Articaine wins in mandibular infiltration study

Will mandibular infiltration ever replace the inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB)? Researchers have been picking away at this question for years. An article published in this month’s Journal of the American Dental Association brought them another step closer to the answer. Articaine in a 4% solution with 1:100,000 epinephrine numbed mandibular first molars better than five other formulas of anesthetic in the study on buccal infiltration by University of Pittsburgh

Trident backs program for low-income kids

Trident is donating a portion of its proceeds during the first week in September to Smiles Across America, a program by nonprofit Oral Health America that subsidizes dentistry for underserved kids. September 1-7, Trident will donate 5¢ for every package of Trident gum purchased to the program as part of a three-year commitment to help the organization shed light on the importance of pediatric oral health in the U.S. Trident

Jordco launches endodontic testing tools

Jordco has announced the launch of e-Dx, a set of endodontic instruments designed to test teeth for cold sensitivity and fractures. An open-cell foam inserted in the instrument stores dental coolants so that the operator can test multiple teeth. “Detachable contra-angled pliers are designed to securely hold the foam insert and reach posterior teeth providing improved visibility during cold testing,” according to the Jordco Web site. The instruments include a

U.S. oral health group elects new officers

The National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF) elected a new slate of officers and welcomed three new board members at its annual meeting on August 21, 2009. The new officers are: Chairman: Kevin Mosher, president, Nobel Biocare North America First vice president: Scott Anderson, president, Patterson Dental Supply Second vice president: Tom Engels, retired vice president and general manager, 3M ESPE Treasurer: Christopher Clark, president and chief operating offficer, Dentsply

Bioeden expands into Florida, Dominican Republic

Bioeden Tooth Cell Bank, a company that allows for the collection of stem cells from baby teeth, is now offering its services in Florida and the Dominican Republic, the company announced. Recent advancements in tooth stem cell research have included the discovery of different types of cells found in baby teeth, according to the company. Mesenchymal cells can develop into a wide range of other reparative cells, chondrocyte cells have

Delta Dental gives $25,000 to Indiana kids’ program

A $25,000 grant from the Delta Dental Foundation is helping Indiana University continue its Seal Indiana program for another school year. Seal Indiana is a mobile dental program operated by the Indiana University School of Dentistry that offers preventive services such as examinations, dental sealants, and fluoride varnish treatments. The program travels to schools within a 120-mile radius of Indianapolis to treat children from low-income families who are not receiving

Report finds hygiene market growth in U.K.

The market for oral hygiene products in the U.K. grew at an annual rate of 3.2% between 2002 and 2007, according to marketing research firm Research and Markets. The largest share of the market in 2007 went to GlaxoSmithKline, followed by Colgate-Palmolive and Johnson & Johnson, the company said. The statistics come from a report just released by Research and Markets, “Oral hygiene in the UK to 2012,” which contains

MicroRNA in saliva could help diagnose oral cancer

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have identified the presence of at least 50 microRNAs in human saliva that could aid in detecting oral cancer, according to a new study (Clinical Cancer Research, August 25, 2009). MicroRNAs are molecules produced in cells that have the ability to simultaneously control activity and assess the behavior of multiple genes. The emergence of a microRNA profile in saliva represents a

Study links endodontic disease with heart disease

A study published in this month’s Journal of the American Dental Association suggests that endodontic disease may increase a person’s risk of heart disease. The retrospective multicenter study found a correlation between people who reported having had endodontic therapy and those who had coronary heart disease (JADA, August 2009, Vol. 140:8, pp. 1004-1012). Numerous studies have shown that periodontal disease contributes to the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and many

If looks could kill, would your appearance be DOA?

Is it possible to completely destroy your rapport with a new patient within the first 30 seconds of meeting them? The answer is an unequivocal “yes.” “Only 7% of our message is communicated by words.” According to Richard Mulvey, author of You’ve Only Got Four Minutes, 90% of an individual’s opinion of you is formulated in the first four minutes of meeting. Although I would like to think that sharing

IOM pushes oral health research; a new approach to root canals

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Here’s some welcome news out of Washington, DC: Oral health research is likely to see some of the $1.1 billion the U.S. government is spending on comparative effectiveness research, if the findings of a new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) are taken to heart. Read more. In other news, an Illinois woman who says she sustained severe and permanent injuries following a series of root

Milestone Scientific gets notice of allowance on patent

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a notice of allowance to Milestone Scientific for its U.S. patent application directed to the use of a disposable handpiece for fluid administration, which is currently used in conjunction with the company’s C-CLAD (computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery) systems. To date, Milestone has been awarded 21 U.S. utility and design patents relating to its C-CLAD technologies. “This notice is a strong validation of