Every year 440,000 people in the U.S. die as a result of illness caused by cigarette smoking — deaths that could have been prevented. Dentists can play an important role in helping patients quit or avoid smoking altogether, according to a panel of experts at the California Dental Association (CDA) Fall Scientific Session last week in San Francisco. Tobacco use is the leading preventable risk factor of periodontal disease, said
Researchers at Stony Brook University’s School of Dental Medicine and School of Medicine received a $12.5 million five-year grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), an arm of the National Institutes of Health, to conduct a multicenter clinical trial to evaluate whether treatment of chronic periodontitis may help to improve diabetes control. Specifically, they will test whether nonsurgical periodontal therapy helps to improve glycemic control in
The Maine Board of Dental Examiners (MBDE) has come under fire for proposed rule changes that would, among other things, require general dentists to use heart monitors on patients who choose to undergo moderate oral sedation for dental procedures. Opponents say the proposed changes would set dentistry in Maine back 10 years and put a financial burden on dentists, according to news reports. The state says it is a matter
SAN FRANCISCO – Too many dentists are acting like mechanics instead of doctors, according to organizers of the California Dental Association (CDA) fall meeting, which kicked off Thursday with an all-day session on caries management by risk assessment (CAMBRA). .pullQuoteCredit { align:right; text-align:right; font-family:arial, sans-serif; font-size:11px; line-height: 16px; font-style: normal; padding-top:2px; } “We’re trying to engineer a shift from the restorative model to more of a medical model of prevention.”
NEW YORK (Reuters Health), Sep 12 – Nicotine gum may not only help some smokers quit, but may give them a whiter smile as well, a study suggests. In experiments with cow tooth enamel, researchers found that two nicotine gum products were better at removing stains than a regular “whitening” chewing gum. All of the gums bested the whitening ability of ordinary human saliva, however. The findings, reported in the
The California Dental Association (CDA) Foundation is promoting a new oral health campaign at the CDA’s 2008 Fall Scientific Session Conference this week in San Francisco. The campaign showcases caries management by risk assessment (CAMBRA), which is designed to help dentists assess the risk for cavities and other oral health problems. CAMBRA is the first program of its kind to move dentistry toward a medical model of preventive care, according
John Haze, D.M.D., an orthodontist in New Jersey, offers his young patients something more than perfectly aligned pearly whites — he throws in free dental IDs known as Toothprints. Developed by Dave Tesini, D.M.D., a pediatric dentist from Massachusetts, Toothprints are dental impressions that serve as a unique form of personal identification that can help law enforcement officials should a child go missing, get lost, or be abducted, Dr. Haze
Delta Dental is funding research to determine whether sugarless lollipops containing licorice extract can reduce tooth decay. The product will be tested on nursing home residents and preschool students. “Despite great advances, dental decay is one of the most common childhood diseases, with more than half of children ages 5 to 9 having had at least one cavity or filling,” said Jed Jacobson, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H., chief science officer at
Gold occupies a place of honor in dentistry. Beyond the rich gleam of the precious metal, beyond its storied past, gold has properties that — in many experts’ opinions — make it the ideal material for many restorations. That’s why the patients who are still most likely to request gold are themselves dentists. And that’s why many dentists are frustrated that the spiraling price of gold is putting it out
As I explained in an earlier post, gingivitis is the inflammation of your gums due to bacteria in plaque and tartar. Remember tartar is the hardened material caused by the mineralization of plaque left on your teeth for too long. Treating gingivitis takes two approaches. The first is a professional dental cleaning completed by your dentist or dental hygienist. The second is your home care. A professional dental cleaning’s goal
Zenith Dental recently donated more than 56,000 units of ClearShield 5% Sodium Fluoride Varnish to the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF), the company announced. The NCOHF is an international organization whose mission is to eliminate pediatric oral disease for millions of economically disadvantaged children. The NCOHF will donate the fluoride varnish to several nonprofit pediatric oral health facilities. According to the NCOHF, because of Zenith’s ongoing support and donations
NEW YORK (Reuters Health), Sep 5 – Loading up on denture cream can be hazardous to your health, new research suggests. In the medical journal Neurology, Dr. Sharon P. Nations of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and her colleagues report on four denture-wearing patients who developed neurological problems. All had abnormally high levels of zinc in their blood, accompanied by abnormally low levels of copper. Because