“Pulling Teeth for the Hood,” “Brush Yo Donkey Teeth,” and “Call Big Doc.” These are just some of the songs featured on a CD to be released in September by Marrio Thomas, D.D.S. — aka “Big Doc” — of East Memphis, TN. According to a story on RedOrbit.com, Dr. Thomas’ goal is to deliver the message of proper dental care to teens, preteens, and even younger patients through a medium
Paradise Dental Technologies has introduced a flosser that can help reduce the time and hassle of flossing for patients with braces, according to the company. The patent-pending Platypus orthodontic flosser comes with a preloaded nylon floss. It has a flat tine that can slide underneath the wire, eliminating the need for a threader. “Traditionally, patients with braces have had to thread floss under the wire for every tooth,” stated a
Two Chicago dentists who had their licenses suspended July 31 because a patient died while under sedation in their office must now pay the patient’s family $3.9 million. On August 13, a Cook County Circuit Court judge approved a settlement agreement between the family of Georgette Watson, who died in December during a root canal procedure, and brothers Joseph Feldman, D.D.S., and Laurence Feldman, D.D.S., the dentists performing that procedure.
OralDNA Labs has received a nonexclusive license from Interleukin Genetics to market, sell, and distribute Interleukin’s PST Genetic Test to U.S. dental practices. The test assesses an individual’s genetic risk for periodontal disease. Interleukin will receive a set fee per test for all tests sold. Also, patients will be asked in the informed consent if they would like to receive additional testing services provided by Interleukin. “We believe that by
Crosstex International has developed several new dental products designed to help dentists support the fight against women’s cancers. The company’s line of “Pink with a Purpose” products — all displayed in pink — include GumNumb topical anesthetic gel, Sparkle prophylaxis pastes, Zap fluorides, the Pink with a Purpose sterilization pouch, and the Pink Premium saliva ejector. “The Pink with a Purpose program transforms ordinary dental products into statements about compassion
A study published in the Journal of Periodontology (July 2008, Vol. 79:8, pp. 1426-1433) used 51 sets of twins between the ages of 12 and 21 to demonstrates what dentists have been telling their patients for years: flossing can help reduce the amount of gum-disease-causing bacteria in the mouth. In the study, conducted at New York University, each set of twins was randomly assigned a two-week treatment regimen, with one
In rare cases, implants may be associated with cancer, according to the authors of two case reports in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA). Each article focuses on a single case, and each falls short of concluding that the implants are the definitive cause of this devastating complication. One report, which also includes a literature review, cites a 38-year-old who had developed a low-grade chondroblastic osteosarcoma of the
Under a new state law that took effect in July, Iowa schools are now requiring proof that students have had a dental screening, according to a Sioux City Journal report. Students enrolling in elementary or high school will be asked to show that they have had a dental screening. However, the exam does not have to be performed by a dentist — a school nurse can conduct the screening —
A Utah dental lab owner is making his mark as a tattoo artist — on teeth. Cats, dogs, flamingos, ducks, sports logos, cartoon heroes — these are some of the most popular customized tattoos Steven Heward places on dental crowns. Prices for the tiny tooth etchings range from $75 to $200 for more complicated celebrity portraits, such as Mickey Mouse, Tiger Woods, Bob Dylan, David Letterman, President Abraham Lincoln, Princess
The FDA has lifted its ban on U.S. imports of Straumann’s Biora brand of regeneration products: Emdogain, PrefGel, and Bone Ceramic, the company announced Tuesday. The FDA had prevented U.S. import of the products after it inspected a Straumann factory in Sweden in October 2006 and found problems with the way the products are made. Straumann has not yet released a date for the products’ re-entry into the U.S. Emogain
Shellacking your redwood deck with resin protects it from rotting, and the same approach may work on the exposed roots of your patients’ teeth. That’s more or less the reasoning behind two studies presented at the recent 2008 International Association for Dental Research (IADR) meeting in Toronoto. Emine Eneren, D.D.S., a doctoral student in the department of restorative dentistry at Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey, led one of the studies.
The death of a Chicago patient may illustrate some perils involved in conscious sedation, according to Joel Weaver, D.D.S., Ph.D., president of the American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists. The state of Illinois last week suspended the licenses of Chicago dentists Joseph Feldman, D.D.S., and his brother Laurence Feldman, D.D.S., after a patient died during sedation in their office. The patient — elementary school principal Georgette Watson — was undergoing root
