VELscope System Called the World's Leading Oral Cancer Screening System

VELscope System Called the World's Leading Oral Cancer Screening System

LED Dental estimates that its VELscope Oral Cancer Screening System is used for more oral cancer examinations than any other device in the world. A total of 4,000 VELscope devices are in use worldwide, and a total of over 4 million exams have been given with the device since its introduction two and one-half years ago. The VELscope system was the first dental device to utilize tissue fluorescence visualization technology.

White Rock, British Columbia (PRWEB) February 28, 2009 -- LED Dental Inc. claimed today that its VELscope system is used for more oral cancer examinations than any other adjunctive technology in the world.

Impressive Milestones Passed

According to Dr. Ralph Green, president and CEO of LED Dental's parent, LED Medical Diagnostics, "Since our mid-2006 launch, we have sold over 4,000 VELscope systems worldwide. Based on an independent survey of VELscope users, we estimate that these devices have been used to conduct over 4 million VELscope exams to date." Dr. Green added, "What's more, we estimate that over 3 million additional VELscope exams will be conducted in 2009 alone. Based on sales information reported by our leading competitor, it is clear that their product is currently being used for a much lower number of exams."

Powerful Supporting Research

The tissue fluorescence visualization technology platform on which the VELscope system is based is the culmination of over $50 million in research funded by the National Institutes of Health and other respected institutions and conducted by such leading organizations as the British Columbia Cancer Agency and the University of Texas's M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Translating this highly sophisticated, breakthrough technology for use in an efficacious device to examine the oral mucosa was the brainchild of LED Dental and the British Columbia Cancer Agency. Launched in 2006 as the first tissue fluorescence device made commercially available to the dental community, the VELscope system revolutionized the dental practitioner's ability to visualize the oral mucosal environment. A second-generation device featuring a more powerful lamp and several other advancements was introduced in 2008. The VELscope system remains the first and only device in widespread use that is cleared by the FDA and Health Canada to help dental practitioners discover tissue changes, including dysplasia and cancer, that might not be apparent to the naked eye, and to help surgeons determine the appropriate surgical margin when excising cancerous lesions.

The VELscope system's regulatory clearances were based in part on three clinical studies conducted by researchers at the British Columbia Cancer Agency.  The first, "Simple Device for the Direct Visualization of Oral Cavity Fluorescence," was published in the Journal of Biomedical Optics in 2006.  The second, "Fluorescence Visualization Detection of Field Alterations in Tumor Margins of Oral Cancer Patients," was published in the prestigious Clinical Cancer Research journal in 2006.  The third, "Direct Fluorescence Visualization of Clinically Occult High-Risk Oral Premalignant Disease Using a Simple Hand-Held Device," was published in the equally prestigious Head & Neck journal in early 2007.

Since these original publications, the clinical research community has continued to show intense interest in clinical application of the VELscope fluorescence visualization system and its role in oral disease and oral cancer management.  The British Columbia Cancer Agency has presented very exciting results on the performance of VELscope's fluorescence visualization technology in helping detect oral cancer and pre-cancer as part of a longitudinal study involving over 500 dysplasia patients.  They also remain very strong proponents of the technology as a tool to help surgeons determine lesion margins and recently presented new data indicating that patients who underwent fluorescence-assisted lesion surgery have considerably fewer high risk lesions present at follow-up than a control group.   

In addition, extensive clinical studies of the VELscope system are currently underway at such respected institutions as the University of Washington, the University of Chicago, Ohio State University, the Baylor College of Dentistry, Kings College in London and the University of Cologne. Speaking about a recently completed but yet-to-be-published study at the University of Washington, Dr. Edmond Truelove, Chair of Oral Medicine at the university, disclosed to the New York Times that the VELscope system discovered 100% of the cases of moderate-to-severe dysplasia, versus only 68% for a conventional visual exam.

Outstanding Clinical Experiences Reported by Dentists

"While we are quite proud of the milestones we have achieved," said Dr. Ralph Green, president and CEO of LED Dental's parent, LED Medical Diagnostics, "we have just scratched the surface of the VELscope system's potential." Dr. Green added, "We know from user surveys that the VELscope exam is easy to administer, takes only two to three minutes, and is financially attractive for the practice. What's more, patients find it very affordable and love the fact that no distasteful rinses or messy stains are required. Most important, clinicians are telling us that it's helping them discover abnormal tissue that they otherwise would have missed. When you look at these simple facts, there is absolutely no reason why every dental practice should not have a VELscope system."

Clinicians give the VELscope system high marks for the relative ease with which it can incorporated into dental practices. Said Dr. Green, "We believe that a big part of this is the fact that dentists can easily photo-document any suspect areas that need to be referred to a specialist for further observation and possible surgical biopsy." In fact, the latest generation of the VELscope system comes with an adapter kit that makes it easy for the clinician to attach a digital camera to the VELscope hand-piece. No existing competitive products, including a new low-powered device now being introduced to the market, have this capability.

Dental Practices: The First Line of Defense

One hundred Americans develop oral cancer every day, and one American dies of the disease every hour of every day. Despite the fact that tobacco usage is declining, the rate of occurrence of oral cancer is actually increasing. This increase is widely attributed in large part to the spread of HPV-16, a strain of the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus strongly associated with oropharyngeal cancers. This has led many health experts to recommend that anyone old enough to have sex should receive an oral cancer exam at least once a year.

The need for regular exams is further supported by studies showing that the majority of oral cancers are discovered in late stages, when the five-year survival rate is 20-to-30%. When discovered in early stages, however, the survival rate leaps to 80-to-90%.

In the words of Brian Hill, founder of the widely-respected Oral Cancer Foundation, "Simply stated, early detection is the key to higher survival rates. And the only way that can possibly happen is if dental practices step up and start making opportunistic, comprehensive oral cancer exams a mandatory part of their annual and even semi-annual exams." According to Mr. Hill, "The most essential step is a visual and tactile exam. When this exam is augmented by an adjunctive exam utilizing tissue fluorescence visualization, the opportunity for early discovery is increased. The conventional and adjunctive exams combined should take only six minutes or so, which is little to ask when you consider the potentially life-saving benefit provided to the patient."

About LED Dental

LED Dental Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of LED Medical Diagnostics Inc., which was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in White Rock, British Columbia, Canada. For more information, call +1 604 541-4614, or visit www.VELscope.com.

# # #

Contact Information John Pohl

LED Dental

http://www.velscope.com

8478122879

New KODAK 9500 Cone Beam 3D System Redefines CBCT Design, Ease-of-Use

New KODAK 9500 Cone Beam 3D System Redefines CBCT Design, Ease-of-Use

Medium, Large Field 3D Programs Deliver Dual Jaw, Craniofacial Imaging

Chicago (Vocus) February 27, 2009 -- The KODAK 9500 Cone Beam (http://www.kodakdental.com/9500) 3D System was introduced by PracticeWorks Systems, LLC, for easy-to-use three-dimensional imaging of the dental and facial anatomy. Built on the proven and reliable KODAK 9000 platform, the KODAK 9500 3D System enables dental professionals to quickly produce magnificent 3D images, ranging from dual jaw to full craniofacial images, while optimizing dose.

    

The KODAK 9500 3D System (http://www.kodakdental.com/9500) is well suited for general dentists and dental specialists performing orthodontic, periodontic and oral and maxillofacial surgical (OMS) procedures including implants, tooth extractions and surgical planning. With high-quality, anatomically-correct 3D images down to 0.2 mm voxel (VOlume piXEL) size, dental professionals are able to leverage the incredible image detail of 3D to provide more accurate diagnoses, improved treatment planning and more efficient patient care.

"The KODAK 9500 3D system represents a new generation of volumetric imaging systems in dentistry," said Dr. James Mah, Director of the Redmond Imaging Center, Associate Clinical Professor, University of Southern California. "It has technological specifications and user features that have evolved into a state-of-the-art, intuitive and patient-friendly system."

Smart Design Enhances Image Quality, Patient Experience

Featuring a user-friendly and stylish design that aids in patient comfort and satisfaction, the KODAK 9500 3D System provides innovative features like face-to-face patient positioning to accommodate standing or seated patients, including wheelchair patients, of varying body types and sizes. Program selection with pre-programmed settings occurs directly on the system's intuitive interface, simplifying patient setup and exam preparation.

The system also provides full-featured 3D visualization software designed for the needs of dental professionals. The software is intuitive and easy-to-use, enabling users to focus on diagnosis and treatment. The application includes an implant planning/simulation module and implant library, and will be compatible with third-party implant planning applications. Image output occurs in DICOM formats, supporting flexible output options including printing and customizable report templates.

By maximizing ease-of-use and patient comfort, users can get a high-quality 3D image with the first take.

Anatomical Programs Optimize Patient Care, Safety

The KODAK 9500 3D System captures dual jaw (9 cm x 15 cm) or all dento-maxillofacial anatomy (18.4 cm x 20.6 cm) in one acquisition for a wide range of clinical applications. With the additional ability to control patient dose through variable settings of mA and kV, dental professionals can manage the patient dose by focusing on their immediate clinical needs. This enables users to maximize image detail required for the specific application while managing patient dose.

Pricing and Availability

The KODAK 9500 3D System is currently available for purchase in limited quantities in the United States and parts of Europe, with general availability scheduled for Q2 of this year. In addition to the large-field 3D system, a medium-field option will be sold in the United States--providing the dual jaw imaging program only. For more information on pricing and availability, as well as a complete description of system features and benefits, contact your sales representative at 800.944.6365 or go to www.kodakdental.com/9500.

About PracticeWorks Systems, LLC

PracticeWorks Systems, LLC, is the exclusive maker of KODAK Dental Systems. KODAK Dental Digital Imaging and Practice Management Systems help dental professionals streamline workflow and enhance patient care by enabling them to capture, share, and use images and information easily and effectively.

PracticeWorks is part of Carestream Health, Inc.'s dental systems group. Carestream Health is a leading provider of dental and medical imaging and IT solutions. Headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., and serving customers in more than 150 countries, Carestream Health is an independent company operating within the family of companies owned by Onex Corporation (TSX: OCX.TO) of Toronto, Canada.

For more information, contact your PracticeWorks representative, call 1-800-944-6365 or visit www.kodakdental.com.

Media Contact:

Dennis Dunsmore

+1 (770) 226-3202

###

Contact Information Dennis Dunsmore

http://www.kodakdental.com

770-226-3202

Switch to Daylight Savings Time Will Launch First Annual Sedation Dentistry Safety Week Hosted by DOCS Education

Switch to Daylight Savings Time Will Launch First Annual Sedation Dentistry Safety Week Hosted by DOCS Education

The first annual Sedation Dentistry Safety Week will be held March 9th to March 13th. Nearly 10,000 specially trained dentists and their staffs throughout the United States will be encouraged to mark the switch to daylight savings by taking the time to review and refresh their safety procedures. The goal is to ensure that sedation dentistry, which has grown increasingly popular, remains fear-free, anxiety-free and safe. The 5-day event, featuring a different theme each day, is hosted by DOCS Education, the nation's leading trainer of sedation dentists.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) February 25, 2009 -- For nearly 10,000 specially trained dentists and their staffs, this year's switch to daylight savings time will mean more than resetting their clocks and checking their smoke alarms.

These dentists will use the occasion to participate in the first annual Sedation Dentistry Safety Week, March 9-13, five days dedicated to ensuring patients that sedation dentistry, an increasingly popular method of receiving vital dental care, is not only pain-free and anxiety-free, it is also extraordinarily safe.

"Even beyond patient comfort, patient safety has always been Job #1," notes Dr. Michael Silverman, national chairman of Sedation Dentistry Safety Week and one of the world's leading sedation dentistry educators.

Dentists trained by Dr. Silverman and his colleagues at DOCS Education (www.docseducation.com), which he co-founded in 1999, have safely treated more than 1.25 million adult dental patients by carefully adhering to or exceeding standards recommended by the American Dental Association and set by individual state dental boards.

"While sedation dentistry has become the mainstream alternative for fearful and anxious patients, Sedation Dentistry Safety Week is designed to reinforce the dental profession's commitment to being constantly vigilant on behalf of patient safety," Dr. Silverman notes.

Activities during Sedation Dentistry Safety Week will include a review of key steps that all sedation dentists and their staffs must take with each and every sedation patient. Core safety equipment and supplies will also be checked. Patients, themselves, will be reminded of what they can do to assist their dental office's team, including providing dentists with complete and accurate medical histories ahead of any procedures.

These are the specific themes assigned to each day of Sedation Dentistry Safety Week:

Monday, March 9th - The Sedation Dentistry Safety Checklist: A Review of Protocols, Equipment and Supplies

Tuesday, March 10th - Team Work: The Role of Dental Assistants and Staff in Assuring Safety

Wednesday, March 11th - The 2009 Safe Sedation Dentists of the Year: Recognizing Excellence in Patient Safety and Comfort

Thursday, March 12th - A Consumer's Guide to Safe, Anxiety-Free Sedation Dentistry: What Patients Need to Know To Optimize Their Experience

Friday, March 13th - Talk to a Sedation Dentist Day: Veteran Sedation Dentists Will Be "On Call" to Answer Questions from Other Dental Professionals and Consumers.

All dentists who offer oral conscious sedation services to their patients are encouraged to participate in Sedation Dentistry Safety Week, regardless of where they received their training, says DOCS' Dr. Silverman.

Dentists who would like more information on sedation dentistry safety or training are encouraged to phone: 877-325-3627. Consumers with questions (www.sedationcare.com) about fear-free, anxiety-free sedation dentistry can call (888) 858-7972.

###

Contact Information Dr. Michael Silverman

DOCS Education

http://www.docseducation.com

877-325-3627

Lexi-Comp's Full Library of Dental Resources Now Available for the iPhone™ and iPod� touch

Lexi-Comp's Full Library of Dental Resources Now Available for the iPhone™ and iPod® touch

Lexi-DENTAL SELECT™ and Lexi-DENTAL COMPLETE™ provide access to clinical information necessary for fast diagnosis and treatment in the dental office.

Hudson, OH (PRWEB) February 24, 2009 -- Lexi-Comp, Inc., the leading publisher of clinical resources in the dental market, has developed two software packages to deliver its comprehensive library of dental-specific references to iPhone™ and iPod® touch users. Dental professionals and students can now instantly access vital information on medications and interactions, as well as view the full color images, charts, and appendices from Lexi-Comp's print titles.

Both packages feature Dental Lexi-Drugs®, the only pharmacology database available that includes dental-specific information such as: Effects on Dental Treatment, Effects on Bleeding, Local Anesthetic /Vasoconstrictor Precautions, and Dental Comment. Lexi-DENTAL SELECT™ (http://webstore.lexi.com/Product-Details/Lexi-Dental-Select-Details) offers basic diagnosis and treatment protocols with content addressing principles and procedures encountered daily in general dentistry. In addition to the core pharmacology and interactions databases, this package includes Oral Hard Tissue Diseases, Oral Soft Tissue Diseases, Illustrated Handbook of Clinical Dentistry, and Dental Office Medical Emergencies.

Lexi-DENTAL COMPLETE™ (http://webstore.lexi.com/Product-Details/Dental-Complete-Details) is Lexi-Comp's most comprehensive dental software package (http://webstore.lexi.com/Product-Details/Dental-Complete-Details), focusing on advanced diagnosis and treatment. This package offers the databases available in Lexi-DENTAL SELECT, plus the Manual of Clinical Periodontics, Clinician's Endodontic Handbook, Manual of Dental Implants, Oral Surgery for the General Dentist, and Advanced Protocols for Medical Emergencies. It also includes Pediatric Lexi-Drugs®, a database that contains detailed dosing guidelines for neonates, infants, and children, and complementary resources such as Harrison's Practice and Stedman's Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing.

With both packages, users can view high quality radiographs and full color photographs and images to aid in diagnosis and treatment. Steven Kerscher, Lexi-Comp's President and COO, comments, "The iPhone and iPod touch are ideal for showcasing the ease of use, linking capabilities, and concise structure of our databases." Kerscher adds, "Delivering the images in our dental manuals on a handheld device, alongside our comprehensive dental-specific drug content, really takes this product offering to the next level in terms of helping general dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, endodontists, and periodontists elevate the level of care they provide."

Lexi-Comp will be offering demonstrations of these packages in Booth #120 at the upcoming Chicago Dental Society 144th Midwinter Meeting, February 27th through March 1st. Attendees visiting the booth to view a demonstration will also have the opportunity to register to win an iPod touch preloaded with the software.

About Lexi-Comp Dental Solutions:

Lexi-Comp is the industry leader in providing clear, concise, dental-specific content at the point-of-care. The company's commitment to dentistry is evident in its products and advanced technology, developed to help dental professionals increase efficiency, improve patient care, and avoid liability. An independent non-profit dental education and product testing foundation ranked Lexi-Comp® ONLINE™ for Dentistry (http://webstore.lexi.com/Store/ONLINE/Lexi-Comp-ONLINE-for-Dentistry) as an outstanding product in the Education category of their December 2008 issue. A full report is available upon request. Lexi-Comp's dental information is available online, on handheld devices, and in printed handbooks. Visit Lexi-Comp's Dental Solutions page (http://www.lexi.com/individuals/dentistry/) for more information.

About Lexi-Comp:

Lexi-Comp, Inc. provides clinical information solutions to the healthcare industry, publishing point-of-care content utilized in both in-patient and out-patient settings. These advanced resources help improve patient outcomes, medication safety, and workflow efficiency. Pharmacotherapy knowledge areas include drug information for adult, pediatric, and geriatric populations; medication interactions; laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures; pharmacogenomics; poisoning and toxicology; dentistry; infectious diseases; and patient education. Over 500,000 clinicians worldwide access Lexi-Comp's content via the Internet, mobile devices, and through integration with health information systems. An extensive library of print titles is also available.

To learn more about Lexi-Comp's clinical information solutions, call 800.837.5394, 330.650.6506, or visit www.lexi.com.

Contact:

Heather Ciranna, Media Relations

Lexi-Comp, Inc.

800-837-5394

www.lexi.com

###

Contact Information Heather Ciranna

Lexi-Comp, Inc.

http://www.lexi.com

1-800-837-5394

Dr Timothy Huckabee Free Day of Dental Care Draws a Crowd

Dr Timothy Huckabee Free Day of Dental Care Draws a Crowd

Dentistry With A Heart, Huckabee Dental's gift of a free day of dentistry, was held on Friday, February 13th from 7:30- 4:30, providing free fillings, extractions, and cleanings. This year's event was the first annual Dentistry With A Heart event for Dr. Timothy Huckabee's practice at 505 West Southlake Boulevard, Southlake, Texas.

Southlake, TX (PRWEB) February 23, 2009 -- The first annual Dentistry with a Heart was a huge success. Huckabee Dental saw over 120 patients and performed more than $60,000 in free dental work as part of the Dentistry with a Heart program on Feb. 13, 2009

Six dentists and about 30 other staff members all volunteered their time at the Southlake office.

Patients started camping out at 8:30 p.m. the night before the big day and a steady crowd remained outside throughout the day. The event was for adults who are uninsured or under insured. Dentistry is one of the top things people neglect when they are struggling financially, Dr. Tim Huckabee said.

Dentistry With A Heart happens just one day a year. On the other days, Huckabee Dental is a successful dental practice performing a full range of dental procedures including IV and oral sedation, Invisalign, dental implants, periodontal treatment, and cosmetic and family dentistry. Huckabee Dental is located at 505 West Southlake Boulevard, Southlake, TX.

Fact Sheet About Dentistry With A Heart

* Dentistry With A Heart is Huckabee Dental's gift of a free day of dentistry held the Friday before Valentine's Day. It was held from 7:30-4:30 on Friday, February 13, 2009.

* The event was started in Detroit and is growing with over 20 practices around the nations holding their own events on the same day. Six practices in northern states are holding the event during warmer months. Huckabee Dental encourages dentists nationwide to partake in their own Dentistry With A Heart event.

Next year's event promises to be bigger than ever. Tentative date for next years event is February 12, 2010. Dentists interested in participating please contact Huckabee Dental. For more information contact Jennifer Shaw at 817-329-4746 or visit www.dfwdental.com.

Dr Timothy Huckabee (http://www.spoke.com/info/pXs2sjy/TimothyHuckabee)

Dr Timothy Huckabee (http://www.iconocast.com/EB000000000000041/O2/News5.htm)

###

Contact Information Timothy Huckabee

http://dfwdental.com

817 329 4746

Toxic Element Research Foundation Announces Its Latest Worldwide Educational Programs for Health Professionals and Patients

Toxic Element Research Foundation Announces Its Latest Worldwide Educational Programs for Health Professionals and Patients

Toxic Elements Research Foundation (TERF), a non profit research foundation, announces its series of dental related health care reports under the title of 'Elements of Disease.'

Colorado Springs, CO (PRWEB) February 19, 2009 -- Toxic Elements Research Foundation (TERF), a non profit research foundation, announces its series of dental related health care reports under the title of 'Elements of Disease.' Toxicity, or the inadvertent poisoning of our population, is the focal point of the Toxic Element Research Foundation. For the past thirty years, TERF has funded a wide variety of research to discover the connection between dental materials and health. Its primary focus was its research on Mercury containing dental amalgam (silver) fillings and the dangers associated with it. The FDA has finally admitted many of these dangers. TERF has turned its attention to other dental materials and procedures, and is now releasing the results of this highly controversial research to the news media and general public.

This first series of reports identifies various factions of blood tests that demonstrate extremely unhealthy aspects of not only common silver mercury fillings, but introduces the role of bacterial toxins from root canals, dental implants and cavitations. A surprising expose is presented on 'cavitations', or defects in the bone where wisdom teeth were removed. Through the use of sophisticated DNA technology, identification of the especially damaging anaerobic bacteria (those who live in the absence of oxygen) that are found in root canals and cavitations has shed new light on the potential cause and advanced treatment for diseases thought to be incurable. This research confirms data discovered and presented to the American Dental Association over ninety years ago.

Examples of the diseases that have been associated with the bacterium discovered hidden within dental procedures are MS, ALS, AD, leukemia and diabetes. With proper dental treatment and recognition of these sources of toxins and their eradication, many patients can be improved, and TERF believes most could have been avoided entirely. New generations will not have these new diseases to be concerned about IF research institutions can be encouraged to explore these newly discovered avenues of their cause.

Results and correlations are provided free of charge in order to stimulate investigative type of reporters to assist the Toxic Element Research Foundation in generating awareness in the public. TERF has created a media outreach program where media writers can visit the web site - www.terftalks.com - and e-mail their choice of two topics in addition to the basic report up on root canals, the incubators. Other topics include: cavitations, the caverns of deceit; dental implants, the invitation for Alzheimer's; cholesterol, the giver of life; chronic fatigue, complexity encompassed; sodium and potassium, the butlers; albumin, the primary detoxifier; porphyrins, the origin of all energy; methyl mercury on the red cell, the biomarker of recovery; and white blood cells, our primary defense against autoimmune diseases.

About Toxic Elements Research Foundation

TERF, a non-profit research foundation, is dedicated to stimulating interest in the research community as well as informing the public to become aware of potential problems associated with dental materials and procedures. Informed consent of potential problems makes for better informed decisions by the patient - especially where health is at risk.

###

Contact Information Jamie Tolle

Toxic Element Research Foundation

http://www.terftalks.com

719-262-2978