Dentists battle tooth decay and gum disease on a daily basis. Now British researchers have lent them a hand by discovering a new species of bacteria that could be a possible contributor to both. Identifying and cataloguing new and existing oral bacteria could aid in developing new prevention methods and treatment of oral diseases. However, it is still unclear how relevant these particular new bacteria will be to treating periodontal
So what is this gingivitis that the dentist keeps telling me about? And how is it different than periodontitis? The simple answer would be that gingivitis is an inflammation of your gums, or gingiva. The long answer would be that gingivitis is the beginning of a disease process initiated by bacteria in your mouth, which has the potential to progress into periodontitis. I know… keep it simple right? So to
A new group of products created to support good oral hygiene and help prevent tooth decay is being introduced to dental offices nationwide by Benco Dental. The products include two new SipDisc kits for dentists and hygienists to distribute to their pediatric patients. The kits include daily brushing charts designed to encourage children to practice good daily oral hygiene habits. Each kit features specially designed SipDiscs, lightweight paperboard die-cut disks
What do you do with an aging monkey whose incisors have worn away? Why, give it a root canal of course! And that is exactly what 24-year-old Twiggy — a lion-tailed macaque — at the El Paso Zoo in Texas was scheduled to receive last week, according to a news story in the Las Cruces Sun News. Animals in zoos can live much longer than in the wild and unexamined
“Pulling Teeth for the Hood,” “Brush Yo Donkey Teeth,” and “Call Big Doc.” These are just some of the songs featured on a CD to be released in September by Marrio Thomas, D.D.S. — aka “Big Doc” — of East Memphis, TN. According to a story on RedOrbit.com, Dr. Thomas’ goal is to deliver the message of proper dental care to teens, preteens, and even younger patients through a medium
Paradise Dental Technologies has introduced a flosser that can help reduce the time and hassle of flossing for patients with braces, according to the company. The patent-pending Platypus orthodontic flosser comes with a preloaded nylon floss. It has a flat tine that can slide underneath the wire, eliminating the need for a threader. “Traditionally, patients with braces have had to thread floss under the wire for every tooth,” stated a
Two Chicago dentists who had their licenses suspended July 31 because a patient died while under sedation in their office must now pay the patient’s family $3.9 million. On August 13, a Cook County Circuit Court judge approved a settlement agreement between the family of Georgette Watson, who died in December during a root canal procedure, and brothers Joseph Feldman, D.D.S., and Laurence Feldman, D.D.S., the dentists performing that procedure.
OralDNA Labs has received a nonexclusive license from Interleukin Genetics to market, sell, and distribute Interleukin’s PST Genetic Test to U.S. dental practices. The test assesses an individual’s genetic risk for periodontal disease. Interleukin will receive a set fee per test for all tests sold. Also, patients will be asked in the informed consent if they would like to receive additional testing services provided by Interleukin. “We believe that by
Crosstex International has developed several new dental products designed to help dentists support the fight against women’s cancers. The company’s line of “Pink with a Purpose” products — all displayed in pink — include GumNumb topical anesthetic gel, Sparkle prophylaxis pastes, Zap fluorides, the Pink with a Purpose sterilization pouch, and the Pink Premium saliva ejector. “The Pink with a Purpose program transforms ordinary dental products into statements about compassion
A study published in the Journal of Periodontology (July 2008, Vol. 79:8, pp. 1426-1433) used 51 sets of twins between the ages of 12 and 21 to demonstrates what dentists have been telling their patients for years: flossing can help reduce the amount of gum-disease-causing bacteria in the mouth. In the study, conducted at New York University, each set of twins was randomly assigned a two-week treatment regimen, with one
In rare cases, implants may be associated with cancer, according to the authors of two case reports in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA). Each article focuses on a single case, and each falls short of concluding that the implants are the definitive cause of this devastating complication. One report, which also includes a literature review, cites a 38-year-old who had developed a low-grade chondroblastic osteosarcoma of the
Under a new state law that took effect in July, Iowa schools are now requiring proof that students have had a dental screening, according to a Sioux City Journal report. Students enrolling in elementary or high school will be asked to show that they have had a dental screening. However, the exam does not have to be performed by a dentist — a school nurse can conduct the screening —