Texas A&M receives $3.3M for special-needs care

The Texas A&M College of Dentistry has received a five-year, $3.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide dental services to special-needs patients who age out of pediatric dental care at age 12 or 13. These patients often have difficulty maintaining their oral healthcare because many procedures, including routine cleaning, require sedation. Few places offer training for special-needs dentistry,

2 Penn schools form new dentistry center

The University of Pennsylvania’s (Penn) School of Dental Medicine and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences formed the Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry (CiPD) on January 22, which will work to address unmet needs in oral health. The online launch party included deans from both schools, partners from throughout the university, and invited guests, including U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Director Dr. Rena D’Souza, PhD. The

NYU receives $2.9M for oral cancer pain research

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), has awarded researchers at New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry a five-year, $2.9 million grant to investigate oral cancer pain treatment. Dr. Brian Schmidt, PhD, a professor in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, and Dr. Seiichi Yamano, PhD, an assistant professor of prosthodontics at NYU College of Dentistry, will research whether

SmileDirectClub partners with Canadian insurer

SmileDirectClub has inked a partnership with Green Shield Canada, one of Canada’s largest dental insurance providers. Under terms of the deal, SmileDirectClub will provide Green Shield beneficiaries with its telehealth-based orthodontic care. The platform offers patients access to customer care teams via phone, video chat, email, or social media; patients can get started with a 3D scan taken at one of the company’s brick-and-mortar SmileShops or with a prescribed remote

Western Dental names new pediatric director

Dental service organization Western Dental said it has appointed Dr. Steven Le as its pediatric director. Le, who has 20 years of experience as a pediatric dentist, will be responsible for ensuring pediatric patients receive quality care at Western Dental Kids, Western Dental, Brident, and Vital Smiles offices in California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and Alabama. He has worked at various Western Dental locations in California over the years.

1st known case of IJV thrombosis linked to oral germ G. adiacens

The oral bacterium Granulicatella adiacens led to internal jugular vein (IJV) thrombosis in a man with poor oral hygiene and periodontitis, in a case published on January 20 in BMJ Case Reports. This is believed to be the first reported case of IJV thrombosis associated with G. adiacens, according to the authors. “When confronted with G. adiacens [bacteremia] in patients with poor oral hygiene, it is necessary to be cautious

Offor Health raises $5M

Offor Health has raised $5 million in a series A funding round led by SpringRock Ventures of Seattle. Offor Health’s services include SmileMD, which provides specialty dental services and anesthesia to pediatric and adult patients in dental practices, supporting treatment in local communities. The company said it plans to use the funding to further develop its infrastructure and technology platform and to recruit key staff. In 2020, the company increased

DGShape debuts accessory for DWX-52D milling machine

Roland DGA’s DGShape Americas has launched a new C-clamp adapter for its DWX-52D dental milling machine. The clamp is intended to enhance the functionality of the machine with a 90° milling range expansion, allowing for the milling of larger full-arch cases while improving overall esthetics, according to the company.

What COVID-19 therapy may be linked to higher risk of MRONJ?

A drug used to treat patients with COVID-19 may also put them at higher risk of developing medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), according to a letter to the editor published on January 22 in the British Dental Journal. The immunosuppressive drug tocilizumab has shown promising results in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. But dentists should talk to their patients about the side effects of this medication. “We must take into

Tekscan debuts new digital occlusal analysis system

Tekscan has unveiled T-Scan Novus Core, an entry-level digital occlusal analysis system geared toward general dental practices. Designed for general dentists who are beginning to incorporate digital technologies, T-Scan Novus Core provides essential bite force and timing, according to the company. It uses contact data points in conjunction with analog occlusion methods such as articulating paper to assist dentists in pinpointing the exact areas in a patient’s mouth that require

Imaging leads to removal of 3-cm toy from dementia patient

Imaging helped physicians identify and remove a spinning-top toy from an 83-year-old woman in Florida who had end-stage dementia and an oral fixation. Details of the case were published on January 20 in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science. Initially, junior radiology residents missed the object, which was 3 cm in diameter, on the patient’s chest and brain computed tomography (CT) images and chest radiographs. Three days after she was

A hygienist shares her thoughts on lasers, best practices during a pandemic

Lynn Atkinson has been working in the dental industry for nearly 40 years, starting her career as a dental assistant in 1982. She then became a registered dental hygienist (RDH) in 1989 and began working with advanced technology, including dental lasers, microscopes, and more. Much of her career has been focused on the use of dental lasers for registered hygienists. Atkinson is involved in education programs for hygienists and is