Two U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panels will meet this week to review the potential risks associated with long-term use of bisphosphonate medications such as Fosamax and to determine whether these drugs are safe and effective when used longer than three to five years, according to a story in the New York Times. Bisphosphonate drugs such as Fosamax and Zometa have been used for more than 15 years
Chemical luminescence can aid in the visualization of oral leukoplakias, according to a study in the Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine (August 2011, Vol. 40:7, pp. 541-544). Following oral examinations, researchers from King’s College London Dental Institute evaluated the accuracy of chemiluminescence in detecting oral potentially malignant disorders using a commercially available detection kit (ViziLite, Zila). Data derived were compared in relation to conventional oral examination and surgical biopsy.
Adult Medicaid dental services in North Carolina will be reduced as part of Medicaid cutbacks that take effect in October, according to a story in the Charlotte Observer. North Carolina legislators approved $354 million in Medicaid cuts proposed by Gov. Bev Perdue in the latest state budget. Under the new budget, the state will limit deep cleaning dental treatments for people on Medicaid who have periodontal disease to once every
Great Expressions Dental Centers (GEDC) will award free orthodontic braces to one student or family in each of two Michigan school districts this fall as part of its participation in the Michigan Unite program. The program is designed to help maintain a quality education for students by offering school districts supplemental revenue in response to state funding cuts. GEDC is partnering with the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, Dearborn Heights School District
Researchers at the Ohio State University (OSU) and the University of Michigan have developed a medicated oral patch that allows a chemoprevention drug to release directly into precancerous lesions in the mouth over an extended time. In a study in Pharmaceutical Research (June 15, 2011), the researchers evaluated the drug fenretinide, a synthetic derivative of vitamin A that has anticancer properties. Until now, scientists have failed to achieve a therapeutic,
SafeLink Consulting’s new UQ System is a cloud-based application that helps dental labs and dental practices implement and manage quality systems and safety programs online. UQ increases audit efficiency, reduces paper, controls documents, and links policies, procedures and forms, according to the company. Regulatory updates are automatic, and no new hardware or software is required. According to SafeLink, UQ can help save time and money for a lab or practice
In response to reports of potential Medicaid overbilling, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is taking several steps to strengthen the authorization process for orthodontic braces while still ensuring that children on Medicaid are able to get all medically necessary services. “Texas has done a good job of increasing access to dental care, and we want to continue the momentum in that area,” stated Texas Health and Human
As it rolls out clinical recommendations, the ADA is on a mission to guide general dentists to a decision-making process that combines the doctor’s experience and the patient’s preference with scientific evidence. After a 2008 expert panel and an extensive scientific evidence review concluded that the placement of sealants could prevent the progression of noncavitated carious lesions (NCCLs) in children and young adults’ secondary teeth, the ADA adopted the treatment
People with severe mental illnesses are more than three times more likely to lose their teeth because of poor oral health than the general population, according to a new study in the British Journal of Psychiatry (September 2011, Vol. 199:3, pp. 187-193). Researchers from the University of Queensland analyzed 14 studies about the oral health of people with severe mental illness published over the past 20 years. All the psychiatric
The list of systemic conditions influenced by periodontal disease appears to be growing longer every day. Now a new study has found an association between respiratory disease and periodontal disease (Journal of Periodontology, August 2011, Vol. 82:8, pp. 1155-1160). Respiratory infections, such as pneumonia and the exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, involve the aspiration of bacteria from the oropharynx into the lower respiratory tract, the study authors noted. If
Dentsply International has completed its acquisition of Astra Tech, a provider of dental implants, customized implant abutments, and urology and surgery products, from AstraZeneca. Dentsply anticipates this transaction will add approximately $200 million to the company’s net sales in 2011 and $600 million on an annualized basis.
Periowave Dental Technologies has appointed Michelle Janke as its national sales director for Canada. Janke’s appointment is a key element of Periowave’s commercialization strategy for its Periowave photodisinfection system, according to the company. She has 15 years of sales, sales management, and marketing experience in healthcare fields. The Periowave photodisinfection system is a nonsurgical, nonantibiotic treatment for periodontitis, endodontics, peri-implant disease, and other oral infections, the company noted.