Obesity linked to higher risk of perio disease

Obesity, which impacts roughly one-third of the U.S. population, has been linked to periodontal disease, according to an article published in the January/February 2013 issue of General Dentistry. Obese individuals’ bodies relentlessly produce cytokines, proteins with inflammatory properties, noted lead author Charlene Krejci, DDS, MSD. These cytokines may directly injure the periodontal tissues or reduce blood flow to these tissues, thus promoting the development of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease itself

New Invisalign material promises better tracking

Align Technology is working to improve orthodontic outcomes and patient compliance with its newest clear aligner material, SmartTrack. The new material also yields better rotations and better extrusions with attachments when compared with the G3 and G4 versions of Invisalign, according to John Morton, director of research and technology at Align. An in-house study of more than 1,000 patients treated with Invisalign aligners made with SmartTrack showed statistically significant improvement

Practitioners team up to provide oral care to Mont. kids

A collaborative effort by dentists, hygienists, school nurses, and the St. Vincent Healthcare Ronald McDonald Care Mobile in Billings, MT, is tackling the issue of access to oral healthcare for children in the area, according to an article in the Billings Gazette. Many had previously been volunteering or doing charity work of their own. Now Jane Gillette, DDS, a dentist and clinical researcher based in Bozeman, has brought them together

Delta Dental survey finds more oral health gaps

In conjunction with National Children’s Dental Health Month, Delta Dental has released the findings of a new survey of nearly 1,000 caregivers. The 2013 Delta Dental Children’s Oral Health Survey shows that Americans are unaware that they can pass cavity-causing bacteria to children, and that they also need to improve on some critical children’s dental health habits, including basics such as brushing and flossing. One in four caregivers said that

Oral-B unveils new power toothbrush

Oral-B has added its newest rechargeable power toothbrush to the Professional Series lineup: the Deep Sweep Triaction. The Triaction toothbrush is the first of its kind in the U.S. to combine the familiar brushing motion of a manual brush with the power of triple-zone cleaning action to cover more surface area, according to the company. The toothbrush features a timer that signals at 30-second intervals to encourage thorough brushing in

Soligenix targets cancer-related oral mucositis

Soligenix, a development-stage biopharmaceutical company, has formed a medical advisory board to provide medical/clinical strategic guidance to the company as it advances the development of SGX942 for the treatment of oral mucositis, a common complication of cancer treatments. The board will provide feedback, input, and guidance on clinical strategies and their implementation, as well as on other critical issues, such as health economics and reimbursement, to assist Soligenix in meeting

SmileMakers donates 75K toothbrushes to NCOHF

In honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month, SmileMakers has committed to donating 75,000 toothbrushes to National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF): America’s ToothFairy. For every unit of Youth Happy toothbrushes purchased at SmileMakers.com using the item number “ATFDONATE,” SmileMakers will donate one unit to NCOHF. SmileMakers also donated nearly $30,000 worth of stickers to the NCOHF affiliate network to encourage positive oral health behaviors. These stickers were given to

Dubai studies health of kids’ teeth

Members of the Dubai Health Authority, which includes dentists and hygienists, are taking a survey of the oral health habits of 5,670 children in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, according to an article in the National. Scheduled to be launched this week, the study includes all children ages 5, 12, and 15 in public and private schools. The World Health Organization is helping the organization conduct the survey, which plans to

Phoenix Boys & Girls Clubs get $25K Cigna grant

The Cigna Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix (BGCMP) Dental Clinic to help provide comprehensive dental services to low-income, uninsured children ages 5 to 18. In addition, the Cigna Foundation will donate $1 to support the BGCMP Dental Clinic every time visitors click to commit on Cigna’s Facebook page during February, up to $5,000. The Cigna Foundation grant is part of

DenMat debuts new soft-tissue laser

DenMat has released the SOL soft-tissue desktop laser. The device features a blue aiming beam that contrasts with tissue to enhance visibility and accuracy, according to the company. The curved, ergonomic contours of the handpiece provide better posterior access in multiple positions, and disposable tips eliminate the need for strip-and-cleave systems. SOL’s internal battery and light weight allow the clinician to move between operatories for more than three hours without

OraHealth’s new XyliMelts ease xerostomia

OraHealth is now offering XyliMelts disks designed to relieve xerostomia and reduce caries. XyliMelts are all-natural, oral adhering disks that release 500 mg of xylitol and an oral lubricant to relieve xerostomia, according to the company. A study in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene (May 2012, Vol. 10:2, pp. 118-121) demonstrated that using XyliMelts while sleeping improved perceived oral wetness upon awakening in the morning, and improved perceived discomfort

Soladey launches J3X ionic toothbrush

Soladey International has launched its new J3X ionic toothbrush with a Facebook campaign and a special offer of free bristle replacement heads in the U.S., Canada, and U.K. The toothbrush removes plaque and cleans teeth when light and water interact with the negative ion-generating rod in the handle — without using toothpaste, according to the company. When exposed to a light source (a fluorescent or regular light bulb or sunlight),