Most schools in Wyoming do not have the recommended levels of fluoride in their water, and children with untreated tooth decay who attend those schools are more likely to need urgent dental care, according to the first comprehensive oral health study of Wyoming residents in more than 20 years. The Oral Health Initiative (OHI) report, released this week by the Wyoming Department of Health and the Wyoming Dental Association (WDA),
Dentists at the University of Colorado (CU) Denver School of Dental Medicine mistakenly injected as many as eight patients with potentially lethal doses of midazolam after the drug was erroneously added to the school’s stock in 2008, according to a story by the Denver Post. School administrators decided not to notify any of the patients, but Denise Kassebaum, D.D.S., dean of the dental school, stressed that no patient was harmed.
Editor’s note: Dr. Doniger’s column, Dental Diaries, appears regularly on the HuangshanDental.com advice and opinion page, Second Opinion. For those of you who personally know me, I do not like to be called “Bubbe,” “Nannie,” or “Grannie.” Yes, I know I have achieved grandmother status with the birth of Bree, but I am not ready for the same moniker that my mother and grandmother wore all those many years ago.
Dental laboratory Remedy Dental Studio in Los Angeles recently launched a new website to promote its line of fixed restorations, which include porcelain fused to metal (PFM) restorations, veneers, bridges, and crowns. “We wanted to create an interactive website which showcased our work,” said Vache Hacopian, president of Remedy Dental Studio, in a press release. “We’ve been in the dental lab industry for over 28 years, and we want people
A Chicago teenager had to wait eight months to have his braces removed because the orthodontist refused to take them off until a $300 bill was paid, according to a story in the Chicago Tribune. Esperanza Perez said she took her three teenagers to orthodontist Frances Cavero, D.D.S., of Windy City Smiles when they needed braces. Dr. Cavero removed the braces from both of her daughters without incident last year.
A Pasadena, TX, dentist faces up to 10 years in prison after he was convicted for Medicaid fraud for submitting spurious bills for root canals, fillings, and extractions, the Texas U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. David Lloyd Gonzales Jr., D.D.S., 47, was convicted by a Houston jury on 22 counts of healthcare fraud. Dr. Gonzales was a Medicare provider since 1994 but was suspended in 2005. He is free on bond
3M ESPE has launched RelyX Unicem 2 automix self-adhesive resin cement, designed to provide improved color stability, bond strength, and moisture tolerance, the company announced. RelyX Unicem 2 automix cement is suited for the permanent cementation of all-ceramic, composite, or metal inlays, onlays, crowns, and bridges, as well as posts and screws, 3M ESPE said. It can also be used to cement restorations to implant abutments and Maryland, inlay, and
Although both dentistry and anthropology often characterize oral disease risks in behavioral terms, two recent studies indicate that a complex mix of both biological and cultural factors can determine increased risks of caries for women and destructive periodontal disease for men. For example, does the number of pregnancies (parity) a woman carries in her lifetime influence the number of caries she develops? According to the ADA, some dietary behavioral changes
A new 17-minute DVD designed for use in the dental office can help youngsters learn the importance of good oral hygiene. Written and directed by filmmaker Todd Thompson, “Crooked” is told through the eyes of Samantha, a young girl obsessed with losing her last “crooked” baby tooth in order to obtain the perfect smile and win the heart of the new boy at school. The film stars Kendall Ganey (The
AAO Services, a subsidiary of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), has launched the AAO Voluntary Certification Program (VCP) for orthodontic clinical assistants. Orthodontic assistants who meet requirements of the program will be recognized by the credential designation of specialized orthodontic assistant (SOA). Voluntary certification is a process of nongovernmental review of work experience, leadership, professionalism, education, and knowledge within the profession of orthodontic assisting. Individuals who earn the SOA
Fixed-partial titanium dentures fabricated using CAD/CAM technology demonstrated good reliability after three years, although there was some risk of porcelain fractures, according to a study in the Journal of Prosthodontics (August 16, 2010). “There is lack of knowledge about the clinical performance of CAD/CAM titanium-ceramic-fixed partial dentures (FPDs),” noted the researchers, from Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg and Louisiana State University. “The purpose of this study was to evaluate CAD/CAM
During case presentation for aesthetic services, practices should emphasize key benefits. Providing clinical information is important but the primary emphasis should be how the treatment will improve the patient’s smile and appearance. Rather than just wondering how the procedure will be performed, many patients want to know how the results will benefit them. Think visually. “A picture is worth a thousand words” goes the old saying. Seeing is believing, and