An Australian dentist who left a patient a “dental cripple” after performing unnecessary root canals on all 28 of the man’s teeth has been fined $345,000 ($309,000 U.S.) and may lose his license. Tree-trimmer Todd Dean was working near Sydney in December 2001 when he was hit on the chin by a small log. He rinsed his mouth with salt water, “spat out a few chips of teeth,” and returned
A growing body of research is supporting the anti-inflammatory, anticariogenic, antioxidant, and antibacterial effects of green tea on oral health. A study published online in Cancer Prevention Research in November found that green tea extract is a promising cancer prevention agent in patients with oral leukoplakia. The study, the first to examine green tea as a chemopreventative agent in this high-risk patient population, found that more than half of the
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (a-PDT) is effective in treating chronic periodontitis, according to a meta-analysis in Lasers in Medical Science (December 19). In PDT, a light-sensitive drug is applied to the area to be treated. The same area is then exposed with light or laser energy. The combination of the drug and the photons induces a phototoxic reaction that destroys the bacterial cells. Recognizing that a-PDT has been shown to be
NEW YORK (Reuters Health), Dec 28 – Ankylosing spondylitis increases the risk of periodontal disease, German researchers report in the January issue of Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Lead author Dr. Nicole Pischon and colleagues at Charite-Universitatsmedizin Berlin note that both diseases are characterized by dysregulation of the host inflammatory response, resulting in soft and hard connective tissue destruction. To look for a possible relationship, the researchers studied 48 patients
A trip to the dental aisle at your local grocery store or pharmacy can be a bit dizzying because of the variety of products offered nowadays. The best rule of thumb for toothpastes is to select any toothpaste that has the ADA seal of Approval on the back of the box. Keep in mind that most major brand toothpastes are acceptable (Crest and Colgate), and sometimes they may lack the
Medical boards in Australia and New Zealand are reporting an increase in complaints about inappropriate sexual behavior when patients are sedated with propofol, according to an article in the National Business Review. Dentists, anesthetists, and male recovery nurses are particularly at risk of such complaints, the article noted. Last month a dentist in Christchurch, NZ, denied three charges of professional misconduct over incidents in 1984, 1989, and 2001. In all
Nearly one-third of the human genome is involved with the onset and healing process associated with gingivitis, according to a new study in the Journal of Periodontology. This finding could aid in the development of new treatment approaches. More than 9,000 genes — nearly 30% of the human genome — are involved with the onset and healing process of gingivitis, suggesting that the development and reversal of this disease at
Pregnant women and babies are not getting enough dental care, according to the results of a survey commissioned by Delta Dental Plans Association. The association released other findings from its survey in September. Fully a quarter of pregnant women didn’t see the dentist at all during pregnancy and 38 percent visited the dentist just once, the survey found. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, about 50 % of women
Organogenesis has filed a premarket approval application (PMA) with the FDA for its CelTx product, a living cellular construct for oral soft-tissue regeneration. If approved, CelTx will be the first, living cell-based technology that is FDA-approved for use in the dental market, according to a company press release. “This is an important milestone for Organogenesis as well as for the regenerative medicine industry, a growing field in which new research
Illinois has become the first state in the U.S. to enact a law requiring all dental offices in Illinois to have a written medical emergency plan in place. The new law, Public Act 96-748, takes effect January 1, 2010, according to an update in the Illinois Dental News (IDN), the official publication of the Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS). It amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act by adding a section
A bill to mandate fluoride in community drinking water recently cleared the New Jersey Senate health committee but may not be implemented because of economic concerns, according to a news story on philly.com. The chairwoman of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, Nellie Pou (D — Passaic), does not plan to post the bill for a hearing because of potential cost increases being passed onto the consumer, an Assembly Majority Office spokesperson
Conflicting reports about the role of alcohol-containing mouthwashes in the development of oral cancer prompted British researchers to delve into two recent epidemiological studies on this topic to determine if, in fact, there is a clear answer (British Dental Journal, Vol. 207, E19; published online November 28, 2009). However, while their conclusions provide some potential guidance for the dental team, they fall short of being definitive. Professor Robin Seymour and