Teeth-whitening booth shut down at Okla. state fair

A nondentist vendor that was selling teeth-whitening services at the Tulsa State Fair in Oklahoma has been slapped with a restraining order. The temporary restraining order, filed by the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry against Euroshine USA, Ingo Van Styn, and Henry Johnson, was granted by the state yesterday. According to court documents, the defendants’ actions constitute the practice of dentistry by unlicensed individuals. Tulsa County District Judge Kurt Glassco granted

Plackers launches small, portable flosser packs

Plackers has introduced its new Micro Mint travel case, a plastic flosser case that is designed to fit easily into purses, gym bags, and carry-ons. The cases contain 12 Micro Mint flossers, made with the company’s Super Tuffloss. The Micro Mint also has a fold-away pick to help keep teeth free of debris. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for a 12-count Micro Mint travel case is $1.29 at select retailers,

AAP names new officers, trustees at annual meeting

Nancy Newhouse, DDS, of Independence, MO, was named as president of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Board of Trustees during its annual meeting, held September 29 through October 2 in Los Angeles. New officers of the Board of Trustees also were installed at the meeting. Stuart Froum, DDS, was named president-elect; Joan Otomo-Corgel, DDS, MPH, was named vice president; and Wayne Aldredge, DMD, was named secretary/treasurer. Pamela McClain, DDS,

Milestone STA system computer gets regulatory OK in China

Milestone Scientific has announced that China’s State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) has approved its Single Tooth Anesthesia (STA) system computer. The SFDA has bifurcated approval of the STA system computer from the Wand handpiece. The company expects the SFDA to approve handpiece in the coming months. Upon approval of the Wand handpiece, Milestone’s sole Chinese distributor, China National Medicines, will be able to begin selling the STA system across

JEBDP report covers latest periodontal, implant treatments

The Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice (JEBDP) has published its inaugural edition of “The Annual Report on Periodontal and Implant Treatment.” The issue has evidence-based reviews on practice-critical topics and is part of a new series of annual reports devoted to concise reviews on important topics in specific areas. Mark A. Reynolds, DDS, PhD, professor, chair, and director of postgraduate periodontics at University of Maryland School of Dentistry is the

Home visits, phone calls reduce kids’ caries rates

Oral health education and support for mothers, including home visits and telephone calls, were found to reduce the caries rate in children to 2%, according to research by the University of Queensland and Queensland Health in Australia. The study was conducted in South Brisbane, where 23% of toddlers suffer from substantial dental decay, the university noted in a press release. Kathryn Plonka, a University of Queensland School of Dentistry doctoral

Scope launches new branding effort

Scope has introduced new branding and packaging with the tagline “Courage Encouraged.” All three Scope varieties, Outlast, Dual Blast, and Classic, will feature the new brand and packaging, Procter & Gamble announced. Scope is promoting the change on its Facebook page and YouTube channel, inviting followers to share how they display their inner courage. The company has also released a series of videos featuring comedian David Adhoot. The videos, which

New process tests abrasiveness of toothpaste

German researchers have developed a process that tests the abrasive effect of toothpastes. The abrasive effect of a particular toothpaste on tooth dentin depends on the hardness, amount, and particle size of the abrasive additives it contains, such as silica or alumina. Abrasivity is measured as the radioactive dentin abrasion (RDA) value, ranging from 30 to more than 200. This value is determined via a complex process that involves testers

Study: Cruciferous vegetables help prevent oral cancer

Eating cruciferous vegetables can significantly reduce the risk of developing several cancers, including oral, esophageal, colorectal, breast, and kidney cancer, according to a study in the Annals of Oncology (August 2012, Vol. 23:8, pp. 2198-2203). Epidemiological studies have shown that eating cruciferous vegetables — which include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, and bok choy — is associated with reduced risk for a number of cancers, the study authors noted.

ADHA partners with Wrigley on hygiene grants

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company are partnering to celebrate National Dental Hygiene Month this October. In support of National Dental Hygiene Month, the Wrigley Foundation is joining the ADHA Institute for Oral Health to award $60,000 in community service grants — given in increments of $2,500 and $5,000 — to dental hygienists and dental hygiene organizations for community oral health outreach, according to

Operation Smile to honor philanthropists at gala

Operation Smile announced that it will honor key donors and fundraisers at its 30th Anniversary Smile Gala on September 28. The organization, which provides free surgery for children worldwide suffering from facial deformities, will present its Universal Smile Award to Brooke Burke-Charvet and David Charvet. Philanthropists Julia and Stephanie Argyros, Krista Jajonie, and Daneia Sanadiki will receive the Founders Circle Award. They have spearheaded efforts since 2011 to fundraise for

ULM hygiene students shine in national exams

Students in the dental hygiene program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) achieved a 100% passage rate on the spring National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, according to a story in the News Star. It is the 12th time in 13 years that all students in the program passed the exam, the paper reported. “I continue to be proud of the exceptional ways our faculty prepares the next generation