Closing arguments heard in Fosamax/ONJ trial

No causal relationship between oral bisphosphonates and osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) has been has been established, according to Christy Jones, attorney for Merck, during closing arguments February 10 in the Rosenberg v. Merck Fosamax trial. Allison Rosenberg, 67, says she used Fosamax from 1999 to 2006 and that she suffered various jaw problems and complications following a tooth extraction in December 2005. Merck has maintained that Fosamax did not

Ill. teen dies from infection after root canal

A 17-year-old boy died February 9 after he developed sepsis following root canal surgery at a Blue Island, IL, dental clinic, according to a story in the SouthTown Star. The youth, Christopher Schutzius, went to Dental Dreams on February 1 to have a filling replaced that he had lost in January while eating a piece of candy. But instead of replacing the restoration, the dentist who saw him performed a

Antibacterial mouth rinse helps reduce preterm births

Use of nonalcohol antibacterial mouth rinse containing cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) decreases the incidence of preterm births, according to a study presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) annual meeting in San Francisco. “This research demonstrated that reducing the severity of periodontal disease has a direct correlation with preterm birth,” said study author Marjorie Jeffcoat, DMD, a professor of periodontics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.

Spectroscopic technique could make laser surgery safer

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy could be used as a feedback mechanism to prevent iatrogenic nerve damage during oral and maxillofacial laser surgery, according to a study in the Journal of Translational Medicine (February 10, 2011). “Lasers allow cutting biological tissue with high precision and minimal trauma [and] the ability to work remotely allows a high level of sterility,” the German research team wrote. “However, these advantages come along with a lack

Columbia Univ. opens Center for Craniofacial Regeneration

Columbia University has established the Center for Craniofacial Regeneration (CCR) to facilitate and expand the stem cell research taking place at the university. The center is also intended to advance the development of stem cell and regenerative technologies to address congenital, genetic, and trauma-induced dental, oral, and craniofacial abnormalities and diseases, the university said. Jeremy Mao, DDS, PhD, an associate professor of orthodontics and biomedical engineering at Columbia and chief

U.S. Department of Defense battles smokeless tobacco

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) wants military personnel to participate in the Great American Spit Out (GASpO) on February 24, 2011. The department’s new Quit Tobacco — Make Everyone Proud campaign is focusing this month on helping those who spit and chew tobacco to develop a personalized quit plan. Nearly 20% of 18- to 24-year-old men in the U.S. armed forces use smokeless tobacco, more than double the national

ADA: Infection control critical in dental office

Noting “heightened interest” in infection control procedures in dental settings following recent developments at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Dayton, OH, the ADA reaffirmed the importance of implementing and maintaining good infection control practices. The ADA has long recommended that all practicing dentists, dental auxiliaries, and dental laboratories employ standard infection control precautions as described in the 2003 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Infection Control in Dental Health

Ohio VA supervisor aware of lapse in dental clinic hygiene

The Dayton Daily News has obtained testimony that reveals a former supervisor at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Dayton, OH, did not take adequate action after learning that a dentist did not use sterilized equipment on patients, according to a news story in the paper. The dental clinic notified more than 500 veterans who may have been exposed to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV by a dentist

Compartmental tongue surgery yields better outcomes

Tongue cancer patients who have compartmental tongue surgery live longer and have fewer recurrences of the disease compared with those who undergo conventional surgery, a new retrospective study found (Oral Oncology, January 22, 2011). Cancer of the tongue is aggressive, as evidenced by its locally invasive behavior and a propensity to metastasize to cervical lymph nodes. Surgery remains the main approach to treating early-stage tongue cancer; the goal is to

Wisc. dental association campaign targets baby teeth

As part of National Children’s Dental Health Month, the Wisconsin Dental Association (WDA) has launched a new public awareness campaign, Baby Teeth Matter, targeted at parents and caregivers. A 30-second TV spot is a cornerstone of the campaign. In it, a dentist encounters a young mother and her 3-year-old daughter in a store’s oral hygiene products aisle. Using a portable video monitor, the dentist helps them visualize the little girl

Conn. legislators mull advanced dental hygienist model

Connecticut continues to consider creating an advanced dental hygiene practitioner program in the state as a way to increase access to dental care for underserved populations. HB 5616, An Act Concerning Licensure of Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioners, was presented to the Connecticut General Assembly on February 4. The bill, which is now before the Human Services Committee and the Public Health Committee, seeks to create a program in which graduates

Aquafresh iso-active toothpaste honored for innovation

GlaxoSmithKline’s Aquafresh iso-active Whitening toothpaste was voted Product of the Year USA in the toothpaste category in a survey of more than 60,000 American shoppers (22,939 in the toothpaste category) conducted by global research firm TNS. Aquafresh iso-active toothpaste was one of 22 products selected for product innovation across consumer goods. Iso-active toothpaste is delivered in a canister format with a gel-to-foam action as a result of the inclusion of