URI scientist awarded $2.2M grant to study oral bacteria

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health has awarded a five-year $2.2 million grant to a scientist at the University of Rhode Island (URI) to study oral bacteria. Matthew Ramsey, PhD, an assistant professor of cell and molecular biology, and a team of researchers will investigate the relationship among the 20 to 30 most encountered species of bacteria in the supragingival plaque. The researchers will study

Oral surgeon must pay $520K for risky dental practices

An oral surgeon in New Jersey, who engaged in what the licensing board called “hit and run dentistry” because it left patients injured and in debt, lost his license and must pay about $520,000 in fines and restitution. The New Jersey State Board of Dentistry revoked the license of Andrew Maron, DDS, who preyed on vulnerable patients, such as the elderly, often pressuring them into teeth extractions and replacements and

Dentist to pay $58K for not removing patient’s baby teeth

A dentist in the U.K. has agreed to pay 45,000 pounds (approximately $58,000 U.S.) for an out-of-court settlement with a former patient for failing to recognize that she never grew several adult teeth, according to news reports. Dr. Richard Fox did not admit legal responsibility but did agree to pay the sum to Rhiannon Cooper. The 24-year-old claimed that Dr. Fox, her long-term childhood dentist, failed to recognize that she never lost

Align names new VP of U.S. operations

Align Technology has named Frank Quinn as the new vice president and general manager for its U.S. operations. Quinn will be responsible for driving continued growth and profitability within the U.S. for the company. He will oversee U.S. sales and marketing, dental service organizations (DSOs), commercial excellence, and functional leaders supporting the U.S. commercial organization. Since joining Align in 2013, Quinn has held several leadership roles, most recently as the

Fluoride exposure in infancy linked to lower nonverbal IQ

Another study has linked early fluoride exposure to lower IQ scores later in life. Researchers from the U.S. and Canada found fluoride intake from reconstituted infant formula was linked to significantly decreased nonverbal IQ scores in preschool-aged children. The study, which was published in Environment International (November 16, 2019), is the third in the past two years to question the relationship between fluoride intake and IQ scores for children. A

All That You Need to Know About Dental Crowns

Dental crowns or caps are a type of dental prosthodontics or prosthetic teeth restorations that dentists up atop the damaged tooth’s crown or topmost head, which is akin to the bejeweled royal headgear of the same name worn by royalty. It’s commonly associated with root canal therapy or endodontic treatments that pull the infected tooth root out of a heavily decayed tooth before its insides are cemented and the cap

Report: Midwestern cities rank highest for excess

Total the number of smokers, coffee drinkers, and the number of fast-food restaurants in a city and you have one formula to identify a population in need of dental care — and potential for periodontal disease. Personal finance website WalletHub ranked U.S. cities for “vice and excess” and found three midwestern U.S. cities ranked highest. The website ranked more than 180 U.S. cities on almost 40 critical indicators of so-called

Frequently Asked Questions About Root Canal Treatment

Having heard that you might need to undergo a root canal treatment can be nerve-wracking to some. However, there really is no need for people to worry about undergoing this procedure since this is a dental procedure that happens to millions of people around the world. And besides, dentists are highly trained in performing simple to complex procedures. At Avalon Dental Group, we are committed to providing our patients with

Dental practice pokes fun at rival football fans

The Thanksgiving season is known for feasting, family, and football. It’s also a time for longtime college football rivalries, and one dental practice in Ohio is showing which team it hopes feels the sting of defeat, according to a news report by WDTN. Kondas Dental Group in Huber Heights is taunting University of Michigan fans with a sign set up outside the office that reads, “THIS WEEK ONLY – NO

Patient to receive $51K for untreated tooth decay

Dentists in the U.K. reached an out-of-court settlement, agreeing to pay 40,000 pounds (approximately $51,000 U.S.), with a former patient who lived with “unbearable” pain because his tooth decay was never detected or treated, according to a news report on WalesOnline. Maria Bousmpouki, DDS, and Dorrel Gordon, DDS, of mydentist in Crickhowell, U.K., will pay the settlement to Morgan Rees, 25, for allegedly failing to spot and treat his tooth

Infographic: A closer look at obesity in the U.S.

Nearly 40% of the U.S. population is now classified as obese, but the rate of obesity varies widely across different U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Personal finance website WalletHub compiled nutrition and obesity data in the U.S. to better map the differences among the states. In WalletHub’s analysis, Mississippi ranked as the “fattest” state in the U.S. According to the U.S. Centers Disease and Prevention (CDC), 39.5% of

ADA opposes agency’s proposed fluoride hazard rating

The ADA supports community fluoridation and believes it is a safe way to prevent caries, despite a recent draft monograph from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Toxicology Program that suggests fluoride is a cognitive neurodevelopmental hazard to humans. The program conducted a systematic review to evaluate the evidence that exposure to fluoride could be associated with neurodevelopmental or cognitive effects. A committee assembled by the National