Kaiser to eliminate periodontal hygienist program

Kenneth Wright, DMD, MPH, Kaiser Permanente Northwest’s executive director of dental services, has announced plans to cut periodontal hygienists who provide specialized care for patients with advanced periodontal disease from its dental care program in Oregon and Washington. The news prompted the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP), which represents Kaiser’s hygienists, to demonstrate in front of Kaiser’s Portland headquarters on April 24. Working in conjunction with periodontists,

UCLA researchers find trigger for head/neck cancer cells

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry have discovered what could be a crucial step toward understanding the process that activates cancer cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (Science Signaling, April 30, 2013, Vol. 6:273, pp. ra23). Very little has been known about the developmental and environmental factors affecting genes that occur prior to the invasive growth of this cancer, the researchers noted.

ADA, AGD dispute Pew dental therapist report

In discussions of workforce issues and the media, New Zealand has been touted as an example that dental therapists can help improve the oral health of underserved populations in the U.S. The latest example is a brief published in March by the Pew Children’s Dental Campaign, “Dental Therapists in New Zealand: What the Evidence Shows.” But that report contains an error that undermines Pew’s overall premise, according to the ADA:

Restoratives Market Update: Metals vs. composites

A steady change is taking place in the restoratives market as patient and practitioner preferences for dental materials evolve. Not surprisingly, the use of gold continues to diminish, according to Michael DiTolla, DDS, director of clinical education at Glidewell Laboratories. Michael DiTolla, DDS. Michael DiTolla, DDS. “In 2011, gold was 3.5% of the restorations that we did here and that dropped another half percent [in 2012],” Dr. DiTolla said. “Compare that

Dux expands PeelVue+ sterilization pouch line

Dux Dental has added a new size to its PeelVue+ sterilization pouch product line. The new PeelVue+ Teal pouch measures 7 1/8 x 13 13/16 inches and is designed for steri-cages, steri-mats, and five-instrument cassettes. There are now 13 different sized pouches in the PeelVue+ product line, the company noted in a press release. PeelVue pouches have internal and external chemical indicators, and guide the user to the proper close

CSDA offers tips for treating pregnant patients

To ensure that pregnant women receive appropriate and necessary oral care, the Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA) has collaborated with several organizations to produce a resource for dentists called “Considerations for the Dental Treatment of Pregnant Women.” The guide is designed is to help dentists understand the importance of providing oral health services to pregnant women and making appropriate decisions about these patients’ treatment options. It provides answers to basic

ITC judge: ClearCorrect infringes Align patents

Align Technology appears to have moved a step closer to excluding ClearCorrect from the U.S. clear aligner market. An International Trade Commission (ITC) administrative law judge yesterday issued an initial determination finding that ClearCorrect and ClearCorrect Pakistan infringe seven patents asserted by Align in an ITC investigation initiated last year, Align noted in a press release. But ClearCorrect maintains that the ITC judge’s ruling will have little impact on its

Creighton dental school adds diagnostic sciences department

The Creighton University School of Dentistry will open a new department of diagnostic sciences with the start of summer clinic on May 13. The new department will be chaired by John Shaner, DMD, MS, an associate professor of general dentistry and the director of clinical teams, according to the university. The department aims to increase clinical efficiency in the school’s clinic and will focus on the identification of head and

Ormco adds digital impressioning to product portfolio

Ormco has released the Lythos digital impressioning system. The Lythos digital impressioning system. Image courtesy of Ormco. The Lythos digital impressioning system. Image courtesy of Ormco. Lythos is designed to deliver dual-arch capture in an average of seven minutes, according to the company. The Lythos wand is ergonomic for the operator to allow for comfortable access to the posterior. Lythos’ open system allows data to be integrated with orthodontic labs

Study: Oral health awareness ‘suboptimal’ in teens with diabetes

Educating adolescent patients with diabetes about oral hygiene can go a long way toward improving their overall health, according to a study presented at the recent International Association for Dental Research (IADR) meeting in Seattle. The researchers found that less than half of the adolescents with type 1 diabetes in their study strongly agreed that taking care of their gums is as important as taking care of their medical health.

Loma Linda gets $4.5M for children’s dental care

A $4.5 million grant to the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry will be used to provide dental care for children. The grant, from the First 5 Riverside County Children and Families Commission, will provide dental health screenings for about 5,500 children a year and treatment for about 700 children a year, the university noted in a press release. The grant will expand access to much-needed dental care for children

OrthoAccel unveils AcceleDent Aura

OrthoAccel Technologies has introduced the AcceleDent Aura orthodontic treatment. AcceleDent Aura’s SoftPulse technology generates micropulses that accelerate bone remodeling, which has been shown to accelerate tooth movement by up to 50%, the company explained in a press release. The product’s gentle micropulses may also help reduce patients’ discomfort and make treatment more comfortable, according to OrthoAccel. Patients use AcceleDent Aura for 20 minutes each day, during which time they can