Portland, OR, has shed its distinction as the largest city in the U.S. to not fluoridate its public water supply. Today the city council voted unanimously to begin fluoridating the city’s municipal water system before a self-imposed deadline of March 2014. This action follows a similar decision yesterday by the Phoenix City Council to reject efforts to discontinue fluoridation.
Research scientists from the U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research have discovered a drug that protects stem cells and could prevent cancer patients from developing radiation-induced oral mucositis. The group found that the drug rapamycin appeared to prevent radiation-induced tissue damage in mice by protecting normal stem cells that are crucial for tissue repair. Although this study was preclinical, rapamycin has already been cleared by the U.S. Food
Iowa communities can now apply for grants to help them start putting fluoride in their water supplies or upgrade their existing fluoridation systems. Ten communities a year are chosen for grants of $6,000 each, according to a report by Radio Iowa. About 83% of all Iowans now have access to fluoridated water, but some communities need to repair or update their fluoridation equipment, the story noted. For most cities, every
Resveratrol, which is found in red wine, could prevent a variety of cancers in patients with Fanconi anemia, a rare genetic disorder, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Cancer Center. Fanconi anemia, which affects one in 350,000 babies, leaves cells unable to repair damaged DNA. This puts Fanconi anemia patients at high risk for developing a variety of cancers, especially leukemias and head and neck cancer, according to
The National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF) will distribute four $10,000 grants to provide oral health services to children to dental clinics in Kentucky, California, Minnesota, and Missouri. The grants will fund pediatric programs delivering comprehensive educational, preventive, and treatment services for more than 30,000 at-risk children, according to the foundation. The recipients include the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry; the Sonrisas Community Dental Center in Half Moon Bay,
A new study of marine sponges could lead to an understanding of how to break up harmful bacterial biofilms, even on teeth (Molecular Microbiology, September 2012, Vol. 85:5, pp. 916-933). The study identified a new signaling system that, when there is a critical mass of bacteria present, causes the bacteria to produce a flagellum that moves like a corkscrew and gives them the ability to swim away, inhibiting the formation
The ADA and PopCap Games, a digital games creator, have launched a campaign encouraging good oral health among U.S. children and their parents during the Halloween season. The Stop Zombie Mouth campaign, which kicked off this week, features PopCap’s family-friendly video game Plants vs. Zombies as a tooth-friendly alternative to candy. PopCap will give away millions of copies of the game, more than a million free packs of game-inspired trading
A new surgical technique can rebuild a functional lower mandible and mouth while preserving a patient’s ability to eat and speak after removing an invasive facial tumor, according to researchers from the Henry Ford Hospital. Their study, which will be presented this week at the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery meeting in Washington, DC, documented a rare occurrence of osteosarcoma spreading from a patient’s right femur to
John M. Forbes, MBA, has been chosen as the new executive director of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). Forbes succeeds Alice DeForest, who is retiring after 26 years, according to the AAP. Forbes has worked at two Fortune 50 companies, two medical start-ups, and two global nonprofit organizations. He recently served as the chief operating officer and the associate executive director of the American Academy of Pediatrics, where he
How important are your personal interactions with patients? According to a new study from the Dental Practice-Based Research Network (DPBRN) Collaborative Group, in restorative dentistry, personal interactions have a significant impact on a patient’s perception of a dentist’s skill and the quality of care he or she is delivering (Journal of the American Dental Association, September 2012, Vol. 143:9, pp. 1002-1010). “A patient’s judgments of a dentist’s skills and quality
A 10-year-old Texas boy with a genetic disorder that affects the structure of the face died two days after being anesthetized for a routine dental procedure. Marcos Tirado received the anesthesia at Harlingen Family Dentistry prior to having a tooth filled, according to a news report by KGBT TV. Tirado suffered from Treacher Collins syndrome, also known as mandibulofacial dysostosis. His family said they informed the dental team about the
Tokuyama Dental America is now offering a one-component, single application, light-cured protective sealant designed for treating hypersensitive dentin. Shield Force Plus infiltrates and seals exposed dentinal tubules to inhibit the flow of fluid, which is the cause of sensitivity, and also prevents dentin loss due to abrasion and/or erosion of exposed cervical dentin, according to the company. It penetrates the dentin tubules by 50 µm and leaves a thin coating
