New ‘rinse and spit’ oral cancer test shows promise

A “rinse and spit” test for early detection of oral cancer performed well in a clinical feasibility study, according to Vigilant Biosciences, the company commercializing the product. The study, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, included 300 subjects in a case-control design that ensured cases (oral cancer patients) and controls (volunteers without cancer) were similar with respect to other factors, such as tobacco and alcohol use, age, and race. It

Survey pinpoints why people don’t floss

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association recommends that people floss daily as part of their oral health routine, but studies have shown only about 1 in 5 do so. In a survey of U.S. adults conducted by Plackers, 40% said it’s because they forget and 30% indicated they don’t have floss handy when they need it. The survey also found that among those who do floss, 49% said they had a

Heraeus supports breast cancer research, domestic violence awareness

Heraeus Kulzer will once again donate a portion of proceeds from sales from its Venus White line of teeth-whitening systems to support breast cancer research. The company’s Venus Whitening for Hope campaign is poised to bring its four-year total contribution to more than $200,000 by the end of the year, according to the company. In addition, the company will make a donation to breast cancer research for each visitor who

3Shape signs 3 new resellers for Trios

3Shape has signed a nonexclusive five-year agreement with Biolase to sell the 3Shape Trios in the U.S. starting this month. 3Shape also signed nonexclusive agreements with CadBlu making CadBlu a reseller of the Trios in the U.S. and with Kastle Mills in Canada. The Trios digital impression system includes intraoral scanning, clinical scan-validation, and communication with the lab, the company noted.

Fluoride debate in Portland, Ore., not over

Opponents of a plan to add fluoride to the water supply in Portland, OR, are making serious headway in their attempts to put the issue before voters, according to a story in the Statesman Journal. Last month the City Council voted unanimously to approve a plan to begin fluoridating Portland’s water by March 2014. But Clean Water Portland, a grassroots group formed to ensure that never happens, last week submitted

NIH grant to fund new oral cancer treatment

The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) and Lucifics, a photomedical technology start-up company, have been awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop and test prototypes of a new generation of medical devices to treat oral cancer. URMC and Lucifics have been awarded a Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I grant from the NIH’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) to build and evaluate single-use photodynamic therapy

Accutron recalls nitrous oxide flow meters

Accutron has voluntarily recalled the Ultra PC% cabinet-mount flow meter, used with nitrous oxide-oxygen sedation systems. The company issued the recall after learning through customer complaints that the flow meter was flowing nitrous oxide gas without any oxygen gas flow, according to an alert from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company said it has received two complaints about this defect; however, no injuries have been reported to

3M ESPE introduces 3M True Definition scanner

3M ESPE has expanded its digital impression product line with the new 3M True Definition scanner. The system is supported by the 3M Connection Center, a cloud-based platform designed to enable choices for sharing clinical case files, the company explained in a press release, including open STL (3D) files. The digital impression system is also designed to connect with other systems, including chairside and lab-based mills. The scanner features “3D-in-motion”

Face transplant patient making good progress

The University of Maryland has released new details about the recovery of Richard Lee Norris, the 37-year-old man who seven months ago received the most extensive full face transplant completed to date. Norris, of Hillsville, VA, was injured in a 1997 gun accident, losing much of his upper and lower mandibles, as well as his lips and nose. The transplant surgery, completed on March 20, 2012, at the University of

J. Morita offers new TorqTech attachments

J. Morita USA has introduced TorqTech geared straight and contra angle attachments. Compatible with both air and electric motors, the TorqTech attachment product line includes a 1:1 straight nose cone, 1:1 contra angle, and a 1:5 speed up contra angle. The attachments feature a new gear system that reduces operational noise and improves bur stability, making large preparations quicker and easier, according to the company. The chuck provides a strong

NY man gets $9.8M in tooth extraction lawsuit

A New York jury has awarded $9.8 million in a malpractice lawsuit filed in March of this year by a man who was hospitalized following a third-molar extraction that went badly. The patient’s dentist and oral surgeon were found liable for his injuries and for failing to obtain informed consent, according to a press release from Meagher & Meagher, the law firm that represented the patient. The patient, Harold Hagins,

Report: Prevention key to improving EU’s oral health

A new report from the Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe takes the European Union (EU) to task for not taking better care of its citizens’ oral health. Over half of the European population suffers from some form of periodontitis, with more than 10% having severe cases of the disease, the report found. Among Europeans ages 60 to 65, 70% to 85% have severe periodontitis. Oral cancer rates also