Emergency department (ED) visits for dental problems cost nearly $3 billion during the period from 2008 through 2010, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Dental Association (April 2014, Vol. 145:4, pp. 331-337). The majority of those seeking ED care for oral conditions are lower-income and without insurance, the study found. This follows a 2013 ADA report that found that patients are resorting to emergency rooms
Researchers have identified a new biomarker linked to better outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) and non-small cell lung cancer, according to a new study in Cancer (April 1, 2014). The research from the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) in Jupiter, FL, could help scientists develop new diagnostics and therapies, and help physicians determine the best long-term treatments for patients with these cancers, according to the institute. The
Dear Cosmetic Dentistry Insider, How can a private practice survive? HuangshanDental.com Advisory Board member Dr. David A. Landau looks at the changes in dentistry as a practice, and explains why a strong understanding of cosmetic restorative dentistry will continue to be an essential part of the evolving private practice. He also issues a rallying cry to deliver exceptional patient care as a blueprint for a practice to thrive. Click here to
A new technique that uses atmospheric pressure plasma, a new radiation source, could be used for dental care and to treat oral cancer, according to a recent study in the European Physical Journal D (March 11, 2014). Plasma medicine explores the interaction of atmospheric pressure plasma jets with biological tissues, which may aid in medical treatment. Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have studied the different types of DNA
Orthodontic technology manufacturer Ormco is launching Ormco Custom, an end-to-end digital case package that features a suite of products and services. Ormco Custom includes digital scanning with the Lythos digital impression system. In April, Ormco will release the 1.9 Lythos software upgrade that features easier digital impression acquisition and other system enhancements. The package also enables pretreatment smile visualizationwith the Insignia Advanced Smile Design, which allows doctors to show patients
Is the primary focus of a modern-day periodontal practice the preservation of natural teeth or has it shifted to the placement of aesthetically pleasing and functional implants? A new study that surveyed periodontists, hygienists, and general practitioners about the scope of periodontics found that most agreed surgical treatment of advanced gum and bone infection is the most important therapeutic focus of being a periodontist, but there was disagreement over the
A federal judge has ruled that teeth-whitening businesses in Connecticut can use LED lights that activate the peroxide used to whiten teeth, but customers must position them for themselves. The March 28 decision by U.S. District Judge Michael Shea allows two businesses to reopen after being closed by the state, according to an Associated Press story. But the judge ruled that the state may limit the practice of positioning the
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Delta Dental member companies are supporting their local Prevent Abuse and Neglect through Dental Awareness (P.A.N.D.A.) programs. The focus of the program is to train dentists to recognize and report suspected cases of abuse or neglect in their young patients. Delta Dental of Missouri partnered with the Missouri Bureau of Dental Health to found the first P.A.N.D.A coalition, and the program has
Imagine you live in a country that has it all. You have your home, nice roads, good schools, hospitals and nice restaurants. So why travel to another place? What are the benefits? Well imagine what you will see in another place; will you have the same things, will there be hospitals, roads, restaurants or schools? To find the best answer let’s see we are missing. Maybe the country that “has
Some 23 New York state general dentists and six orthodontists received $13.2 million in Medicaid payments in 2012 for services that appeared unnecessary or may not have been performed at all, according to a new report by federal health investigators. The 29 providers received “extremely high payments per child; provided an extremely large number of services per child; or provided certain selected services, such as pulpotomies or extractions, to an
Researchers have demonstrated a method of reversing bone loss and inflammation for patients with leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD). Leukocyte adhesion deficiency is a rare but life-threatening disease. Patients can succumb to bacterial infections because their immune systems lack a molecule required by immune cells, neutrophils, to go to the site of infection. These patients often lose their teeth early in life, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
A research review performed by the Cochrane Collaboration has found that toothpaste containing triclosan/copolymer is effective in reducing plaque, gingivitis, bleeding gums, and tooth decay. Cochrane Review’s Oral Health Group evaluated 30 studies involving nearly 15,000 patients from 1990 to 2012, and compared fluoride toothpastes containing triclosan/copolymer with traditional fluoride toothpastes for the long-term control of caries, plaque, and gingivitis in both children and adults. Entitled “Triclosan/copolymer containing toothpastes for
