatic leader with vision, she guided Kettenbach to become a world-renown and respected manufacturer of medical consumables. She was a humanitarian, who deeply cared for the welfare of her employees and the stability of a family-owned business. Her example and leadership will continue to inspire us.

In gratefulness and profound mourning,

the management and employees of Kettenbach GmbH & Co. KG

Eschenburg, May 2015

PITTSTON, PA—Integrated Dental Systems (IDS) of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and Benco Dental of Pittston, Pennsylvania, announced that Benco Dental will distribute the full range of IDS tooth replacement products. Included in the offerings: AnyRidge Implants, AnyOne Implants, Reflect Rapid Implants, Reflect Tapered Screw Implants, the Smart Dentin Grinder, AnyWhere Implant Provisional System, and Dental Master patient education and case acceptance software.

“We are very excited to have Benco Dental as a distribution partner and to provide them a full range of implants and related products to allow us to participate in the largest and fastest-growing dental product market,” said Carey Lyons, CEO of IDS. “We are providing extensive educational resources and training for the entire Benco sales team, as well as a nationwide IDS field Implant and Surgical Sales Specialists to support their efforts.”

Lyons added, “Our tooth replacement systems offers dentists immediate loading for faster treatment time, as well as systems for all indications that do not require learning new techniques and that are more economical. Hands-on courses and full service from dental supply dealers add benefit to the offerings.”

“We are thrilled to provide our more than 400 sales representatives a complete and feature-rich range of implants and implant-related products from IDS,” said Benco Managing Director Chuck Cohen. “Our team understands the opportunity and has been training with IDS and their key opinion leaders to offer innovative tooth replacement solutions to dental professionals to better serve their patients.”

Over the past 18 months, Axsys Dental Solutions has experienced unprecedented growth due to the quality of its products and services. In an effort to maintain a high quality of sales and technical support, Axsys has made many changes to its internal systems and operational procedures. Additionally, Axsys has added several experienced individuals to its Sales and Support Teams.

Tony Aliatim and Ben Laroche join the Support Team, managed by Chris Cheyne, Director of Dental Products and Services.

Aliatim, formerly with Materialise, a worldwide provider of 3D printing software and services, is experienced in identifying customer needs and developing software and 3D printing workflows to best fit those needs. With pre-sales and post-sales support of software and 3D printing experience, Aliatim has experience in creating quality documentation and providing training for small and large companies alike in the use of software and 3D printing products.

Laroche, a former Technical Advisor at DAL Technologies, has over 10 years’ experience working with CAD/CAM solutions. He is certified in and has trained technicians in the use of 3Shape, Procera, Etkon, Lava (COS, Lava5 and Lava7), Cerec, Dental Wings and exocad solutions. With extensive knowledge in the use of Dental Softworks CAM and Sum3D CAM software from CIM systems, Laroche is an experienced customer service professional that has functioned as a trainer and service technician for: Medit Scanners, exocad Dental Design Software, Sum3D CAM Software, and imes-icore Dental Milling Machines.

Joining the Sales Team, managed by Al Morad, National Dental Sales Manager, are: Peter Van Hecke Central Region Territory Manager; Roger Dawson, Southern Region Territory Manger; and in early summer, Christie Braykovich, Western Region Territory Manager.

Van Hecke has had an extremely successful, 16-year career in dental, medical device sales, pharmaceuticals sales, and capital equipment sales. He has extensive experience with the iTero intraoral digital scanning systems from Align Technology, a leading provider of 3D digital scanning solutions for orthodontics, implant solutions, and dentistry. Van Hecke is an experienced consultative account representative who can marshal resources, craft the right solution for his customers, and manage their success.

Dawson is the former Director of North American Sales and Service for Medit 3D Dental Scanners. Also a former dental laboratory manager and owner, an experienced ceramist, and a CDT, Dawson joins Axsys with 25 years of experience in implant and CAD/CAM dentistry. Having worked with a wide variety of Dental CAD/CAM/CNC solutions and some of the most talented specialists in North America, he has been involved in launching and supporting Lava Dental Products from 3M ESPE and has been a national training resource for dental laboratories in North America.

Braykovich joins Axsys with extensive sales, marketing, and customer service skills obtained from more than 20 years of experience with General Motors focusing on quality deliverables, dealer management, business management, and customer satisfaction. She has already proven a quick study in understanding of the dental business and Axsys' product portfolio, and she is expected to be a great resource in helping customers manage their business and increase their productivity and profitability.