DrBicuspid.com Business & Industry Insider

Dear Business & Industry Insider,

For many in the dental industry, the big news already in 2013 is the 2.3% medical device excise tax being imposed on a number of dental product providers.

While most products made by U.S. dental labs will not be subject to the tax, which took effect on January 1, sleep apnea devices, snore guards, and the materials and components used to make many other dental items will be.

Click here to read more about the tax and its potential effects on dental labs and dental practices.

Meanwhile, a Texas senator is taking the bull by the horns in the escalating debate over dental service organizations (DSOs). On December 21, Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound) introduced SB 151, which would require DSOs in Texas to register with the state dental board to help ensure that dentists working for these organizations provide care without interference from corporate management. Read more.

But the Texas Coalition of Dental Support Organizations, which includes several large DSOs, contends that these sorts of regulations are unnecessary and anticompetitive.

In merger and acquisition news, Aribex, maker of the Nomad portable x-ray device, was acquired by KaVo in November for an undisclosed sum; Ivoclar Vivadent bought Wieland Dental; the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation became the second largest stakeholder in Straumann; and Quest Diagnostics is no longer the parent company of OralDNA.

On the new product front in the Business & Industry Community, two U.S. start-ups are banking on the growing "eco-friendly" trend with toothbrushes that utilize unique materials and designs meant to help reduce the amount of plastic that goes into landfills. Click here to read more.

And a Pennsylvania start-up is developing a molecular saliva test that analyzes certain biomarkers to specifically detect oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and diabetes. The product is undergoing clinical trials and could be on the market in less than two years. Read more.

Meanwhile, with its emphasis on 100% clean, dry, oil-free air; more usable cubic feet per minute; and the ability to handle the growing number of dental devices requiring clinical air, the RAMVAC Osprey may represent a shift in compressor technology for the dental industry. Read more.

Finally, the new DEXIS go iPad app, which officially debuts this month, combines many features of the DEXIS Imaging Suite with the imaging capabilities of the iPad to enhance patient communication and chairside case presentation.