Feds sue Maine dentist on behalf of hygienists

The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against a Bath, ME, dentist for allegedly retaliating against two dental hygienists who alerted authorities to unsanitary conditions at the practice. The federal complaint, filed September 7 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, contends that Tammy Cook, DDS, who owns Bath Family Dental, discriminated against Dorothy Shafran and Chelsea Huntington after they filed complaints with the Occupational

J&J to divest Reach toothpaste/floss brand?

Johnson & Johnson is reportedly looking for a buyer for its Reach brand of toothbrushes and dental floss, according to a Wall Street Journal article. The company had $265.2 million in Reach floss sales and $355.5 million in Reach toothbrush sales globally in 2011, the Journal noted. J&J has divested several household product lines in recent years as it seeks to concentrate on rapidly growing brands with dominant market shares,

CDx Diagnostics launches new version of OralCDx

CDx Diagnostics is launching an enhanced, second-generation version of its OralCDx test for detecting oral precancer and cancer at the annual scientific meetings of the American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, both being held this week. p>The enhanced test, branded as OralCDx2, is the result of clinical experience with more than 500,000 computer-assisted OralCDx oral brush biopsies, 10

‘Flameless cremation’ separates amalgam fillings

A “flameless cremation” device could remove the hazard of vaporized mercury resulting from cremating the deceased, according to a report by the BBC. The machine has a pressured chamber that is heated to 300° C (572° F). An alkaline solution (potassium hydroxide) breaks down the body into skeletal remains, which are then processed into a white powder that is turned over to the family, the BBC explained. The three-hour process

Blocking enzyme reduces perio inflammation

Researchers from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry have found a way to prevent inflammation and bone loss surrounding the teeth by blocking a natural signaling pathway of the enzyme GSK3b (Molecular Medicine, September 11, 2012). GSK3b plays an important role in directing the body’s immune response, the university noted. The finding not only has implications in preventing periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory disease that causes tooth loss, but

Oral cancers added to 9/11 illness list

First responders at the World Trade Center (WTC) after the 9/11 attacks will now be able to receive treatment for more than 50 types of cancer through the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health announced on September 10 that 50 types of cancer will be added to the list of September 11-related illnesses covered by the federal WTC Health Program. Originally,

Delcam upgrades DentMILL software

Delcam has launched a major upgrade to its DentMILL software for the milling of dental implant restorations. DentMILL 2012 has a new interface to make the system easier to learn and to use, improved nesting for more efficient use of materials, and faster calculation times, according to the company. The new version also features improved integration with the DentCAD design software, including the introduction of a new interface that replicates

Study: Candidates’ teeth can predict election outcomes

Does the brightness of political candidates’ teeth influence their election success? Yes, according to a study sponsored by Luster Premium White, an oral care whitening brand from Dentovations. An analysis of photos taken of presidential candidates on the campaign trail showed the correlation between teeth whiteness and electability, the company noted in a press release. By adjusting the color of photos taken over the years to control for changes in

Fluoridation advocates win in Phoenix

The city council of Phoenix voted September 11 to continue fluoridating the city’s water supply. The vote concludes the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee’s consideration of the practice and effectively ends this round of debates over fluoridation in the city. “This is absolutely a big victory for Phoenix,” Kevin Earle, MPH, executive director of the Arizona Dental Association (AzDA), said in an interview with HuangshanDental.com. “The city will continue to fluoridate

CDA journal addresses rise in pulp temp

The September issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association covers a range of topics, including a discussion of the different reasons for the rise in pulp temperature during various modalities of tooth preparation, the California Dental Association (CDA) announced. “Pulp Hyperthermia During Tooth Preparation: The Effect of Rotary Instruments, Lasers, Ultrasonic Devices, and Airborne Particle Abrasion” discusses how the rise in pulp temperature during restorative therapy can compromise

Dental groups advocate for Hispanics’ oral health

The Hispanic Dental Association (HDA) and Oral Health America (OHA), together with Crest and Oral-B, are convening in Washington, DC, today for a day of advocacy for oral health education among the U.S. Hispanic population. The Capitol Hill event is part of the Fall for Smiles campaign, which is led by OHA. According to a survey led by the HDA Foundation and sponsored by Crest and Oral-B, 67% of Hispanics

UBC gets $8M for Vietnamese oral research center

The Faculty of Dentistry at the University of British Columbia (UBC) has received an in-kind gift of $8 million ($8.2 million U.S.) from the Ho Chi Minh City National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology to create an oral health research center. About 1 in 500 babies is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate in Vietnam, 80% of children suffer severe tooth decay, and oral cancer occurs frequently with often fatal