CBCT shows link between perio bone loss, mucosal thickening

Cone-beam CT (CBCT) helped researchers from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand identify a relationship between severe periodontal bone loss and mucosal thickening of the maxillary sinus (Journal of Periodontology, September 12, 2011). The researchers studied 250 cone-beam CT scans of dental patients to assess periodontal bone loss, periapical lesions, and root canal fillings in the upper posterior teeth. They also recorded the presence of mucosal thickening and mucosal cysts of the

Bill would allow dentists to refer Medicare patients for physical therapy

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) applauds the introduction of the Medicare Oral Health Rehabilitative Enhancement Act of 2011 (HR 2863), which would amend current law prohibiting dentists from referring their Medicare patients for physical therapy. Introduced on September 7 by U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) and Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ), HR 2863 would revise the current statute, which requires that dentists must refer their Medicare

Select dealers now carry Azenic disposable handpiece

The Azenic DHP disposable dental handpiece is now being sold through national and regional dental dealers across the U.S. Available in a unit-dispensing box of 12, each handpiece is individually wrapped, sterile, ready to use, and 100% recyclable, according to the company. For a list of authorized dealers, call 888-347-7576.

What accounts for racial differences in head/neck cancer?

Why are African-Americans more likely than Caucasians not only to be diagnosed with head and neck cancer, but also to die from the disease? While the answer isn’t a simple one, differences in lifestyle, access to care, and tumor genetics may be partly to blame, according to a new study from Henry Ford Hospital. The study, which was presented September 14 at the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and

Biomet 3i enhances restorative, regenerative portfolios

Biomet 3i is expanding its product offerings with a revised restorative product line and a new regenerative membrane. BellaTek is a line of digital dentistry solutions that will be offered through a series of nonexclusive collaborations with digital dentistry companies, including 3M ESPE, 3Shape, and Align Technologies (iTero). The BellaTek line includes: BellaTek Encode impression system: It allows clinicians to create a BellaTek abutment (formerly known as an Encode definitive

Tooth Soap receives notice of patent allowance

Tooth Soap, a manufacturer of natural oral care products, has received a notice of allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for claims in U.S. patent application No. 11/709,610. This patent application generally relates to novel formulations of Tooth Soap’s flagship product, Tooth Soap, the company said. A notice of allowance is the official notification that the USPTO finds the claimed subject matter novel and nonobvious, and intends

RI kids’ access to oral care improving

Over the past decade, Rhode Island has made progress in improving access to oral healthcare for children, but more work still needs to be done, according to a news brief issued this week by Rhode Island Kids Count. According to a statewide oral health survey conducted by the Rhode Island Department of Health Oral Health Program, dental decay was found to be a significant public health problem for Rhode Island

U.K. dentist investigated after patient dies from mouth rinse allergy

A U.K. dentist is being investigated after a 30-year-old patient died, allegedly from an allergic reaction to a mouth rinse. During an inquest this week, the Brighton County Court heard that Sacha Rumaner’s anaphylactic shock was mistaken for a heart attack or an epileptic fit, the Argus reported. During a postextraction follow-up in February, Dr. Labina Rhamen and her nurse cleaned Rumaner’s socket with Corsodyl mouthwash, which contains chlorhexidine. Rumaner,

VA official in Ohio dental clinic scandal gets new post

Guy Richardson, the former director of the Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center in Dayton, OH, who was reassigned to Cincinnati after an infection control scandal at the center’s dental clinic, has now been appointed as a regional deputy network director in Maryland, according to a news story in the Dayton Daily News. A report released in April by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Inspector General

One resin-based composite more stain-resistant than others

Resin-based composites (RBCs) give patients the aesthetic results they want, but certain foods can prompt unsightly stains on these materials, according to a new study in the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry (August 2011, Vol. 23:4, pp. 250-257). Researchers from Manipal University in India looked at the interaction between different types of resin-based composites and various stains, and found a universal microhybrid composite to be more stain-resistant than others.

Study helps ID HPV trends in laryngeal cancer patients

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is more likely to be found in tumors of laryngeal cancer patients who are male and those with private health insurance, according to a new study from researchers at Henry Ford Hospital. The study findings also reveal that laryngeal cancer patients with Medicare, who tend to be 65 and older, have a lower prevalence of HPV, suggesting that HPV infection may be closely tied to age

Delta Dental spotlights senior oral health

September is National Healthy Aging Month, and Delta Dental wants dental practitioners to remind their senior patients that practicing good oral health habits is part of a healthy aging process. Based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics, this is a message that still needs to get out, Delta Dental noted in a press release: 60% of seniors older than age 65 visited the dentist in 2009 (that percentage