Toothbrush, toothpaste Smile Program grants available

The Wisconsin Dental Association (WDA) Foundation is now accepting applications for its new Smile Program aimed at providing underprivileged children, adults, and seniors with the personal oral hygiene supplies needed to put them on the track toward good dental health. The WDA Foundation’s goal is to provide toothbrushes and toothpaste to Wisconsin nonprofit organizations that serve at-risk populations. Grants of these personal oral hygiene tools will be awarded semiannually in

Ultrasonics a sound alternative to needle irrigation

A continuous ultrasonic irrigation device outperformed conventional needle irrigation in a study comparing the ability of the devices to remove root canal debris (Journal of Endodontics, September 2012, Vol. 38:9, pp. 1261-1264). The study authors, from the department of endodontology at the Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry, found that the continuous ultrasonic device “left significantly less debris present in root canals at 1 and 3 mm from

CDC: Half of U.S. adults have periodontal disease

One out of every two American adults age 30 or older has periodontal disease, according to a new study published in the Journal of Dental Research. The findings were collected as part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the U.S. The

U.S. court rejects cigarette warning labels

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) effort to require warning labels with images of the harmful effects of tobacco on cigarette packs was rejected August 24 by a 2-1 decision by a federal appeals court, according to an article in MedPageToday. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia agreed with a lower court’s determination that such a label requirement would infringe upon tobacco companies’ First Amendment

Tom’s of Maine launches recycling initiative, charity drive

Tom’s of Maine has partnered with TerraCycle, a company specializing in recycling and upcycling, on its new Tom’s of Maine Natural Care Brigade. The free collection program enables consumers to keep packaging from all Tom’s of Maine products and other brands out of landfills, according to the company. As part of the initiative, the company is also introducing the Tom’s of Maine Less in Landfills Sweepstakes, through which Brigade participants

Study helps quantify HPV-head/neck cancer link

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) can help classify a head and neck cancer tumor as being truly associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a new study in Oncology Reports (August 24, 2012). For the study, researchers from Peking University Cancer Hospital collected formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues of 93 pathologically diagnosed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients. They screened DNA sequences in tumor samples for HPVs and HPV-specific polymerase chain

Survey: Most Americans whiten teeth at home

Most Americans opt to whiten their teeth using home-based methods rather than professional whitening options, according to a research report from the market research firm Mintel. In fact, only 10% of those looking for brighter smiles go to the dentist for in-office whitening, Mintel found. Slightly more than 4 in 10 respondents (41%) have tried to whiten their teeth in the last 12 months using toothpaste, while 17% with at-home

Iowa mulls new functions for dental hygienists, assistants

Dental assistants and hygienists in Iowa may be allowed to perform additional expanded functions proposed by the Iowa Dental Association (IDA) pending state approval. The Iowa Dental Board held a meeting on July 13, 2012, to explore this possibility. The discussion involved additional expanded functions for dental assistants and hygienists in five areas proposed by the IDA. Meeting participants included the IDA, the Iowa Dental Hygienists’ Association (IDHA), the Iowa

Ore. man sues after wearing braces for 11 years

A 22-year-old Oregon man who wore braces for 11 years has filed a $185,000 lawsuit against his orthodontist, according to an article in the Oregonian. According to the lawsuit, filed August 24 in Multnomah County Circuit Court, Devin Bost first visited Brad Chvatal, DDS, in August of 1997 after having his braces placed by a different orthodontist. Periodic visits, although infrequent, took place afterward, and in June 2008 Dr. Chvatal’s

Study examines perio disease disparities across U.S.

A study to be published in the September-October issue of Public Health Reports explores the disparities in periodontal disease among U.S. adults along age, sex, racial/ethnic, and socioeconomic lines over a 10-year period. Luisa Borrell, DDS, PhD, the chair of the Lehman College Department of Health Sciences, and co-author Makram Talih of the Hunter College School of Public Health, examined differences among the population groups within a given time period

Kerr launches new cementation system

Kerr Dental has introduced the NX3 XTR cementation system, which blends the versatility of NX3 Nexus third-generation universal dental cement with the adhesion abilities of OptiBond XTR, according to the company. NX3 XTR features easy removal, color stability, high adhesion, and minimal post-op sensitivity, Kerr noted. The system includes the following: 1 NX3 dual-cure syringe (5 mL) 1 OptiBond XTR primer bottle (5 mL) 1 OptiBond XTR adhesive bottle (5

Ariz. town investigates why fluoridation was halted

Two town administrators in Gilbert, AZ, have been placed on leave after officials discovered fluoride has been withheld from part of the town’s water supply for more than a year. Gilbert voters approved fluoridation 12 years ago after a heated debate, and the job of adding the cavity-fighting chemical fell to Public Works Director Lonnie Frost, whose wife had led the opposition against fluoride, according to a story in the