LAS VEGAS – The statistics are chilling: Oral cancer now kills nearly three times as many people as cervical cancer. Every hour, someone dies from the disease. This year, 37,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer, and 25% of them will die of it. So it is crucial that dentists check their patients for it regularly, according to John Flucke, DDS, a general dentist from Lee’s Summit, MO, who
Straumann introduced a new resin-nano-ceramic (RNC) material developed by 3M ESPE this week at the European Association for Osseointegration annual meeting in Athens, Greece. The new material combines nanoceramic components with a cross-linked resin matrix and is cured using a proprietary 3M process. Straumann is the first company to launch the material, which is supplied by 3M ESPE under the trade name 3M ESPE Lava Ultimate Restorative. It is indicated
The Malibu, CA, City Council unanimously passed a resolution on October 10 that supports “national and worldwide efforts to reduce anthropogenic sources of mercury,” including dental amalgam. Mayor John Sibert sponsored the resolution, which was in response to the United Nations Environmental Programme suggestion that cities take an official position in the phase out or global ban of mercury. Malibu is the third city in the U.S. to do so.
Kimberly-Clark Health Care has launched a new website for dental professionals and distributors to learn more about the company’s infection-control products for the dental market. The website is accessible to all dental professionals and distributors, and allows them to obtain comprehensive product information, including product codes, specifications, and images for frequently used dental essentials for infection control. These items include exam gloves, facial protection, protective apparel, ice-filled packs, surgical drapes,
Changes in the bacteria in a person’s mouth may be an early indication of the onset of pancreatic cancer, according to a new study in Gut (October 12, 2011). Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found variations in the types of bacteria found in the saliva of patients with pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis, compared with healthy controls. The findings may offer a noninvasive biomarker to diagnose and
Henry Schein donated 1,300 doses of flu vaccine for dental team members who participated in the Health Screening Program at the ADA annual session in Las Vegas this week. “By receiving this vaccination, dental team members not only protect their own personal health but also the health of their patients, families, and co-workers,” stated Stanley Bergman, chairman and CEO of Henry Schein, in a press release. Despite the U.S. Centers
The ADA and Oral Health America (OHA) have honored four organizations with the 2011 National Children’s Dental Health Month Samuel D. Harris Award. The Samuel D. Harris Award recognizes programs that demonstrate the advancement of dentistry for children through efforts that provide oral health benefits to the public and the profession during February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month. Grants are awarded based on creativity, originality, and opportunity for replication in
Dear DrBicuspid Member, Kansas has become the next U.S. state to move forward with plans to implement a midlevel provider model for dentistry. Fort Hays State University announced yesterday that it intends to offer a baccalaureate degree program to train Registered Dental Practitioners (RDPs), pending passage of legislation establishing RDPs as a class of dental care provider in Kansas. Read more. Meanwhile, DrBicuspid spent the past few days at the
Convergent Dental has secured $2.17 million toward its goal of a $4 million first funding round to develop a hard-tissue dental laser, Mass High Tech reported. Convergent Dental is working to bring its CO2 laser system to dental practices as a potential replacement for the dental drill, the article stated. The computer-guided system’s laser pulses should be able to remove enamel without affecting the tooth’s pulp, according to Nathan Monty,
In 2010, Texas dentists collected $185 million in Medicaid reimbursement for orthodontic services — more than the rest of the U.S. combined. While the state is now taking steps to strengthen its authorization process for orthodontic braces, an investigative report by WFAA-TV in Dallas found that Texas taxpayers didn’t just pay orthodontists for those services, they also spent $13 million on orthodontic transportation for kids participating in the state’s Medicaid
Although replacing lost teeth often involves artificially building up the jaw, researchers at the University of Gothenburg are now showcasing a new method whereby teeth are instead moved into the toothless area using a brace, giving patients the chance of having more teeth. In an experimental study on dogs, the Gothenburg researchers used a brace to move existing teeth into a toothless area with limited bone volume, without any reduction
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center have received a $5.4 million grant to study genetic determinants of Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. This five-year award from the National Cancer Institute will support the Barrett’s Esophagus Translational Research Network (BETRNet), which consists of multiple centers collaborating to develop an understanding of the basis of Barrett’s esophagus and its conversion to esophageal carcinoma. Researchers will
