Biomet 3i, a manufacturer of dental implants, abutments, and related products, has developed a free informational app for the iPad and iPhone, Android, and Blackberry smartphones. The Biomet 3i app was developed to add a level of convenience to the clinician’s user experience and enhance the accessibility of rich media educational resources for the patient, according to the company. It comprises two portals: one for the clinician and one for
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) has developed an educational DVD for parents and caregivers that emphasizes the importance of oral health. The AAPD oral health DVD was produced through AAPD’s Pediatric Oral Health Research and Policy Center, and developed in response to Head Start and dentist requests for easy-to-understand, culturally relevant, and accurate information about children’s teeth and how to keep them healthy. The 28-minute DVD features chapters
The Georgia Board of Dentistry wants to adopt a proposal requiring that hygienists who provide basic preventive dental services in schools, community health centers, and prisons must now be under the direct supervision of a dentist. But the Georgia Dental Hygienists’ Association (GDHA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) oppose the change, saying it would limit access to care, especially for children in rural and low-income communities. The board is
The September issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association takes an in-depth look at xerostomia (dry mouth), from preventive measures and management to the complications associated with head and neck cancer therapy. This month’s Journal expands on the need to identify xerostomia and salivary gland hypofunction at an early stage and the need for patients to be educated about the complications of salivary gland hypofunction, according to the
Endodontists and periodontists were slightly more accurate than general practitioners and oral and maxillofacial surgeons in evaluating suspicious oral lesions, according to a study in Quintessence International (July/August 2011, Vol. 42:7, pp. 575-577). General practitioners correctly diagnosed only about half of the oral lesions they submitted for biopsy, while oral and maxillofacial surgeons and other specialists did slightly better, according to researchers from the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of
The U.S. dental hygiene market topped $1.6 billion in 2010 and is expected to grow to more than $2 billion by 2017, according to a new report from iData Research. Growth is being driven by the digital caries detection, professional teeth whitening, and fluoride varnish segments, according to iData. “Sales of specialized light-emitting diode (LED) and fluorescence laser-based digital caries detection devices, which enhance the ability to detect dental decay
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) will once again collaborate with the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company to promote National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM) in October. This year’s theme, “It’s Simple. Healthy habits for a healthy smile,” promotes the idea that good oral hygiene habits are simple to establish and maintain, even for the person living an active lifestyle. “Brush, Floss, Rinse, Chew” reminds consumers that keeping a healthy mouth can
A well-known Massachusetts dentist who was disciplined for unauthorized use of Botox and inadequate sterilization procedures is a compelling reminder that dental practitioners need to keep abreast of state and federal regulatory changes that affect their practices. The problems for Helaine Smith, DMD, a cosmetic dentist, lecturer, and author who has been practicing for 20 years, began after the Boston Globe published a story in March about the surging demand
It took a bevy of specialists and faculty members at the New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry to unravel the mystery of how a 52-year-old male patient lost nearly all the enamel on his teeth in five months. The bizarre case, to be published in the September 2011 Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, has prompted warnings about the impact improperly maintained swimming pools can have on tooth enamel. The patient
Kane Biotech, a biotechnology company engaged in the development and commercialization of products that prevent and remove microbial biofilms, has developed and patented a new bone tissue regenerating fusion peptide based on the company’s competence stimulating peptide (CSP) oral care technology. This new patent covers the invention of a unique combination product using the company’s CSP technology to help grow bone cells by enhancing bone cell binding and bone tissue
Two U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panels will meet this week to review the potential risks associated with long-term use of bisphosphonate medications such as Fosamax and to determine whether these drugs are safe and effective when used longer than three to five years, according to a story in the New York Times. Bisphosphonate drugs such as Fosamax and Zometa have been used for more than 15 years
Chemical luminescence can aid in the visualization of oral leukoplakias, according to a study in the Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine (August 2011, Vol. 40:7, pp. 541-544). Following oral examinations, researchers from King’s College London Dental Institute evaluated the accuracy of chemiluminescence in detecting oral potentially malignant disorders using a commercially available detection kit (ViziLite, Zila). Data derived were compared in relation to conventional oral examination and surgical biopsy.
