$85K grant to fund Ore. schoolkids’ oral care

A community health center in Oregon has received an $85,000 grant to provide screenings, fluoride varnishes, case management, and oral hygiene education to schoolchildren from kindergarten through 8th grade, the Upper Rogue Independent reported. The grant by the Reed and Carolee Walker Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation will enable the center to serve roughly 3,100 students in the Eagle Point, Prospect, and Butte Falls school districts. Outreach workers will

Judge dismisses 1st Fixodent lawsuit

The first of dozens of Fixodent denture cream lawsuit has been dismissed after a pretrial judge excluded expert witness testimony from the plaintiffs, About Lawsuits reported. The suit, filed against Procter & Gamble by Marianne and Daniel Chapman and scheduled to go to trial June 20, was dismissed last month by Judge Cecilia Altonga of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. At least 38 denture cream

India has most oral cancer worldwide

More new cases of oral cancer are reported in India than any other country in the world, the Deccan Chronicle reported. Chewing tobacco and gutka, a mixture of betel nuts and tobacco, are responsible for 90% of the some 80,000 new cases reported each year, the article stated. Activists in the country claim that tobacco companies have been targeting young children with free samples, celebrity endorsements, and product availability around

Study: Botox ineffective against chronic neck pain

There is no evidence that botulinum toxin (Botox) injections reduce chronic neck pain or associated headaches, according to a group of researchers who reviewed nine trials involving 503 participants (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, July 5, 2011). Some of the trials specifically compared the effects of either giving the toxin, found in antiwrinkle products such as Botox, or a placebo injection of saline to two different groups of people with

ResMed acquires Irish sleep apnea device firm

ResMed, a developer of medical equipment for treating, diagnosing, and managing sleep-disordered breathing and other respiratory disorders, has acquired BiancaMed, an Irish medical technology company. BiancaMed has developed and is marketing SleepMinder, a noncontact device to monitor sleep and breathing in the home and hospital. SleepMinder measures sleep and breathing with biometric software and a motion sensor that can detect respiration and movement without physical contact with the human body,

ACR releases new radiotherapy guidelines

The American College of Radiology (ACR) has released an updated version of its appropriateness criteria for the use of radiation therapy following surgical resection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The guidelines were published in the July issue of Oral Oncology. Adjuvant radiotherapy has been shown in clinical trials to improve postoperative locoregional control, compared with preoperative radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. Postoperative radiotherapy is generally indicated in

Pfizer funds $2.1M in head/neck cancer research

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Oncology Research Program recently awarded research grants to investigators following a review of proposals submitted in response to an NCCN axitinib request for proposals. These grants were made possible through general research support of $2.1 million from Pfizer. Researchers will evaluate and define the clinical activity of Pfizer’s axitinib in various tumor types, including head and neck, adenoid cystic, and carcinoid cancers, as well

Endoscopic resection effective in pharyngeal cancer

Transoral organ-preserving pharyngeal endoscopic resection is effective in the treatment of superficial pharyngeal cancer, according to a study in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (June 27, 2011). Researchers from Kyoto University designed a retrospective, two-center cohort study that included 104 patients with superficial pharyngeal cancer. They performed the procedure on patients under general anesthesia, and then measured its safety, long-term survival, and clinical outcome. Here are some of the key results: A total

Late diagnoses may have caused U.K. oral cancer deaths

Late diagnoses and referrals could have resulted in the deaths of several oral cancer patients at a dental hospital in Belfast, U.K., according to a story in the Belfast Telegraph. A report found the Belfast Health Trust guilty of “serious deficiencies” after 15 oral cancer patients at the Royal Dental Hospital received late diagnoses and referrals. Health Minister Edwin Poots said that four of the 15 could have died as

Ultradent releases fluoride varnish with new SoftEZ tip

Ultradent has released Flor-Opal Varnish White, a fluoride varnish with a syringe and tip delivery system for fast, simple, and mess-free application. The new system comes with Ultradent’s SoftEZ tip for a paintbrush-like application that applies an even coat of varnish from start to finish, according to the company. Flor-Opal Varnish White features a unique syringe-to-syringe mixing system ensuring a consistent, even dose of fluoride is applied to each tooth.

Sunstar relaunches website

Sunstar Americas has relaunched its website (www.gumbrand.com) with information about oral health concerns for consumers and oral care maintenance for people with diabetes. The site features an interactive Solutions Finder that enables visitors to select from a list of topics and symptoms. It is designed to enhance patient compliance of oral care products, according to the company. Sunstar is also highlighting the link between diabetes management and oral care. The

NJDA to appeal ruling in lawsuit against tanning salon

Teeth-whitening services offered by nondentists at mall kiosks and beauty salons is a contentious issue across the U.S. While many states are moving to ban the practice, others are pushing nondental businesses to shut down voluntarily. Now a legal battle between the New Jersey Dental Association (NJDA) and a New Jersey tanning salon that offers teeth whitening has taken an interesting turn, following a judge’s ruling in favor of the