U.K. clinic launches campaign to prevent unnecessary tooth removal

The Harley Street Centre for Endodontics in London has launched the Saving Teeth Awareness Campaign for consumers, the clinic announced. Recent figures for the U.K. National Health Service (NHS) show that 2 million teeth were removed last year, but only approximately half a million root treatments were undertaken, according to the clinic. The campaign’s key messages are: Saving a tooth is, where possible, better for oral health. A well root-treated

Denture cream study purposely delayed? And, new file streamlines root canals

Dear DrBicuspid Member, A 2008 study that suggested a link between the overuse of zinc-based denture cream and the development of neurologic abnormalities is stirring up new controversy. One of the reviewers of that study, published in Neurology, failed to disclose his relationship as a paid consultant for Procter & Gamble, the manufacturer of Fixodent — an omission that ABC News claims led to the study being delayed and its

Self-adjusting file cleans, shapes, irrigates canal

An endodontic technology system called the Self-Adjusting File (SAF), developed by ReDent Nova and distributed by Henry Schein Dental through its Endovations group, offers a unique approach to root canal therapy that allows clinicians to use a single instrument instead of an array of hand files to simultaneously clean, shape, and irrigate the canal. “It’s like an accordion that can expand or contract according to the shape of the canal,”

Delcam to debut new implant system at IDS

Delcam will launch a complete open system for the design and manufacture of dental implant restorations at the International Dental Show (IDS) in Cologne, Germany, March 22-26. Delcam is the only company able to offer a complete solution, from accurately capturing the implant position and orientation, through to the high-precision, multiaxis milling of customized abutments, implant bridges and dental bars, with a management system to track every stage of the

Ameritas helps fund oral cancer research at UNC

Ameritas Group, a division of Ameritas Life Insurance, has made a $250,000 gift commitment to the University of Nebraska Foundation to establish a permanent endowment in support of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Dentistry. The fund will provide annual support for research focused on preventing, detecting, and treating oral cancer. “We’re delighted to accept this generous support, which will significantly strengthen our developing oral cancer research

Dental Assistants Recognition Week honors productivity

March 6-12, 2011, is Dental Assistants Recognition Week, a joint effort of the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA), the ADA, the Canadian Dental Assistants Association, and the Canadian Dental Association. The theme for this year’s Dental Assistants Recognition Week is “Key to Productivity: The Professional Dental Assistant” — time for dental assistants to receive greater recognition for their own unique and diverse contributions to the dental profession and the dental

Is tooth decay linked to preterm births?

Recent studies have sought to establish a correlation between periodontal health and the risk of preterm birth, with mixed results. Now a new study in Acta Odontologia Scandinavica considers whether there is an association between maternal dental caries and preterm birth, with a particular focus on the infection-suspected causes of preterm births (March 7, 2011). A secondary analysis was performed on data from the EPIPAP study, a French multicenter case-control

2 dental nonprofits decide not to merge

The board of directors of Operation Smile and the board of directors of Smile Train have both voted to discontinue their proposed merger, the organizations announced. “We have thoughtfully and carefully pursued combining our two organizations with the goal of treating more children in more countries around the world,” said William Fox, chairman of the board of Operation Smile, in a press release. “Due to controversy surrounding the proposed merger,

HPV-related oral cancer rate rising among white men

While the incidence of oropharyngeal cancer among some ethnic groups in the U.S. have declined, rates of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oral cancer among white men have risen dramatically, according to research conducted by RTI International (Cancer Causes & Control, March 5, 2011). RTI researchers used surveillance, epidemiology, and end results program data for 58,204 cases diagnosed between 1977 and 2007 to evaluate oral cavity/pharyngeal cancer (OCPC) trends that may reflect

Sikes Dental acquires Dentatrust

Sikes Dental has acquired Dentatrust dental labs, both located in Charlotte, NC. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, according to a Sikes press release. Dentatrust founders Tom Nieting and Norbert Ulmer have agreed to consult with Sikes Dental Studios temporarily to ensure a smooth transition for their staff and dental customers.

Tongue cancer increasing in young, white women

The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue in young white women in the U.S. has risen steadily over the last three decades, according to a new study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (March 7, 2011). A team of researchers from the University of North Carolina (UNC) Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database and found that,

Maine hygienist honored by Crest Oral-B

Mary Lynne Murray-Ryder, RDH, of Hermon, ME, is the third U.S. hygienist to win the Crest Oral-B Pros in the Profession award, a program created to honor registered dental hygienists who go above and beyond the call of duty. A champion for dental hygiene, Murray-Ryder has improved the lives of others both inside and outside the office, Crest Oral-B noted. In addition to her 31 years of experience as a