A prominent cosmetic dentist in California whose ads boast of treating movie stars and sports celebrities has paid a $641,542 award in a malpractice lawsuit, one of six such lawsuits filed against her in nine years. Newport Beach dentist Sherri Worth, DDS, paid the award following an arbitrator’s finding that she did excessive preparation of 22 teeth, plus laser surgery, during a two-hour and 40-minute procedure on March, 5, 2009.
IntelliDent has introduced the Toothbrush Shield designed to replace plastic snap-on caps that trap and breed bacteria. The shield is disposable, breathable, and fast drying, the company noted in a press release. It is made of an antimicrobial, nonwoven material that wicks away moisture. Laboratory tests established that it is a 99.9% effective barrier against bacterial and viral transfer from both airborne and surface microbial contact. The U.S. Centers for
The America Medical Association (AMA) has filed a legal brief challenging the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) antitrust enforcement action against the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners. In December 2011, the FTC found that the North Carolina board illegally thwarted competition by working to bar nondentist providers of teeth-whitening services from selling their products to consumers. The FTC then issued an order directing the board to stop telling nondentists
Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), have demonstrated how a diet steadily high in fructose slows the brain, hampering memory and learning, as well as how omega-3 fatty acids can counteract the disruption. The study, published in the Journal of Physiology(May 2012, vol. 59:10, pp. 2485-2499), is the first to uncover how the sweetener influences the brain, the researchers noted in a press release. Its findings illustrate
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 talked with John Sullivan, immediate past president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). In practice since graduating from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in 1984, Dr. Sullivan concentrates on cosmetic and restorative dentistry in his
Align Technology has awarded $220,000 in scientific research funding for projects seeking to better understand orthodontic treatment with clear aligners. The company gave $160,000 in new funding to four universities in North America and four universities internationally, as well as $60,000 in renewals for existing research projects. All proposals were reviewed and prioritized by an independent academic committee. The eight new study proposals approved for funding are listed below: An
StarDental has introduced plastic barriers for its Identafi oral cancer screening device to improve infection control. The disposable barriers, specifically designed for the Identafi, eliminate the use of plastic bags or oral camera barriers that have not been developed and tested for proper Identafi light transmission. The company described them as an economical alternative to disposable mirrors. The barriers were formally introduced at the California Dental Association spring meeting and
The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles craniofacial orthodontic fellowship has become the second program in the U.S. to be awarded full accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the ADA. The accreditation award was preceded by a rigorous written review and onsite visits from the chairs of orthodontic programs from Columbia University and the University of Washington in Seattle, according to a press release. The craniofacial clinical center at New
The large U.S. tobacco tax increase implemented in April 2009 reduced the number of youth smokers by at least 220,000 and the number of youth smokeless tobacco users by at least 135,000 in the first two months alone, according to a study by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago (The National Bureau of Economic Research, April 2012). The percentage of students who reported smoking in the past 30
Star Group is partnering with the Sacramento District Dental Society (SDDS) Foundation and the California Dental Association (CDA) Foundation to support the Crowns for Kids program. Crowns for Kids enables dentists to support philanthropic efforts in their communities by participating in the SDDS Foundation’s Smiles for Kids local program and the CDA Foundation’s statewide program. Money raised from donations of gold fillings and crowns helps support oral health projects for
ZURICH (Reuters) — Swiss dental implants maker Straumann (STMN.S) is buying a 49% stake in Brazil’s Neodent for 260 million Swiss francs ($277 million), a pricey attempt to expand in a booming market for cosmetic surgery and offset sluggish demand in Europe. Cosmetic dental surgery is already widespread in Latin America and Straumann expects a growing middle class to splash more cash on their teeth. An estimated two million dental
Pharmaceutical Associates, a South Carolina-based drug manufacturer, has discontinued production of chloral hydrate oral solution, an anesthetic used in pediatric dentistry. The company cited “business reasons” as the source of the decision, which came in March. “I think it’s probably going to have a fairly wide impact,” Stephen Wilson, DMD, PhD, professor and director of the Division of Pediatric Dentistry at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, said in an interview