CBCT aids ortho treatment-planning confidence

Cone-beam CT (CBCT) enhances practitioner confidence during orthodontic pre-treatment diagnosis and treatment planning, according to a presentation given yesterday by UCLA researchers at the American Association for Dental Research annual meeting in Tampa, FL. Twenty-three practicing orthodontists in Southern California evaluated six patient cases with a range of orthodontic problems, including crowding, severe skeletal asymmetry, temporomandibular disorder, and impactions. After reviewing patient histories, study models, photos, and radiographs, the orthodontists

AAE: 69% of Americans afraid of losing their teeth

While 63% of Americans would like to avoid getting a root canal, 69% want to avoid losing a permanent tooth, according to a survey conducted by the American Association of Endodontists (AAE). The January survey of 1,014 U.S. adults found that Americans want to avoid losing a permanent tooth more than getting the flu, paying taxes, or speaking in public, according to the AAE. During Root Canal Awareness Week, March

Texas dentist to pay $1.2M in Medicaid fraud case

Richard Malouf, DDS, and the dental chain All Smiles have agree to pay $1.2 million as part of a settlement agreement related to charges of Medicaid fraud. The agreement resolves allegations that Dr. Malouf and All Smiles — a 51-office chain in which he previously held a majority stake — violated the civil False Claims Act and Texas Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act. Between 2004 and 2007, All Smiles submitted to

Wider surgical margins better for early tongue cancer

Wider surgical margins for early tongue tumors may reduce local recurrence and improve survival for most early-stage (T1 or T2) oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) tumors, according to a new study in the Journal of Laryngology & Otology. Oral tongue SCC is usually treated with initial surgical resection with or without post-operative chemo- and radiotherapy. Regional recurrences occur in approximately one in four patients with T1 or T2 oral

AACD: Cosmetic dentistry feeling economic pinch

Demand for cosmetic dentistry services has declined 13% since 2007, primarily due to the ongoing recession and its effects on the spending behaviors of patients, according to a survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). The survey, “Cosmetic Dentistry: State of the Industry,” was conducted between October 6 and November 22, 2011. The invitation to participate was offered via email to AACD members and distributed to non-AACD dental

Survey: Most U.K. adults neglect oral hygiene

New figures from the U.K.’s Adult Dental Health survey find that only 31% of respondents use mouthwash, 22% regularly floss, and only 42% use a toothbrush and toothpaste. The British Association of Clinical Dental Technology urged U.K. residents to recognize that poor oral hygiene can impact natural teeth, as well as dentures and dental implants. A spokesperson from the British Dental Health Foundation noted that the figures make it “abundantly

AAPD calls for more caries risk assessment research

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) has issued a technical report that supports the concept of caries risk assessment and offers some suggestions for further advancing its application in the clinical care of children. The report also recommends that an essential dental benefits plan clearly define the role of caries risk assessment and provide compelling scientific evidence of its benefit to the oral health of children. The AAPD is

BioHorizons pulls plug on IPO

BioHorizons, which sells dental implants and related products, has withdrawn its plans for an initial public offering (IPO), citing poor market conditions. The company originally announced the proposed $90 million IPO in January 2011 but postponed the deal less than a month later. In addition to dental implants, BioHorizons manufactures tissue-regeneration products for the replacement of missing teeth. Its implant products are based on a proprietary Laser-Lok platform technology and

ADA accepting applications for Harris grants

The ADA Foundation is accepting applications for the Samuel Harris Fund for Children’s Dental Health Grant. Nonprofit organizations and government agencies that sponsor education programs for mothers and caregivers to help reduce the incidence of early childhood caries are eligible to apply. The deadline for receipt of applications is April 16. About 17 grants of up to $5,000 each will be awarded solely for prenatal and postnatal oral health instruction

Heraeus acquires Swedish CAD/CAM firm

Heraeus Dental has acquired Biomain, a Swedish provider of customized CAD/CAM implants. The acquisition is intended to strengthen Heraeus’ presence in the Northern European dental CAD/CAM market and extend its patent and product portfolio in digital implant prosthetics, according to the companies. Biomain, founded in 2002, manufactures CAD/CAM frameworks, supra-structures, and prosthetic components at its production and development centre in Helsingborg. Heraeus Dental offers a range of products for a

EU suspends LiteTouch dental laser certification

Light Instruments, also known as Syneron Dental, has initiated a voluntary field action regarding LiteTouch dental laser systems installed at customer sites in Europe. This voluntary field action is the result of a recent test of the LiteTouch product, which concluded that some of the LiteTouch systems currently on the European market are not fully compliant with certain electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements of the European Norm standard, according to the

Study: Periodontitis linked to erectile dysfunction

A new study in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology has confirmed an association between chronic periodontitis (CP) and erectile dysfunction (ED). Using a nationwide, population-based dataset with a retrospective case-control design, researchers from Taipei Medical University and Far Eastern Memorial Hospital identified 32,856 patients with ED as cases and randomly selected 162,480 patients as controls (JCP, March 19, 2012). Of the sampled patients, 24,294 (12.3%) had been diagnosed with CP