The percentage of U.S. middle and high school students who use electronic cigarettes more than doubled from 2011 to 2012, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Morbidity and Mortality Report, September 6, 2013). The findings, from the National Youth Tobacco Survey, show that the percentage of high school students who reported ever using an e-cigarette rose from 4.7% in 2011 to 10% in 2012.
Northeastern University has unveiled a new initiative designed to integrate oral health into overall healthcare education and practice. The new initiative, Innovations in Interprofessional Oral Health Care: Technology, Instruction, Practice, Service, will be overseen by Maria Dolce, PhD, RN, an associate professor of nursing at Northeastern. It is being backed by funding from DentaQuest Foundation, according to a news story on the university’s website. “Our mission is to advance interprofessional
>Hundreds of citizens of Toronto reportedly plan to peacefully assemble at Toronto City Hall on September 21 to show their support for ending water fluoridation in Toronto. So far, more than 300 people have confirmed their attendance on the End Fluoride Toronto Facebook page, and more than 900 have signed an online petition, the organization stated in a press release. The chemical used to fluoridate Toronto’s tap water is hydrofluorosilicic
The VELscope is well-known as a noninvasive fluorescence tool used to detect tissue abnormalities in the oral cavity, including precancerous lesions. Now a new study has found that it may also be useful in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the jaw induced by bisphosphonates (BRONJ) (Journal of Carnio-Maxillofacial Surgery, September 4, 2013). Researchers from the University of Hamburg investigated 20 patients for 18 months, all of whom were presented to
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has awarded NeoStem funds for the second year of a two-year, $1.2 million grant for its Repair of Bone Defects with Human Autologous Pluripotent Very Small Embryonic-Like Stem Cells (VSEL) study. This peer-reviewed grant is to support a phase II investigation and first approved NIH clinical study of VSELs in humans. Enrollment for
Daimer Industries, a supplier of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-compliant antimicrobial steam cleaner vacuum machines, is now selling the KleenJet Mega 500VP – ATIS, an antibacterial vacuum steam cleaner for dental offices. The steam cleaner comes with Daimer’s advanced thermal ionic sanitization (ATIS) technology, which eliminates up to 99.99% of germs and disease-causing bacteria and mold, according to the company. The multifunctional steam cleaner also features Daimer’s water filtration and
The findings of a recent survey of the oral health needs of vulnerable older adults living in Connecticut show that many are not receiving the dental care they need and untreated caries is a significant problem, especially for residents of long-term care facilities. In 2012, state health offices surveyed two population groups — residents of long-term care facilities and adults attending federally subsidized congregate meal sites — to assess the
Dental supplier Life-Like Cosmetic Solutions will use a Facebook donation campaign to raise awareness for Oral Health America (OHA). For every new person who “likes” the Life-Like Facebook page by September 30, the company will donate $1 to OHA, according to the company. Life-Like currently has 140 fans on its Facebook page, so more “likes” will translate into dollars for OHA. The company has also agreed that if they receive
Patients in need of financial assistance can create profiles and personal campaigns on a new website, www.peelpoints.com, that allows members to raise money to finance orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, plastic surgery, LASIK, or even a spa visit or tanning package. The site, developed by Peel, provides a registry point to raise funds for these procedures and services. Recurring beauty needs such as hair coloring or nail services also can be budgeted
Dentists need the support of health psychologists to enhance patients’ satisfaction with their appearance before they embark on aesthetic dental procedures. These are the findings of a study by Sharmila Sarin, supervised by Koula Asimakopoulou, PhD, and colleagues from King’s College London that was presented September 11 at the British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology’s Annual Conference in Brighton, U.K. In the study, 60 participants completed the Slade Body
Efforts by activists in Alaska to get the Anchorage Assembly to address the issue of water fluoridation have succeeded — but only to a point, according to an article in the Anchorage Daily News. The assembly still supports fluoridation but is recommending a public advisory vote for those seeking to end fluoridation. Alaska has not been left out of the U.S. fluoride debate. Juneau ceased fluoridation in 2006, and two
OrthoAccel Technologies has been awarded U.S. Patent No. 8,500,446, Vibrating Orthodontic Remodeling Device, for its hands-free AcceleDent device. AcceleDent is a prescription-only medical device designed for faster orthodontic treatment with only 20 minutes of daily use. It was introduced to the U.S. market in 2012 and is now offered at more than 1,000 orthodontic locations across the country, the company noted in a press release. AcceleDent’s technology was developed in