A new landmark survey of New Zealand oral health shows that Kiwi teeth have significantly improved over the past two decades. The 2009 New Zealand Oral Health Survey, released December 15 by the Ministry of Health, examines the habits and dental status of New Zealanders. It is the first comprehensive study on this scale since 1988, the government announced. The survey was conducted from February to December 2009, and consisted
Clearstep Laboratories is using Objet’s high-resolution, 3D printing systems to become more efficient in manufacturing custom-made orthodontic clear aligners on a mass scale. The Clearstep Solution is a series of clear, removable aligners designed to align the patient’s teeth. The clear aligners consist of individual parts vacuum-formed using Objet’s printed models; the production is heavily supported by Objet 3D printing systems, which help to reduce the time required for the
Biolux has filed a U.S. patent application for the use of phototherapy in orthodontics. The invention relates in particular to methods and apparatuses useful for accelerating, controlling, or improving the quality of tooth movement during orthodontic treatment. There is strong interest from the patient and orthodontist communities to decrease the overall treatment timeline for orthodontics, particularly in adult orthodontics, the company noted. The proprietary Biolux technology is noninvasive and infuses
The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Policy Center has announced the launch of its official website, www.nmcohpc.net. The site is designed to be a resource center for state policymakers and other key players in oral health policy. It will feature publications, briefs, news, and other content produced by the center and its partners, and will serve as an online forum for policymakers to discuss developing policy issues and how
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are safer than opioids for elderly patients, according to a study published in the December 13/27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. While nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) increase the risk of bleeding and other problems, the investigators found that elderly people on opioids had higher rates of fracture, cardiovascular events, hospitalizations, and death. And even though doctors have long believed that
In a study that the authors describe as lending credence to the idiom, “by the skin of your teeth,” scientists from Saarland University Hospital report that the protective shield fluoride forms on teeth is up to 100 times thinner than previously believed (Langmuir, December 21, 2010, Vol. 26:24, pp. 18750-18759). This raises questions about how fluoride really works and could lead to better ways of protecting teeth from decay, the
BonaDent is embarking on an $11 million expansion of its dental laboratory operations in Seneca County, NY, to support its need for more space and to accommodate 90 new employees and equipment. BonaDent will purchase and renovate a former Wal-Mart facility, located on a lot adjacent to its headquarters, in Seneca Falls, the company announced. A $750,000 convertible loan from the Empire State Development Upstate Regional Blueprint Fund will be
Training primary care physicians to do oral health assessments, provide preventive education, and apply fluoride varnish in very young children can ease access-to-care issues for low-income populations, according to researchers from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill (Health Affairs, December 2010, Vol. 29:12, pp. 2278-2285). At the end of the 1990s, only 16% of North Carolina dentists actively participated in Medicaid, and only one out of every
Dental assistants who are certified by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) earn more and stay in the profession longer than noncertified assistants, according to DANB’s 2010 salary survey. DANB-certified dental assistants (CDAs) who work full time (73% of respondents) reported a median salary of $18.73 per hour, which is up $0.73 from 2008, the survey found. The median salary for full- and part-time DANB CDAs is $18.50. Noncertified assistants
University of Manchester scientists have discovered for the first time an important new way in which the human papillomavirus (HPV) triggers cancer in what could lead to new treatments for cervical and oral cancer (British Journal of Cancer, December 7, 2010). HPV infection is known to increase the risk of developing cancers of the cervix and mouth, with the two high-risk forms of the virus accounting for about 70% of
A Pennsylvania malpractice suit involving an oral surgeon’s patient who suffered a massive stroke following multiple tooth extractions is expected to go to trial after testimony from two expert witnesses was deemed admissible by a federal judge. Christopher Ellison, 49 at the time, had a history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, diabetes, and obesity when he arrived at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center on September 11, 2007, to have
Smile Reminder and CareCredit have created the CareCredit Edition of Smile Reminder, designed to help practices that offer CareCredit enhance and streamline their patient communications. Smile Reminder features a range of personalized, opt-in patient communications, including text and e-mail appointment reminders, thank you notes, patient surveys, and newsletters. The CareCredit Edition of Smile Reminder enables practice teams to inform patients about their payment options, according to the companies. In addition,