Oral surgeon files complaint over RI vaccine mandate

A Rhode Island oral and maxillofacial surgeon filed a complaint on February 4 against the state governor and a senior health department official who ordered the clinician to stop treating patients until he was vaccinated for COVID-19. Last October, the State of Rhode Island Department of Health ordered Dr. Stephen Skoly Jr. to close his 11-person dental and surgical practice until he complied with Rhode Island’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Skoly is

Novel toothbrush outperforms sonic brush for whitening

A novel radiofrequency toothbrush left teeth whiter and worked better against tooth stains than a sonic vibrating toothbrush, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association. Consumers and patients have a strong demand for tools to keep teeth healthy and to remove stains, which is a common issue for people who use tobacco or drink coffee. With the new study, lead author Dr. Bennett Amaechi, PhD,

Can xylitol gum reduce preterm birth?

Chewing gum with xylitol is known to prevent tooth decay, but it could also reduce preterm births and improve birth weight, according to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. A group led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine studied preterm births and birth-weight outcomes in more than 10,000 women in Melawi who received perinatal and oral health education alone or both education and daily

Align rolls out additions to digital platform

Align Technology is introducing Invisalign system additions for its Align Digital Platform, with the aim of improving workflow and connecting its users, including doctors, labs, patients, and consumers. The additions include ClinCheck Live Update for 3D controls and the Invisalign Practice App, Invisalign Personalized Plan (IPP), and Invisalign Smile Architect. ClinCheck Live Update allows clinicians to modify treatment plans in real-time to improve practice productivity, while also improving plan quality,

Gold dental implants linked to rare oral lichen planus

Gold-containing dental implants may have caused an allergic reaction in a 64-year-old woman’s mouth that developed into the chronic inflammatory disease oral lichen planus. The case report was published on February 2 in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science. Tests revealed that the woman had a gold allergy, and it was recommended that her implants be replaced. Clinicians should consider factors that may contribute to the development of oral lichenoid

Benco Dental acquires Popp Dental Supply

Dental distributor Benco Dental has acquired Wisconsin-based dental supplier Popp Dental Supply. The announcement comes just months after Benco’s acquisition of American Dental Industries (ADI) Mobile Health fell apart. In June, Benco announced plans to acquire the Oregon-based maker of mobile dental and medical clinic vehicles. In August, the deal fell through due to their “inability to reach final terms.”

DentalPlans.com offers tips to cut kids’ dental anxiety

In recognition of National Children’s Dental Health Month, online dental savings plan marketplace DentalPlans.com is offering tips for reducing children’s dental anxiety. DentalPlans.com, which is part of Henry Schein One, offers the following tips for making trips to the dentist less stressful for children and their caretakers: ul.editorialList li {margin-bottom:6px;} Schedule frequent visits, which lessens the likelihood that children will need more treatment for more significant dental issues. Avoid setting

SARS-CoV-2 may reside in perio pockets, cavities

SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in cavitated tooth decay and periodontal pockets, suggesting that these sites may act as reservoirs for infection, according to an article recently published online in Molecular Oral Microbiology. The findings indicate a potential direct link between SARS-CoV-2 and oral tissues. It’s the first study to demonstrate the direct presence of the virus that causes COVID-19 in periodontal pockets and cavitated caries lesions, according to the group

Taste disorders, xerostomia common in COVID-19 patients

Dentists should stay abreast of the most common oral manifestations of COVID-19 such as taste disorders and xerostomia, according to a recent study published online in the Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice. In the study, researchers led by J. Amorim dos Santos of the University of Brasilia in Brazil measured the prevalence of taste disorders and xerostomia among people who tested positive for COVID-19. They also measured the relationships among

Pictorial health warnings curb purchases of sugary drinks for children

A picture may be worth a thousand words of warning about the dangers of sugar, according to research published on February 1 in PLOS Medicine. Parents were less inclined to purchase sugary drinks for their children if the products contained pictorial health warnings, the study found. The results of the randomized controlled trial suggest that adding image-based warning labels could be an effective strategy for reducing sugary drink purchases and

WildSmiles joins forces with Smiles Change Lives

Designer braces firm WildSmiles and nonprofit organization Smiles Change Lives are teaming up on an initiative aimed at facilitating free orthodontic treatment for children in need. WildSmiles will provide program recipients with free designer brackets. The company will also donate 5% of its total revenue from affiliated providers. More information on the program can be found on the WildSmiles website.

Oral-B launches new smart toothbrush

Oral-B has added a new smart toothbrush to its iO line of products that offers users oral health coaching. The iO10 smart toothbrush. Image courtesy of Oral-B. The iO10 with iOSense is a rechargeable electric toothbrush that guides brushing time, pressure, and tooth coverage. It features seven different cleaning modes. The company is also highlighting its iO4 and iO5 electric brushes, which it expects to release early this year. Oral-B