Gum disease not tied to pregnancy risks

NEW YORK (Reuters Health), May 14 – Contrary to earlier reports, gum disease, also referred to as periodontal disease, does not appear to be associated with preterm births and other pregnancy problems, according to a report in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “Given the theorized link between infection or inflammation and many adverse pregnancy outcomes, it is biologically plausible that periodontal disease may be linked to adverse pregnancy

Research supports immediate-load dental implants

Three case studies published recently in the Journal of Oral Implantology (JOI) showed that immediate-load implants in healthy patients were successful and remained functional after 30 months of follow-up, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID). Studies showing long-term results of immediate-load implants are scarce, according to JOI, and the successful cases cited in the report — written by a team of Turkish dental researchers — provide new

GlaxoSmithKline launches PoliCare program for dentists, denture patients

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare has launched the PoliCare outreach program, designed to help bridge the gap between patient and professional by helping consumers better understand life with dentures and helping dental professionals encourage inquiry and discussion with their denture-wearing patients, the company announced. The patient Web site, MyPoliCare.com, offers patients and caregivers valuable support and information, including preparing for dentures, living with dentures, and proper care and maintenance of dentures. By

ADA Foundation hosts pediatric gala

The ADA Foundation hosted its second annual Give Kids A Smile awards event at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, on May 12. The association’s Give Kids A Smile program delivers free oral healthcare to millions of underserved children, and has enlisted hundreds of thousands of volunteers since it began in 2003. The event honors members of Congress who have supported the ADA’s oral health advocacy goals, and is

Zila takes oral cancer concerns to U.S. Congress

At a congressional hearing today in Washington, DC, U.S. legislators were urged to press the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to immediately expand use of Zila’s ViziLite Plus, the FDA-cleared technology for the early detection of oral abnormalities that could lead to cancer, the company announced. David Bethune, chairman and CEO of Zila, the developer and marketer of ViziLite Plus, addressed the issue in testimony before the House Committee

Study: Dental implants result in minimal bone loss

Dental implants are frequently used as a replacement for missing teeth to restore the patient’s tooth function and appearance. Previous research has shown that the placement of a dental implant disrupts the host tissue in the area of the implant, so practitioners often focus their treatment planning to carefully maintain the patient’s bone and gum tissue surrounding the implant. A recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology found that

How technology changed my life

For years, I worked on the basis of an hour for each adult recall patient. But technology has allowed me to reduce my traditional recall appointment time by 10 minutes. In my office, that equates to an additional $40,000 in hygiene production over the course of a year. That’s no small change, and it’s all due to advances in dental materials, imaging devices, software, and hygiene equipment that have opened

Louisiana school dentistry bill passes in committee

A bill to ban dentistry in Louisiana schools passed today in the state’s House Health and Welfare Committee but with new amendments that make exceptions for underserved areas. The committee devoted most of its hearing today to testimony from Barry Ogden, executive director of the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry. Ogden said the committee had found no problems with dentists in schools so far. “It’s been a nonissue up until

Report: Implant market will rise again

The market for implants is poised to boom again, once the global recession ends, according to a report by WinterGreen Research. The implant industry will grow from $3.4 billion in 2008 to $8.1 billion by 2015, the report states, as more and more people demand better and better teeth. Of adults ages 35 to 44, 69% have lost at least one permanent tooth to an accident, gum disease, a failed

Milestone Q1 revenues jump 58%

Milestone Scientific reported $2 million in revenues for the first quarter of 2009 (end-March 31), a 58% increase over revenues of $1.4 million for the same quarter a year ago. Instrument sales rose 261% to $792,000 from $219,000, and sales of the STA Single Tooth Anesthesia System jumped 626%, from $85,000 in Q1 2008 to $617,000 in the most recent quarter, the company stated in a press release. Net loss

Komet releases new crown cutter size

Komet USA has released its H4MCXL carbide crown cutters in a 014 size, which also has a longer 5-mm working part. H4MCXL, along with Komet’s other carbide crown removers (H4MC [012] and H4MCL [012]), are available with friction grips and have a unique blade design, according to the company. Their pyramid-shaped blade configuration and transversing blade allow dentists to feel their impact when they efficiently cut into metal alloys, titanium,

FlossFirst offers package with more floss

FlossFirst has released a new version of its credit-card-sized floss package that holds 60 meters (200 ft) of floss, the company announced. The floss is finer, allowing 20% more to fit into the package that is only 86 x 55 x 4 mm and making it easy to carry in a pocket or purse, FlossFirst said. The floss comes in both a high-friction, 100-filament nylon, which is best for cleaning,