Dental school accused of letting hygienists do too much

The Indiana University (IU) School of Dentistry has launched an internal review of its dental hygiene clinic after a visiting professor raised concerns about hygienists at the clinic allegedly diagnosing patients and doing treatment planning, according to a story by WRTV6 in Indianapolis. Students in the clinic work under licensed hygienists, and the work of both the student and the hygienist must be approved by a licensed dentist. .pullQuoteCredit {

Canadian dental groups target public awareness

The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) and Provincial Dental Associations have hired advertising agency DDB Canada in Vancouver to develop a national awareness campaign to help Canadians understand the relationship between regular dental exams and their overall health. “Our collective goal is to have the public recognize the important role that dentists play in their healthcare,” said Andrew Jones, director of public affairs for the CDA, in a press release. “More

Taste genes may predict tooth decay

Genetic variation in taste pathway genes may be associated with dental caries risk and/or protection, according to a new study in the Journal of Dental Research (JDR, September 21, 2010). In this study, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University recruited families through the Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia (COHRA) to collect biological samples and demographic data and to do clinical assessments of oral health,

Unraveling the mysteries of glass ionomers

Glass ionomers (GIs) have officially been a part of dentistry since 1972. But for all practical purposes, they are a derivation of the earlier silicate cements. Alan D. Wilson, D.Sc., a chemist in the U.K., guided the conversion by transforming silicate cements into glass ionomers. Since their introduction, glass ionomers have undergone many changes and have been endorsed for even more clinical applications. Today there are three different formulations of

Ariz. clinic offers Botox for TMJ relief

AZ-TMJ, a clinic in Scottsdale, AZ, that focuses on the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, severe headaches, and sleep apnea, has developed a treatment using Botox to ease muscle cramping and clenching and grinding of teeth. “I have found this treatment to be highly effective in a substantial number of cases where the effects of other treatments are often mitigated by the presence of muscle spasms,” said Stan Farrell,

Oragenics signs new European distributor

Oragenics’ line of oral care probiotics will be distributed in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg through Benelux Cosmetics, the companies announced. “This is a wonderful opportunity to bring these exciting new oral care probiotics to our existing network of drug stores and hypermarkets,” said Vincent Lubers, general manager of Benelux Cosmetics. “We are looking forward to introducing this new category to dental professionals and pet stores.” ProBiora3, the active ingredient

Canadian lawsuits filed against denture adhesive makers

A Canadian law firm has filed class-action lawsuits against GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the manufacturer of Poligrip, and Procter and Gamble, which makes Fixodent, alleging that the zinc in these denture adhesives can cause numerous health problems and that the manufacturers failed to properly warn consumers about these risks. The lawsuits, filed September 20 by Merchant Law Group, assert that elevated levels of zinc and resulting reduced levels of copper can lead

Dentists can help detect fetal alcohol disorders

Dental practitioners are in a unique position to aid children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) because they often see patients on a more frequent basis than a physician. As a result, many dentists are now learning how to spot orofacial characteristics that often affect children with FASD, according to an article in AGD Impact (September 2010, Vol. 38:9), the monthly newsmagazine of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). FASD

Biotrol launches ultrasonic cleaner for dentistry

Biotrol International recently extended its line of infection control and preventive chemical products with Purit, the company’s first ultrasonic cleaner for dentistry. Purit is faster than most units of its kind and incorporates a plastic exterior for better noise insulation, according to the company. It incorporates a digital timer instead of a manual knob, so the only requirement is the single push of a button to select the time needed

More research points to dangers of BPA

Researchers have discovered that women, female monkeys, and female mice have major similarities when it comes to how bisphenol A (BPA) is metabolized, and they have renewed their call for governmental regulation when it comes to the estrogenlike chemical found in many everyday products (Environmental Health Perspectives, September 20, 2010). The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Missouri; the University of California, Davis; and Washington State University, ties

U.S. periodontitis rates underestimated by 50%

The number of adults in the U.S. suffering from periodontal disease may be significantly higher than previous research has indicated, according to a study published online in the Journal of Dental Research (September 21, 2010). The study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), researchers appear to have underestimated by as much as 50% how many cases of moderate to

Ore. clinics get $200K for kids’ oral health

More than $200,000 in grants from the Oregon Community Foundation will help youngsters maintain their oral health in Douglas County, according to an article in the News-Review. Umpqua Community Health Center (UCHC) was awarded $88,055 and the Mercy Foundation received $113,872. UCHC will take treatment directly to the students in the form of a utility trailer containing dental equipment driven to various county schools and run by AmeriCorps volunteers and