An acid produced in the mouth due to gum disease can cause HIV to develop into full-blown AIDS, a Japanese researcher told Agence France Presse (AFP) on Thursday. The bacteria that cause gum disease also produce a large amount of butyric acid, which hinders an enzyme called histone deacetylase (HDAC), Kuniyasu Ochiai, chair of the microbiology department at Nihon University in Tokyo, told the AFP. This enzyme prevents the proliferation
NEW YORK (Reuters Health), Feb 11 – A link between vaginal bacteria and gingivitis is reported in the current issue of BioMed Central Infectious Diseases, published January 22 and available online. Dr. Rutger Persson of the University of Berne, Switzerland, and colleagues collected vaginal samples from 180 women at least 6 months postdelivery. The women also underwent standard periodontal examinations. Gingivitis was defined as bleeding on probing at more than
“Is this going to be forever?” asks 7-year-old David Alejandro DeVore. It’s a good question. The boy, now 8, has achieved immortality of a sort, thanks to a video clip of his sedation-induced confusion following oral surgery. The video hit the top of the charts on YouTube this month. “Why is this happening to me?” David wonders in the video. The answer, according to his father, David Elbert DeVore, is
Patients say they trust both their dental hygienist and the hygienists’ product recommendations, according to a survey commissioned by Sunstar Americas and conducted by Mintel International Group. The survey was conducted online in March 2007 and included 1,957 people across the U.S., according to Sunstar. Of those surveyed, 81% said they trust the product recommendations of their dental hygienist. The survey also found that women are more likely to visit
A new report released today by researchers from the University of Michigan Health System reveals that nearly 12 million children in the U.S. experience serious barriers to getting much needed dental care due to lack of insurance coverage, cost of care, and difficulty finding providers who accept their insurance. “In this poll, we wanted to understand the patterns of dental care for children,” said Matthew Davis, M.D., M.A.P.P., director of
Why waste time on heroic root canal therapy that’s doomed to fail? Why waste money on an implant if you can save a natural tooth? As implant specialists and endodontists have improved their techniques the past few years, the battle between them has intensified. In recent months, endodontists have produced a couple of studies comparing implants to endodonics, one in November showing that endodontic teeth need less maintenance and another
The Identafi 3000 by Trimira. Trimira has introduced Identafi 3000, a small, cordless, handheld device that uses a three-wavelength optical illumination and visualization system to detect oral cancer. Identafi 3000 uses white, violet, and amber wavelengths of light to excite oral tissue in distinct and unique ways, according to the company. Biochemical changes can be monitored with fluorescence, while morphological changes can be monitored with reflectance. The company claims this
Just three weeks into his new job as chief executive of the U.S., President Barack Obama has done something former President George W. Bush refused to do: extend health coverage — including dental — to 4 million uninsured American children. On Wednesday the U.S. House of Representatives passed the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by an overwhelming majority (290-135), according to news reports. Hours later, Obama signed the program
Cadent, a provider of 3D digital solutions for the orthodontic and dental industries, announced that it has signed distribution agreements and began sales with Henry Schein, Benco Dental, Burkhart Dental, and Goetze Dental. Under terms of the agreements, Henry Schein, Benco, Burkhart, and Goetze will market the Cadent iTero digital impression system to the more than 100,000 dental professionals they collectively reach every two to three weeks, according to Cadent.
Contrary to prevailing wisdom, treating periodontal disease during pregnancy does not reduce the risk of preterm birth. That is the conclusion of a new study conducted at Duke University Medical Center, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Texas at San Antonio. The study was one of the largest randomized trials ever to look at the link between the two conditions, according to the researchers. The findings
While the recession hammered most companies — including rival Procter & Gamble (P&G) — Colgate-Palmolive on Thursday reported a surprising 0.5% increase in worldwide sales for the most recent quarter, capping an 11% surge for the year. The company said it had increased the global market share for its toothpaste to 44.4%, led by gains in the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, China, Russia, Germany, and Australia. Colgate boosted sales
Researchers at the University of Maryland Dental School have embarked on a seven-year, $17 million study of 3,400 study subjects with the goal of identifying the cause and effect of temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJD) — and potentially develop a cure, the university announced. The Orofacial Pain: Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment (OPPERA) study is funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, part of the National
