Evidence-based dentistry not just for dentists

Evidence-based dentistry is not a new concept. But over the years it has more often been associated with general dentists and specialists than the rest of the dental team. With the advent of lightning-quick access to information and the growing emphasis on preventive care and the oral-systemic link, however, hygienists and dental assistants are being called upon to adopt evidence-based decision-making into their daily clinical practice as well. “What we

Bioluminescence can rapidly assess caries risk

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-driven bioluminescence — a way of measuring visible light generated from ATP contained in bacteria — can be used chairside to rapidly assess the number of oral bacteria and amount of plaque in patients, report researchers at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) School of Dentistry (Pediatric Dentistry, May/June 2010, Vol. 32:3, pp. 195-204). The goal of the OHSU study was to examine the use of microbiological

Shock Doctor offers custom mouthguard

Shock Doctor has introduced the Shock Doctor custom mouthguard, which it is distributing through sporting goods retail stores. After purchasing a Shock Doctor custom mouthguard kit at a sporting goods retailer or online at the company’s website, the consumer creates a custom mold at home and sends it to the Shock Doctor Dental Lab. The consumer then receives his or her custom mouthguard in about two weeks. The interactive online

Kettenbach now on Facebook, Twitter

Kettenbach has joined the social media movement. Users of Facebook and Twitter can now follow Kettenbach on the sites, where the company will offer current and potential customers the latest information on new products, company news, and sale offers. “It’s undeniable that the world of social media can have a dramatic impact on marketing,” said Yovana Patino, product manager for Kettenbach, in a press release. “We are excited about this

Baby teeth decay may be linked to obesity

A preliminary University at Buffalo study of young children undergoing treatment for cavities in their baby teeth found that nearly 28% had a body mass index (BMI) above the 85th percentile, indicating overweight or obesity. The findings are being presented at the Endocrine Society annual meeting in San Diego, June 19-22. The study involved 65 children ages 2-5 who were treated in the operating room at the University at Buffalo

Louisiana bill threatens dental board

A bill passed June 21 by the Louisiana Legislature threatens the State Board of Dentistry with dismissal if it does not finalize rules regulating mobile dentistry by the end of the year. The bill, which passed unanimously in both chambers of the Legislature, now goes to Gov. Bobby Jindal. A June 18 conference committee meeting restored to the bill the threat of dismissal, which the Senate had stripped from it

AAPD wins award for dental home initiative

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) has received an Award of Excellence in the 2010 Associations Advance America Awards program. AAPD received the award for its AAPD Head Start Dental Home Initiative in which the AAPD and Head Start are partnering at national, regional, state, and local levels to establish dental homes for approximately 1 million children. The initiative, which is in its third year of a five-year contract,

Popsicles ease kids’ discomfort after treatment with anesthesia

Licking an unsweetened popsicle after dental treatment with local anesthesia reduces the feeling of discomfort and the biting of soft tissue and self-mutilation for pediatric patients, according a study in the International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry (June 2, 2010). Researchers from the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine assessed whether an unsweetened popsicle imparts a positive feeling to children and reduces their tendency to bite the lip, cheek, or tongue

RTI Biologics names new execs

RTI Biologics has implemented several organizational and leadership changes as part of a companywide initiative to optimize operations, improve cost effectiveness, and provide superior customer service, the company announced. Effective immediately, the following key changes in RTI’s leadership structure have taken place: Robert Jordheim has joined the company as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Thomas F. Rose, executive vice president, has transitioned from the role of chief financial

Resin infiltration effective in clinical trials

You know how to handle a frank cavity and what to do with a healthy tooth. But what about the many lesions that fall in between? A brace of new studies on resin infiltration suggests it can successfully treat lesions that are too small to restore but too big to ignore. The evidence, including studies to be presented at next month’s International Association for Dental Research (IADR) meeting in Barcelona,

Dental outreach programs begin in Africa, Asia

Work the World Dental Outreach 2010 has launched oral health education and outreach programs in Ghana, India, Nepal, and Tanzania. Through these programs, dental students from all over the world will work with in-country dental hospitals to set up temporary clinics offering screening, treatment, and oral hygiene workshops to resource-poor areas, the organization announced. Run as a nonprofit venture, the clinical student programs run two-week intensive screening sessions, offering free

NY considers warning label for baby bottles, sippy cups

A bill in the New York Legislature would require that baby bottles and sippy cups come with labels warning that overuse can cause caries. The warning would read: Warning: Allowing your child to spend prolonged periods of time drinking liquids, other than water, from this baby bottle or sippy cup (whichever is applicable to the product upon which the label will be placed) may cause early childhood tooth decay. Manufacturers