The aloe vera plant has a long history of healing power. Now a team of dental researchers from India have found that aloe vera tooth gel can be as effective as toothpaste for fighting tooth decay. Aloe vera tooth gel is intended to perform the same function as toothpaste: eliminate pathogenic oral microflora. However, the gel’s ability to actually do so has been a point of contention for some dental
A retired Australian dentist has created a sugarless chocolate that fights cavities, according to a news story in the Herald Sun. The candy, dubbed Sweet William, prevents food from getting trapped between teeth and protects teeth from food acids buildup, according to the story. “Every food you eat gets caught between teeth and in the grooves,” said Maurice White, B.D.Sc., the inventor, noting that 95% of food is trapped between
National Dentex reported net income of $2.3 million on sales of $42.8 million for the second quarter of 2009 (end-June 30), compared to net income of $1.9 million on sales of $44.6 million for the same period a year ago. “Despite sales declines of 5.2% in the first quarter of 2009 and 4.1% in the second quarter of 2009, we attained this positive growth in net income primarily through our
The Berger Hospital Financial Counselors of Circleville, OH, has brought a mobile dentistry van to schools in the area, according to an article in the Circleville Herald. The organization paid for the Mobile Dentists and Smiles Program to provide dental examinations and cleanings to local children younger than age 18, the paper said. The program provides services such as cleanings, fluoride, x-rays, education, and free toothbrushes. Funding for the program
In the wake of news reports concerning the possible use of such anesthetic drugs as Diprivan (propofol) by the late Michael Jackson, questions have been raised about the availability and administration of such agents. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) and its 8,500 fellows and members who are licensed to practice oral and maxillofacial surgery in the U.S. support the position of the American Society of Anesthesiologists
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) provides a workable alternative to managing caries where full restorations are not possible, an international group of researchers report in the Journal of Dental Research (July 2009, Vol. 88:7, pp. 644-647). The researchers divided 976 Nepalese schoolchildren into four groups: one group received a single spot application of 38% SDF, another got 38% SDF with tannic acid as a reducing agent, a third group got 12%
Access Pharmaceuticals announced that it is evaluating options for the commercialization of MuGard, a mucoadhesive oral wound rinse for managing oral mucositis, in North America. Earlier this year, the company announced that it would release the product in Europe. A previously announced licensing agreement between Access and Milestone Biosciences for North American rights to MuGard has been terminated, the company said. Frank Jacobucci, formerly president and CEO of Milestone Biosciences,
After debuting with a regional U.S. rollout, the 3M ESPE Lava Chairside Oral Scanner is now available to dentists nationwide, the company announced. The scanner creates digital impressions, similar to those created by Sirona’s Cerec. But unlike the Cerec, which can be used to mill products in the dentist’s own office, the Lava’s impressions must be sent to a lab for milling. A full list of approved indications includes crowns,
Women going into early preterm labor have low levels of progesterone in their saliva as early as 24 weeks of gestation, according to a new study in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (July 22, 2009). Researchers from the University College London and King’s College London collected specimens of saliva from women enrolled in a randomized trial of preventive treatment for preterm birth. Their findings could lead to
Men with a history of bone loss due to periodontitis run a higher risk of having a stroke, according to a study in the Annals of Neurology (May 28, 2009). .pullQuoteCredit { align:right; text-align:right; font-family:arial, sans-serif; font-size:11px; line-height: 16px; font-style: normal; padding-top:2px; } “Periodontitis could be an important marker of risk for cerebrovascular disease, given its relatively high prevalence and the strength of the association.” The potential role of periodontitis
The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) has issued new guidelines on preventing and handling emergencies related to severe and potentially fatal allergic reactions to anesthesia, according to a news article on Dentistry.co.uk. Most reports of anesthesia-related anaphylaxis originate from France, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K., but cases have also been reported from Scandinavia and the U.S., according to the article. “Although anesthetic anaphylaxis is still
Colgate-Palmolive reported record net income for its second quarter of 2009, the company announced. Net income for the period (end-June 30) was $561.6 million, compared to $493.8 million for the same quarter a year ago. Operating profit was $887.1 million for the quarter, compared to $788.4 million in the same quarter of 2008. However, worldwide sales declined 5.5% during the second quarter to $3.7 billion, and unit volume declined 1.5%,