As part of National Children’s Dental Health Month, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has joined with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry to help educate dentists, parents, and caregivers of children about the tooth fairy and the history of dental health. The museum has unveiled a YouTube video that finally answers the age-old question, “What does the tooth fairy do with all of those teeth?” The “Tooth Fairy
A U.S. district judge has ordered an Amarillo, TX, orthodontist to forfeit $1.56 million after pleading guilty to one count of Medicaid fraud, according to an article in the Amarillo Globe-News. Michael David Goodwin, DDS, cannot challenge the forfeiture according to the terms of his plea agreement and could spend 10 years in federal prison and be fined up to $250,000. Dr. Goodwin, owner of practices in Amarillo and Crown
Web-Op has released a new at-home teeth-whitening product that uses a cleaning formula based on concentrated hydrogen peroxide, glycerin USP (United States Pharmacopoeia), carbomer, and propylene glycol. The product provides dentist-grade teeth whitening but does not require a dental visit, according to the company. In addition to the custom upper and lower teeth-whitening tray, Pure Dental Whitening includes a touch-up pen, allowing users to make corrections between applications.
Computed tomography (CT) texture analysis of primary tumors may be a potential imaging biomarker in localized esophageal cancer following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, according to research presented February 9 at the 2013 Cancer Imaging and Radiation Therapy Symposium in Orlando, FL. The study evaluated the tumoral texture analysis on baseline and post-treatment CT scans of 31 patients with localized resectable esophageal cancer patients with a median age of 63 and who received
Biolase has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for the Diolase 10 soft-tissue laser. The 940-nm laser is designed for use in oral surgery, arthroscopy, gastroenterology, general surgery, dermatology, plastic surgery, podiatry, gynecology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, pulmonary surgery, cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, urology, dermatology, aesthetics, and vascular surgery, according to the company. Biolase’s diode lasers are used in dentistry for surgical soft-tissue procedures as an alternative to conventional devices,
A pilot program using dental hygienists to help prevent caries in children from low-income families will be developed and tested in areas of northwestern Indiana that are most in need of dental services. Funded with a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, the program is being led by Angeles Martinez-Mier, DDS, MSD, PhD, an associate professor and director of the Indiana University (IU) School of
An electronic health record (EHR) format designed specifically for children should help guide EHR developers to understand the types of information that should be included in EHRs for pediatric patients. The new format was announced this week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Many existing EHR systems are not tailored to capture or
Dale Dental will provide IdentAlloy certificates to labs ordering Fusion Laser digital porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) understructures to verify the content of restorations. The certificates will ensure desired alloy property outcomes, simplify compliance, and provide doctors and their patients with confidence in the material content of the restorations they received, according to the company. The appropriate IdentAlloy certification is provided free for each of the high-noble, noble, and predominantly base ADA alloy
A coalition of medical device manufacturers is supporting lawmakers’ attempts to repeal the new 2.3% medical device excise tax. Two U.S. senators and two representatives have introduced bills to repeal the tax, and the measures have bipartisan support, according to the Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA). On February 7, Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Medical Device Access and Innovation Protection Act; on February 6,
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder wants to expand an initiative that provides dental care for the state’s low-income children. The Republican governor is calling for $11.6 million in the state’s budget to expand the Healthy Kids Dental program, according to an Associated Press story. The plan would cover an additional 70,500 children. The program is partnership between the state’s health department and Delta Dental of Michigan. It provides dental benefits to
The global market for dental implants is set to almost double in value during the next six years, resulting from technological advances and the growing global elderly population, according to a new report from GBI Research. GBI estimates that the market will grow at an annual rate of 10%, from $3.4 billion in 2011 to $6.6 billion in 2018. Emerging countries such as China, India, and Brazil are expected to be
A Maine dentist has been ordered to pay $72,000 to two former dental hygienists who complained about the office’s infection control procedures. The U.S. Department of Labor filed suit in September against Tammy L. Cook, DMD, who owns Bath Family Dental, after two dental hygienists expressed concerns to Dr. Cook about what they perceived as lapses in infection control procedures, according to a statement by the department. Attempts to resolve the
