Dentists in the U.K. are being warned about accepting money for recommending stem cell harvesting to their patients. The Dental Defence Union (DDU) has been contacted by members who have been approached by companies marketing services to preserve stem cells harvested from tooth pulp in the hope that the cells could be used in future to treat disease, according to a story on dentistry.co.uk. Dentists are being offered a referral
What happens to your face when you smile spontaneously, and how does that affect how old you look? Computer scientists from the University of Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science recorded the smiles of hundreds of visitors to the NEMO science centre in Amsterdam, thus creating the most comprehensive smile database ever. The research was conducted as part of the project Science Live, sponsored by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research and
A recent comparison study found that a salivary culture of mutans streptococci (MS) alone was the most accurate means of assessing a child’s risk for developing early childhood caries (ECC) among the methods tested (Journal of the American Dental Association, July 2012, Vol. 143:7, pp. 756-763). However, a newer method using adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-driven bioluminescence measurements as a predictor for ECC that was not included in the study may be
As I read through Dr. Jay Friedman’s opinion piece, “Is the ADA’s midlevel provider economic analysis fair?” written in response to the July 25 ADA report on the economic viability of midlevel providers (MLPs), several questions came to mind: John Comisi, DDS, MAGD. John Comisi, DDS, MAGD. Why should “… dentists [be] included in the study as one of the alternative providers — which they actually are …”? This statement
Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine presented the outcomes of robotic surgery in tobacco users with head and neck cancer at the American Head and Neck Society annual meeting, which was held July 21-25 in Toronto. In a retrospective study of 35 smokers and 22 nonsmokers who were treated with transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and evaluated after 19.9 months, Mount Sinai researchers found that progression-free survival was 91% and
On Demand Dentist announced it has struck a partnership with charitable organization Fresh Start Surgical Gifts. A portion of every dollar spent at On Demand Dentist will be donated to the organization, which provides free healthcare services to children and young adults from around the world, but with a focus on San Diego. All healthcare services are provided by local volunteer medical professionals. Fresh Start Surgical Gifts provides services to
While the use of propofol and remifentanil are increasing in orthognathic surgery, patients may experience more postoperative pain than with other types of anesthesia, according to a study in Anesthesia Progress (Summer 2012, Vol. 59: 2, pp. 69-74). Remifentanil is increasingly used in orthognathic surgery because its short half-life can facilitate stable operating conditions while avoiding the undesirable postoperative consequences of morphine and other such agents, according to lead author
A new study examining the color stability of 10 resin-based restorative materials has found that while clinically relevant color changes occurred immediately after polymerization, a month later the color changes were negligible (Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry, June/July 2012, Vol.24:3, 185-199). Color stability is a major challenge for clinicians despite significant developments to improve the optical properties of composites, the study authors noted. “As newer and improved formulations of
The ADA studies on the economic viability of alternative dental providers released this week have more holes in them than a slice of Swiss cheese. The studies actually documented the financial feasibility of a dental therapist “within a larger dental practice.” Yet, the overall summary conclusion is that “the introduction of additional providers does nothing to address this issue [of providing care to underserved populations].” If dental therapists can’t address
TheraBreath has introduced three new teeth-whitening products: the Dental Professional Whitening Kit, the Touch Up Whitening Pen, and the Tooth Sensitivity Treatment Pen. The Dental Professional Whitening Kit works by applying a blend of carbamide peroxide gel to the teeth using thermoplastic mouth trays. TheraBreath now uses glycerin as a base for the gel instead of glycol because natural glycerin is more effective at permitting absorption of the gel by
Sharps Compliance, a provider of solutions designed for the proper management of medical waste, has launched a Web-based compliance and training program designed to improve worker safety while satisfying Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and related requirements. The ComplianceTRAC program is a one-stop, interactive module that includes online digital video training, comprehension testing, and a training certificate for blood-borne pathogens and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of
An orthodontics practice in Kentucky has raised more than $50,000 for local schools over the last two years through its Partners in Education program. Beginning in August 2010, Stan Ferguson, DMD, and Ed Tipton, DDS, of Bluegrass Orthodontics in Lexington set out to help the schools where their young patients attended, according to a story in the Lexington Herald-Leader. Ever since, they have donated $100 for every child and adult