Black raspberries fuel new oral cancer drug

Regulatory Affairs Associates (RAA) has signed a contract with Ohio State University to manufacture clinical supplies for a new drug designed to prevent oral cancer. The topical gel formulation uses anthocyanins obtained from black raspberries as the active component. Anthocyanins are promising cancer-preventing agents due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. After harvesting black raspberries, the cancer-preventing compounds in the fruit are concentrated and freeze dried. Laboratory experiments and pilot

Amount of fluoride in toothpaste key to preventing caries

Parents should use toothpastes that contain fluoride with a minimum concentration of 1,000 parts per million (ppm) to prevent tooth decay in their children, according to a study conducted by the Cochrane Oral Health Group (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, January 2010, Issue 1, Art. CD007868). The study, which involved 79 trials on 73,000 children worldwide, examined the effect of different children’s toothpastes and found that those with fluoride concentrations

New program aims to assist female denture wearers

Procter & Gamble’s Fixodent has launched a online network targeted at female denture wearers to give them a team of experts to confide in and boost their self-confidence. The Fixodent Circle of Confidence provides new denture wearers expert tips and answers to a variety of questions, such as “How will dentures affect the way I eat?” and “What beauty products will help me best accentuate my new smile?” Fixodent recently

Study: Swedish adolescents have poor oral hygiene

Seven out of eight adolescents in Sweden have unacceptable oral hygiene, increasing the risk of future dental problems, according to a new study from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg (Swedish Dental Journal, 2009, Vol. 33, pp.131-140). The study examined 500 randomly selected adolescents from Västra Götaland (Fyrbodal and Skaraborg). “On average, these adolescents had plaque on half of all tooth surfaces, which is certainly too much,” said

ClearCorrect offers Yankee Dental promotion

ClearCorrect will be running a special promotion at the Yankee Dental conference (January 28-30) in which newly registered ClearCorrect dentists receive 50% off their first case after attending a full-day, CE-accredited workshop February 13 at The Marriott Courtyard Boston Logan Airport. “We’re kicking off 2010 at Yankee to introduce the ClearCorrect transparent aligner system to New England dentists looking for an affordable, clear alternative to braces without annual case submission

NH dentists want MDs’ help

Pediatricians should offer more dental services and communities should fluoridate their water, the New Hampshire Dental Society is arguing in a new report, according to the Boston Globe. A recent survey found that 12% of New Hampshire third graders have untreated caries. The society is supporting a proposed state commission that would look for ways to get pediatricians and family doctors to evaluate young patients’ oral health, apply fluoride varnish,

FDA issues new bisphenol cautions

The FDA is cautioning consumers to reduce their exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), but the U.S. regulatory agency has said nothing about dental materials containing the substance. Last year, an FDA report downplayed risks from the common plastic ingredient. But last week the agency issued a statement saying that new studies identified by the National Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health have raised cause for concern. The new

Lawsuits question Cavitron safety

A California appeals court has allowed a class-action lawsuit against Dentsply International that alleges dentists who purchased the company’s popular Cavitron ultrasonic scaler were harmed because the device is hazardous for procedures that involve open surgery. In addition to the California litigation, attorneys have filed separate class-action suits in federal and state courts in Pennsylvania seeking to prove that Cavitron is unsafe even for routine scaling if it uses a

Thai authorities warn against ‘fashion braces’ trend

Braces may be an U.S. teenager’s nightmare, but in Thailand they are considered a fashion accessory among teens, according to a story in the Global Post. But there is a deadly side to the so-called “fashion braces” that are so popular with Thai girls. Teens who can’t afford to go to a real dentist for these braces will often get them put on in flea markets and living rooms by

Komet supports breast cancer research

Komet USA is supporting breast cancer research in the U.S. by selling new pink aluminum bur blocks with a ribbon laser-etched on the lid in 2010. For each sale, Komet will donate 10% of the retail price to fund breast cancer research. The Pink Bur Block (LD0330) can hold four instruments (burs not included), according to a press release. The Pink Bur Blocks will be sold throughout 2010, and the

Study links oral health with head and neck cancer risk

New research out of the University of North Carolina (UNC) supports the growing body of evidence linking oral health and periodontal disease with increased risk of squamous cell head and neck cancer (Cancer Causes and Control, published online January 5, 2010). Kimon Divaris, D.D.S., and colleagues looked at data from the Carolina Head and Neck Cancer (CHANCE) study, the largest population-based case-control study of its kind to date in the

Nobel Biocare partners with Ivoclar on CAD/CAM materials

Nobel Biocare is partnering with Ivoclar Vivadent to expand its line of restorative and prosthetic products, the companies announced in a press release. Ivoclar Vivadent will supply Nobel Biocare with ceramic and acrylic materials that the company will use to launch “better veneering solutions, cost-effective treatment options, and complete solutions for edentulous indications.” The agreement is part of a “preferred partner program” Nobel Biocare has initiated with some dental material