Researchers from King’s College London are warning that cases of permanent nerve damage caused by dental implants could increase if steps are not taken to address risks and prevent injury. They conducted a case review of dental implant patients who were referred to a specialist nerve injury clinic at King’s College Hospital, part of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (British Dental Journal, June 8, 2012). They found that
A proposal in Virginia to allow a new category of dental personnel, the dental assistant II (DAII), to use high-speed rotary instruments has been turned down by the state Board of Dentistry. The proposal, put forward by Denice Burnette, CDA, EFDA, the only DAII working in Virginia, prompted heated debate among the dental community, with opponents calling it a threat to patient safety. “Allowing dental assistants II to use high-speed
HuangshanDental.com is pleased to present the next installment of Leaders in Dentistry, a series of interviews with researchers, practitioners, and opinion leaders who are influencing the practice of dentistry. We spoke with Ronald Bulard, DDS, CEO and president of Park Dental Research, which was founded in 1967 and is considered one of the oldest dental implant companies in the world. Dr. Bulard has been a major influence in the development and
A peer- and community-driven education program appears to be a successful vehicle to encourage high school students in Appalachia to reduce their intake of sugared drinks, according to a study in PRISM: A Journal of Regional Engagement (Spring 2012, Vol. 1:1). Supported by funding from the Ohio State Center for Clinical and Translational Science, the study was built around a 30-day “challenge” that utilized academic-community partnerships to identify health needs
Why would an ice cream company embark on a nationwide campaign to raise money and awareness for Operation Smile, an international charity that for 30 years has been helping kids with cleft lip/palate and facial deformities? Television personality Brooke Burke, a Smile Ambassador for Operation Smile, was on hand June 6 at the Grove in Los Angeles in support of Dreyer’s new Reason to Smile campaign. Television personality Brooke Burke,
PMX-30063, a drug being developed by PolyMedix for the treatment of acute care conditions, has shown potential as a topical treatment for oral mucositis in patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy, according to research presented June 2 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago. The data summarized two preclinical studies in which PMX-30063 was administered to animals as a topical rinse three times daily in models
The Korean National Police Agency has charged an international dental chain with using a dangerous, illegal teeth-whitening product, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal. United Dental Clinic, a dental network with five of its 120 offices in the U.S., allegedly treated patients with a gel containing very high amounts of hydrogen peroxide typically designated for industrial use. According to the article, 21 United Dental clinics used the
The company Medical Marijuana has acquired a 50% stake in CanChew, a cannabinoid (CBD)-based chewing gum developed as a pharmaceutical delivery mechanism to relieve pain, xerostomia, and other side effects of disease and disease treatment. The acquisition gives Medical Marijuana worldwide exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, market, and distribute both tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and non-THC hemp-derived cannabinoid-infused chewing gum to medical marijuana consumers, according to the company. The U.S. Food and
Medline has introduced the BioMask, an antiviral, antimicrobial face mask that the company claims can inactivate 99.99% of laboratory-tested flu viruses. In addition to filtering the air, the BioMask inactivates harmful pathogens, including imminent pandemic and seasonal strains of influenza viruses that land on both the outside and inside surfaces of the mask. The BioMask works by using a combination of citric acid, zinc, and copper. A hydrophilic coating on
TWG Sports has launched a patent-pending line of mouthguards designed to provide added concussion protection during contact sports with a self-aligning system. The TWG-X was designed by Michael Wright, DDS, a Bethesda, MD-based dentist, using the same principles of stability and thickness widely used by the dental community, according to the company. Dr. Wright designed the mouthguard after he saw the need for an improved guard when treating and rehabilitating
A coalition of 10 dental organizations has voiced its support for the continued use of dental amalgam in a letter to the U.S. government in anticipation of a United Nations meeting considering a ban on its future usage, the ADA News reported. The fourth session of the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, which takes place June 27-July 2 in Uruguay, will continue work on a legally binding ruling
Rocky Mountain Dental Institute (RMDI) classes now count towards the designation of International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI) Fellow. ICOI credentials recognize dedication, qualifications, training, and experience, allowing doctors to improve their implant skills, the organizations noted. Classes are now enrolling at RMDI; the first session will be September 13, 2012.