New VALO X broadband curing light

TUltradent Products, Inc. has launched the newest edition of its multi-awardwinning VALO™ curing light - the completely redesigned VALO™ X broadband LED curing light. As Ultradent’s most innovative curing light yet, the VALO X offers the ultimate in engineering and design when it comes to every aspect of the light—including durability, power, accessibility and versatility. Thanks to its larger 12.5 mm lens and new powerful custom LED chip, the VALO X curing light offers a more complete cure than ever before. Its superior features allow clinicians to cure with confidence and not have to question the capabilities of their light. This includes improved curing depth, beam collimation and thermal management. The VALO X comes equipped with two power modes (Standard Power and Xtra Power), two diagnostic light modes (black light and white light), as well as the ability to work corded or cordless. VALO X is milled from a single bar of aerospace-grade aluminum. Available from Dentavision on 1800-806-640 or Henry Schein on 1300-658-822. For more info, see www.ultradent.com

5 ways to use Instagram to grow your practice

Social media has become an important tool for practices to reach out to their target audience and connect with potential customers. Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms and it can be a powerful marketing tool for dentists who want to increase their online presence and attract new patients.

Here are five ways dentists can best use Instagram...

Common mouthrinses reduce COVID-19 viral load in saliva

Share high-quality photos and videos. Instagram is a visual medium, so it’s crucial to share high-quality photos and videos that showcase your practice and services. Take pictures of your office, staff and patients to create a personal connection with your followers. You can also post before-and-after photos of dental procedures to demonstrate your expertise - as the saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words.

Use relevant hashtags. Hashtags are an excellent way to increase your reach and attract new followers. Use relevant hashtags such as #dentist, #dentalhealth, #smilemakeover and #teethwhitening to reach people who are interested in dental health and procedures.

Engage with your followers. Engagement is crucial on Instagram. Respond to comments and messages prom-ptly and make sure to like and comment on your followers’ posts. You can also ask your followers to tag your practice in their posts or share their photos on your account.

Show your personality. Instagram is a social platform, so it’s essential to show your personality and let your followers get to know you. Share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, post stories about your hobbies, social events and interests and showcase your staff’s personalities.

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Promote specials and promotions. Use Instagram to promote specials and promotions to your followers. You can create custom graphics and posts that highlight your offers and encourage people to book appointments or visit your practice. Rather than offering discounts, consider bundling items such as free whitening with braces.

By Angus Pryor... more at dentalmarketingsolutions.com.au

Soon after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, preprocedural mouthwashes were recommended in Australia, Europe and the USA for temporarily reducing the intraoral viral load and infectivity of individuals potentially infected with SARS-CoV-2 in order to protect staff. Several mouthrinses have shown virucidal effects against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. This randomised controlled clinical trial investigated the efficacy of commercially available mouthwashes containing cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) at 0.05% each, compared to a placebo mouthwash (0.9% NaCl) in 61 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients who had onset of symptoms within the last 72 hours. Oropharyngeal samples were taken at baseline and then patients gargled for 60 seconds with 20 mL of the test or placebo mouthwash. After 30 mins, further oropharyngeal samples were collected. Viral loads were analysed by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and infectivity of oropharyngeal specimens was analysed by cell culture and quantified as tissue culture infectious doses 50% (TCID50). Viral load significantly decreased upon gargling in the test groups (P = 0.0435) but not in the placebo group. Viral infectivity as measured by TCID50 also significantly decreased in the test groups (P = 0.0313). Furthermore, it was found that the samples from patients who had received a vaccine booster exhibited significantly lower infectivity at baseline as compared to those without a vaccine booster (P = 0.0231). Overall, this study indicates that preprocedural mouthwashes containing CPC and CHX can significantly reduce the viral load and infectivity in SARS-CoV-2–positive patients. Further studies are needed to investigate whether the observed reductions in viral load and infectivity translate into clinically useful effects in reducing COVID-19 transmission in the dental workplace.

Bonn EL, et al. Efficacy of a mouthwash containing CHX and CPC in SARS-CoV-2–positive patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial.J Dent Res. 2023;0(0). doi:10.1177/00220345231156415.

By Tabitha Acret