Although nearly 15 million root canals are performed each year (according to the American Association of Endodontists) and the success rate is excellent, the procedure is still so negatively regarded by patients and clinicians alike that hardly a days goes by you don’t hear of some painful event being described as “as bad as getting a root canal.” While we can’t completely change the public’s perception of the procedure, new
A U.S. District Court judge has dismissed a proposed class-action lawsuit filed against Procter and Gamble charging that the company’s Crest Pro-Health mouthwash causes staining and browning of teeth, according to a story in Crain’s Detroit Business. The lawsuit, originally filed in Michigan in August 2009 by Mark Rossman, an attorney who practices in Troy, MI, and his partners Gerard Mantese and David Hansma, claimed that Procter and Gamble marketed
A New York man is suing Cadbury Adams, saying the company’s claims that Trident Xtra Care sugar-free gum can help repair damaged teeth are misleading to consumers. In a lawsuit filed in Queens Supreme Court, Joshua Hirsch accuses Cadbury of falsely claiming that its gum can restore rotting or chipped teeth, according to a story in the New York Daily News. In promotional materials, the company notes that the gum
A Princeton, WV, couple is enhancing research in the West Virginia University (WVU) School of Dentistry’s Department of Orthodontics. Orthodontist Cyndy Branson, D.D.S., and her husband, Phil Branson, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon, are establishing the Branson-Maddrell Endowed Professorship in Orthodontics in WVU’s School of Dentistry. Their gift will qualify for matching funds from the West Virginia Research Trust Fund, the university said. The professorship will support both salary and research
Circle Biologics has launched a device for delivering platelet-rich plasma to surgery sites that it plans to market to dentists. The Autologous Platelet Concentrator Platform (APC) is the first of its kind to incorporate both autologous (patient derived) cell concentration and protein concentration in a single point-of-care device, the company said. The APC has earned 510(k) clearance from the FDA. It is a two-chamber, closed system that allows the user
Econo-Keys, a manufacturer of medical keyboards and mice, recently introduced the EKW-M, a waterproof, wireless mouse designed for medical and dental offices and clinics. Studies show that commonly shared hospital and clinic keyboards and mice in particular are infectious hazard points that are difficult to disinfect, according to Econo-Keys. Bacteria can grow and live on keyboards for up to 24 hours, making it easy for them to spread harmful bacterial
Oragenics will unveil EvoraPro, a professional-strength version of the company’s all-natural probiotic oral care and teeth whitening mint EvoraPlus, at an upcoming dental convention. EvoraPro incorporates ProBiora3, Oragenics’ patent-pending probiotic technology. When used following cleaning or scaling, ProBiora3 accelerates the repopulation of beneficial bacteria, according to the company. EvoraPro comes in a 10-pack to be used once a day for 10 days following professional cleaning. The company will introduce the
Patients with chronic gum disease who quit smoking in addition to undergoing nonsurgical therapy demonstrated a lower abundance of harmful oral pathogens and also an increase in health-associated bacteria in a study in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology (July 2010, Vol. 48:7, pp. 2344-2349). Although prior studies indicate that quitting smoking can alter the oral microbial community, it is unknown if pathogenic colonization can actually be reversed. To determine the
Align Technology reported net profits of $32.6 million on revenues of $108 million for the second quarter of 2010 (end-June 30), compared to net profits of $14.9 million on revenues of $76 million for the same quarter a year ago. “Q2 was an outstanding quarter for Align,” said Thomas Prescott, Align president and CEO, in a press release. “Our Invisalign business continues to outperform our expectations, resulting in our third
Richards Micro-Tool, a manufacturer of microcutting tools for medical and industrial applications, recently expanded its medical and dental capabilities with the purchase of production equipment from Surgical Reconstruction. The addition of Swiss turning machines to Richards Micro-Tool’s existing equipment base is well-suited for supplying cutting instruments and other devices to the medical and dental markets, the company said. “We are fully committed to expanding our capabilities as they relate to
NEW YORK (Reuters Health), Jul 23 – Children with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue should receive the same treatment as adult patients, researchers suggest. “The preponderance of case reports of aggressive disease and poor outcome in pediatric patients is not an accurate reflection of true outcomes,” the researchers say in the July issue of Archives of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. After adjustment for disease stage, tobacco exposure,
A Swedish study has found that underweight children are at three times greater risk of tooth decay as normal-weight children, according to a news story in the Local. Researchers at Malmö University examined the dental health of more than 900 5-year-olds through records from child health and public dental clinics. The study used height and weight data from child healthcare authorities to calculate the children’s body mass index. These were