OHA grants to fund Fla. school sealant program

Oral Health America (OHA) has awarded a $20,000 Smiles Across America grant to CHS Healthcare of Collier County, FL, for an elementary school-based dental sealant program. The Walmart Foundation provided a matching $20,000 grant. CHS Healthcare is a federally qualified health center that provides safety net healthcare services, including basic dental and specialty pediatric dental services, to communities around Collier County. OHA’s award was made possible through funding from the

Can remineralizing agents mitigate whitening side effects?

Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures today, but it can have negative side effects. For example, some studies have reported that whitening agents containing carbamide peroxide or peroxide may soften dental hard tissues. But a new study has found that adding a remineralizing agent such as casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) to the bleaching agent could mitigate this effect (Operative Dentistry, August 5, 2011). “I decided

Study IDs 23 microRNAs linked to laryngeal cancer

A Henry Ford Hospital study has identified 23 microRNAs for laryngeal cancer, a discovery that could yield new insight into what causes certain cells to grow and become cancerous tumors in the voice box. Findings from the study were presented September 13 in San Francisco at the American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery Foundation annual meeting. The role of microRNA (miRNA), the small, noncoding RNA molecules that

More research shows spice inhibits head/neck cancer

Curcumin, the main component in the spice turmeric, suppresses a cell signaling pathway that drives the growth of head and neck cancer, according to a pilot study using human saliva by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (Clinical Cancer Research, September 15, 2011, Vol. 17:18). This study is a follow-on to previous research by the same group showing the potential for saliva to

DOCS Education updates sedation information website

DOCS Education has recently revamped SedationRegulations.com, a free website that summarizes each U.S. state or Canadian province’s sedation dentistry regulations, to demystify sedation regulations for dentists. DOCS Education’s Regulatory Counsel John Bitting researches and writes each summary to provide a plain language description of the regulation, according to the company. The redesigned and updated site includes regulation summaries for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the 10 provinces and

Young NASCAR fans to receive free dental treatment

The ADA’s Give Kids A Smile program, Henry Schein Cares, and 3M ESPE are teaming up to put good oral health on the fast track for young fans of NASCAR. On October 15, the three organizations will host a dental health screening event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Kid Zone during the NASCAR Charlotte Race Weekend. Volunteer dentists and other dental team members will give underserved children free dental evaluations,

Study: BPA interferes with breast cancer drugs

Researchers from the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco have discovered another reason to be wary of products that contain bisphenol A (BPA): It can interfere with the effectiveness of drugs used to fight breast cancer (Carcinogenesis, September 1, 2011). The study is part of growing research looking at the negative health effects of BPA, a synthetic chemical with estrogenic properties that is used in various products, including dental

New oral appliance focuses on comfort, affordability

Respire Medical, a manufacturer of oral appliances for the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea, has introduced the Respire Blue Series. The product, which the company says is the most affordable oral appliance on the market, recently gained marketing clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Respire appliance is designed to allow patients to adjust it themselves, making it easier to use, according to t the company. “In

X-rays fall short in detecting leftover gutta-percha

Radiographs don’t adequately reveal the amount of root filling material that remains following a root canal, according to a study in the International Endodontic Journal (September 8, 2011). Researchers from Tel Aviv University and Hadassa and Hebrew University compared five methods for removing root filling material and the ability of radiographs versus a microscope to determine the true extent of material that remains on canal walls following this procedure. After

Medtronic launches space maintenance system

Medtronic has introduced the Artisan space maintenance system for bone grafting space maintenance in oral-maxillofacial applications. The device is cleared for temporary use in oral-maxillofacial surgical reconstruction and dental regeneration procedures to maintain space during bone graft procedures and to support soft tissue until bone formation occurs, according to the company. The Artisan system has a screw design that provides a low profile and a good interface between the screwdriver

Milestone Scientific CFO takes on new role

Milestone Scientific’s chief financial officer (CFO) Joseph D’Agostino will also take on the role of chief operating officer. D’Agostino has helped spearhead a new sales and marketing strategy targeting large group dental practices, according to CEO Leonard Osser. The company recently began selling the Single Tooth Anesthesia (STA) system to group dental practice and expects to sign up more this year, Osser added.

ADA panel issues report on nonfluoride candies, gum

A multidisciplinary expert panel convened by the ADA’s Council on Scientific Affairs has issued a report containing clinical recommendations that support the use of certain nonfluoride products as part of a caries prevention program (Journal of the American Dental Association, September 2011, Vol. 142:9, pp. 1065-1071). Sugar-free chewing gum, lozenges, and hard candy that include xylitol or polyol combinations, could be beneficial in preventing cavities when used as adjuncts to