Winter Review covers lead in crowns, dental lab communications

The Winter issue of the ADA Professional Product Review features a special report addressing concerns about lead in dental crown materials.

Earlier this year, the ADA began a scientific investigation to determine the extent and potential risk, if any, of lead in crowns produced by domestic or foreign dental laboratories. The issue includes laboratory analysis from the ADA Division of Science and the ADA Foundation Paffenbarger Research Center, which examined both finished crowns produced by randomly selected domestic and foreign dental laboratories as well as porcelain powders obtained from standard commercial sources.

The Winter Review also discusses denture base polymers and denture reline materials and an expert panel on “Communicating with Your Lab: Components for Success” and also unveils the publication’s new sleeker design.

“We have big plans for the Review in 2009, starting with a major redesign to make the newsletter more attractive and easier to read,” said editor Dr. David Sarrett.

The Review, which mails quarterly with JADA, is designed to help dentists with product selection for their practices by giving them unbiased, scientifically sound and clinically relevant information.

Dentists “value expert opinions, lab data, peer input, comparative pricing information and hands-on workshops,” Dr. Sarrett said.

Product selection for the Review is also based on input from members of the ADA Clinical Evaluator Panel. The ACE Panel comprises more than 2,500 volunteer member dentists who participate a few hours each month by responding to product evaluation surveys.

For more information about the Review, visit www.ada.org/goto/ppr or call the ADA toll free at Ext. 3528.聽