The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has clarified its “free care” rule, which should make it easier for school-based sealant programs to receive Medicaid reimbursement, according to a letter dated from CMS Director Cindy Mann. “The goal of this new guidance is to facilitate and improve access to quality healthcare services and improve the health of communities,” Mann wrote. The previous guidance from CMS caused some confusion, as
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Relief ACP oral care gel was voluntarily recalled by manufacturer Discus Dental because of an “incorrect composition of ingredients.” The company mistakenly filled the gel product with hydrogen peroxide teeth-whitening gel, which made it ineffective or could cause increased sensitivity. Discus Dental, which Philips Oral Healthcare acquired in 2010, recalled the gel, which is prescribed to relieve discomfort from dentin sensitivity,
For this week tips, offer a few Natural and Effective ways to Whiten your Teeth. Add Salt to Toothpaste Salt offer us many benefits, not only does it make foods taste delicious by enhancing their flavor. In addition, salt can offer us many health and dental benefits. The health and dental benefits salt offers you, include: Adding Salt to Toothpaste and Toothbrush Adding small amounts of salt to toothpaste will
With winter officially starting this weekend, HuangshanDental.com takes a look back at the most-read stories from the fall, as measured by page views. Reflecting the diversity of interests of HuangshanDental.com readers, our most-read stories for the past quarter include a new Environmental Protection Agency proposal on amalgam separators, the historic agreement between Boston University and Sirona that was announced at ADA 2014, and the contentious North Carolina teeth-whitening case, which
J. Daniel Subtelny, DDS, who had an esteemed 60-year career as an orthodontist with expertise in craniofacial treatment and an educator, has died. Dr. Subtelny died in September at the age of 92, according to a recent ADA announcement. Dr. Subtelny was a chairman and faculty member at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) Eastman Institute for Oral Health in New York, according to a school announcement. He was known for
MD Brush has introduced a new ergonomically designed toothbrush specifically crafted to target the gingival sulcus. The MD Brush guides the user’s arm into the most effective position — 45° to the gumline, the preferred method according to the ADA, the company noted. The ergonomic grip positions the patented W-cut tapered bristles into the correct angle to reach into and clean the sulcus, while simultaneously cleaning the tooth. The shaft
An international review of more than a decade’s worth of research on osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) points to an increased risk for patients taking certain drugs for osteoporosis, anticancer drugs, or glucocorticoids; those undergoing dental surgery; and people with poor oral hygiene, chronic inflammation, diabetes, or ill-fitting dentures. The review authors published their findings in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (November 21, 2014). A number of prevention
There are many disorders that affect us today, some are affected by heart problems, others by joint problems and in some rare cases some are affected by neurological disorders. The benefit is that many of these disorders are treatable, with a little help from professionals the problems and disorders through which we are struggling can be reduced or prevented. Here at , we know the importance of having strong teeth
With more than half a century of contributions to the orthodontic profession, Fred Garrett, DDS, of Houston has been recognized with a $250,000 research grant in his name by the American Association of Orthodontists Foundation (AAOF). The Fred and Dianne Garrett Biomedical Research Award will be used to help further the education of orthodontists who wish to pursue a career in academic research and teaching. A board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Garrett, who
Maine Dental Health Out-Reach, which has provided oral care to thousands of schoolchildren, has received a $350,000 grant from the Next Generation Foundation of Maine. The money will be used to replace a van, add a third dental chair, and expand services to pregnant women and children, according to a centralmaine.com story. Operated by dental hygienist Suzanne LaVallee, RDH, the organization has provided 6,400 appointments to school-age children at more
A new paper in the Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene highlights the crisis in children’s oral care and offers a proven program of treatment and behavior modification that has shown results in improving children’s oral hygiene. In the paper, Robert Compton, DDS, the executive director of the DentaQuest Institute, reported on the opportunities to increase prevention in dentistry (CJDH, November 2014, Vol. 48:4, pp. 179-181). He noted that up to
The California Dental Association (CDA) is urging immediate steps, including a reversal of a 10% provider reimbursement cut, to address critical issues with the state’s Denti-Cal Medicaid dental program, which is failing to provide adequate access to care for millions of low-income children who are at risk of developing dental disease. An audit issued by the Bureau of State Audits validates what CDA has experienced with the program for many