AMD LASERS, the world leader in comprehensive and affordable laser technology, announced a strategic partnership aimed at providing even more value for dental professionals that purchase the Picasso diode dental laser. Partners include industry leaders 1-800-DENTIST(R), Fortune Management, and Cetylite Industries. While supplies last, AMD customers who purchase a Picasso laser package will receive a voucher for Everything is Marketing: The Ultimate Strategy for Dental Practice Growth (list price $24.95), a Gift Certificate for a FREE Practice Analysis (valued at $1,500), and a complimentary Cetacaine(R) Topical Anesthetic LIQUID Kit (value of $63).

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with these industry leading companies,” said Alan Miller, President and CEO of AMD LASERS. “Our customers are our greatest asset and creating such a high quality, value-added promotion will make their Picasso purchase experience even more pleasant and relevant to their business. At a value of almost $1,600, coupled with the world’s most affordable laser, we are confident this promotion will help with our goal of having a laser in every operatory.”

AMD LASERS, founded in 2006, is the global leader at providing comprehensive and affordable diode laser technology for dental professionals preparing to take their practice to the next level. The integration of Picasso, our high quality laser technology, enables thousands of dental practices to provide advanced patient care with ease. AMD LASERS customers also receive full-service customer care support from our knowledgeable and friendly staff. For more information about AMD LASERS, please call 866-999-2635, 317-202-9530, or visit us online at www.AMDLASERS.com.

Birner Dental Management Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:BDMS), operators of PERFECT TEETH dental practices, will conduct a conference call to review third quarter 2009 results. In addition to third quarter results, the teleconference may include discussion of management’s expectations of future financial and operating results. The call will be held on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. MT.

Dial in to 1-866-253-6509; refer to Birner Dental Management Services, Inc. approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled time. Please put this on your calendar and plan on joining us for this call. If you are unable to join us on November 12, the rebroadcast number is 1-888-266-2081 with pass code 1409015; which will be available through November 26, 2009.

Birner Dental Management Services, Inc. acquires, develops, and manages geographically dense dental practice networks in select markets in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. The Company currently manages 62 dental offices, which operate under the PERFECT TEETH name.

Keywords: Birner Dental Management Services, Inc., Birner Dental Management Services, Inc., Finance, Financial, Investing, Investment, Birner Dental Management Services Inc., Finance, Financial, Investing, Investment

This article was prepared by Investment Weekly News editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Investment Weekly News via VerticalNews.com.

Pediatric dentist Dr. Jeff Williams is busy in the days after Halloween, fixing crowns and tightening braces, courtesy of Tootsie Rolls and Twizzlers.

Of all the holidays that generate dental care thanks to sugary treats, “Halloween is the worst,” the Bartlett dentist said.

And the damage won’t end at midnight tonight.

Often tenacious trick-or- treaters have enough candy to stretch their sugar stash for weeks, he said.

Which begs the question: How much Halloween candy should children be eating?

“We can’t really say that any candy is OK,” Williams said.

However, some treats are less damaging than others.

“Reese’s Pieces and M&M’s are better — if any are better,” the dentist said. “The ones we don’t like are the very sticky kind.”

And dentists are sure to get a wave of toothaches and oral emergencies this year, as the National Confectioners Association lists this Halloween’s top treats as hard candy, chewy or gummi candy, bubble gum and caramel treats.

The sugar in candy creates an acid in the mouth that begins to break down the enamel of teeth, ultimately causing cavities.

To the chagrin of neighborhood children, Williams tried passing out toothbrushes one year.

“We got some unhappy looks from trick or treaters,” he said.

Now, Williams does a Halloween candy buy-back.

Copying similar programs being used across the country to curb Halloween overindulgence, Williams’ office, Bartlett Pediatric Dentistry on Kirby Whitten Parkway, offers children $1 for every pound of candy up to 10 pounds.

Every dollar given out will be matched and donated to the Ronald McDonald House. The candy will be shipped to troops overseas.

Dr. Harry Sharp, a professor of pediatric dentistry at the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry, would prefer more people give out goodies on Halloween that don’t promote tooth decay. But he realizes that’s unlikely.

Instead, he offers these tips:

Kids should eat a moderate amount of candy in one sitting.

Don’t allow them to continue eating sugary treats and drinks throughout the night and in the days after Halloween.

Make sure they brush and floss after they’ve eaten candy.

The good news is that for kids without preexisting problems, teeth are pretty resilient to a one-night sugar binge.

“One time is not going to cause them to wake up the next day with cavities,” Sharp said. “It might begin to start a cavity, but it takes a long time for that to happen.”

– Lindsay Melvin: 529-2445

Get rid of it

Here are two dentists who will take the candy off your hands:

Dr. Michael Blen

6363 Poplar, Suite 110

415-2536

Drop off: Monday, from 2-5:30 p.m., or Tuesday, 3-5:30 p.m.,

Kids who turn in candy get a goodie bag, and for every pound of candy they are eligible for a door prize raffle ticket.

Dr. Jeff Williams

3071 Kirby Whitten Pkwy.

382-1564

Drop off: Monday through Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. until Nov. 15.

Kids will receive $1 for every pound of candy for up to 10 pounds.

Credit: The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.

Governor Fidel Herrera Beltran spoke to dentists from Mexico and the United States about his administration’s plans and programs to maintain the health, including oral health, of Veracruz residents.

He mentioned the “Faithful Smile” program as an example, which has provided teeth replacements for 80,000 elderly adults.

The governor spoke at the opening of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Mexican eademy of Pediatric Dentistry, which gathered specialists from both Mexico and the U.S. Dentists gathered for four days at the event in Boca del Rio, Veracruz.

The governor also said that shortly, his administration would be signing an agreement that will seek the inclusion of dental health in the Seguro Popular health plan.

Herrera said that in working to strengthen dental programs in the state, his administration had equipped all the dentistry consultation rooms in the state hospital system, renovated dental chairs in the schools, and refurbished mobile dental units to serve rural areas of the state.

The modernization of dental practice in the state has had the support of all parts of state government, said the governor, adding that the goal is to strengthen the culture of oral care and health in the state.

Herrera said the state Family Development System (DIF) has also been instrumental in spreading the word about good oral health practices.

Proctor & Gamble’s ongoing research indicates that nine out of ten children in the GCC region have decayed, missing or filled teeth. These statistics are extremely high compared to Europe indicating that dental hygiene and oral health is a topic that needs to be addressed. Mohammed Azzawe, Brand Manager for Crest & Oral-B at Proctor & Gamble Arabian Peninsula talks about the latest dental hygiene technologies developed to improve oral hygiene in the Middle East. These technologies will be showcased at the region’s largest dentistry event, Dentistry 2009, held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 10 to 12 of November 2009.

At this year’s event, Oral-B will be exhibiting a new range of toothbrushes with Anti-Bacterial Bristle Protection, a technology which inhibits bacterial growth on bristles for up to three months. The new Oral-B Expert toothbrushes with Anti-Bacterial Bristle Protection use silver ion technology – a silver additive that is known to have antimicrobial properties. This allows for controlled silver-ion release and the constant introduction of new silver containing particles as the bristles wear during normal use. Silver ions are common antimicrobial agents and are used in a variety of different consumer and medical products.

Mr Azzawe believes Oral-B’s new technology will go along way to improving oral hygiene.

“Bacteria lives everywhere and in particular it grows on wet brushes after they have been used. Oral-B’s new technology helps to keep your brush clean and effective keeping acid erosion and cavities at bay.”

Oral-B works with dental professionals around the globe to develop products that are clinically proven to remove the most plaque and to promote oral hygiene. By showcasing this latest technology at Dentistry 2009, Oral-B will ensure that practitioners in the Middle East are aware of the most technologically advanced dental products and will be able to recommend the use of these products to their patients, saving time, money and unnecessary trips to the dentist.

“There will also be a corner devoted to Crest Expert Gum Protection, a new advanced toothpaste technology that shows improved product benefits that specifically addresses areas dentists care about enamel, gums and sensitivity,” says Mr Azzawe. “The toothpaste contains stannous fluoride which strengthens the enamel, in addition to reducing gum inflammation and tooth sensitivity. The formula is made novel with the addition of Sodium Hexa Meta Phosphate (SHMP) which protects teeth against staining.

“Dentistry 2009 is organised by IIR Middle East Life Sciences Division, the same organisation who brought the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress to Dubai. Oral-B associates itself with leading organisers in order to reach out to the industry professionals who attend an important meeting like this.” 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

Halloween would not be Halloween without candy and sweets, but it is important to remember that the threat of cavities and tooth decay never takes a break. It is unrealistic for parents to expect their children not to indulge a little this time of year, but there are several tips the California Dental Association recommends to promote good oral health now and through the year.

– Offer healthier alternatives to candy – This does not have to mean

carrot sticks and toothbrushes, but treats sweetened with ‘xylitol,’ a

natural sugar substitute, help prevent plaque build up on teeth.

Offering sugar-free gum after eating candy is a great way to fight the

bacteria that causes tooth decay and the chewing motion also stimulates

the flow of saliva, which helps cleanse teeth.

– Monitor you child’s candy consumption – Parents should be in charge of

Halloween candy, not children. Establishing a candy bank is a popular

option and giving access to the bank after eating dinner helps to limit

the quantity of candy consumed. This is also an ideal opportunity to

teach about the importance of moderation.

– Better to eat two pieces at once than separately over the day – It is

the frequency that is the most important factor in tooth decay not the

quantity. This helps to limit exposure to acids that are left behind on

teeth after eating.

– Avoid sticky candies like taffy and gummy candies – Anything that stays

in the mouth or on the teeth for an extended period of time leaves acid

on teeth that causes tooth decay. This includes hard candies, lollipops,

caramel chews and the always dangerous jaw breaker.

– Reinforce positive oral health habits – Remind your child to brush their

teeth after every meal or at least twice a day and to floss each day.

Look at the labels of candy and other foods to show your child what to

look for on the packaging. Anything that ends in -ose like glucose,

fructose, and sucrose are sugars and should be avoided.

– Visit a CDA member dentist – In order to maintain proper oral and

overall health all children should visit a dentist twice a year starting

at age 1 or when their first tooth comes in.

Go to www.cda.org for more information on maintaining your oral health or to find a CDA dentist in your area.

The California Dental Association is the non-profit organization representing organized dentistry in California. Founded in 1870, CDA supports its members in their practices and service to the public through innovation in education, advocacy and related programs. CDA also contributes to the oral health of Californians through various comprehensive programs and advocacy. CDA’s membership consists of more than 24,000 dentists, making it the largest constituent of the American Dental Association. For more information, visit cda.org

Tulsa-based Shortline Dental has opened its third office at 1671 E. 71st St., and is still seeking to “treat all patients, infants to dentures.”

The clinic, which features 10 examination rooms and a video arcade for younger patients, will have a six-person staff. Dentists Robert Baird and Celeste Riggs will perform a range of general dentistry services and minor surgeries.

Shortline Dental owner and Tulsa native Mike Riggs, also a dentist, said the clinic seeks to meet the dental needs of all residents of his hometown, including the poor and uninsured.

While Mike Riggs and dentist Jeffery Brorerman are assigned to the east Tulsa clinic, dentist Daniel A. Warlick is assigned to the north Tulsa operation.

“Our patients range from families living below the poverty line to those with large, expendable incomes,” Mike Riggs said. “Our goal is to give all Tulsans another option for affordable, high-quality oral health care in their communities.”

Shortline Dental opened its original east Tulsa clinic in 2006 at 21st Street and Mingo Road, and now has 15 employees. Two years later, a second clinic opened at Pine and Lewis avenues in north Tulsa, an area with a high percentage of SoonerCare patients, according to Riggs. It has 10 employees.

According to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, about 20 percent of Tulsa County residents were enrolled in the SoonerCare program in 2008. The majority of SoonerCare enrollees are 18 and under.

“While dental care has sharply improved

for upper and middle classes from the past, the lower class has limited access to care,” Mike Riggs said in an e-mail. “We provide that access with children and adults.”

Like Shortline Dental’s east and north Tulsa locations, the new south Tulsa clinic will accept most insurance plans as well as SoonerCare. Credit plans for the uninsured also are available.

“No child chooses the family situation into which they are born,” Mike Riggs said. “We believe everyone deserves to have their oral health needs met, no matter where they live.”

Shortline recently signed a contract to provide no-cost dental education, supplies and screenings to six Title One elementary schools within the Union school district: Rosa Parks, Briar Glen, Boevers, Roy Clark, Grove and McAuliffe. Title One schools are those with 50 percent or more students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program.

“Education is very important in that a lot of times, people don’t realize they need regular checkups and aren’t preforming preventive home care as they should,” Mike Riggs said. ” We don’t differentiate between SoonerCare patients and cash patients. They’re all treated exactly the same, as we ourselves would like to be treated.”

Mike Riggs said he “cringes” at the “dental chain” title.

“A dental chain to me would seem impersonal and unexceptional,” he said. “We like to treat SoonerCare patients for a number of reasons. All our doctors went to Oklahoma University College of Dentistry (which is quite a good clinical school) and perform high quality work. We all came from the class of 2004 and 2007, so we know each other well; we can trust and rely on each others’ work.”

Hours at the new clinic are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to noon Friday. For appointments, call 340-5020.

Poor dental hygiene is one of the most common ailments in pets, mainly because of the difficulty in brushing your pet’s teeth. Bad dental hygiene can have severe consequences on your pet’s health.

Dr. David Jones, a veterinarian who specializes in dentistry at Aloha Animal Hospital Associates, says, “Eight-five percent of dogs and cats will have some notable level of gingivitis by the age of 2.”

Recognizing dental disease in pets is difficult and best left to your veterinarian. “Dogs and cats don’t complain much, and almost always are eating and drinking OK, even with broken teeth,” said Jones.

Common dental problems are plaque, gingivitis, missing teeth, tenderness and a bad smell.

“Occasionally you will see signs of oral pain such as dropping food, or chewing on one side of the mouth,” adds Jones.

He recommends daily brushing with a pet toothpaste as the best way to remove plaque and reduce gingivitis. By making brushing a daily routine, you will be more likely to spot dental problems.

Another option for an oral hygiene program is dental pet food such as Hill’s T/D or Eukanuba/Iams products with hexametaphosphate to reduce plaque and calculus. You can also try rawhide chews and topical treatments.

Dr. Jones cautions not to let your pet chew on bones, rocks, ice or sticks. They commonly cause broken teeth in dogs. And he advises that pets should have a regular dental examination at least every six months.

For those who have elderly pets and are concerned about anesthesia, Dr. Jones reassures us, “Older pets usually can have a safe anesthesia, it just takes them longer to recover. The general rule is that if they can walk in the front door, chances are that they will be walking back out afterwards.”

Julie Ford’s pug Yoda is a special member of the family. When family members started noticing his bad breath, she took him to Dr. Jones for a dental checkup.

With Ford watching and reporting each detail of the procedure, here’s what she observed:

Yoda was put under anesthesia. As he lay on the heated mattress and his vitals were monitored by machines, Dr. Jones examined Yoda’s teeth.

After a thorough teeth cleaning, Dr. Jones X-rayed the teeth and found an abscessed tooth. Overall, Yoda needed five teeth pulled. Even though he was under anesthesia, Dr. Jones still injected his gums with painkillers before extracting the bad teeth, so Yoda wouldn’t have much pain when he woke up.

After the anesthesia was turned off, Yoda awoke quickly, although a little groggy. He recognized his mom and then drifted back to sleep in the recovery room. Yoda stayed several more hours before he was able to go home that evening.

He was sent home with antibiotics and painkillers. “Yoda was allowed to eat wet food when he got home,” says Ford.

Yoda made a miraculous recovery from his oral surgery. “Each day, Yoda has gotten more and more energy. It’s so obvious to me now that he had been in serious pain before his teeth were pulled,” says Ford. “He has been chasing our cat around the house again. I am so, so glad that he’s feeling better.”

The Highlands County Health Department began offering free dental care to uninsured pregnant women last Wednesday and its offices are already booked for the next two weeks.

“We’ve had a tremendous response from women learning about it through their OBGYN’s,” said Dr. Gerald Pyser, dental executive director for Highlands County Health Department.

Uninsured pregnant women and those receiving Medicaid are now eligible for free dental care at the health department’s dental office in Sebring.

The dental program, New Maty’s Dental Program, is the first to be offered to pregnant women in the county. According to Florida Department of Health’s 2008 statistics the program hopes to reach Highlands County’s 150 pregnant teens and 565 single mothers.

“The county has a high teen pregnancy rate and that’s really what’s driving the wheel,” Pyser said.

The program will offer free preventive and restorative care for pregnant women through out their pregnancy.

The health department’s program also seeks to educate expecting mothers on preventive dental care for their infants.

Pyser said pre-dental care leads to healthier mothers and infants.

“Treatment and prevention of dental and gum disease in pregnancy has a very positive effect on preventing preterm labor and low birth weight infants,” he said.

The department hired Dr. Joel Shapses, a dentist from Collier County, to treat patients for this program once a week on Wednesday by appointment.

Pyser said the program is permanent and based on the needs of the county.

“We hope to expand the program,” he said.

For more information on New Maty’s Dental Program, call 382-7257.

The Brunswick News

When Robin Moxley looked in the mirror, she found something that troubled her. The Jesup resident felt that her teeth just weren’t as white as she wanted them to be.

“I’m a coffee drinker so they were stained and I didn’t like the yellow,” she said.

Moxley went online and found Brunswick dentist Angela Britt. She and her whole family decided to have their teeth whitened.

They aren’t alone. Teeth whitening is still popular even in a down economy. The old adage that “a smile increases your face value” is proving true. Perhaps that’s why many people still choose to invest in their pearly whites.

Britt definitely believes it boosts self esteem.

“Smiling makes you feel good all over and a healthy brighter smile helps you feel good about yourself. I also think that a smile says a lot about a person’s overall appearance. A whiter, brighter smile enhances self-esteem and helps one to open up and shine,” she said.

Britt also says that makeover shows have added to the buzz about the procedure.

“It is a relatively easy and fast way to brighten a smile. The whitening procedures became very popular with the makeover shows and continues to be popular,” she said.

With advances in technology, there are a number of new whitening applications available. At her office at 110 Professional Center Dr. in Brunswick, Britt offers a number of these techniques to clients.

“Our office offers Zoom Chairside, a 45-minute treatment with an average change of eight shades. You get immediate results,” she said.

Britt says that it is a long-lasting treatment that yields less fading. It’s also safe and comfortable.

“It is performed by a dental professional. We cover the lips and gums, leaving only the teeth exposed. We apply the Zoom whitening gel, which is further activated by the Zoom lamp,” she said.

“The Zoom light and gel work together to gently penetrate the teeth, breaking up stains and discoloration. We do include take home touch-up trays with our chair-side procedure so that patients can continue to maintain the whitening results at home.”

Britt offers other treatments too.

“For take-home trays, we take impressions in the office so that the patient has custom-fit trays. The treatment time is seven to 14 days on average with a change of six shades. It is self-applied in trays but does not have immediate results.”

There are whitening strips, gels and toothpaste. The whitening strips and paint on gel typically take longer to yield results. This usually takes from seven to 30 days on average. Teeth only change three to four shades

“It can result in inconsistent tooth whitening with no immediate results,” she said.

As for toothpaste, results can take a month or longer with possible changes of only one to two shades.

“The results fade if you stop using the toothpaste and it only works on stains that are on the tooth surface such as coffee or tea,” Britt said.

One of the most important things about teeth whitening is being prepared. Dentist Susan Bishop’s office, 123 Main St., Plantation Village, St. Simons Island is a general and cosmetic practice. She sees both children and adults and provides a variety of services including teeth whitening.

“We offer the Biolase Laser, which allows us to perform many procedures without the use of a drill or anesthesia, and we are certified and licensed to provide Conscience Sedation for stress free dentistry,” she said.

But she does caution patients before going through with a procedure.

“Patients should have a complete dental exam with x-rays to make certain that there is no decay present before starting any whitening procedure. Only natural tooth structure can be whitened,” she said.

“Resin (tooth colored) fillings, crowns and bridges and veneers will not lighten during bleaching procedures. Patients should also be aware that some sensitivity is a normal side effect of bleaching and is only temporary. There are steps that can be taken to minimize this sensitivity.”

One of the most important aspects of teeth whitening is keeping it safe. Both Britt and Bishop stress that patients must have procedures preformed by a dental professional.

“The bleaching options that we offer our patients utilize materials that have been tested and approved by the ADA so patients can be assured of their safety. All procedures are performed and monitored by certified and licensed staff members and Dr. Bishop,” Bishop said.

“It is extremely important that all bleaching procedures are monitored by a licensed dentist to insure optimum results and to prevent injury to teeth and gums.”

Credit: The Brunswick News, Ga.