Some 100 dentists from across Maine visited the State House April 11 to express their opposition to a bill that would allow dental hygiene therapists to practice in the state, the Kennebec Journal reported. LD 1230, “An Act to Improve Access to Oral Health Care,” was introduced by House Speaker Mark Eves (D-North Berwick), and is intended to bring oral care to Maine’s rural areas. Those in the new role
Smile Train and Operation Smile are launching Rwanda Smiles, an initiative to create a cleft-free Rwanda. The joint effort is in collaboration with the government of Rwanda to create the first-ever cleft-free country in Africa. To create a cleft-free Rwanda, the medical infrastructure of the country will be enhanced so that children born with clefts in the future will have access to ongoing cleft care, the organizers noted. Through Rwanda
Aspirin appears to offer significant protection against head and neck (HNC) cancer, according to a study in the British Journal of Cancer (March 19, 2013, Vol. 108:5, pp. 1178-1181). More than 600,000 cases of head and neck (HNC) cancer are diagnosed annually, according to the study authors, from Queen’s University Belfast and the National Cancer Institute. Several studies have shown that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can lower the risk of
The ADA is accepting applications for the Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) Community Leadership Development Institute for those interested in learning how to initiate, expand, or enhance a GKAS program. The 2013 Community Leadership Development Institute will be held October 23-26, 2013, in St. Louis. An estimated 650 underserved children will receive comprehensive care during the four-day program. Eligible applicants can apply for funds to subsidize travel expenses associated with
3M ESPE has released its Sof-Lex spiral finishing and polishing wheels for dental restorations. The product gives dentists an alternative to traditional points, cups, disks, and brushes, according to the company. The fingers of the finishing and polishing wheels conform to convex and concave surfaces, eliminating the need to switch shapes during the procedure to fit various contours. Abrasive particles are embedded throughout the dental finishing and polishing wheels, so
North Dakota is considering a bill to study the idea of midlevel providers (MLPs), similar to the dental therapists who are now practicing in Minnesota. HB1454 has passed both houses of the state Legislature and now needs Gov. Jack Dalrymple’s approval, according to a story on Grandforksherald.com. The bill would authorize a study on the access to dental care, with results to be presented to the Legislature in 2015. A
A team of U.S. researchers has discovered a new mechanism by which the human papillomavirus (HPV) causes head and neck cancer, and have developed a drug to block it (Oncogene, March 13, 2013). Though further research is needed, the new agent might offer a safer treatment for these tumors when combined with a tapered dose of standard chemotherapy, the study authors noted in a press release. The treatment could be
The Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (HNCA) is applauding the winners of the Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week (OHANCAW) national video contest. The winning videos were unveiled as the alliance prepares for the 16th annual OHANCAW (April 14-20), during which free screenings will be held at more than 340 sites globally. The OHANCAW challenge was developed to engage young adults in educating the public about the signs, symptoms,
Can you guess which states in the U.S. still do not allow dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia? Chances are, your hunch was right: States in the traditionally conservative south — Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas — plus Delaware are the only ones in the U.S. where legislation has not yet been passed allowing dental hygienists to provide local anesthesia. Fortunately, the landscape is slowly shifting, as indicated
The all-on-four dental implant treatment concept appears to be successful in the short term, according to a new systematic review in Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research (April 5, 2013). But more research is needed to determine long-term clinical outcomes for this treatment approach, noted the study authors, from University Hospital in Freiburg, Germany, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore. The study was designed to evaluate the all-on-four concept with
W. Scott Harrington, DMD, the Tulsa, OK, oral surgeon who may have exposed approximately 7,000 patients to HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C has been hit with the first lawsuit related to the case, according to an article in Tulsa World. Christina Quin had four third molars extracted by Dr. Harrington in 2009 and was illegally given IV sedation by a dental assistant during the procedure. She was subsequently diagnosed with
A U.S. government-backed task force issued a statement this week saying that there is not enough published evidence to recommend for or against screening for oral cancer by primary care professionals. Evidence is lacking on whether screening can accurately detect oral cancer and if earlier treatment of cancers found during those tests improves long-term health, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Their draft recommendation statement applies to
