IOM issues report on U.S. oral healthcare

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has released its “Advancing Oral Health in America” report, which emphasizes the inextricable link between a person’s oral health and overall health and also includes several recommendations for improving oral healthcare in the U.S. In 2009, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) asked the IOM to assess the current oral healthcare system and recommend strategic actions for the U.S. Department of Health and Human

Alcohol consumption increases oral cancer risks

A team of European researchers who tracked about 364,000 people in eight countries found a correlation between overall cancer risk and the amount of alcohol regular drinkers consume on a daily basis (British Medical Journal, April 7, 2011). France, Italy, Spain, the U.K., the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, and Denmark participated in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study, which tracked 109,118 men and 254,870 women, mainly ages

Heraeus newsletter includes free CE, business tips

Heraeus has launched 360, an online newsletter for dental and laboratory professionals, and is offering a free Apple iPad as an incentive for subscribers. Each month, the newsletter will deliver maximum information in brief snapshots of valuable news covering a variety of resources, according to the company. Some of the newsletter’s features: Free continuing education (CE), including access to more than 40 webinars Clinical tips Product techniques and video tutorials

Plain cigarette packs may deter new smokers

Plain cigarette packaging could help prevent people taking up the habit but would have little effect on those who already smoke on a daily basis, according to new research from the UK Centre for Tobacco Studies (UKCTCS), which is based at the universities of Bristol and Bath (Addiction, April 11, 2011). The researchers used eye-tracking technology to monitor the eye movements of nonsmokers, light smokers, and daily smokers who were

Coroner: Ohio dental patient’s death was accidental

The Cuyahoga County coroner in Ohio has ruled that a 13-year-old girl’s death in January — two weeks after she had two teeth extracted — was accidental, according to a story in Chronicle-Telegram. On December 21, Marissa Kingery went to oral surgeon Henry Mazorow, DDS, and was given intravenous sedation in preparation for the surgery, according to the coroner’s report. She was given a combination of propofol, ketamine, remifentanil, and

Milestone Scientific revenues up, losses down in 2010

Milestone Scientific reported revenues of $9.75 million for 2010 (end-December 31, 2010), up 14% from $8.55 million in the previous year. Sales in the U.S. decreased 16% from $5.28 million to $4.53 million, while international sales increased 65% from $3.17 million to $5.22 million. Net loss for the year decreased to $615,000, compared with a net loss of $1.5 million for 2009. “2010 can be classified as a defining year

Less talk may improve the informed consent process

A detailed informed consent process is important before the start of any orthodontic treatment, but a study presented at the recent International Association for Dental Research (IADR) conference in San Diego found that reducing the volume of information can actually increase efficiency. Previous research on orthodontic informed consent found low patient/parent recall and comprehension of treatment risks and expectations, noted the study authors. The current research was a follow-up to

Officials want task force to investigate Dayton VA

Two U.S. congressmen are urging the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a dedicated task force to investigate issues surrounding misconduct at the Dayton VA Medical Center in Ohio. In a letter sent April 7 to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) call on the VA to establish the dedicated task force following reports of two patients who tested positive

Biodental Remin, Red Seal partner on dental products

Biodental Remin is entering into a joint venture partnership with Red Seal Natural Health to manufacture and distribute dental and oral hygiene products using Biodental Remin’s tooth remineralizing technology in Australia and New Zealand. Red Seal received an early sample of the remineralizing powder and used it to make a trial batch of 5% active toothpaste. The reaction to the trial material from their dental and consumer evaluation panels was

FDA OKs new drug to treat thyroid cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved vandetanib to treat adult patients with late-stage medullary thyroid cancer who are ineligible for surgery and whose disease is growing or causing symptoms. Medullary thyroid cancer involves specific types of cells that are found in the thyroid gland and can occur spontaneously or be part of a genetic syndrome. Medullary thyroid cancer is estimated to represent 3% to 5% of all

Lactic-acid bacteria may protect against HPV, HNSCC

Lactic-acid bacteria in plaque can cause caries, but in saliva these same bacteria appear to protect against human papillomavirus (HPV) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), according to research presented at the recent International Association for Dental Research (IADR) meeting in San Diego. The study, conducted by Mine Tezal, DDS, PhD, an assistant professor of oral diagnostic sciences at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, tested

Penn. attorney general sues Allcare

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Health Care Section has filed suit against Allcare Dental & Dentures and three top company officials, accusing them of numerous violations of Pennsylvania’s consumer protection and credit laws leading up to the company’s sudden closure in January of this year. In addition to the company and several affiliated companies, the lawsuit names Allcare President Robert S. Bates, DDS; CEO David T. Pennington; and Stephen A. Reny,