A new report submitted by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) this month to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that mercury from dental amalgam restorations is putting millions of Americans at risk. According to the report, 67.2 million Americans are estimated to exceed the reference exposure level (REL) of 0.3 µg/m3 established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1995. If the more protective
A study published in the Cleft Palate—Craniofacial Journal has found little difference between mothers who were given a prenatal diagnosis of cleft lip and palate for their child and those who discovered the problem at birth (September 2010, Vol. 47:5, pp. 476-481). The authors conducted interviews with 235 mothers of children ages 2 to 7 years with orofacial clefts. Of these children, 46% had been identified prenatally with cleft lip
Next time you are torn between recommending in-office or at-home teeth whitening for your patients, consider this: A new study has found that both techniques produce satisfactory and long-lasting bleaching results (Journal of the American Dental Association, November 2010, Vol. 141:11, pp. 1357-1364). This is the latest in a number of studies that have found that both techniques yield similar outcomes. Earlier this year, researchers reported from the International Association
Septodont has donated more than $10,000 in dental products to support oral health program affiliates of the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF), the company announced. Four NCOHF affiliates — Wilkes Public Health Dental Clinic, Central Community College, Indiana University School of Dentistry, and Community Health Centers of Arkansas — received a donation of Octocaine 50 anesthetic and needles that will help provide critical oral health services for children in
Hu-Friedy has introduced its Hand Essentials line of hand care products, designed to provide dental professionals with medical-grade products for hygiene and help with infection control program compliance. The full line of Hand Essentials has been designed specifically to help promote proper hand hygiene in the dental office, and consists of products that support the specific routines that dental professionals perform each day, including hand washing, sanitizing, and skin protection,
Ultradent Products will unveil its new Xylishield line of gum, mints, mouth rinse, and toothpaste at the 2010 Greater New York (GNY) Dental Meeting this month, the company announced. The Xylishield products contain high levels of xylitol, an all-natural sweetener that helps to protect teeth from caries-causing bacteria, the company noted. Studies have demonstrated that consuming 6-10 grams of xylitol per day may reduce the risk of tooth decay, according
Another U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) dental clinic has come under scrutiny for possible infection control issues. The Dayton VA Medical Center’s dental clinic in Ohio was temporarily closed from August 19 to September 10 after employees raised concerns about infection control practices during an internal VA panel review of clinic operations in July, according to Todd Sledge, a spokesman for the VA Healthcare System of Ohio. It was
Oral Health America (OHA) has launched the Seal Two Million Campaign, designed to provide 2 million dental sealants to more than 500,000 at-risk children by 2020, the organization announced. OHA will ask dental companies and dental professionals to support the campaign at the upcoming Greater New York Dental Meeting. The November 29 event will recognize OHA’s Smiles Across America program grantees New York University College of Dentistry (Amr Moursi, DDS)
The 30 Second Smile electric toothbrush plays a part in the latest Russell Crowe film, “The Next Three Days,” written and directed by Academy Award winner Paul Haggis. Elizabeth Banks’ character presents her husband, Crowe, with the 30 Second Smile toothbrush just seconds before she is whisked away from their home by the FBI, which has accused her of murder. The suspense thriller is centered around the confines of time,
More than 2,000 people in need of dental care attended the first day of a Mission of Mercy free clinic in Portland, OR, this week. The two-day clinic, which began November 22, is being held at the Oregon Convention Center, according to a story in the Oregonian. The 100-chair clinic can handle about 1,000 patients a day. The Oregon Dental Association partnered with the nonprofit America’s Dentists Care Foundation to
A start-up company in Philadelphia has raised $10 million to develop pharmaceuticals to treat sleep apnea and other breathing control conditions. Galleon Pharmaceuticals was founded in 2003 by CEO and President James Mannion, who has spent 25 years in the pharmaceuticals industry. In 2006, Galleon licensed the underlying technology for its drugs from the University of Louisville, where it was discovered by David Gozal, MD, a professor and vice chair
Editor’s note: Helaine Smith’s column, The Mouth Physician, appears regularly on the HuangshanDental.com advice and opinion page, Second Opinion. A couple of years ago I had a patient come in on an emergency basis for a crown. She saw that I had the Cerec system and needed a crown quickly because she was heading to China to bring home another child she had adopted. She has adopted four children and