Millennium questions AGD’s emphasis on Botox

Millennium Dental Technologies (MDT) is questioning the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) priorities after the AGD gave Botox seminars “center stage” at its annual meeting in New Orleans July 8-11, MDT said in a press release. “It is a strange choice of priorities for a dental healthcare organization when 85% of adult Americans suffer from gum disease, a life-threatening and always treatable infection increasingly associated with various systemic conditions,” stated

How does a laser kill bacteria?

The inactivation of certain bacteria found in the oral cavity occurs through a photothermal rather than photochemical process, according to a study in the Journal of Biophotonics (June 2010, Vol. 3:5-6, pp. 296-303). Lasers are used in dentistry for various indications, including the disinfection of root canals or the sterilization of residual caries. While many studies have demonstrated the ability of lasers to kill bacteria, the fundamental mechanism of the

Antidepressants help manage trigeminal nerve injuries

Pharmacologic management can be used to treat trigeminal nerve injury pain after dental implant surgery, according to a study in the International Journal of Prosthodontics (July/August 2010, Vol. 23:4, pp. 342-346). Injuries to the trigeminal nerve are a common postoperative complication of dental implant surgery, researchers from Yonsei University in Korea noted. Usually, the altered sensation and neuropathic pain caused by the nerve injury is temporary, but a permanent neurosensory

Biomet 3i partners with Renishaw

Implant maker Biomet 3i will collaborate with Renishaw to provide a range of dental milling options. The partnership will allow Biomet 3i to expand its portfolio of patient-specific CAD/CAM restorative products, according to the companies. Using the Renishaw scanner and Biomet 3i incise CAD software, laboratories can obtain broader access to a wide range of dental milling options, including the ability to scan precision copy milled bar patterns, the companies

Churchill’s dentures to be auctioned

Gold-mounted dentures worn by Winston Churchill when he made some of his most famous speeches during World War II are expected to fetch $7,500 at an auction to be held July 29 in Norfolk, U.K., according to a story in the Daily Mail. Churchill, the prime minister of Great Britain during World War II, wore the dentures when he rallied England during its darkest days in the fight against Nazi

Violight less effective on bacteria than Listerine, hydrogen peroxide

The Violight ultraviolet-light toothbrush sanitizer was less effective than Listerine and hydrogen peroxide in reducing bacteria on a toothbrush head, according to a study to be published in the Journal of Dentistry (August 2010, Vol. 38:8, pp. 621-625). Researchers from the University of Buffalo and Hill Top Research evaluated the antibacterial effect of the Violight personal travel toothbrush sanitizer on biofilms after toothbrush exposure to human saliva compared to Listerine

How to reduce malpractice claims in endodontics

More clearly explaining that postoperative swelling often occurs following endodontic treatment could help reduce the number of malpractice claims, according to a study in the Journal of Endodontics (June 2010, Vol. 36:6, pp. 982-984). Endodontic claims are the most frequently filed malpractice claims in dentistry, wrote researchers from Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Israel. The aim of their study was to categorize and review errors and complications related to endodontic

Surgeon’s experience impacts third-molar surgery outcomes

The degree of a surgeon’s experience with third-molar surgery has important implications for postoperative complications following surgery, according to a study in the British Dental Journal (July 2, 2010). Previous reports have shown that a surgeon’s experience to be one the most influential factors on surgical outcome, researchers from University College London Hospitals Head and Neck Centre noted. For the current study, 3,236 patients underwent surgical removal of impacted third

Colgate promotes oral health awareness on Gulf Coast

Colgate-Palmolive has teamed up with three National Football League players from the New Orleans Saints to champion good oral health among Gulf Coast children. Super Bowl champions Jonathan Vilma, Pierre Thomas, and Marques Colston will cohost Mardi Gras-style festivals highlighting the importance of maintaining good oral health. With the Saints players cheering them on, children will board the Colgate mobile dental vans for screenings and learn how to maintain good

Chewing gum may relieve postwhitening sensitivity

Sugar-free chewing gum has been associated increasingly with oral benefits such as fighting caries. Now a new study has found that using sugar-free chewing gum after whitening could reduce the intensity of tooth sensitivity following in-office procedures (British Dental Journal, June 2010, Vol. 208:12, pp. 571-577). Study authors Brian Tang, D.D.S., who runs a private practice in Mountain View, CA, and Brian Millar, Ph.D., a professor at King’s College London

CAO Group expands licensing of LED curing patents

The CAO Group, which conducts OEM manufacturing of LED curing lights for various companies worldwide, has expanded its licensing of LED dental curing patents portfolio to major dental companies. To date, CAO has been granted 31 U.S. and international patents for the LED dental curing light technology, with many additional patents still pending. CAO’s patents cover LED structures, heat management, and broadband wavelengths for curing all types of dental composites

Jaw pain blamed on jumbo burgers

Dentists in Taiwan are asking two fast-food restaurants to put warning labels on their jumbo burgers or stop serving them altogether after several patients who had eaten the burgers complained of jaw pain and jaw-related injuries, according to a story in the China Post. People normally open their mouths about 4 cm to eat, but these burgers measure more than 8 cm in height, one dentist told the paper. Eating