A retired Washington state dentist must pay $35 million to 29 former patients after a court determined that he had performed thousands of unnecessary root canals over the course of three decades. On July 17, former King County Superior Court Judge Paris Kallas ruled that Henri Duyzend was negligent, failed to obtain informed consent from patients, committed fraud, and violated the Washington Consumer Protection Act, according to a story in
Over the past several years, a variety of self-adhesive restoratives have been introduced, and data about their performance for certain indications are still trickling in. Now researchers from the University of Athens School of Dentistry and the Center for Dental Medicine at the University of Zurich have compared two self-adhesive materials versus two sealants to see which of them perform best as pit-and-fissure sealants (Dental Materials, July 2013, Vol. 29:7,
A group of proteins involved in immunity can also develop detrimental genetic mutations often found in cancers of the head and neck, bladder, cervix, breast, and lung, according to a new study in Nature Genetics (July 14, 2013). Some proteins involved in immunity that are supposed to defend the body also create a number of mutations in DNA, according to researchers from the National Institutes of Health. These genetic mutations
A German coffee retailer has added an unusual twist to its product offerings: selling dentures and crowns in addition to espressos and lattes. The Tchibo coffee chain is known for also offering its customers other unique products, such as pajamas or household appliances, according to an article in the Local. The chain unveiled its dental offer on July 16 with prices starting at around $160, compared with about $400 from
A 22-year-old Oregon man who wore braces for 11 years has dropped a $185,000 lawsuit against his orthodontist, according to a story in the Oregonian. The lawsuit, filed last August in Multnomah County Circuit Court, claimed that Brad Chvatal, DDS, should never have allowed the plaintiff, Devin Bost, to wear the braces for that long and that he had developed severe tooth decay as a result. Another dentist originally installed
Dentsply International has pledged $100,000 to support Oral Health America’s (OHA) programs and initiatives in 2013. Dentsply earmarked a portion of the donation to support Smiles Across America, which provides oral healthcare and education to children nationwide through school-based and school-linked settings, and to OHA’s annual gala and benefit.
A text message sent by a dental practitioner to a patient following initial placement of orthodontic appliances can reduce the severity of the patient’s pain and anxiety, according to a study in the Angle Orthodontist (July 2013, Vol. 83:4, pp. 605-610). Researchers from Seton Hill University Center for Orthodontics randomly assigned 39 orthodontic patients to one of two groups matched for age, gender, and bracket type (self-ligating versus conventional). The
Tumor thickness and lymph node metastasis are independent predictors of survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, according to a new study in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (July 2013, Vol. 71:7, pp. 1283-1290). Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) is the most common cancer diagnosed in the oral cavity, comprising 25% to 40% of oral carcinomas, noted the Turkish researchers. The most important prognostic
Heraeus Kulzer has introduced an online assay profit calculator that shows dental practices and laboratories how much they would get for precious metal scrap. Payments are higher with Heraeus Kulzer because there are no treatment charges, freight charges, accountability charges, minimum lot charges, or third party charges, according to the company. Heraeus Kulzer’s fees are 10% for gold, platinum, and palladium, and 15% for sliver. If palladium’s price is below
Ormco has released the Alias lingual bracket system, a passive self-ligating lingual appliance developed in conjunction with Drs. Giuseppe Scuzzo and Kyoto Takemoto. The Alias is designed to utilize light forces, provide 3D control, and facilitate wire changes, Ormco noted in a press release. With passive self-ligating technology, the Alias system features brackets with a 0.018 vertical square slot to keep the archwire properly engaged. Gingivally offset positioning, combined with
An innovative new combination treatment that uses the measles virus to target cancer cells could significantly improve treatment for colorectal carcinoma and head and neck cancer (HNC), according to a new study in Radiotherapy & Oncology (July 11, 2013). The preclinical study found that exposing cancer cells to a genetically modified measles virus, in conjunction with radioactive iodide, radiation treatment, and gene-targeting drugs, was much more effective than using any
An attempt to break the world record for the most people flossing on a single length of dental floss was unofficially broken at an Ohio stadium last week. On July 12, 1,535 people — including members of the Lake Erie Crushers baseball team, staff, fans, and the visiting Frontier Greys team — attempted to break the record by simultaneously flossing for 30 seconds on a 10,000-ft piece of dental floss,