Do Medicaid kids get fewer restorations?

More children on Michigan’s Healthy Kids Dental (HKD) program received amalgam and composite restorations than children enrolled in Medicaid, according to a study presented at the International Association for Dental Research meeting last month. Researchers from the University of Michigan investigated whether Medicaid-eligible children in Michigan receive different levels of dental care under Medicaid versus Healthy Kids Dental programs. HKD is administered by Delta Dental of Michigan with compensation near

Facebook fundraiser to benefit cleft charity

Dr. Fresh, maker of the FireFly children’s light-up timer toothbrush, has launched a Facebook fundraising initiative to raise awareness and funds for Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft charity. The company is donating $1 for every new “Like” on FireFly’s Facebook page, up to $2,500, to Smile Train. “Cleft surgery is a low-cost, high-impact intervention with dramatic, immediate, and permanent results. It is largely taken for granted in the U.S.

Breath test IDs head and neck cancer

An electronic nose developed in Israel can distinguish between molecules found in the breath of patients with head and neck cancer and those of healthy people, according to initial research published in the British Journal of Cancer (April 20, 2011). Researchers from Technion – Israel Institute of Technology collected breath samples from 82 people in three groups: patients with head and neck cancer, lung cancer patients, and healthy people. The

Photodynamic therapy effective on advanced tongue cancer

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) can aid in the treatment of advanced and recurrent tongue base carcinoma, according to a study in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine (April 2011, Vol. 43:4, pp. 283-92). Researchers from the University College London Eastman Dental Institute and Medical School evaluated the outcome of ultrasound-guided interstitial PDT in 21 patients with stage IV tongue base carcinoma. Patients’ reports on quality of life with clinical and radiological evaluation

5 states battle over dental therapist legislation

Since the W.K. Kellogg Foundation announced its $16 million dental therapist project late last year, grassroots coalitions have been pushing forward with efforts to develop midlevel provider programs in five U.S. states. Even in the face of staunch opposition from organized dentistry, including the ADA and a host of state-level dental groups, advocates insist that the dental auxiliary model would answer a need for oral health services for millions of

Spear Education courses to feature Heraeus products

Heraeus and Spear Education have formed a new collaboration whereby Heraeus will support Spear’s hands-on workshops with products, including Venus low-stress composites, Gluma densensitizers, Flexitime impressions systems, and iBond bonding solutions. Spear Education’s students will be the main beneficiaries of the collaboration, the companies said. Spear Education’s courses are held at the Scottsdale Center for Dentistry in Arizona.

Study shows how people view faces with cleft palate

Given the impact of physical attractiveness on social communication, it is not surprising that individuals with a cleft lip and palate have experienced social isolation and poor self-esteem. But how people really see faces affected by this anomaly has not been studied, according to a study in the Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Journal (March 2011, Vol. 48:2, pp. 210-216). A team of international researchers used an eye-tracking camera to analyze eye movements

Cosmedent makes $145K product donation to NCOHF

Cosmedent has made three product donations to the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF) to help deliver dental materials that will be used by 21 nonprofit affiliates, the organization announced. The donations of Renamel Nano, Flowable Microfill, and Renamel Microhybrid total more than $145,000 and will benefit oral health programs for at-risk children, NCOHF said.

Chemotherapy enhances oral cancer survival rates

The development of new chemotherapy agents, new combinations of agents, and changes in the relative timing of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy treatments may potentially bring about increases in both survival and quality of life for patients suffering from oral and oropharyngeal cancers, according to a new study in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (April 13, 2011). Treatment of oral cavity cancer is generally surgery followed by radiotherapy, whereas oropharyngeal

Amalgam foes want mandatory separators in Calif.

A group of California dental professionals is asking California Gov. Jerry Brown to require dental facilities to install amalgam separators. The group, Californians for Green Dentistry, includes 18 dentists and three hygienists. On April 18 the group is sending a letter to Gov. Brown asking him to have California’s Environmental Protection Agency require all general dental offices and clinics to install amalgam separators, “the most basic step in reducing dental

Periodontists believe they should facilitate smoking cessation

Do you consider it your responsibility to help your patients quit smoking? If you answered yes, then you are in good company. A recent study that surveyed 231 periodontists found 92% believe that tobacco-cessation interventions are a responsibility of the dental profession (Journal of Periodontology, March 2011, Vol. 82:3, pp. 367-376). Tobacco use and dependence is an oral health problem and has a great impact on the development and progression

Canadian firm develops biodegradable toothbrushes, flossers

Clean Idea has introduced EcoBrushes and EcoFlossers, biodegradable toothbrushes and flossers made from corn, wheat, tapioca, and potatoes that are designed to decompose into organic material. EcoMirrors, mirrors with biodegradable handles for dentists, also are available, the company said. The handles of all of the company’s dental products are made with a patented 100% compostable bioresin that meets international standards for bioplastics and compostability established by the Biodegradable Products Institute,