A new report from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reveals that 55% of third-graders surveyed in 2010 experienced tooth decay, slightly higher than the national rate of 53% for children 6 to 8 years old. In collaboration with a wide array of stakeholders, the MDH has produced the Minnesota Oral Health Plan: Advancing Optimal Oral Health for All Minnesotans, the state’s first comprehensive oral health plan. The strategic plan
The James Graham Brown Cancer Center at the University of Louisville is among a growing number of facilities working to improve care for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients through collaborative care programs that bring together a spectrum of oncology specialists. Zafrulla Khan, DDS, MS. All images courtesy of Dr. Khan. Zafrulla Khan, DDS, MS. All images courtesy of Dr. Khan. The center provides multidisciplinary treatment for HNC patients using novel techniques
DNA preserved in calcified bacteria on the teeth of ancient human skeletons has shed light on the health consequences of the evolving diet and behavior from the Stone Age to the present (Nature Genetics, February 17, 2013). The ancient genetic record reveals the negative changes in oral bacteria brought about by the dietary shifts as humans became farmers, and later with the introduction of food manufacturing in the Industrial Revolution,
DentalEZ Group is teaming up with Henry Schein and the Oral Cancer Foundation to provide free oral cancer screenings at this year’s Chicago Midwinter Dental Meeting. The screenings will take place February 21 and February 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and February 23, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in booth #2321, located on the main exhibit floor. Volunteers from the Oral Cancer Foundation will administer the screenings using the
OrthoAccel has revealed the winner of its online video Smile and Share contest. Entrants had to submit a video that was 20 seconds or less in length showing what someone can do in 20 minutes while wearing the AcceleDent orthodontic device. A Kentucky man mowed the lawn, got some exercise, and caught some rays, earning him an iPad. The videos, posted on YouTube, were voted on by viewers; click here
Using a germ-killing mouth rinse in addition to regular toothbrushing can significantly reduce plaque and gingivitis compared with brushing alone, according to new research published in the January/February 2013 issue of General Dentistry. Mouth rinses can reach nearly 100% of the mouth’s surfaces, while brushing focuses on the teeth, which make up only 25% of the mouth, explained Christine A. Charles, RDH, lead author of the study and director of
RIS/PACS vendor Infinitt has signed a contract with the Leeds Dental Institute, U.K., to provide a Web-based dental PACS. The dental institute is run jointly by the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Infinitt will begin to install the PACS this month, with an activation date scheduled for April 2013. The PACS, which is part of the institute’s electronic patient records program, will allow dental images to
Kerr Dental announced it has shipped more than 3 million tips for its SonicFill bulk cure composite system in the U.S. The SonicFill dental composite system enables clinicians to perform posterior restorations with a fast and reliable bulk fill technology via a sonic-activated handpiece, Kerr said. The system has been on the market for a little more than a year, according to the company.
A bill introduced in Arizona would require companies that send dentists into schools to obtain two-step parent or guardian permission before the dentists proceed with treatments such as root canals, crown placements, or pulpotomies, according to an article in Arizona Republic. HB 2426, sponsored by Rep. Doris Goodale (R-District 5), was crafted in part to respond to parents who complained they were unaware that their child was undergoing extensive dental
TORONTO – An analysis of data from a recent Canadian health survey did not reveal a significant association between obesity and periodontitis — despite the fact that previous systematic reviews found at least a 35% increased risk for periodontitis among obese individuals. A team from the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry analyzed data from the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey. The survey was launched in 2007, and its staff
The Children’s Dental Health Survey, a 10-year survey of children’s oral health in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, will begin this fall. The survey, which will include more than 1,000 schools and approximately 21,000 children, will be used to plan dental care services. It includes a short dental examination at schools with a random sample of children ages 5, 8, 12, and 15, followed by a postal questionnaire for parents
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is getting help for a program that provides orthodontic care to indigent children. The Donated Orthodontic Services program now operates in five states (Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, New Jersey and Rhode Island) and may be expanded to other states, the AAO noted in a press release. The Northeastern Society of Orthodontists (NESO), an organization within the AAO, has developed a business model to help the
