NCOHF affiliates reach 50K children in 2012

More than 50,000 children will receive critical oral health services in 2012, thanks in part to grant funding from National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF), the organization announced. America’s ToothFairy grants in the amount of $10,000 were awarded to several pediatric programs delivering comprehensive educational, preventive and treatment services for at-risk children. The recipients include the following: KinderSmile Foundation, Upper Montclair, NJ Dignity Health, Chandler Regional Medical Center, Chandler ,

Biden’s teeth catch media’s attention

Following the vice presidential debate between Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), chatter on Twitter and other social media networks about the vice president’s teeth went viral, according to an article in the Daily Titan. Comedians commented on them and websites ran phony headlines with teeth-related puns. And now his teeth even have their own website, JoeBidensTeeth.com. The site, which has no official affiliation with the

Oral cancer patient fights Medicare for coverage

Hank Grass has so far successfully fought his submandibular cancer. But the retired policeman is now facing bankruptcy in his losing battle to get Medicare to cover the oral surgeries, dental treatments, and dentures he needs following radiation treatment. The 77-year-old had his salivary gland removed after doctors found cancer at the base of his tongue three years ago. But the radiation and chemotherapy damaged his teeth and gums so

Gene therapy promising for salivary gland treatment

Gene therapy can be performed safely in the human salivary gland, which could lead to new treatments for cancer patients suffering from xerostomia, according to scientists at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, November 5, 2012). This finding, which comes from the first phase I clinical study of gene therapy in a human salivary gland, has great potential to help head

TV show to feature DentalVibe injection system

The CBS medical talk show “The Doctors” will feature the DentalVibe oral injection system on November 9. The segment will feature an on-air oral injection procedure performed by celebrity dentist Bill Dorfman, DDS, according to Bing Innovations, the developer of the DentalVibe system. The DentalVibe injection comfort system uses vibrating pulsations that block the pain of needle injections. It is effective for children and adults. Dr. Dorfman, who has a

Dos and don’ts for production per patient

Educate patients about cosmetic dentistry In contrast to need-based dentistry, patient education is critical to gain cosmetic case acceptance. With need-based dentistry, patients often accept treatment to alleviate pain. Motivating patients to agree to cosmetic procedures is a much more subtle and comprehensive process. Spread the word. It is not enough for you, the dentist, to be serious about increasing cosmetic services. Everyone on your practice team must share that

Many in U.K. don’t seek timely treatment for oral ulcers

About half of the British population would not have a nonhealing oral ulcer checked in a timely manner, potentially leaving a symptom of oral cancer to go undetected, according to a survey by the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF). According to the survey, conducted on behalf of the BDHF by Atomik Research during October 2012 (sample size: 2,044), only 49% of people would seek medical advice within less than four

Purity toothpaste whitening claims ‘misleading’

The U.K.’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled that Purity Laboratories’ Beverly Hills Formula whitening toothpaste ads exaggerate the time it takes to whiten teeth. The ads claimed to make teeth whiter in one minute and cited a study by the Bristol University Dental School to back up the claim, according to the ASA. A rival toothpaste maker, Church & Dwight UK, filed the complaint, saying the ads and the

Dux raises $7,500 from breast cancer campaign

Dux Dental’s fourth annual Bib-Eze for Boob-Eze campaign has yielded a donation of $7,500 to Mammograms In Action, a nonprofit breast cancer organization. The donation will help the nonprofit provide screenings and diagnostic procedures for preventing breast cancer in low-income and uninsured women and men. Dux Dental exceeded its fundraising goal for the campaign by more than $2,500. Zionna Munoz, founder and CEO of Mammograms In Action, noted that the

Time to add fluoride varnish to your bag of tricks?

Do you remember Felix the Cat? Whenever he got in a fix, he reached into his bag of tricks. All dental professionals love having items in their clinical “bag of tricks” that are easy to use, beneficial to the patients, and increase revenues for the practice. If you don’t have fluoride varnish in your bag of tricks, you are missing out! Here’s why: Dentistry is forever evolving with new technologies.

After Sandy: Heed boil water alerts

With millions of Americans still coping with the aftermath of superstorm Sandy, many of the affected areas are under boil water alerts. “Water was and will continue to have a major impact on homes and businesses as a result of this horrible storm, and we want to reinforce the importance of following all safety procedures when it comes to boil water alerts,” said OSAP Chairman Leslie Grant, DDS. OSAP has

Dental anesthesiology falls short of becoming ADA specialty

Dental anesthesiology came close to becoming the 10th ADA recognized specialty but fell short last week when a majority of the House of Delegates (HOD) voted against approving Resolution 16 during the 2012 ADA Annual Session in San Francisco. “We couldn’t overcome the political nature of what the ADA HOD is,” said Steven Ganzberg, DMD, a clinical professor and the chair of dental anesthesiology at the University of California, Los