Turning the Light Off on Tooth Bleaching
from Chemical Science News
Norwegian scientists have demonstrated that light sources often used as part of the tooth bleaching process do not contribute to the effectiveness of the process and may pose possible health risks. Researchers found a "lack of additional whitening effect when light is used compared to bleaching without light." More

Absence of CLP Protein Can Be Indicative of Oral Cancer
from Science Daily
Human calmodulin-like protein (CLP) is found in many cell types including breast, thyroid, prostate, kidney, and skin. The protein can regulate many cell activities and has a highly specific expression. Gaining an understanding about the expression of CLP in oral epithelial cells and its possible downregulation (or lack of production) in cancer may be a potentially valuable marker in early detection of oral cancer. More

Skyrocketing Health-Care Costs Could Double Premiums for Many Americans
from The Washington Post
Unless health-care reform becomes a reality, most Americans can expect to pay health insurance premiums that will double by 2016, a new report claims. Left unchecked, the costs of employer-paid health insurance will jump from $11,381 to $24,291 in the next seven years. More

New Process Produces Metals with Intelligent Surfaces and Holds Promise for Better Dental Implants
from Osseo News
Scientists at the Université de Montréal have discovered a process to produce new metal surfaces that promise to lead to better dental implants. The scientists capitalized on recent advances in nanotechnology to change how metals can influence cell growth and development in the body. More

HHS Wants Government to Lead Fight Against Identity Theft
from Government Health IT
The government must be a leader in identifying and fighting medical identity theft and should make it a central part of health information technology initiatives, according to a new report from the Health and Human Services Department. Medical identity theft poses serious dangers to consumers because false information in a person’s health record could affect treatment, researchers said. More

OpenCell BioMed Inc. Completes Phase-2 Testing of Its TI FOAM Dental Implant Design
from CNN Money
OpenCell BioMed Inc. announces completion of its phase-2 fatigue testing on its proprietary TI FOAM dental implant design in conjunction with the Canadian National Research Council. The study found that all implants were easily implanted and that no titanium particle debris was observed after implant retrieval, among others. More

Tooth Infection Causes Brush With Death
from WDIV-TV
The economy has people cutting back on a lot of things, and dental experts said that includes dental care. Dentists told WDIV-TV in Detroit that can be a very costly decision. Virginia Pryor, of Pontiac, Mich., nearly died from a dental infection. She said it started with what she thought was an earache. She went to bed, but when she tried to get up to use the bathroom, she couldn't stand. Her husband called 911. More

Recession Proof Your Practice Part One: Professionalism
from Woman Dentist Journal
Courtesy in each interaction with your patients may determine whether or not a person comes to you, stays with you, says "yes" to treatment, and refers others to you. In these changing economic times, it is imperative that you focus on doing your best, and that applies to each person on the team. Every patient is critical to the health and well being of your practice. Each person — each patient — each encounter. More

AAOMS Updates BRONJ Position Paper
from The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons has revised its 2006 landmark position paper on Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw to reflect the most current research and thought on this condition. BRONJ appears as a non-healing exposed bone in the maxillofacial region and may affect patients undergoing intravenous cancer-related bisphosphonate therapy or more rarely, patients treated with oral or IV bisphosphonates for osteoporosis. More

CareCredit Offers Two New Resources for Dentists
from American Dental Association
CareCredit, the only patient payment program endorsed by ADA Business Resources, has launched two new features to help ADA members manage financial matters in their practices. CareCredit recently consulted with a comprehensive network of practice management speakers and compiled their best advice and techniques on how to develop a written financial policy—one which clarifies and explains the practice's guiding principles with regard to patient payments. More