CDA journal reviews diode laser curettage

This month’s issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association focuses on various topics including diode laser curettage for the treatment of periodontitis, the California Dental Association (CDA) announced. The study, “Effectiveness of Root Planing with Diode Laser Curettage for the Treatment of Periodontitis,” investigates the effectiveness of scaling/root planing using an open approach (papilla reflection/flap closure), closed approach, closed approach with laser-curettage, and closed approach with laser-curettage/laser-sealing in

Age 45 still best marker to predict thyroid cancer outcomes?

Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital have shown that age 45 is no longer a useful predictor of negative outcomes in the staging of papillary thyroid cancer patients, according to a presentation last month at the American Thyroid Association annual meeting in Quebec City. Since the 1970s, physicians have used age of diagnosis to determine the severity of thyroid cancers. Papillary thyroid cancers — those including affected lymph nodes —

3Shape sets up shop in S. Calif.

3Shape has opened a new office in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, near Los Angeles. The office will offer training, technical support, product demonstrations, and business support to 3Shape partners and end users, according to the company. 3Shape is witnessing “strong, growing demand” for its dental CAD/CAM products, according to Henrik Vestermark, VP of operations in North America. In addition to managing the new West Coast office, Vestermark also manages 3Shape’s East

Dental offices inconsistent in infection-control compliance

A new study that looked at dental office compliance with infection-control guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that implementation was neither complete nor uniform across all practices (Journal of the American Dental Association, October 2012, Vol. 143:10, pp. 1127-1138). The authors wanted to identify the factors associated with implementation of four infection-control practices first recommended in the CDC’s Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental

Texas creates Medicaid dental fraud task force

The Texas Attorney General’s Office and the Office of Inspector General at the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) have formed a task force designed to target Medicaid dental fraud, according to an article in the Texas Tribune. The state hopes to improve investigations of fraudulent charges to the children’s Medicaid program and recover losses more quickly. It is also intended to provide a comprehensive, coordinated response, the Texas Attorney

Study: Age of titanium key to implant success

The strength of implant osseointegration in aged titanium surfaces was significantly less than in newly prepared titanium surfaces in the early stages of healing in an animal model, according to a new study Implant Dentistry (October 2012, Vol. 21:5, pp. 415-421). The study authors, from the Yonsei University College of Dentistry and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry, describe the phenomenon as “the time-dependent degradation of

Pano errors common in orthodontic imaging

Panoramic radiograph errors are common in young orthodontic patients and could affect the diagnostic value of radiographic exams, according to a study in the European Journal of Orthodontics (August 2012, Vol. 34:4, pp. 452-457). A team of Swedish researchers set out to evaluate the frequency of errors in panoramic radiographs in young orthodontic patients, register the pathologic and abnormal conditions, and compare them with the patient’s record. They analyzed 1,287

Judge stalls NY inmates’ dental floss lawsuit

The group of inmates in a New York prison who filed a $500 million lawsuit for lack of access to dental floss must demonstrate that their case has a chance of succeeding before a judge will appoint them a lawyer, Press Connects reported. Eleven inmates sued the Westchester County Department of Corrections in New York on September 10 for civil rights violations over the lack of floss. The U.S. district

Study: Graphic smoking warnings work

A new study suggests that graphic or emotional antismoking advertisements are effective, according to an article on Newswise. Smokers who had seen these ads in the past year were more likely to have tried to quit than those who had viewed less-intense ads (American Journal of Preventive Medicine, November 2012, Vol. 43:5). The graphic ads were effective across different races and incomes, according to researchers at RTI International. The New

Vita celebrates 50th anniversary of VMK

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vita Metal Keramik (VMK), Vita is offering limited edition porcelain kits for VM9, VM13, and VMK Master veneering material. The special edition kits feature commemorative packaging and are available in small and large sizes, the company announced. The small kit contains six bottles, including one free bottle. The larger kit includes 10 bottles, plus two free bottles for a total of 12. A nostalgic,

TotalCare supports OSAP campaign

TotalCare is participating in the Support the Fight for Infection Prevention campaign, benefiting the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP). During the month of October, 5% of the proceeds from the sale of TotalCare products featured in the Patterson Dental campaign section will be donated to the OSAP Foundation. The funds will be used for educational and enrichment programs provided by the foundation. Patterson Dental is featuring the project

UCLA gets $3.8M for saliva test to predict PTSD risk

A team of researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry, has been awarded a $3.8 million research grant to develop a salivary-biomarker approach for identifying individuals at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression following a traumatic event. Cofunded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, the five-year