Week in Review: Battles continue over DTC orthodontics | FTC ruling in distributor case | What to know about vaping

This past week saw major battles erupt in the ongoing struggle over direct-to-consumer (DTC) orthodontics, in particular involving the segment’s major player, SmileDirectClub. The first skirmish erupted in California, where that state became the first in the U.S. to pass a law that aims to better protect patients who undergo DTC orthodontic treatments by requiring x-rays and more before moving ahead with care. The other shoe dropped on Thursday, when

Colgate’s Optic White fails to deeply whiten teeth, suit claims

A Nevada woman has filed a class-action suit against Colgate-Palmolive, claiming that Colgate’s Optic White toothpaste is based on “false hope” because it fails to naturally, deeply whiten teeth as advertised. Sharon Willis filed the lawsuit, stating that she used the toothpaste as directed, but it failed to deeply whiten her teeth or remove any intrinsic stains as the product claims. She alleges the company has misrepresented its Optic White

SmileDirectClub sues Calif. dental board for harassment

SmileDirectClub has filed a lawsuit against the Dental Board of California, alleging it intentionally harassed the direct-to-consumer clear-aligner company’s clinics in a planned effort to hinder its growth. The litigation further fans the flames between the burgeoning industry and traditional orthodontics. The lawsuit was filed on October 16 in the western division of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by SmileDirectClub and its chief clinical officer,

Radiation-free imaging system aids caries detection

Near-infrared light transillumination (NILT) does not expose patients to ionizing radiation, but is it an effective modality for detecting caries? Researchers tested NILT against direct digital radiography in almost 140 teeth to find out. NILT showed a higher correlation than direct digital radiography for approximal dentinal caries detection, and it can be a useful diagnostic tool in conjunction with bitewing radiographs, the study authors noted. “Accordingly, NILT may be used

Case report: Repair of osseous defect on an implant

A 70-year-old patient presented to the dental practice for an emergency exam after experiencing pain around the peri-implant tissues of implant #5. On evaluation, sulcular pus and buccal edematous tissue were observed — both associated with the implant in question. Following radiological studies of the affected area, implant #5 exhibited coronal bone loss and classic “cupping,” consistent with signs of occlusal overload. The patient received a diagnosis of peri-implant disease

YouTube is better for watching dental injuries than fixing them

YouTube is probably not the best source of information for learning how to manage dental trauma, according to a study published on October 13. Researchers from the U.K. analyzed 120 videos and found that YouTube is much better for seeing people knock their teeth out than educating the public about how to manage an avulsed tooth. While YouTube was once known for its short videos and vlogs, the website is

Owner of Wash. dental practice fined in boy’s death

The owner of Must Love Kids Pediatric Dentistry in Vancouver, WA, has been fined $5,000 in connection with the death of a 4-year-old patient, according to the Washington State Department of Health. The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled in June 2018 that Mykel Wayne Peterson died of multiple drug intoxication from anesthesia he received for dental treatment in March 2017. In February 2018, the state’s Dental Quality Assurance Commission

CDHP director to receive innovator award

Children’s Dental Health Project (CDHP) Executive Director Meg Booth has been chosen to receive the Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund Innovator Award. The award recognizes Booth’s leadership at the CDHP, the organization said. She has served as its executive director since 2016. “Due to [Booth’s] dedicated leadership, policymakers at all levels are more aware than ever before of the critical need for a dental benefit to ensure a child’s optimal

Study: Dental specialists prescribe millions of antibiotics

Dentists and other dental specialists wrote about 9 million antibiotic prescriptions to patients during a three-year period despite growing concerns of antibiotic resistance, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association. Dental specialists, specifically, prescribed a steady stream of antibiotic prescriptions, writing them for 2.4 million to 38 million patients over three years. Of those specialists, clinicians in oral and maxillofacial surgery, periodontics, and endodontics wrote the most,

Dentist pulls longest tooth ever at 1.5 inches

The longest tooth ever extracted from a human has been removed by a clinician at a German dental office, according to a report published October 14 in the Swiss Dental Journal. After the tooth was surgically removed, it was measured and confirmed that the tooth was 37.2 mm or 1.46 inches long. This tooth was slightly larger than the 36.7-mm tooth that was extracted from a student in Gujarat, India,

Biolase gets clearance for laser crown removal

Laser and CAD/CAM scanner company Biolase has received regulatory clearance from the U.S. and Canada for use of its Waterlase dental lasers for crown and veneer removal. The new application allows dentists to remove crowns and veneers in less than five minutes and eliminates excess heat, the company said.

Sugary drinks account for majority of kids’ drink sales

Sugary drinks accounted for almost two-thirds of children’s drink sales in 2018, according to a report published on October 16. Beverage manufacturers also spent millions of dollars advertising sugar-sweetened beverages to children last year. Researchers analyzed sales, nutrition, and marketing data from the top-selling children’s drinks in 2018. The findings show a dichotomy between sugary drink manufacturers’ marketing practices and their stated desire to help prevent diseases, the authors noted.