LED Dental launches laboratory services in Canada

LED Dental has launched Second Step laboratory services in the Canadian market for VELscope users. Prior to the introduction of Second Step Laboratory Services, patients with lesions identified by the VELscope and requiring further investigation or biopsy were typically referred to a medical doctor for follow up and final diagnoses, the company said. However, through Second Step Laboratory Services, dentists can collect the tissue sample and send it to Second

Study puts spotlight on CBCT’s role in orthodontics

When it comes to dentistry, the adoption of cone-beam CT (CBCT) has so far been strongest in orthodontics. But a new literature review in the Journal of the American Dental Association calls into question whether CBCT should be as widely used as it is in orthodontics today (March 2012, Vol. 143:3, pp. 241-252). “The use of CBCT is increasing, but clinical guidelines based on a solid scientific foundation are lacking,”

Sesame Street focuses on young kids’ oral health

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, in partnership with Sam’s Club and MetLife Foundation, has developed “Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me,” a bilingual, multimedia outreach program designed to help motivate children 2 to 5 years of age, as well as their parents and caregivers, to focus on their dental health. The groups will distribute 350,000 free outreach kits across the U.S.; the kits are also available at www.sesamestreet.org/teeth.

Researchers unraveling the etiology of ‘meth mouth’

Dental researchers are trying to unravel a complex mix of physical and behavioral factors contributing to “meth mouth,” a condition that often develops in the oral cavities of methamphetamine (MA) abusers and can lead to extensive caries, significant tooth decay, rampant periodontal disease, and worse. A study in this month’s Quintessence International (March 2012, Vol. 43:3, pp. 229-237) examined the role of salivary pH of MA abusers and found that

Snoring tied to kids’ risk of behavioral problems

Young children who snore a lot or have other breathing problems at night may have a heightened risk of behavioral and emotional problems later on, a new study suggests. The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, is not the first to link behavioral issues to so-called sleep-disordered breathing. “We didn’t invent the association,” noted lead researcher Dr. Karen Bonuck, of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. But,

SmileCare debuts online patient orthodontic guide

SmileCare has launched a website that provides parents and teens in California, Nevada, and Texas with an online resource for information on orthodontics. SmileCareOrtho.com features a teen-friendly Get Connected theme and engages visitors with informative pages that demystify the complex topic of orthodontics through videos, diagrams, photos, and text, according to the company. The site also provides information about indications for treatment, treatment options, and local orthodontists. Patients in orthodontic

Mich. OKs Botox, dermal fillers for general dentists

The Michigan Board of Dentistry has released a statement regarding the use of Botox and dermal fillers in dentistry. According to the statement, the board has affirmed the need for proper training in these procedures, as well as dentists’ abilities to “treat those areas of the face that are reasonably identified as dependent tissue of the teeth.” This includes the oral and maxillofacial areas where Botox and dermal procedures are

Bovine collagen matrix helps receding gums heal

Bovine collagen can enhance the healing of periodontal tissue, according to new research published in Head & Face Medicine (March 5, 2012, Vol. 8:6). This resulted in thicker margins around the tooth and, in more than half the cases, complete coverage of exposed roots resulted. Researchers from Germany and Switzerland extracted collagen from bovine pericardium and used it to form a support for mending receding gums and exposed roots. The

Interleukin-1 gene variations linked to perio disease risk

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene variations are associated with increased risk of periodontal disease, according to a new study in the Journal of Periodontology (February 21, 2012). The study assessed the potential value of IL-1 genetic variations in the risk for developing severe periodontal disease. Researchers from Harvard University reviewed 27 studies on IL-1 genetics and periodontal disease to determine whether there was a significant association between the presence of the IL-1

Study: Bisphosphonate coating strengthens dental implants

Researchers from Linköping University in Sweden have developed a coating for titanium implants that enables the implants to adhere to the bone better and faster, according to an article published online in Bone (February 10, 2012). The coating, developed at Linköping University in Sweden, consists of a nanometer-thin layer of protein that attaches to the metal surface. Attached to the protein is a bisphosphonate drug typically used to treat osteoporosis.

Union Dental introduces ‘drinkable air’ machines

Union Dental Holdings, a company that operates and manages a network of dentists throughout the U.S. for union members, is now offering the Chameleon 8 Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) system. Union Dental recently diversified its product portfolio by gaining exclusive U.S. distribution rights for the AWG machine and all dental-related markets. The Chameleon 8’s patented technology converts moisture from the air one breathes into an unlimited, safe and reliable supply

Endonasal technique improves tumor removal

Surgeons at the Cranial Base Center at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute have developed a minimally invasive technique to reach and remove skull-based tumors through the nose or mouth, sparing patients from considerable pain from traditional open surgery and allowing for a quicker recovery. The procedure combines endoscopic endonasal surgery with minimally invasive robotic surgery to treat many