British study warns of risks of teeth whitening products

Teeth whitening products bought online or over the counter may contain up to 300 times the legally permissible amount of hydrogen peroxide, according to a report by a group called Which? published on June 7 in BDJ in Practice. Investigators from Which? tested at least two teeth whitening products, both gel-filled syringes bought from sellers on AliExpress, that contained dangerously high levels of hydrogen peroxide: around 30% hydrogen peroxide, or

Periodontal disease cost U.S. $154B in 2018

Periodontal disease comes with a high cost: The U.S. lost $154.1 billion in 2018 due to the condition, according to an analysis published on May 30 in the Journal of Periodontology. The loss was even worse in Europe, where periodontal disease cost the region nearly 158.6 billion euros ($194 billion U.S.). The study analyzed direct and indirect economic burdens of periodontal disease in the U.S. and 32 European countries by looking at global

Twitter users starting to embrace water fluoridation

Twitter users have started to get on board with community water fluoridation, with the number of supporters rising from none to 19% in five years, according to an article published on June 7 in BDJ in Practice. Researchers attribute the growth of positive attitudes toward fluoridation to the efforts of dental and public health groups, according to the article. However, opposition to fluoridation remains constant on Facebook. “There is now

Desktop Health gets CE Mark for Flexcera dentures

Desktop Health said it has received the CE Mark for its Flexcera resin, a proprietary product for use in 3D fabrication of dental prosthetics. Flexcera resin was developed with the strength of ceramic coupled with long-chain chemistry to ensure optimal denture properties, according to the company. When used with EnvisionTEC 3D printers, dental providers can print up to eight customized Flexcera dentures in less than two hours, Desktop Health said.

AAPD names new president, officers, trustees

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) has inducted Dr. Amr Moursi, PhD, as its new president and also installed other officers and its new board of trustees. Moursi is a professor and chair of the department of pediatric dentistry at the New York University College of Dentistry. Among other appointments, Dr. Scott Cashion, who is an adjunct faculty member in the department of pediatric dentistry at the University of North

Parkell to open office in Sweden

Dental materials and equipment manufacturer Parkell is opening a new office in Sweden. The expansion supports Parkell’s growth strategy and increases its ability to service international markets.

University of the Pacific launches oral health ad campaign

The University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry’s new public service announcement (PSA) campaign is getting the word out that dental care is an essential part of overall health. The importance of children’s oral health is the initial theme for the campaign, as dental cavities are the leading chronic disease among children in California, according to the university. Posters have been installed across San Francisco’s Muni and

Pregnancy testing before sedation could manage risk

Implementing point-of-care (POC) pregnancy testing before dental procedures that involve the use of intravenous sedation could help manage practice risk, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Researchers reviewed the feasibility of implementing preprocedure pregnancy testing at an outpatient oral and maxillofacial clinic in New York City. During a 22-month period, the program cost $70.40 per pregnancy identified but also limited the surgeons’

Canadian clinic lets patients pay in cryptocurrency

Southdown Dental Clinic in Mississauga, Ontario, said it is now accepting cryptocurrency payments from its patients. Patients can use cryptocurrency or traditional methods to pay for dental services including regular checkups, surgical procedures, or braces, according to the Canadian practice.

Orthodontic wire leads to appendicitis in 11-year-old girl

A 2.7-cm orthodontic wire caused appendicitis in an 11-year-old girl in California, according to a report published in the August issue of the Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports. The girl, who unknowingly swallowed the wire, is believed to be the first case of dental hardware being dislodged and causing appendicitis in a child. Imaging revealed the wire and helped clinicians make the diagnosis. The case highlights the importance of

Week in Review: AAE on pulp therapy | COVID-19 antibody study | Hidden inflammatory disease

Dear DrBicuspid Member, The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) announced its support for vital pulp therapy as a treatment option for adults with fully formed roots. Our top story of the week details what you need to know about the new position statement. Previously, the AAE advised reserving vital pulp therapy for adults with tooth roots that have not fully formed. The position statement focuses on the use of vital

Dentsply Sirona acquires assets of Propel Orthodontics

Dentsply Sirona announced it has acquired the assets of orthodontic device developer Propel Orthodontics, including the company’s VPro device and Fastrack mobile app. Company leaders said the acquisition will open up opportunities in the field of clear aligners and orthodontic treatment and will compliment Dentsply Sirona’s Byte aligners, which were acquired when Dentsply Sirona bought Byte in December 2020. Propel’s at-home high-frequency vibration (HFV) line includes the VPro5, VPro+, and