Will Raman spectroscopy one day find its way into the dental operatory as an oral health assessment and caries detection tool? A team of University of Rochester scientists is using this highly sensitive microscopy technique to study two common dental plaque bacteria: Streptococcus sanguinis and mutans. The relative balance of the two may be an indicator of a patient’s oral health and risk for tooth decay; S. sanguinis is associated
As part of DentalEZ’s new video blog, the company has released DEZiree’s Hygiene Solution, which includes StarDental hygiene handpieces, the Prophy Star 3, and the Titan Blis-sonic ergonomic sonic scaler. The kit also comes with various components, including a four-line swivel, disposable scaler tips, and an assortment of autoclavable soft grips. The cost is roughly 20% less than purchasing the items separately, according to the company. During a yearlong promotion,
Direct composite buildups provide a high-quality, long-lasting approach to recontouring teeth and closing diastemas, according to a study in the Journal of Dentistry (December 2010, Vol. 38:12, pp. 1001-1009). In a retrospective analysis of 327 composite buildups placed in 101 patients, members of the conservative dentistry department at the University of Heidelberg in Germany estimated the buildups’ five-year survival rate to be 79.2%. Furthermore, the researchers found that more than
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is calling for a complete redesign of cigarette packaging and advertising as part of its overall strategy to reduce tobacco use in the U.S. On November 10, the FDA issued a proposed rule, Required Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements, that calls for larger and more noticeable warning statements and color graphic images depicting the negative health consequences of smoking on cigarette packages
BioElectronics, developers of pain-relieving medical devices, has been awarded a $130,000 grant from the U.S. government that will complete funding for a study on the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in reducing oral surgery pain. BioElectronics is combining the Therapeutic Discovery Project Grant with its own funds to conduct the study through the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, the company said. Neophytos Demetriades, DDS, an assistant professor in
Radiographic periodontic ligament (PDL) widening may be a more sensitive indicator than serum C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) testing in predicting risk of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ), according to a study in Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology (October 2010, Vol. 110:4, pp. 509-516). Researchers from New York University College of Dentistry conducted a retrospective review of radiographic and/or serum CTX data for 68 patients with
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – People who consume a good amount of omega-3’s — the fatty acids predominantly found in oily fish — may have a lower risk of developing gum disease, suggests a new study. However, the researchers are hesitant to give omega-3’s full credit just yet, as other factors might be involved, too. Advanced gum disease, known as periodontitis, is a chronic inflammation caused by the accumulation of
AXP Dental will begin providing IdentCeram certificates to all dental labs purchasing its zirconia milling block products, according to the IdentAlloy/IdentCeram Council. “Labs, dentists, patients, and insurers are all showing increased interest in the makeup of restoration materials,” said Axel Pomeranz, president and CEO of AXP Dental, in a press release. “IdentCeram certificates will provide even more value to our products by supplying important verification of their content, thus enabling
Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana have joined Facebook and is celebrating by giving away professional-grade sonic toothbrushes. Two Philips Sonicare FlexCare+ toothbrushes will be given away by Delta Dental of Michigan, Delta Dental of Ohio, and Delta Dental of Indiana — one each in November and December. Contestants need enter only once to be considered for both drawings. More information on the toothbrushes is available on the company’s
Your elderly patient has been on bisphosphonate medication and needs an extraction, raising the question of whether she is at risk for bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). The science on the incidence of bisphosphonate-related ONJ is still murky, but a new study has found that occurrences of the condition may be rare in patients receiving once-yearly infusions of 5 mg of the intravenous bisphosphonate zoledronic acid (Journal of the
PolyMedix’s investigational defensin-mimetic compounds exhibited both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity against microbial biofilms that cause infections of the oral cavity in two studies in the December issue of Molecular Oral Microbiology (Vol. 25:6, pp. 418-425, 426-432), the company announced. In the first study, PolyMedix’s antimicrobial defensin-mimetics were screened against oral Candida strains as a proof-of-principle test of their antifungal properties. The results demonstrated that several of the defensin-mimetic compounds exhibited
Topical application of the growth factor fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) enhances the regeneration of human periodontal tissue in patients with periodontitis, according to researchers from Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry (Journal of Dental Research [JDR], November 8, 2010). It is well known that oral infection progressively destroys periodontal tissues and is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. A major goal of periodontal treatment is regeneration of the