Researchers at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine have identified a genetic variation that raises the risk of developing osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) in patients who take bisphosphonates (Oncologist, January 20, 2012). The discovery paves the way for a genetic screening test to determine who can safely take these drugs, according to the researchers. Oral bisphosphonates are currently taken by some 3 million women in the U.S. for
Placing implants immediately after an extraction has gained favor in dentistry, but questions remain about expectations for success. How does the timing of the procedure affect stability? And is inevitable bone loss after an extraction going to affect the implant’s life span? A systematic review examining the success rates of implants placed in fresh extraction sockets found high survival rates, according to a new study in Clinical Oral Implants Research
The Texas Attorney General’s (AG) office is investigating 31 orthodontists for possible Medicaid fraud, according to testimony by David Maxwell, deputy director of law enforcement for the AG’s office, before the state’s House Public Health Committee. The controversy stems from the fact that spending on braces jumped from $102 million in 2008 to $185 million in 2010, and youngsters who typically see their orthodontist an average of 12 times a
Hu-Friedy’s Nevi 4 mascot doll has been inducted into the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore, where it will be on display for one year. The display will give visitors a chance to view and learn about the Host Nevi Tour 2011. The tour, which began in January of 2011, entailed the Nevi 4 mascot traveling throughout the U.S. and visiting each state. For every state
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Bismarck will soon be providing mobile dental care, including dental exams, fillings, x-rays, and extractions, to low-income children in western North Dakota, according to a news story in the Bismark Tribune. North Dakota residents age 21 and younger who haven’t visited a dentist for at least two years qualify for the new Ronald McDonald Care Mobile service. The dental care will be arranged through schools,
Radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy is less effective for patients with HIV when compared with the recurrence and overall survival rates in patients who do not have HIV, according to research presented this week at the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium in Phoenix. In the largest single institution study of its kind, researchers retrospectively studied 71 HIV-positive head and neck cancer patients treated between 1997 and 2010. Patients
Aetna is piloting a program to support dentists in adopting the U.S. Public Health Service’s (USPHS) five A’s tobacco cessation guidelines: Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange. “Numerous investigations, along with Aetna’s own work in dental offices, provide evidence that many dentists engage in asking and advising about tobacco use,” said Mary Lee Conicella, DMD, Aetna’s chief dental officer, in a press release. “However, the remaining A’s do not receive
Q: Have you tried SonicFill? What do you think of it? A: I had the pleasure of trying the SonicFill system (Kerr Dental) during its development, and now I use it daily in my practice. SonicFill is a sonic-activated, bulk fill dental composite system for posterior restorations that requires no additional capping layer. SonicFill is a sonic-activated, bulk fill dental composite system for posterior restorations that requires no additional capping
Dr. Fresh is donating one of its FireFly toothbrushes to the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF) for every new “like” it receives on its Facebook page during February. The effort coincides with National Children’s Dental Health Month. Those who “like” FireFly during February can opt to have their names included on an honor roll of donors to be presented with the toothbrushes to NCOHF at the conclusion of the
Procter & Gamble has eliminated the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in packaging for its Oral-B manual toothbrushes. The packages are now made with Octal Petrochemicals’ proprietary DPET (direct polyethylene terephthalate [PET]) sheet, according to a story in PlasticsToday. P&G told PlasticsToday it switched from PVC to PET because PET is easier to recycle.
Kettenbach has introduced Identium, a vinylsiloxanether impression material for the one-step impression technique. The material combines the best features of both A-silicone and polyether materials in 1:1 cartridges, according to the company. Identium is available in three different viscosities — medium, heavy, and light — and in regular and fast sets. Identium medium has a high final hardness (A 60) and is intended for implants and fixed impressions, and is
A saliva self-test used to diagnose human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is comparable in accuracy to the traditional blood test, according to a new study in Lancet Infectious Diseases (January 24, 2012). The meta-analysis, conducted by researchers from McGill University, showed that the saliva HIV test, OraQuick HIV1/2 (OraSure Technologies), had the same accuracy as the blood test for high-risk populations, the according to the study authors. The test sensitivity was
