UConn chemist develops oral cancer detection method

A chemistry professor at the University of Connecticut has created a method for accurately detecting multiple proteins in the bloodstream that indicate the presence of oral cancer, according to an article posted on the school’s website. James Rusling, PhD, and his colleagues’ method for detecting the protein interleukin-6 was created in 2010. While it was an indication that a person had oral cancer, the single biomarker was not sufficiently definitive.

ABC’s ‘The View’ apologizes for hygienist comments

The ABC television show “The View” has issued an apology of sorts over comments made last week on its show about the educational requirements and annual salary of dental hygienists. In a segment entitled “Where Are The Jobs?” financial expert Regina Lewis stated that a college degree is not needed to become a dental hygienist and that the average hygienist’s salary is $45,000. Dental hygienists took to the American Dental

Ultradent introduces hydrophilic pit/fissure sealant

Ultradent has released UltraSeal XT hydro, a hydrophilic pit-and-fissure sealant. UltraSeal XT hydro’s hydrophilic properties eliminate the need to pretreat the tooth with a drying agent, allowing for faster treatments, according to the company. It also fluoresces under a black light, making it easy to check retention at the time of placement and at subsequent visits. UltraSeal XT hydro’s adhesive technology securely bonds to enamel, increasing marginal retention and reducing

FDA workshop explores pediatric radiation dose

An initiative by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require improvements in medical devices for pediatric imaging was uniformly applauded by attendees at a daylong public workshop held July 16 on the FDA campus in Silver Spring, MD. Called after several high-profile cases in which children were overexposed to medical radiation, the workshop served as a national podium for pediatric medical imaging specialists and industry representatives to express

Henry Schein to distribute ReDent Nova products

Henry Schein and ReDent Nova have extended their exclusive distribution agreement to include Germany and the Netherlands. Additionally, the two companies will cooperate on servicing customers who have previously purchased ReDent Nova products from Henry Schein in other countries, according to a press release. Henry Schein began distributing ReDent Nova products in 2010. Based in Tel Aviv, Israel, ReDent Nova’s flagship product is the SAF (self-adjusting file), a device that

Midmark launches M3 Ultrafast sterilizer promotion

Midmark is now offering an M3 Ultrafast automatic sterilizer promotion, entitled “Why M3?” The M3 sterilizes unwrapped instruments and handpieces in six minutes and pouched instruments in just over 10 minutes, the company noted. Other features include a 25-minute drying time, one-step loading, automatic water monitoring, and front reservoir drain. The promotion order period runs through September 30, 2012. Dentists and dental facilities that purchase an M3 UltraFast automatic sterilizer

Beaming White changes teeth-whitening formula

Beaming White has changed the formula of the teeth-whitening gel in its Advanced Whitening Kit from a water- to an alcohol-based gel. The change will enhance the gel’s whitening power while increasing its shelf life, according to the company. The whitening kit is typically sold to teeth-whitening service providers and consists of an applicator pen with 16% hydrogen peroxide gel, a cheek retractor, a bib, a finger wipe, and a

Do some cements lower postoperative tooth sensitivity?

A self-adhesive resin cement from Heraeus Kulzer was found to result in less postoperative sensitivity than a resin-modified glass ionomer cement in a new study in Clinical Oral Investigations (July 11, 2012). For this randomized clinical trial, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine cemented 88 crowns to vital teeth using either the self-adhesive cement iCem (n = 44) or the glass ionomer Fuji Plus (GC America;

ABC News spotlights pediatric dental sedation risks

An ABC News story that aired July 12 took a hard-hitting look at the potential risks of pediatric dental sedation, alleging that, in some cases, undertrained dentists motivated primarily by profits are unnecessarily sedating young patients for routine procedures. Even well-trained dentists have been “unable” or “ill-equipped” to deal with such scenarios involving pediatric patients, according to the report, which characterized the matter as a growing problem. The story appeared

Australia to provide HPV vaccinations for boys

The Australian minister for health has announced that, starting next school year, the government will provide free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations (Gardasil) for 12- and 13-year-old boys through school-based programs under the National Immunization Program. It is the first vaccination effort of its kind, according to the Australian government. Providing the HPV vaccine to boys would protect them from developing a range of cancers — including oral cancer — and

Colo. health department: Oral surgeon reused syringes

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has issued a warning to patients of an oral surgeon who practiced in Highlands Ranch and Denver who was found to have repeatedly reused needles and syringes, often for days at a time. Patients of Stephen Stein, DDS, may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B, and/or hepatitis C if they received intravenous (IV) medications, including sedation, under Stein’s care from September