New research on propofol, the most commonly used anesthetic drug, may help scientists design new versions of the drug that reduce the risks involved in surgery and improve patient safety, according to a new study in Nature Chemical Biology (September 22, 2013). In this study, a team of international researchers identified exactly how propofol, which was introduced in the 1980s, acts at a molecular level. Intravenous anesthetics such as propofol
Researchers at King’s College London are investigating the evolution and development of dentition, which may reveal why humans and mammals only develop one or two sets of teeth in their lifetime rather than constantly regenerate their teeth. The three-year project will examine the development of different teeth arrangements in modern day vertebrates and apply the findings to fossils from the same group. Jawed vertebrates evolved into several different types of
Ohio has opened the state’s only in-school dental clinic at a Cincinnati public school. The three-chair clinic at the Oyler School will be operated by the Cincinnati Health Department and the Cincinnati Dental Society’s Oral Health Foundation, according to a story in the Sun Herald. One full-time dentist and volunteers from the foundation will provide oral care for children who don’t have insurance. The clinic is expected initially to serve
Oral-B has launched its Oral-B App that connects with any Oral-B power brush for guiding brushing routines. The app is meant to help users quantify and visualize the quality of their brushing sessions, explained Stephen Squire, global marketing director for Procter & Gamble Oral Care. Here are some of the features: Automated activation of a brush timer through recognition of the brush motor sound for dentist-recommended two-minute sessions Timer function
DentalEZ Group has updated its Identafi website to create a more productive and user-friendly experience. The enhanced website now offers new tools for clinicians and patients alike, while continuing to support the company’s goals of increasing oral cancer awareness and promoting the benefits of using the Identafi oral cancer screening device, DentalEZ noted in a press release. The website’s redesigned research section is now arranged so that the research documents
Patients with pharyngeal cancer who eat regularly and consistently perform swallowing exercises throughout radiotherapy have much better long-term eating outcomes, according to a new study in Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery (September 19, 2013). The findings support those of a similar study published last month in the same journal. For the current study, researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center and NorthShore University HealthSystem set out to evaluate the independent
A U.S. District Court judge in Texas has awarded $4.2 million in damages to the state and three former employees of an orthodontist convicted of Medicaid fraud as part of a whistleblower lawsuit. If state and federal authorities collect $4 million from the clinic, the former employees could theoretically split $630,000 to $840,000, according to a story in the Amarillo Globe-News. In April, U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson sentenced
While parents in many parts of the U.S. complain they can’t find enough Medicaid dental providers to treat their children, and providers say the reimbursement rates aren’t enough to justify taking Medicaid patients, a pediatric dental provider in Washington state believes only half of the eligible children in the area seek treatment. Pediatric dentist Tyrone Rodriguez, DDS, who owns Selah’s Smiles Dental in Selah and SmileSonrisas Dental in Moses Lake,
Xlear is now offering Spry Gems, mint candies sweetened with xylitol. Spry Gems have no added acids and come in several flavors, including cinnamon, spearmint, peppermint, and berry, with lemon cream and wintergreen to be added soon, according to a company press release. The company said some products touting the health benefits of xylitol actually have damaging pH levels due to the addition of acids for tangier tastes.
The Berkeley City Council in California, with the aid of organizations in the city, plans to introduce five proposals that will educate the public about possible risks of mercury in amalgam and encourage limited use of or alternatives to the restorative material, according to an article in the Daily Californian. While the details varied, all five proposals discussed at the council’s September 17 meeting emphasized the need for increased public
Patterson Dental and nine infection-control product companies are working to raise funds for the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention’s (OSAP) campaign, Support the Fight for Infection Prevention. Sponsors Crosstex, Hu-Friedy, Sultan Healthcare, CrystalTip, DentaPure, Dux Dental, Miele, Mydent, and Sunstar Americas will contribute to the campaign, OSAP noted in a press release. The campaign is designed to increase OSAP’s visibility throughout the dental profession and showcase the key infection
As part of NASCAR race week in Chicago September 14-15, the ADA’s Give Kids A Smile program held special oral health events at Chicagoland Speedway and the University of Illinois, Chicago. The ADA’s Give Kids A Smile program, ADA Foundation, Henry Schein, CareCredit, and 3M ESPE Dental have once again teamed up with NASCAR star Greg Biffle for a third year to put good oral health on the fast track
