It is time, actually long past time, for the profession of dentistry to aggressively challenge the use of the pumice and rubber cup “prophylaxis” in caring for children. I place the term “prophylaxis” in scare quotes to indicate that there is nothing prophylactic about the use of pumice and a rubber cup to polish children’s teeth — it prevents nothing. A prophylactic is, by definition, preventive. Our profession has known
Clinicians should avoid routine off-label use of certain bone graft substitutes in patients younger than 18 years of age with bone disorders because of the risk for serious injury, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The bone graft substitutes in question contain recombinant proteins or synthetic peptides that mimic natural bone-growth substances, according to the FDA announcement. Combined with a carrier or scaffold, these ingredients are implanted
Many of us tend to assume that our teeth will always be there and that our teeth will always be strong and healthy, however the truth is that if we don’t take of them we can lose our beautiful smile. As we grow in years, our oral cavity is exposed to many treats; our strong functional teeth should not be taken for granted. wants you to have a strong, healthy
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) announced that a 2013 survey of its members found that they typically see greater practice production from comprehensive cosmetic, functional, and restorative treatments, leading to higher earnings than stated in a recent ADA report While many professionals join the AACD to raise the bar on clinical skills related to cosmetic and restorative dentistry, being associated with the academy can lead to increased financial
Pulpdent announced that its Embrace varnish, 5% sodium fluoride with CXP, is now available in 12-mL tubes. Embrace varnish is a sustained, time-release bioactive varnish that incorporates xylitol-coated calcium and phosphate in a permeable resin matrix that does not separate and requires no mixing, according to the company. The xylitol coating prevents the calcium and phosphate salts from reacting until they come in contact with saliva. Saliva dissolves the xylitol
Maxillofacial surgeons who used CT intraoperatively on their trauma patients found that imaging and review can be performed quickly, perfecting the trauma surgeon’s work while there’s still time to make revisions, according to an article published this month in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery. A new analysis of intraoperative CT in 38 patients found that the total scan time of about 14 minutes did not differ significantly between routine and complex
The ADA and other health professional associations have filed a friend-of-the-court “amicus” brief with the U.S. Supreme Court regarding an upcoming case, Armstrong v. Exceptional Child Center, Inc., that asserts the right to sue the government to enforce federal Medicaid law in the states, according to an ADA News story. The U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause gives providers “a private right of action” to sue, the ADA and the associations assert
Researchers at the University at Buffalo (UB) are designing a new biomedical device that could make chemotherapy more efficient, reduce its side effects, and improve the treatment of oral and other cancers. This new device, a specialized endoscope, produces a high-contrast map of the tumor environment using spatial frequency domain imaging, according to the university. The new technique projects patterns of light at different frequencies on the cancer cells and
In addition to being screened for lung cancer, heavy smokers should also be checked for head and neck cancer (HNC) to improve early detection and survival, according to a new study in the journal Cancer (January 5, 2015). Head and neck cancer is the world’s sixth most common type of cancer. Worldwide, 600,000 people are diagnosed with it annually and about 350,000 die. In the U.S. alone, about 55,000 cases
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is now offering an additional dental cleaning per benefit period for certain plan members who are pregnant or who have diabetes. Members participating in the Dental Blue, Dental Prime, or Dental Complete plans and actively managed in one of the company’s Diabetic or Maternal Health Care Management programs will be identified and automatically enrolled at no cost for an extra dental cleaning or periodontal
Avalon Biomed, a developer of bioactive products for dentistry, launched launched NeoMTA Plus, a stain-proof mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) material with multiple indications for vital pulp therapy and other endodontic procedures. NeoMTA Plus is a tricalcium silicate-based bioactive cement for vital pulp and other endodontic indications in primary and permanent teeth. It is noncytotoxic and inhibits bacterial growth of common bacteria. Unlike other cements, NeoMTA Plus won’t discolor primary teeth.
Almost a third of 5-year-old children in England have caries, which is also the most common reason why 5- to 9-year-olds are hospitalized, according to a new report by the Royal College of Surgeons’ Faculty of Dental Surgery. While oral health in England has improved significantly since the 1970s, at least partly because of the widespread availability of fluoride, nearly 30% of 5-year-olds in England have caries, according to the
