U.S. House bill mandates dental insurance for kids

In their first draft of legislation to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system, Democrats in the House of Representatives propose extending dental coverage to all children nationwide, echoing a similar proposal from the Senate. In the House bill, employers who don’t offer health insurance and individuals who don’t buy the insurance would pay fines. Insurance companies would have to accept all applicants who could pay. People who can’t afford the insurance

Florida dental professor receives NIH Merit Award

Richard Lamont, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Florida College of Dentistry Department of Oral Biology, has received the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Merit Award for his work on the molecular dialogue between oral bacteria and host cells. The award recognizes researchers who have demonstrated superior competence and outstanding productivity in research endeavor. In January, Lamont initially received a five-year, $2.4 million grant for his study, “P. Gingivalis

AACD names future president

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) has named John K. Sullivan, D.D.S., its vice president and future president, according to the Visalia Times-Delta & Advance-Register. Dr. Sullivan, who owns the Smiles By Sullivan general practice in Tulare, CA., will become the AACD president in May 2012, the paper reported. The current president is Michael Sesemann, D.D.S., of Omaha, NE. He will be succeeded in May 2010 by Hugh Flax,

All Penn College hygiene grads pass board exam

All 27 of the most recent graduates of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s dental hygiene major have passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam, the college announced. The exam assesses the hygienists’ ability to understand important information from basic biomedical and dental/dental hygiene sciences, as well as the ability to apply such information in a problem-solving context. Penn College offers an associate degree in dental hygiene and a bachelor’s degrees in

Align defends new Invisalign certification program

Align Technology has come under fire since announcing that, starting June 1, all dentists who want to be “active Invisalign providers” must start at least 10 Invisalign cases and complete at least 10 Invisalign continuing education courses annually. But the company is defending its new “proficiency program,” saying the change is necessary to maintain the integrity of the Invisalign brand and ensure that patients receive the best treatment possible. .pullQuoteCredit

Britons question filling primary teeth

The U.K. National Health Service is questioning whether dentists should restore lesions in symptomless primary teeth, according to a report from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Some retrospective studies, such as one in the British Dental Journal (February 23, 2002, Vol. 192:4, pp. 219-223), have suggested that symptomless primary teeth fare no better when treated than when untreated. Either way, most fall out before they cause pain. So the health

Ohio lawmakers mull new hygienist regulation

The Ohio Legislature is considering a bill that would create a new type of supervision for dental hygienists working outside the dental office. The bill, H.B. 190, introduced in late May by Rep. Lorraine Fende (D-Willowick), would allow dentists to send properly trained hygienists to certain designated public health settings outside the dental office and see patients without the dentist present. The bill has the full support of the Ohio

Website to emphasize oral and systemic health link

The University of Manitoba is preparing to launch a new online resource to bridge what it has identified as a major gap in oral health information among Canadian healthcare professionals. AdvancingIn Oral Health (www.AdvancingIn.com) will go live in September 2009 as part of an effort to improve quality of care and patient health in Canada, according to the university. It will provide continuing oral health education to more than 72,000

Probiotic suppresses periodontitis bacterium

A probiotic tablet containing a strain of Lactobacillus salivarius suppressed at least one of the bacteria responsible for periodontitis in a randomized controlled study, according to researchers from Wakamoto Pharmaceutical, which markets the tablets. The researchers had previously found the tablets to improve clinical parameters of periodontitis in smokers. In a study published this year in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology (JCP, June 2009, Vol. 36:6, pp. 506-513), the researchers

Crown relaunches DentaBurst

Crown Consumer Brands has announced the relaunch of DentaBurst freshening teeth cleaners. Tthe product will have an improved, longer-lasting fresh mint flavor and new packaging, the company said. Crown Consumer Brands purchased the brand and all relevant patents from Kimberly-Clark in late 2008, and began a redesign of the packaging and continued efforts regarding the reformulation of the product’s mint flavor. The result is what the company calls “an on-the-go

Snoasis launches placental membrane for treating gingival recession

Snoasis Medical is initiating limited commercial distribution of BioCover, the first membrane composed of donated amnion tissue — the innermost lining of the placenta — for use as a wound covering in the treatment of gingival recession. BioCover is a dehydrated graft that does not need to be hydrated prior to use; it naturally adheres to the surgical site, according to the company. This sets it apart from current methods

Centrix pledges $25,000 to dental hygiene school

Centrix has pledged $25,000 to endow scholarships at Fones School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Bridgeport, the school announced. Named in honor of Centrix founder William B. Dragan, D.D.S., the scholarships will be awarded annually to one dental hygiene student who demonstrates financial need and academic excellence. To qualify for the awards, students also must be residents of Connecticut and must have completed 30 semester hours. Under the