The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) is asking dental professionals and patients to donate items for care packages, monetary gifts, or a letter to U.S. troops. The AAE is joining the support organization Operation Support Our Troops and Henry Schein’s Henry Schein Cares Foundation in the effort, according to the association. The AAE will have a booth at its annual meeting in Boston, April 18-21 where attendees can submit their
Zila has acquired Discus Dental’s laser and prophy product portfolios. The products include the NVT and SL3T soft tissue lasers, ZenT cordless hygiene handpiece, and the Insight ultrasonic insert lines, according to a press release. The additions support Zila’s proprietary soft-tissue management products, including Rotadent rotary toothbrushes, ViziLite Plus oral lesion identification and marking system, Atridox (doxycycline hyclate) 10% locally applied antibiotic, and the Pro-Select Platinum piezo ultrasonic scaler. Customer
A naturally occurring, harmless human virus may boost the effects of two standard chemotherapy drugs in some cancer patients, according to new data published in Clinical Cancer Research. RT3D (trade name Reolysin), a new drug developed by Oncolytics Biotech, is undergoing preclinical and clinical studies at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and the Royal Marsden Hospital, according to a press release. It is based on a virus (reovirus type
While fluorescence-based caries detection devices have been shown to offer clinical decision-making support, visual inspection should continue to be the primary detection method for occlusal caries, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Dental Association. Visual examination and radiographic imaging are the two most common methods of caries detection, but both exhibit high specificity and low sensitivity for occlusal caries, noted the study authors, a team
Dentsply International has consolidated its dental implant-related businesses (Dentsply Friadent and Astra Tech Dental) into a single entity. The move follows its August 2011 acquisition of Astra Tech. The newly created Dentsply Implants will actively begin marketing and selling products in North America this month, according to the company. Dentsply Implants offers a portfolio of patient-specific implant products with an extensive line of dental implants, bone regenerative products, digital technologies,
The National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF) has chosen Indiana University School of Dentistry (IUSD) for its Affiliate of the Year Award. The award recognizes exemplary commitment to eliminating pediatric dental disease, according to the organization. Since 2008, the foundation has awarded IUSD more than $368,000 in financial grants and donated dental supplies and equipment, which has enabled the university to provide care to children in need at the school,
A chemical present in smokeless tobacco products is a strong oral carcinogen, according to research being presented this week at the American Association for Cancer Research’s annual meeting in Chicago. Although smokeless tobacco products have long been linked with certain cancers, including those of the oral cavity and esophagus, this is the first study to identify a specific chemical present in smokeless tobacco products that induces oral cancer in animals,
In honor of Oral Cancer Awareness Month this month, 340 Aspen Dental practices in 22 states will donate $5 from every ViziLite Plus screening conducted in April to the Oral Cancer Foundation. According to the foundation, this year close to 37,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer, which is responsible for approximately 8,000 deaths annually. Common risk factors for oral cancer include use of tobacco products (smoked
During National Public Health Week, Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA) encourages community leaders to support the fluoridation of their local water systems. Research studies have demonstrated that fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel and remineralize teeth that have already been damaged by the early effects of tooth decay, according to the DDPA. With the economy struggling, many communities are unable or unwilling to fund community water fluoridation projects. In response, several
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released two separate draft guidance documents to help fight the tobacco epidemic and prevent children from using tobacco. The draft guidance documents implement provisions of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act that will ultimately provide the public with previously unknown information about the chemicals in tobacco products and help prevent misleading marketing about the risks associated with tobacco products. The
As it does every year, the Ordre des dentistes du Québec is marking Oral Health Month in April with a province-wide national awareness-building campaign. This year’s campaign, on the theme “Une belle bouche, c’est cool!” (A healthy smile is cool!), is aimed at teens ages 12 to 18 and addresses four subjects of interest to them: tooth jewelry, teeth whitening, energy drinks, and mouth guards. The organization is working with
CadBlu Dental has announced it will participate in the IdentAlloy/IdentCeram Council’s program of material content certification. CadBlu Dental provides digital manufacturing equipment and supplies for the production of crowns and bridges, orthodontics, and implants. Laboratories using the company’s branded and third-party zirconia blocks and disks will now receive free IdentCeram certificates attesting to their content. The IdentAlloy/IdentCeram Council is a nonprofit organization formed to raise healthcare standards through the documentation