The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have completed a survey examining what kind of oral health access schoolchildren in Dubai have. For the survey, 5,617 students in the age groups of 5 to 6 years, 10 to 11 years, and 15 to 16 years from public and private schools underwent a screening program and clinical examinations carried out by DHA dentists and hygienists according to
The American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA) and the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) have launched a new scholarship program to help dental assistants. The ADAA/DANB Scholarship will be awarded to dental assistants who demonstrate a strong commitment to career growth and lifelong learning. The winners will be able to use the scholarship funds for professional activities, such as continuing dental education, DANB exams or certification, some expenses associated with ADAA
Researchers at the University of Michigan (U-M) Medical School and School of Dentistry researchers have discovered a bacterium that they say is responsible for causing periodontitis (Cell Host and Microbe, May 15, 2013, Vol. 13:5, pp. 595-601). Scientists and oral healthcare providers have known for decades that bacteria are responsible for periodontitis but did not know precisely which bacterium was to blame. Using a mouse model, the researchers were able
Advaxis, a developer of immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases, has submitted an application for orphan drug designation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ADXS-HPV for the treatment of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck cancer. The orphan drug designation is granted to drug therapies intended to treat diseases or conditions that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. If granted, it entitles the sponsor to
Air Techniques has donated several pieces of dental equipment to the Children’s Dental Center of Greater Los Angeles (TCDC). The center has provided oral health education and treatment services to dentally underserved children and their caregivers throughout the Greater Los Angeles area since 1995. Air Techniques’ ScanX digital imaging system, Polaris intraoral camera, and Spectra caries detection device, along with the necessary accessories, were installed in the TCDC facility in
A moderate case of obstructive sleep apnea can significantly increase a person’s risk for sudden cardiac death, an often fatal condition in which the heart stops beating and must be immediately treated with CPR or an automated external defibrillator, according to a new study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology(June 12, 2013). It has been widely reported that sleep apnea can lead to a number of heart
Colldent’s new Phocal fluoride disks provide dentists with new ammunition in the battle against incipient interproximal caries. The relatively high incidence of primary and secondary interproximal caries can be attributed to the failure of current home care and professional preventive agents from reaching these surfaces adequately, the company noted in a press release. As a result, approximately 18% of interproximal surfaces develop caries, requiring the removal of much healthy tooth
Forty American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) members and affiliated volunteers from across the U.S. helped provide free dental care to 91 homeless children during the first annual Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children (HSHC) Dental Home Day. The event, held May 22 at the Orange Blossom Family Health Center in Orlando, FL, during the AAPD annual session, was sponsored by Sunstar Americas. Orlando patients received preventive and restorative services, oral health
The best performing lubricants for medical and dental handpieces consist of polyurea-thickened greases using a base of mineral oil or polyalphaolefin (PAO), according to research conducted by GRW High Precision Bearings. GRW tested 30 lubricants from different manufacturers and identified five autoclave-resistant lubricants most suitable for use in dental and medical products. Each lubricant was tested to 1,000 sterilization cycles with superheated steam. Initial testing eliminated 11 lubricants. The remaining 19
The ADA is encouraging dentists to work with their patients to determine how often they need teeth cleanings, following a study published in the Journal of Dental Research (June 10, 2013). The study concluded that individual risk factors help to dictate the frequency of cleanings needed per year to help prevent periodontal disease. Based on data analysis, researchers from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry speculated that high-risk patients
Access Pharmaceuticals, maker of the MuGard oral mucositis treatment, has licensed the U.S. commercial rights to the product to AMAG Pharmaceuticals. Under terms of the license agreement, AMAG will pay Access an upfront license fee of $3.3 million in exchange for exclusive commercial rights to MuGard in the U.S. AMAG will also purchase existing MuGard inventory from Access and will pay a tiered, double-digit royalty on net sales of MuGard
The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is the latest organization to respond to a study published this week in the Journal of Dental Research (June 10, 2013) The University of Michigan School of Dentistry study concluded that individual risk factors help to dictate the frequency of cleanings needed per year to help prevent the disease. But the AAP is urging careful risk assessment during at least one dentist visit annually