Study finds link between obesity, periodontitis

MicroRNA induced by chronic nutritional stress that leads to obesity may also modulate inflammatory pathways within periodontal tissues and affect disease expression, according to a pilot study in the Journal of Dental Research (JDR, October 31, 2011). Researchers from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry’s Oral Health Institute used total RNA from gingival biopsy samples collected from 20 patients in four groups: five nonobese (body mass index [BMI]

Althera to begin head/neck cancer therapy trial

Althera Medical will conduct a human study of its alpha radiation treatment for head and neck, colon, pancreatic, sarcoma, brain, melanoma, and lung cancers. Benjamin Corn, MD, chairman of radiation oncology at the Sourasky Medical Center in Israel and Althera’s chief medical officer, and Aron Popovtzer, MD, chief of the head and neck tumor service at Beilinson Hospital, also in Israel, will lead the study, according to the company. Alpha

FTC mulls NC dental board teeth-whitening appeal

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is considering the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners’ appeal of a July ruling that the board’s efforts to block nondentists from providing teeth-whitening services constitute an illegal anticompetitive conspiracy. The dental board’s actions violated the law, according to a decision issued July 14 by Chief Administrative Law Judge D. Michael Chappell, who concluded it was “unreasonable restraint of trade and an unfair

P&G told to change toothpaste advertising claims

The National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus Claims has recommended that Procter & Gamble discontinue advertising claims for Crest Sensitivity Treatment & Protection Toothpaste that promise “relief within minutes.” The claims at issue were challenged before NAD, the advertising industry’s self-regulatory forum, by Colgate-Palmolive. NAD examined advertising claims that included: “Relief within Minutes*” — *For Sensitivity relief within minutes, first brush sensitive teeth for 30

Align Technology reports record Q3 revenues

An increase in Invisalign case volume and new business stemming from its acquisition of Cadent helped Align Technology achieve record revenues in the third quarter of 2011 (end-September 30). Total net revenues for the quarter were $125.9 million, a 31%% increase over revenues of $95.9 million reported in the third quarter of 2010. Invisalign revenues were $114.3 million for the third quarter, up 19.1% year over year. Scanner and CAD/CAM

$1M settlement in Ohio girl’s sedation death

The parents of a 13-year-old Ohio girl who died in January after receiving intravenous sedation for oral surgery will receive nearly $700,000 from the insurance company representing Henry Mazorow, DDS. Marissa Kingery’s parents, Amber McEwen of Elyria and Jason Kingery of Sheffield Lake, each will receive $331,056, according to a story in the Chronicle-Telegram. Their attorney, Michael Czack of Cleveland, will receive $318,000 and about $4,000 in expenses. Dr. Mazorow,

Fla. 5-year-old’s sedation death ruled an accident

The 2010 death of a 5-year-old Florida boy who was sedated prior to having dental work done has been ruled an accident. On April 22, 2010, Dylan Shane Stewart went to the office of Ronnie Grundset, DDS, a longtime Gainesville-area pediatric dentist, to have four fillings and eight crowns placed, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. After being sedated with chloral hydrate he went into cardiac arrest and died

Dentsply Q3 sales up, income down

Dentsply International saw a 14.4% increase in net sales for the third quarter of 2011 (end-September 30) due to positive impacts from the acquisition of Astra Tech, foreign currency exchange rates, and internal sales growth. Net sales were $619.8 million in the quarter, compared with $541.8 million reported for the third quarter of 2010, the company announced. Net income, however, declined 4.5% to $60.6 million, compared with 63.8 million in

Survey: Many in the U.K. unaware of HPV/oral cancer link

Too many parents and young people in the U.K. are unaware of one of the most common sexually transmitted infections — human papillomavirus (HPV) — and its link to oral and other cancers, according to a survey conducted by the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF). The BDHF surveyed 802 respondents in September 2011, including 183 people ages 12-16 and 206 parents of children ages 12-16. Less than half (42%) of

Pilot program will target oral health of disabled

Catherine Binkley, DDS, PhD, and associate professor at the University of Louisville dental school, and Knowlton Johnson, PhD, a senior scientist at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, have received a $308,000 National Institutes of Health grant to conduct a two-year study of an intervention program for caregivers of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). People with IDD who are living in family or group homes are less

Dental Heroes: Returning smiles to kids in need

Kecia, a high school student near Bakersfield, CA, had multiple dental problems, including several missing teeth and gaps between her teeth. But her family could not afford the orthodontic treatment she desperately needed. The teasing and bullying she endured affected her personality, turning her into a shy, introverted child — until a physical education teacher recommended her to the orthodontic practice of Donald Montano, DDS. Donald Montano, DDS Donald Montano,

Healthy oral bacteria provide ideal conditions for perio disease

Normal bacteria present in the oral cavity provide the catalyst for the development of periodontal disease, according to a study in Cell Host and Microbe (October 2011, Vol. 10:4, pp. 302-306). Scientists from Queen Mary University of London and the University of Washington School of Dentistry introduced the oral bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis to mice living in two different test conditions. The mice with normal bacteria in their mouths developed periodontal