ORTHO INDUSTRY NEWS Organic Floss Biodegrates RADIUS has intro-duced its new Organic Biodegrad-able Silk Floss, which is natural, spun-by-hand silk has been certified organic by the USDA and is grown sustain-ably and harvested humanely, according to the company. RADIUS floss is coated in natural, vegan candelilla wax. The RADIUS floss is home compostable and septic tank safe. It takes 60 to 90 days to biodegrade. Available at Whole Foods and the Vitamin Shoppe retail locations. Dental Sealant Study Dental sealants are routinely applied to children’s teeth to help prevent cavities. While almost all resin-based sealants contain deriva-tives of bisphenol A (BPA), a controversial chemical that has been linked to health risks, there is one safe exception without BPA or BPA derivatives: Embrace WetBond Pit and Fissure Sealant are available through Pulpdent Corporation. A study published in Septem-ber 2010 assessed BPA exposures from dental materials and the potential health risk to patients. While the authors did not recom-mend a ban of these products, they recommended that precau-tions be taken to reduce BPA expo-sure during sealant application and said that the development of BPA–free dental materials should be a priority. Embrace WetBond Pit & Fissure Sealant is a resin-based sealant that contains no BPA and no BPA derivatives. Experts are continuing to study BPA and its impact on human health. For more information, visit www.pulpdent.com. Practitioners Need Social Marketing A new survey ( conducted by Tele-Vax ) of 9,000 orthodontists and dentists has found that most orthodontic and dental practices are struggling with incorporating social media and marketing into their practices. The 2010 North American Dental Practice Survey findings show a need for a solution that does not require practitioners to shift resources away from other important practice objectives. Despite the fact that a Web pres-ence has become an effective means of connecting with patients and potential patients, many practices are struggling with the technology. More than 50% of orthodontic and dental practices surveyed reported that they are not proactively promoting and marketing their products, but would do so if it was made simple. Still, nearly all prac-tices surveyed plan to or are currently deploying new forms of patient communications—including Web and e-mail marketing, as well as Twitter, Facebook, and SMS texting— in the next year. www.orthodontics.com November/December 2010 9
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society November-December 2010: Page 9
