EPA proposes rule requiring dentists to install amalgam separators

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed a rule under the Clean Water Act requiring dentists to install amalgam separators to help cut discharges of dental amalgam to the environment. The proposed rule would require all affected dentists to control mercury discharges to publicly owned treatment works (POTWs), according to an EPA statement. Specifically, it would require them to cut their dental amalgam discharges to a level achievable through

AAP installs new leadership

Joan Otomo-Corgel, DDS, MPH, a periodontist from Manhattan Beach, CA, has been installed as the new president of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) during its 100th anniversary annual meeting in San Francisco. The AAP also installed other new leadership, including President-elect Wayne Aldredge, DMD, of New Jersey; Vice President Terrence J. Griffin, DMD, of Massachusetts; Secretary/Treasurer Steven Daniel, DDS, of Tennessee; and Stuart Froum, DDS, of New York will

Why Music Therapy Works

Our dental clinic knows the importance of relaxation, especially after a complex oral surgery. In recent years, scientist have conducted several studies in Music Therapy, thanks to this research scientist have been able to conclude how music benefits our body and even our soul. According to the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), “Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic

ADHA supports new Image Gently in Dentistry campaign

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) announced its support and involvement as a member of the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging, the Image Gently Alliance. The Image Gently Alliance also announced it is expanding its scope to the oral healthcare community with its next campaign, Image Gently in Dentistry. As a member of this alliance, the ADHA is pleased to promote the importance of proper radiation dosage to

AAP 2014: Obese patients more likely to have periodontitis

SAN FRANCISCO – Patients who are obese or overweight are more likely to have periodontitis, according to a study by U.K. researchers. They presented their findings from a case-control study of nearly 300 patients in a poster presentation at the American Academy of Periodontology’s (AAP) 100th Annual Meeting. Evidence has been published that suggests an association between overweight or obese patients and periodontitis, noted lead author Jeanie Suvan, the clinical

Dental Treatment Tooth Extraction

Our teeth are a very special part of our body, thanks to them we are able to chew and grind, on the dishes we loved. On a daily basis our teeth are exposed to temperature changes, different textures of foods (hard, soft, etc.) and different types of chemicals; all this tear and wear can put teeth through a lot of pressure. This pressure can cause teeth cracked or chipped and

AAP 2014: Breast cancer patients benefit less from periodontal treatment

SAN FRANCISCO – In a poster presentation at the American Academy of Periodontology’s (AAP) 100th Annual Meeting, researchers from Brazil concluded that while periodontal treatment reduces the inflammatory markers of gingivitis and periodontitis, as well as the histological markers of disease, in all patients, women who are receiving treatment for breast cancer see less benefit from the treatment than “healthy” patients. The association between periodontal disease and cancer has been

NC dentist’s license suspended after patient sedation death

A North Carolina dentist’s license was suspended by the state dental board following the apparent overdose death of his patient last October. The North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners ruled that Williamston dentist Zachary Harrison, DDS, be barred from practicing dentistry in the state for one to 10 years because he failed to properly consider his 71-year-old patient’s medical and physical condition, failed to properly dose the patient with

Los Algodones What to Expect

The city of Los Algodones, a small town at the northeastern tip of Mexicali municipality; obtain its name by Mexico 27th president Sebastian Lerdo De Tejada, he named the town “Los Algodones” on July 17, 1894. The city has become popular in recent decades because of its warm, dry climate attracting thousands of tourists from across the United States and Canada cold climate areas. In addition, the town offers affordable

Crest to remove microbeads from toothpaste

Procter & Gamble will remove polyethylene microbeads from its Crest toothpaste line after a dental hygienist spoke out about finding the blue plastic bits in patients’ gums. The microbeads can trap bacteria in the gums and lead to gingivitis, according to some dental professionals, but the ADA said clinical studies show the microbeads don’t pose a health risk. Dentists and dental hygienists in the U.S. have reported noticing the microbeads

Is film still the dental radiography gold standard?

With the steady progression of technology, the digital versus film debate in dental radiography seems all but settled with digital as the victor as it is increasingly adopted. But researchers in Saudi Arabia who conducted a new study seem to say, “Not so fast.” The study compared the image quality of two digital radiography systems and a conventional film method with interesting conclusions, as reported in the Saudi Dental Journal

Univ. of Iowa gets $300K grant to study adolescent caries, fluoride

The University of Iowa College of Dentistry has been awarded a $302,000 two-year grant by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to study adolescent caries among the state’s children. The award will support detailed secondary data analyses of patterns of dental caries incidence in children ages 13 to 17 years in the Iowa Fluoride Study, according to the university. The grant will also support a complex analyses of