India issues treatment guidelines for buccal mucosa cancers

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued a consensus document for the management of buccal mucosa cancers, according to a story on Pharmabiz.com. Although several international consensus guidelines are available for the management of oral cavity cancers, none addresses buccal mucosa cancers in particular, according to ICMR officials. Formulating guidelines based on Western data is questionable given that buccal mucosa tumors are rare in the developed countries, they

Ga. college opens dental hygiene program

Savannah Technical College has unveiled its new dental hygiene clinic and educational facility after taking over the program last year from Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU). The new $1.81 million facility in Savannah, GA, includes a clinical lab with 24 dental hygiene stations, four radiology rooms, a dental materials lab, two classrooms, specialized spaces for records, sterilization, and patient reception, as well as six faculty offices and an administrative area,

UC Davis wins $650K grant for thyroid research

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a research grant of nearly $650,000 to the University of California (UC), Davis to investigate the effect of environmental agents on thyroid hormones and modeling how the chemicals affect organism health. The grant was part of almost $11 million awarded to eight universities through the EPA’s Science to Achieve Results program. These grants will help the universities develop fast and effective methods

Lagos sets sights on tooth-brushing record

The Lagos state government in Nigeria is hoping to break the world record for most people brushing their teeth at one time, according to a story in the Nation. To achieve the feat, on December 5, 2012, 300,000 pupils from 300 public schools will start brushing their teeth at different locations simultaneously. The quest is part of the state’s activities to celebrate World Oral Health Day, according to Yewande Adeshina,

Leaders in Dentistry: Dr. Pamela McClain, AAP president

HuangshanDental.com is pleased to present the next installment of Leaders in Dentistry, a series of interviews with researchers, practitioners, and opinion leaders who are influencing the practice of dentistry. We spoke with Pamela McClain, DDS, current president of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and a private practice periodontist in Aurora, CO, who also serves as a clinical assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of Dentistry. She received

Satcher urges U.S. states to increase dental access options

David Satcher, MD, former U.S. surgeon general and assistant secretary for health, is urging states to take steps to increase access to dental care for poor and minority children, according to a statement issued by America’s Wire. “As states wrangle with whether or not to pursue Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act [ACA], they should look carefully at the serious implications for oral health, especially for poor and minority

Fluoridation tested in 4 major U.S. cities this year

The current round of water fluoridation controversy in the U.S. has reached a crescendo as city councils in two major metropolitan areas voted in favor of the practice in a two-day period. On September 11, the Phoenix City Council elected to continue its 20 year practice of fluoridating its water, and one day later the city council of Portland, OR, voted to shed the distinction of being the largest U.S.

iRaise sinus lift implant introduced in Hong Kong

Maxillent, a dental implant technology company, has signed an exclusive contract with Pioneer Richteeth Medical Distribution Shanghai for the distribution of the iRaise sinus lift implant in Hong Kong. iRaise is designed to address a key difficulty in implant surgery: the sinus lift procedure, which is required in 20% of dental implant cases when there is insufficient bone in the upper jaw to support implants, according to the company. iRaise

Study compares transcrestal techniques for jaw reconstruction

Transcrestal surgical techniques for maxillary sinus floor elevation offer an alternative for reconstructive surgery of the mandible prior to the placement of dental implants, according to a pilot study in the Journal of Oral Implantology (August 2012, Vol. 38:4, pp. 345-359). Transcrestal surgery is a procedure that increases bone volume and prepares the upper jaw for dental implants, the journal explained in a press release. The study authors, from Loma

No differences in kids treated with composites vs. amalgam

A new study that tested whether dental restoration materials could affect children’s physical growth found no significant differences in physical development in children who received amalgam or composite fillings (Journal of Dental Research, September 13, 2012). A previous secondary analysis of the same dataset found that children treated with composites had more self-reported psychosocial problems after five years compared with children treated with amalgam. As part of the New England

NYC bans large sugary drinks

The New York City Board of Health has approved a measure proposed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to ban the sale of large sodas and other sugary drinks at restaurants, street carts, and movie theaters, according to a story in the New York Times. “NYC’s new sugary drink policy is the single biggest step any gov’t has taken to curb obesity. It will help save lives,” Bloomberg tweeted. The ban would

Feds sue Maine dentist on behalf of hygienists

The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against a Bath, ME, dentist for allegedly retaliating against two dental hygienists who alerted authorities to unsanitary conditions at the practice. The federal complaint, filed September 7 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, contends that Tammy Cook, DDS, who owns Bath Family Dental, discriminated against Dorothy Shafran and Chelsea Huntington after they filed complaints with the Occupational