Study: Oral appliance therapy effective on sleep apnea

Mandibular advancement splints are effective in treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, according to research presented June 11 at the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine annual meeting in Minneapolis. Clinical assessment of MAS efficacy in the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea is based predominantly on subjective reports by the patient and partner, and less commonly on the apnea hypopnea index (AHI), the average number of pauses in

Appearance a key concern for oral cancer patients

Patients’ concerns about appearance following treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancer and the impact this has on their quality of life are critical factors for practitioners to keep in mind when working with these patients, according to a study in the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (June 14, 2011). U.K. researchers used the University of Washington Quality of Life (UW-QoL) questionnaire version 4 and the Patient Concerns Inventory

Affineti gets $500K investment for oral research

Affineti Biologics has received a commitment of up to $500,000 from Foundation Venture Capital Group (FVCG) to advance its research in the development of therapeutic and diagnostic products based on new discoveries in oral biology and dental medicine. The company invested in Affineti because positive results from studies for anticaries and periodontal therapy look promising in their ability to affect plaque reduction, influencing dental hygiene and systemic medicine, noted James

Patterson grants $7,500 to AACD charity

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) Charitable Foundation was awarded a $7,500 grant from Patterson Dental’s Patterson Foundation, the AACD announced. The funding will help ensure Give Back a Smile (GBAS) patients have sufficient resources to travel to and from their GBAS dental appointments. The GBAS program helps survivors of abuse obtain dental work for broken or damaged teeth.

Glidewell launches Inclusive certified labs program

Glidewell Laboratories has introduced an Inclusive certified laboratories program, which gives dentists using Inclusive custom implant abutments or CAD/CAM bars and frameworks for their restorative implant cases a nationwide selection of labs from which to choose. Through the program, dental labs are being invited to join a network of providers who guarantee the quality and value pricing of these precision-milled implant components, according to Glidewell. When a custom implant solution

3M ESPE offers new Ketac shade

3M ESPE has introduced a new A4 shade for its Ketac nano light-curing glass ionomer restorative in the Quick Mix Capsule. The new darker shade is designed to match the cervical and root surface areas of the tooth, according to the company. With this new shade, clinicians have an aesthetic solution that works well for geriatric patients and is suitable for a wide range of indications, 3M ESPE said.

Calif. college puts dental hygiene program on hold

A new dental hygienist training program at the College of San Mateo for which a facility has already been built has been put on an indefinite hold due to lack of state funding, according to a news story in the Examiner. The college had lost too much funding by the time the building was completed last year, and now the facility will remain locked up. “When we’re cutting English classes

Syringe modification could reduce injection pain

A syringe modification, which promises reduced pain for dental injections, has won a major innovation award for its creators. The syringe cartridge works by reducing the acidity of the injection by mixing in a neutralizing liquid just before the injection is delivered. Invented by John Meechan, BDS, PhD, and his team at Newcastle University, the syringe technology won in the overall Dental and Oral Health section at the Medical Futures

SS-OCT yields high-res info on composite restorations

Swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) has the potential to provide higher-resolution information than any other diagnostic or imaging method on the structure of resin-based composite (RBC) restorations, according to a new study (Journal of Dentistry, May 27, 2011). Current diagnostic imaging modalities for resin-based composites do not possess sufficient resolution and cross-sectional tomographic imaging to detect defects of RBC restorations in real-time, according to researchers from Japan. They conducted an

IADR publishes regeneration symposium proceedings

The International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) have published the proceedings from the Tissue Injury and Pulp Regeneration symposium, held in Geneva, Switzerland, in July 2010. The symposium was organized by the IADR Pulp Biology and Regeneration Group, and the proceedings are published in Advances in Dental Research (July 2011, Vol. 23:3), an e-supplement to the Journal of Dental Research. The symposia presenters highlighted that despite the high

Consider resin composite color changes in shade selection

A study evaluating the A2 shades of various types and brands of resin composites determined that each one of them had perceptible color changes after polymerization and subsequent testing. Since those changes could cause aesthetic problems clinically, the researchers recommend taking this into account for shade selection (Journal of Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, June 2011, Vol. 23:3, pp. 179-188). The research team from Ege University in Izmir, Turkey, sought to

Heraeus protects consumers from gray-market products

Heraeus Kulzer has entered into an exclusive importation agreement with its parent company, Heraeus Kulzer GmbH, through which it officially and legally acquired the sole rights as the exclusive importer of the Heraeus Kulzer-branded dental products into North America. With this agreement, Heraeus Kulzer is taking steps to protect dentists and patients from expired, spoiled, and counterfeit dental products. The deal will give the company legal backing to prevent unauthorized