New review highlights periodontitis link with heart disease

The role dentists and hygienists can play in helping patients reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is highlighted in a new literature review that further links periodontitis and the risk of heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, and peripheral artery disease. The authors of the new report in Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism (April 16, 2015) cited previous studies that show “excess risk” for CVD in patients with periodontitis.

Quarter of patients misuse opioids for pain management

About 1 in 4 patients misuse opioids prescribed for chronic pain, according to a new systematic review. Dentists are in a prime position to help prevent such prescription drug abuse by educating patients about drug misuse. The review, which is published in the journal Pain, found that the rate of misuse for prescribed opioids to treat chronic pain is around 25% and the rate of opioid addiction is around 10%.

Ill. bill seeks coverage for sedation of special needs patients

A bill sponsored by Illinois legislators would require insurance companies to cover sedation during dental procedures for special needs patients. The bill, HB 235, introduced by state Rep. Laura Fine (D-Glenview), would require insurers to pay for sedation during essential dental procedures for developmentally disabled patients younger than 27 years old. The measure was approved unanimously by a Special Needs Committee and now goes to the state House of Representatives

KaVo Kerr combines brands

KaVo Kerr Group has combined and rebranded three of its five brands: Kerr, Kerr TotalCare, and Axis|SybronEndo The three brands have been reorganized into one organization with four identities: Kerr Restoratives, Kerr Endodontics, Kerr Rotary, and Kerr TotalCare. The goal of the change is to redefine how the company’s products are offered. By aggregating the three brands, KaVo Kerr Group intends to eliminate boundaries and to promote greater collaboration, the

Bleeding Gums: Causes and Treatment

Blood is something many of us fear, the simple sight of blood can cause the person to faint. The anticipation of a physical injury or an injection is one of the trigger Hemophobia or seeing your gums bleed. Fainting will not occur if you have a panic attack, however with blood-injury-needle phobias, fainting is likely to occur. For our dental clinic in Los Algodones, your dental health and overall health

Rutgers adds LANAP, LAPIP to postgraduate program

Millennium Dental Technologies has joined the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in Newark, NJ, to add the LANAP (laser-assisted new attachment procedure) and LAPIP (laser-assisted peri-implantitis procedure) protocols to its postgraduate periodontics program. Periodontal residents will be trained in these protocols under the agreement between Millennium and Rutgers, according to the company. Millennium, which is also developing a partnership with the U.S. Army, plans to continue building relationships with other

GamesThatWork launches software-only version of Brush Up app

Digital game developer GamesThatWork has launched a software-only version of its Brush Up app, which teaches kids how to brush their teeth. The app was originally designed to work with the company’s sensor-enabled Bluetooth toothbrush, but now it can be used with a nonelectronic toothbrush. “Nothing teaches better than real-time feedback from a connected toothbrush,” stated Dov Jacobson, director of GamesThatWork, in a press release. “But millions of families can’t

Madow Bros. on name recognition; early oral cancer detection; ‘Terminator’-style 3D printing

Dear DrBicuspid Member, How do you build trust and name recognition for your practice? In their latest column, the Madow Brothers offer a suggestion that is both unique and cost-effective — become the “official dentist” of a local organization, sports team, or school. When oral cancer is diagnosed in later stages, survival rate after five years is less than 45%, which magnifies the need to detect cancer earlier. In this

U.S. Senate passes CHIP funding bill

Following the lead of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate passed a bill on April 14 to continue funding the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The bill, HR 2, proposes reforms to Medicare and to extend CHIP for another two years. CHIP covers essential health and dental needs for U.S. children, and it is currently set to expire on September 30. The Senate, like the House, overwhelmingly passed

Levin on detailed scripting; McKenzie on staff conflict; study on HPV vaccinations for boys

Dear DrBicuspid Member, What you say to patients, and how you say it, has a huge impact on customer service and your ability to influence and educate. Detailed scripting can help you and your team interact with patients in powerful ways, according to Dr. Roger P. Levin. Are unresolved staff conflicts slowly, but surely, undermining your practice and costing you revenue? In her latest column, practice management expert Sally McKenzie reminds

Renaissance foundation funds new W.Va. hygiene unit

The Renaissance Family Foundation announced it will award $10,000 to the Kanawha County Dental Health Council in Charleston, WV, to provide funding for a new hygiene unit and dentist chair in its main four-chair dental clinic at West Side Elementary. The Kanawha County Dental Health Council supports seven free school-based dental clinics that serves more than 2,000 students each year. These students come from families whose income is at or

Young Innovations launches custom manufacturing unit

Young Innovations has launched its new Bridge2 business unit, a single-source partner to create a range of restorative and preventive oral care products. Bridge2 seeks to help original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) bring dental products to market as an extension of their R&D department. The company will work collaboratively with partners, providing market research, product design, prototyping, manufacturing, packaging, and logistics. “We want to be the go-to partner for preventative oral