Plackers, OHA expand oral health partnership

Building on a partnership that began in 2010, Plackers will sponsor the first Oral Health America (OHA) Smiles Across America (SAA) Innovation Grants. This SAA-affiliated program awards grants to five SAA community partners in recognition of their innovative methods for delivering oral health preventive services to children at increased risk of oral disease, the company noted. In addition to providing financial support for OHA’s Smiles Across America and Fall for

U.K. researchers develop new remineralization technique

Researchers from the University of Leeds School of Chemistry have developed a peptide they say could be used to remineralize teeth. The peptide, known as P 11-4, assembles together into fibers under certain conditions. In practice, this means that when applied to a tooth, the fluid seeps into the micropores caused by demineralization, where it forms a gel. This gel then provides a scaffold that attracts calcium and regenerates the

Technology advances make light curing more complex

Light-curing composite resins used to be a straightforward process, when halogen lights were used to cure composites for 40 to 60 seconds. But the situation has become more complex over the past two decades; light-emitting diode (LED) curing lights have nearly replaced halogen lights, new materials keep coming on the market, and companies are marketing shorter and shorter curing times. “Situational awareness is what you need to have now,” said

5-year study to evaluate Keystone Dental implants

Keystone Dental is gearing up to begin a five-year study to evaluate the long-term success of its Genesis Biomimetic Implant System. The study will be conducted at eight U.S. centers with an expected enrollment of approximately 120 patients, according to the company. Genesis dental implants will be surgically placed and assessed at defined time points beginning at one year postsurgery. Additional safety and performance end points for the implant system

Proposed bill follows VA infection-control scandal

U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) is introducing federal legislation that would let the government fine and imprison for up to one year U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration employees who intentionally fail to follow infection-control practices, according to a story in the Dayton Daily News. Turner is introducing the bill following revelations early this year that hundreds of veterans were put at risk by alleged poor infection-control

New infection-control rules take effect in Calif.

Dental professionals in California, take note: New infection-control regulations took effect August 20, and without making some significant changes in certain aspects of your everyday routine, you could be in violation of the state’s minimum standards for infection control. The guidelines are a product of the Dental Board of California and the Dental Hygiene Committee of California, as mandated by California law. The revised guidelines are the result of a

Chemists ID protein in dental biofilm bacterium

Two chemists at the University of California, San Diego have discovered the most naturally variable protein known to date in a bacterium that is a key player in the formation of dental plaque (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, August 22, 2011). The chemists believe the extreme variability of the protein they discovered in the bacterium Treponema denticola evolved to adhere to the hundreds of different kinds of other

Fla. military veterans offered orthodontic discounts

Orthodontic Specialists of Florida is joinging Gov. Rick Scott in honoring Florida’s military veterans by offering discounts on orthodontic care to patients who present the new Florida driver’s license for veterans. The new feature, which is designed to give veterans an easy way to show proof of their veteran status, was announced last month. “We hope that retailers and restaurants that offer discounts to military veterans will accept the license

OCT aids in identifying oral lesion biopsy sites

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers a noninvasive approach for localizing the most representative site to biopsy in a suspicious oral lesion, according to a study in Lasers in Medical Science (August 18, 2011). Selecting the most representative site for biopsy is crucial in establishing a definitive diagnosis of oral epithelial dysplasia, noted the study authors from Queens Mary University London. Because current methods of clinical examination can result in sampling

Dentsply/Astra Tech deal to close Aug. 31

Dentsply International has received regulatory approval from the relevant national competition authorities to proceed with the acquisition of Astra Tech, a provider of dental implant and urology products, from AstraZeneca. The previously announced transaction is now expected to close on August 31, 2011. The company had originally expected to finalize the deal by year’s end. Dentsply is selling $1 billion in debt securities to help fund the $1.8 billion acquisition.

DentalEZ offers free Identafi training seminars

DentalEZ will conduct free training seminars for customers who have purchased the Identafi oral screening device or are interested in finding out more about the Identafi. The company has selected 25 locations and dates across the U.S. for the training seminars. Visit the Identafi website to see the complete list. The three-hour seminars are intended for all dental professionals. Attendees who have already purchased the Identafi will gain further insight

Dentists balk at referring implant patients to endodonists

When it comes to referring patients for dental implants, the majority of general dentists say they would not choose an endodontist, according to a new survey in the Journal of Endodontics (August 1, 2011). Among 366 general dentists who responded to a survey sent to 1,500 randomly selected practicing general dentists in the U.S., 66% said they were opposed to endodontists placing dental implants, and as many as 73% indicated