Research supports population-based smoking cessation campaign

New research published in the American Journal of Health Promotion shows that population-based approaches to smoking cessation — including mass media campaigns and smoking quit lines — can positively impact quitting behaviors among racial/ethnic minority and low socioeconomic status (SES) smokers, with varying effects across these groups (May/June 2011, Vol. 25:sp5, pp. S1-S4). As part of a special issue entitled “Tobacco Control Among Diverse Populations,” the journal published 15 papers

P&G challenges Philips’ toothbrush advertising claims

Philips Oral Healthcare must discontinue certain advertising claims for its Sonicare FlexCare and FlexCare+ toothbrushes, according to a recommendation by the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. The NAD recommendation comes after Procter & Gamble (P&G), which manufactures the Oral-B Triumph 9000 power toothbrush, challenged several product packaging, print, video, and Internet claims made by Philips, including the following: “Sonicare FlexCare is demonstrated in vitro

Plackers offers 10,000 free flosser samples

Plackers is celebrating the launch of Plackers OrthoPick, a dental flosser for individuals with braces, bridges, and other dental appliances, by giving away free OrthoPick flosser samples to the first 10,000 people who sign up on its website. Plackers OrthoPick is designed specifically to meet the needs of those with orthodontics. Its unique flosser design has a patented, thin flosser arm that fits easily between teeth and brace wire, offering

3M ESPE expands RelyX Unicem line

3M ESPE is now offering RelyX Unicem 2 self-adhesive resin cement in the company’s Clicker dispenser, combining convenience and easier mixing with reliability and bond strength. In addition, the cement offers well-balanced mechanical properties, long-lasting aesthetics, and virtually no postoperative sensitivity, 3M ESPE said. The advantages of the Clicker dispenser include its consistent mixing ratio, exact dosage through easy clicks, and a consumption level indicator for better material management. RelyX

3Shape debuts interface for Sirona scanners

3Shape has released a new interface that enables scans from Sirona Dental Systems Cerec intraoral scanners and InLab scanners to be modeled with its Dental System design software. Dentists using the Sirona scanners can send their digital impressions to laboratories that use 3Shape’s Dental System, expanding their CAD/CAM possibilities and the range of their restoration indication options, the companies said. The new Sirona/3Shape interface is an add-on module to Dental

Robotic surgery effective on larynx cancer

A team of head and neck surgeons from Mayo Clinic has found that robotic surgery can treat cancer of the larynx, according to research presented April 29 at the Combined Otolaryngological Spring Meetings in Chicago. Following transoral robotic surgery (TORS), some patients were able to avoid further treatment with chemotherapy or radiation, and most could resume normal eating and speaking. “We’ve known it’s useful for tongue base and tonsil cancers,

Professor seeks cleft secrets in remote Nepal group

A Wright State University professor is seeking the genetic roots of cleft lips and palates among a remote people in Nepal, according to a story in the Dayton Daily News. Richard Sherwood, PhD, a professor in the department of pediatrics, is collecting impressions of the teeth of the Jirel people as part of his research into the root causes of craniofacial deformities. The Jirel are an appealing study group for

Komet launches sonic tip for fissure opening

Komet has launched its new SF849 sonic tip for opening fissures, designed exclusively for use with the Komet SonicLine sonic handpiece. Featuring a small-diameter tip, the instrument is operated at low oscillation amplitude for minimally invasive fissure-opening procedures to detect hidden caries, remove fissure caries, and prepare fissures for sealant applications. The SonicLine system comprises a range of sonic tips that cover a multitude of indications, including prophylaxis, crown preparation

Oragenics inks distribution deal in Australia, New Zealand

Oragenics’ oral care probiotics for children and adults will be available in Australia and New Zealand through an exclusive agreement with Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API), owner of the Priceline pharmacy retail chain. This agreement brings Oragenics’ ProBiora3 oral care probiotics, patented in Australia and New Zealand, to the region. The products include EvoraPlus, a probiotic mint for adults that supports gum and tooth health, freshens breath gently, and naturally whitens

Can mouthwash protect irradiated enamel and dentin?

Can chlorhexidine and fluoride mouthwashes mitigate the effect of gamma irradiation therapy damage to enamel and dentin? A new study that looked at the effectiveness of mouthwash protocols in preventing gamma irradiation therapy damage to the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of enamel and dentin yielded mixed results (Journal of Dental Research, May 2011, Vol. 90:5, pp. 659-664). The researchers — from two Brazilian universities — divided 120 teeth into two

Researchers discover how tooth decay enzyme functions

Researchers from the U.K. and Japan used the Diamond Light Source synchrotron in Oxfordshire and the Photon Factory synchotron in Tsukuba, Japan, to solve the 3D structure of an enzyme that plays a key role in tooth decay caused by sugar (Journal of Molecular Biology, April 29, 2011, Vol. 408:2, pp. 177-186). Noting that glucansucrase (GSase) from Streptococcus mutans is an essential agent in dental caries pathogenesis, the researchers examined

Embezzlement: Dentistry’s dirty little secret

Sometimes it’s a spouse, girlfriend, relative, accountant, or business partner. Unfortunately, more often it’s a trusted, longtime employee who has an insider’s knowledge of your bookkeeping practices and access to your bank account. Maybe their spouse has been out of work for months and, desperate for money, they begin embezzling from the practice and “cooking the books” to cover their tracks. But experts say it is often just a matter