The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry has received more than $11 million from the child advocacy group First 5 LA to expand access to dental care for young children and pregnant women. The funds will establish the UCLA-First 5 LA Children’s Dental Care Program, which will provide care to children from birth to age 5 and pregnant women for the next five years, the university noted
Renowned film critic Roger Ebert has died following a recurrence of his thyroid and salivary gland cancers. Ebert, 70, died on April 4 in Chicago, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, the newspaper where he reviewed movies for 46 years. He had battled cancer for much of the past decade. Ebert blogged earlier in the week that he had a recurrence of cancer and would be taking a “leave of presence.”
The Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), the only national certification board for dental assistants recognized by the ADA, is encouraging dental professionals across the U.S. to utilize its services to ensure dental team members are appropriately trained. On March 28, 2013, the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry filed a 17-count complaint against a Tulsa, OK, oral surgeon, with charges of being a menace to public health and gross negligence. Specific allegations
Bills that would pave the way for midlevel dental providers (MLPs) in Kansas have stalled in the Legislature despite advocates’ claims that they would provide much-needed care to underserved populations. SB197 and HB2157 have languished in committees since being introduced at the beginning of the year, according to a story in the Capitol Journal. The bills would allow the creation of licensed dental hygienists, who have passed clinical exams, practiced
A study of YouTube videos that show scenes of children and teens crying is revealing new insights into their fear of going to the dentist (Journal of Medical Internet Research, April 3, 2013). Researchers from China, Malayasia, and the University of Western Australia tapped into the social media video platform expecting to record spontaneous personal reactions, which could add to knowledge about dental fear and anxiety, according to a university
Heraeus is getting out of the dental business, announcing today that it is selling its entire dental business group – which employs 1,400 people worldwide – to Mitsui Chemicals for 450 million euros ($578 million U.S.). Heraeus Dental ranks among the top providers of dental solutions and materials, including precious metal alloys and materials for prosthetic treatments, teeth and materials for full prosthetic treatments, casting materials, and compounds used for
A Dallas-based investigative reporter has been working to find the source of oral health problems plaguing a number of U.S. soldiers returning from the war in Iraq. While the soldiers that Byron Harris of WFAA News 8 interviewed for a recent story all went to Iraq with healthy mouths, they returned with teeth that turned gray in color, became weak, and ultimately broke. One soldier described the experience as more
SciCan has unveiled its newest instrument washer, the Hydrim C61w G4. The device has a touchscreen, is Internet-ready, and uses fresh water and cleaning solution for each cycle, according to the company. It also has a six full-size cassette capacity, with a capacity of 120 instruments that can be sanitized and dried in 35 minutes. With a G4 connection, the Hydrim C61w G4 is capable of emailing anyone the office
April is National Facial Protection Month and the Academy for Sports Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), and the ADA are reminding parents, coaches, and athletes to play it safe as they prepare for recreational and organized sports. In particular, the organizations are emphasizing the value of mouthguards, especially customized ones, eyewear, face shields, and
By now you’ve no doubt heard about the events in the offices of Dr. W. Scott Harrington of Tulsa, OK. Unfortunately, this turn of events will give patients yet another reason not to visit the dentist. With the recent headlines from the current issue of the ADA News, stating “Fewer adults visiting the dentist,” this does not help. Aside from fear of the unknown and the cost of care, dental patients
Aspen Dental is making a $5 donation to the Oral Cancer Foundation for every ViziLite oral cancer screening conducted at Aspen Dental locations in April for Oral Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout the month, Aspen Dental will also be sharing information and raising awareness about oral cancer on its Facebook page.
Stephen L. Wheeler, DDS, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon from Encinitas, CA, has been elected president of the Academy of Osseointegration. Dr. Wheeler is one of the first doctors in the U.S. to begin titanium dental implant placement in the mid-1980s and established the Rancho Santa Fe Dental Implant Dentistry Club as a forum for implant dentistry training and education, an active group for 20 years. He has served with the
