4th Fosamax ONJ lawsuit going to trial

Another lawsuit against Merck alleging that its Fosamax bisphosphonate drug causes osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) will go to court beginning May 9, 2011, according to a story on aboutlawsuits.com. The plaintiff, Carolyn Hester, 75, of Florida claims she was prescribed Fosamax in 1999 and subsequently developed ONJ, leading to “severe and permanent injury” and “life-long complications.” U.S. District Judge John Keenan is presiding over pretrial litigation for the federal

W.Va. puts dental clinics in grade schools

The bleak picture of oral health in West Virginia painted by the 2000 U.S. surgeon general’s report on oral health hit state lawmakers and health providers hard. At 47.9%, West Virginia had the worst rate of endentulousness of adults older than age 65 of any state, while 33% of 15-year-olds had untreated caries, compared with the national average of 20%. In recent years, the state has seen improvements. Using data

Study to examine link between obesity and oral health

Rodney Haring, PhD, LMSW, a research assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine at the University of Arizona (UA) College of Medicine, has received a $75,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to study the best ways to prevent obesity and promote good oral hygiene in Native American youth. Haring will conduct a two-year meta-analysis on the links between obesity and poor oral health. Both are

Mo. college to offer online dental assisting courses

Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield, MO, will begin offering a hybrid dental assisting program in the spring of 2011, according to a story in the Springfield News-Leader. The program is initially being funded by a Training for Tomorrow grant, an initiative launched by Gov. Jay Nixon to help Missouri community colleges create or expand training programs in high-tech fields. The program will allow students to take classes online during

Komet carbide bur indicated for ortho debonding

Field reports on the clinical applications of Komet USA Q-Finisher carbide burs indicate the instrument demonstrates outstanding performance when employed for orthodontic debonding procedures, the company announced. Originally engineered and designed to simplify and enhance the efficient trimming and finishing of composite restorations, the Komet Q-Finisher bur incorporates a unique cross-cut that delivers optimal operator accuracy, operative efficiency, and patient comfort, according to the company. For orthodontic debonding, the Komet

CDC report ranks states’ oral health

A report released December 10 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows West Virginia has the highest prevalence of tooth extractions and certain chronic diseases and risk factors, according to a story in the Charleston Daily Mail. Researchers analyzed numerous chronic disease statistics from 2008 in the U.S., Guam, and Puerto Rico, as well as select counties or cities, and found that West Virginia had the

U.S. FDA to re-examine metal dental fillings

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. health regulators are seeking a second opinion on whether mercury-containing dental fillings pose a risk to dental patients, especially children and pregnant women. Food and Drug Administration officials said that while there are no new scientific findings on such silver-colored cavity fillings, it wants feedback on methods it used to weigh available data and decide last year that the metal alloy is safe. In documents released

Molecular sensor detects fluoride levels in water

A Florida State University (FSU) researcher has developed a molecular sensor that changes color when a sample containing fluoride is added to it (Journal of the American Chemical Society, November 29, 2010). “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends that 1 part per million (ppm) of fluoride ions is acceptable in drinking water, but above 2 ppm is considered a serious health risk,” said Sourav Saha, PhD, an assistant professor in

New Zealand seeks warnings on teeth whiteners

The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) of New Zealand is seeking comments on proposed changes to the rules on the use of hydrogen peroxide as a teeth whitener. Dental products are regulated by ERMA under Dental Products Group Standards. The Dental Council of New Zealand and the Ministry of Heath have requested amendments to two of the group standards concerning use of hydrogen peroxide as a dental whitener. ERMA New

Align Technology to fund international clear aligner research

Align Technology has expanded its funding of the Clear Aligner Research Award Program to include international research to further the development of clear aligners for the treatment of malocclusion worldwide, the company announced. Launched initially in 2009 for North America, the program is designed to promote clinical and scientific research in clear aligner therapy. For 2011, $50,000 is now being made available for scientific research funding to international applicants, in

Ladybug Tekno steam cleaner a dental disinfectant option

The Ladybug Tekno 2350 steam cleaner is scientifically proven to produce better results than traditional disinfectants, according to 1-800-Go-Vapor.com. The Tekno 2350 steamer uses the minerals in ordinary tap water to generate high-temperature dry steam for cleaning and killing biofilms without chemicals that harm human health and the environment, the company said. “When the Tekno is turned on, the water and minerals pass through the boiler, where the heat converts

Cadbury launches Trident gum with vitamin C, ginseng, tea

Cadbury has expanded its family of Trident sugar-free chewing gums with Trident Vitality, which comes in three new flavors: Vigorate: Citrus and strawberry with vitamin C Rejuve: A blend of mint and white tea Awaken: Peppermint with a dash of ginseng “Based on research, we found that many consumers were looking for unique new flavors that fit with their wellness lifestyle,” said Kelly Bivens, brand manager for Trident, in a