3M moving Brontes unit out of Massachusetts

I worked with the Brontes team from the beginning in 2005 (or was it 2004?) and helped develop the clinical aspect of the intraoral impression scanner. It was acquired by 3M four years ago and the operation is now being moved to St Paul as, according to those I spoke with at 3M, it will allow better control of development and marketing of the LAVA COS product. I remember the first time I saw the "unit'- about 6 feet of wires and circuit boards that would ultimately be housed in a hand-held wand. The move is chronicled in an interesting article in the Boston Globe.
Brontes office closing is latest bite out of the Bay State’s R&D lab
http://bit.ly/ayvZaX

ADA Annual Session quick update

I am off to the airport and will be busy catching up at home. Here is a very brief summary of a few new things I saw at the ADA meeting in Orlando that is ending today 10/12. As I go through my notes there may be additions and of course more information.

Cariescan- a new caries detector that uses electrical impedance similar to apex locators. It shows porosity and ccan give an acccurate rendering of the location and size of the carious lesion but usingthe probe from occusal, buccal and lingual. www.cariescan.com

Orascoptic Freedom- new loupes with battery pack in the headset www.orascoptic.com

CAO group- new home bleaching product with wax forms that stay on securely ( you have to leave them on for an hour) www.caogroup.ccom

Philips Acquires Discus - This was the big news. It will be interesting to see if Discus stays as a whole or if parts are spun off.

http://www.newscenter.philips.com/main/standard/news/press/2010/20101011_discus_holdings.wpd

Eco Dentistry Association www.ecodentistry.org go green in your dental practice. It goes beyond fewer disposables- dental manufacturers are looking at ways to redesign products to reduce energy consumption and waste.

Oragenics- www.oragenics.com probiotics to reduce periodontal and caries producing oral organisms with simple daily mints.

Dental Sharing www.dentalsharing.com HIPAA compliant simple system to allow exchange of dental images and information among offices over the internet instead of email.

Eaglesoft releases version 16 patterson.eaglesoft.net . Users have many off their suggestions included in this update

Vidar xray scanner www.vidar.com unit digitizes xrays -fmx in (clear) mount, pan or other sizes. Not only scans but digitally enhances.

DentalEz (Star) www.dentalez.com change over to LEDs in the swivel connector for brighter and longer lasting fiberoptics.

Myray www.myrayamerica.com introduces X-Pod- a digital sensor attached to an iPod type device that displays and stores the images. Interesting entry for non networked offices.

Brush and zoom

Reported this AM. Philips has acquired Discus Dental. These rumors have been around for a while. It is an interesting fit for Philips as they are in the consumer health care market.  Discus also has many other dental products and processes. They recently got into the laser market with the acquisition of Zap laser. Should be interesting. Since I am at the ADA meeting today the buzz should give more insight for more info.