A substance similar to the adhesive that mussels use to attach to rocks and other surfaces in water could help prevent tooth sensitivity and help remineralize teeth, according to a new study in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (December 2012, Vol. 4:12, pp. 6901-6910). Three out of every four people worldwide have teeth that are sensitive to hot, cold, sweet, or sour foods and drinks, according to the study authors,
A new study suggests that some heart attack patients may actually benefit from mild to moderate sleep-disordered breathing such as sleep apnea (American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, January 1, 2013, Vol. 187:1, pp. 90-98). The researchers from Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and Rambam Medical Center found that apnea and other types of sleep-disordered breathing can boost the numbers and functions of rare cells that help to repair
Minnesota dentists will be providing free dental care services for children in need, during the Minnesota Dental Association’s (MDA) 11th annual Give Kids A Smile event on February 1-2. The event, part of Children’s Dental Health Month, is expected to provide care to 6,000 children at more than 200 dental clinics throughout the state, the MDA noted. Since Give Kids A Smile began, Minnesota dentists have provided free care to
DentaPure, a company that sells water treatment products, has joined National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF) in a multiyear program to benefit the NCOHF Affiliate Network reaching children in need with critical oral health services. As part of a new Facebook campaign, DentaPure will donate one dental water treatment product to NCOHF: America’s ToothFairy for every new “Like” at www.facebook.com/dentapure and has agreed to contribute up to 4,000 units, equivalent
Despite thousands of published studies on the role of midlevel providers (MLPs) in dentistry, there is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of nondentists performing irreversible surgical procedures, according to a yearlong systematic review conducted by the ADA (Journal of the American Dental Association, January 2013, Vol. 144:1, pp. 75-91). The systematic review sought to answer this question: In populations where nondentists conduct diagnostic, treatment planning, and/or irreversible
The scientific evidence linking type 2 diabetes with a significantly greater risk of periodontitis continues to mount, according to long-term data published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice (December 2012, Vol. 98:3, pp. 494-500). Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) exhibited an even stronger association with risk of periodontitis among those who consumed few fruits and vegetables, noted the study authors, from the Harvard School of Public Health, Brigham and Women’s
In Thailand, China, and Indonesia, teens are donning fake orthodontics in a trend that has had deadly results in at least two cases, according to an article on Vice.com. The high cost of braces has made them a status symbol that teens have latched onto. Now fashion braces, called “kawat gigi untuk gaya” or “behel” in Indonesia, can be purchased for about $100 online and stalls in open-air markets. Beauty
A recent study by faculty and students at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Dental Medicine found clinically acceptable marginal fits, regardless of the quality of the preparation, with restorations fabricated with the E4D System, D4D Technologies announced in a press release. There was a statistically significant correlation between the marginal fit and the quality of the preparation, however, according to the study authors, from the MUSC
A dental crown maker has added a new element to his business: placing images on the teeth he creates. David W. Roberts, owner of Blue Crown Dental Arts in Kennewick, WA, calls his craft “tooth tattooing,” although he is actually painting the images, according to an article in the News Tribune. Roberts began painting dental crowns 40 years ago while working as a dental technician when a dental assistant asked
Reolysin, a drug developed by Oncolytics Biotech to boost the effects of standard chemotherapy drugs, has shown initial positive results in a clinical study of patients with head and neck cancer. Reolysin is based on a virus that is found in almost all adults’ respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts without generally causing any symptoms. The drug may boost the effects of two standard chemotherapy drugs in some cancer patients, according to
Jensen Dental has released a white paper showing how dental labs can increase productivity and profitability by using a multifunction pressing furnace. The white paper discusses how the Dekema Austromat press-i-dent furnace can improve operational efficiencies, according to a press release. The new furnace provides the ability to press up to five shades and/or 20 grams of ceramic in one pressing cycle, and the spruing and autodry feature enhances lab
More than 40 dental students from the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles recently provided care at a Kenyan dental clinic where they also distributed toothbrushes and taught locals about oral hygiene. The students collected donated dental supplies and equipment and raised $175,000 to finance the clinic, which treated about 200 Kenyans earlier this month, according to a Los Angeles Times story. The students, who provided dental care