SmileDirectClub lawsuit against Ga. dental board moves forward

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit upheld a panel ruling from last year to advance SmileDirectClub’s antitrust lawsuit against the state of Georgia’s dental board. SmileDirectClub is in a legal battle with the board over regulations that ban the teeth-straightening company’s web-based business model, according to an article from Bloomberg Law. The company is engaged in a similar legal battle with Alabama’s dental board. In a press

CBD spray may help treat oral ulcers

Cannabidiol (CBD) oral spray may inhibit inflammation in tongue ulcers, relieve pain, and accelerate the closure of lesions, according to an animal study presented at the virtual 2021 meeting of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). The finding may help advance efforts to develop new therapeutic strategies for oral ulcers. Oral ulcers are a common oral inflammatory lesion associated with severe pain, yet few effective treatments are available. CBD

Water from scalers largely fails to meet U.S. standards

The output water from ultrasonic scalers at a dental school largely failed to meet U.S. potable water standards in recent testing. The research was presented on July 22 at the virtual International Association for Dental Research (IADR) meeting. A group from Temple University in Philadelphia and the University of Groningen in the Netherlands tested water samples from 20 ultrasonic scalers at a university clinic setting. Eight of the tested scalers

Wearing a mask makes people aware of their bad breath

Wearing a face mask makes people aware of their bad breath, according to a recent survey published in Oral Diseases. The use of face masks also led respondents to make significant changes in their oral hygiene habits. A total of 4,647 individuals answered questions about their demographic information, health conditions, hygiene habits, and awareness of their breath odor. The findings reveal how much the use of face masks during the

Study finds sodium fluoride tops SDF for kids

Semiannual application of 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish is more effective than 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) varnish in preventing approximal caries in primary teeth, according to a study presented at the 2021 International Association for Dental Research (IADR) virtual meeting. In this randomized clinical trial, researchers from Mahidol University in Bangkok evaluated the effectiveness of 38% SDF varnish (Topamine), 5% sodium fluoride varnish (Duraphat), or placebo (water) in preventing

Needle sticks, burs cause most dental school injuries

Needle sticks and uncovered burs are responsible for most dental school injuries, according to research presented on July 22 at the virtual International Association for Dental Research (IADR) meeting. Researchers from the University of Louisville reviewed occupational injury data collected as part of the School of Dentistry’s safety and infection control program. In the past 10 years, the school performed 1.5 million procedures in 822,139 patient visits. In that same period,

All-tissue lasers show power for managing peri-implantitis

Peri-implantitis is one of the more common diseases plaguing patients with dental implants. As a periodontist, it is critical to actively seek out new solutions to treat this disease by constantly consuming new information presented in studies. This helps to determine the best option available for patients today, which is constantly evolving. Dr. Samuel Low Peri-implantitis, an inflammatory disease, can begin as peri-implant mucositis as a result of biofilm accumulation

Dental disease prominent in Canary Islands mummies

Analysis of pre-Hispanic mummies found in the Canary Islands has shown that their dental pathologies did not differ significantly from skeletonized remains found on the same island, according to research published online July 13 in the International Journal of Paleopathology. A research group performed macroscopic examination under fluorescent lights of pathological and nonpathological features of the oral cavity in 400 teeth and 764 alveoli of 30 adult pre-Hispanic mummies from

CBCT aids in retrieval of broken 1.3-cm needle from man’s mouth

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and two injection needles used as reference points assisted in the removal of a broken 1.3-cm suture needle from a man’s buccal mucosa, according to a case report published recently in Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. After a dentist accidentally cut the suture needle during the patient’s procedure, the clinician tried to use a panoramic x-ray and CT to visualize and retrieve the needle but failed.

Vaping associated with untreated caries

Vaping electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) was associated with an increase of untreated caries, according to research published on July 14 in the Journal of the American Dental Association. While the study couldn’t establish causality, the findings suggest vaping may be a major risk factor for caries. The study, led by Dr. Abhilash Vemulapalli from Westend Dental Clinic in Ontario, Canada, examined the association between vaping and untreated caries at a population level.

Imaging aids in tween’s tumor-induced jaw reconstruction

Imaging has helped diagnose and reconstruct an 11-year-old girl’s lower jaw, which had eroded due to a growing benign tumor. The case report was published on July 9 in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Cases. Clinicians removed the unicystic ameloblastoma, reconstructed the girl’s jaw using a bone from her pelvis, inserted dental prosthetics, and more. The girl underwent x-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans throughout the years to monitor her progress.

Air Techniques adds nasal hood product line

Air Techniques has launched a new product line of nitrous oxide and oxygen nasal hoods. The hood’s design minimizes ambient nitrous oxide in the operatory, the company said. Additionally, an oval exhalation valve directs exhaled gases to the built-in scavenger flow channels. The hoods are latex-free and universally fit with other double-scavenging circuits. The company also announced a new line of scavenging circuits. The scavenging circuits are fully autoclavable and