Celebrity cosmetic dentist Bill Dorfman, D.D.S., has been recognized by Guinness World Records for “Most money raised for a charity through head shaving by an individual.” Dr. Dorfman is co-founder of the LEAP Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps high school and college students gain life skills through a summer mentorship program. In an effort to raise awareness and aid the students in the program, Dr. Dorfman announced that he
A patient’s temporomandibular joint (TMJ) status should be established after experiencing whiplash trauma to achieve valid, long-term evaluations in clinical research, according to a new study (Journal of the American Dental Association, July 2010, Vol. 141:7, pp. 879-886). Researchers have conducted studies regarding whiplash-induced TMJ pain and dysfunction, mainly under the presumption that patients’ memory of symptoms remains accurate across time, the authors noted. In this study, researchers from Umea
Paresthesia occurs more often after use of 4% local anesthetic formulations, according to a study in the Journal of the American Dental Association (July 2010, Vol. 141:7, pp. 836-844). Researchers from the University of Toronto wanted to determine if the type of local anesthetic administered had any effect on reports of paresthesia in dentistry in the U.S. They obtained reports of paresthesia involving dental local anesthetics from November 1997 through
Enamel has long been the primary concern when it comes to bleaching-related damage. But could the problem go deeper than that? A new study in the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry (June 2010, Vol. 22:3, pp. 179-184) has found that long stretches of bleaching may harm dentin. The in vitro study found that the length of bleach application time to dentin using 10% carbamide peroxide was inversely correlated with
Does using computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery (C-CLAD) technology — such as the STA system from Milestone Scientific — for an intraligamentary (ILI) injection on primary teeth in pediatric patients cause damage to the underlying, developing adult permanent tooth? Not according to a new study in the International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry (July 2010, Vol. 20:4, pp. 270-275). Intraligamental anesthesia delivered by a high-pressure syringe is often associated with damage to
Zimmer Dental has announced the availability of Zimmer Collagen Capsules and the shape-retaining Zimmer Collagen Wedge, which can be used during sinus lifts, socket repair, and other wound-healing applications. The Collagen Capsules support focused bone augmentation, and can be used in crestal and lateral sinus lift procedures, according to Zimmer. These capsules, which can be positioned with the Zimmer Sinus Lift Balloon or other delivery instruments, are intended for repairing
Dentium USA has introduced a sinus elevation kit called DASK (Dentium Advanced Sinus Kit), a new surgical approach for a reliable sinus lift procedure. Instruments included in the new kit provide straightforward exposure to the sinus cavity, reducing chair time and decreasing postsurgery discomfort, according to the company. Dental professionals can perform both crestal and lateral approaches with the DASK. The DASK’s diamond-coated burs were designed to help prevent sinus
Florida’s Bay County Health Department has received two $100,000 grants to purchase and operate a mobile dental van, according to a story in the News Herald. The health department received one grant from the Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida and the other from the Florida Department of Health. “We will establish the Miles of Smiles program for children,” grant writer Aleksandra Schippnick told the News Herald. “It will include
DeepSea Gold Laboratories has introduced ExtraRobusteen, a medicinal mouthwash that helps heal practically any oral disease, mouth pain, gum inflammation, swelling, and bleeding, the company claims. DeepSea Gold’s medicinal mouthwashes contain natural salts, minerals, and microelements derived from the ocean, according to the company’s website. As a natural antiseptic, the mouthwashes fight 300 different types of oral bacteria, DeepSea Gold said. In addition, they contain magnesium, bromide, and iodine to
Nearly 70,000 charm bracelets and football rings that were distributed for free at some U.S. dental offices over the past several years have been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The jewelry, which was imported from China, contains high levels of cadmium, a toxic mineral that can weaken bones and kidneys over time. The bracelets and rings were distributed from June 2005 through March 2010. The CPSC
The chief of dental services at the John Cochran St. Louis Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center has been placed on administrative leave after the hospital notified more than 1,800 veterans that they may have been exposed to hepatitis, HIV, and other bloodborne pathogens in the hospital’s dental clinic. On June 28, the VA sent letters to 1,812 veterans who had dental procedures at the St. Louis clinic from February 1,
Patients should play a role in formulating orthodontic retention plans, according to a new study (Angle Orthodontist, July 2010, Vol. 80:4, pp. 656-661). Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University Dental School wanted to discern patients’ opinions regarding responsibility for orthodontic retention and determine whether patient attitudes toward retention are related to perceptions of treatment success. They surveyed 428 patients who had completed fixed orthodontic treatment an average of 5.3 years previously