from Science Daily
Restoring teeth to not only offer a beautiful smile but also a highly resistant one is the ultimate goal of the project undertaken by members of a Biomechanics and Ergonomy research group in Spain. To this end, they have concluded that the ideal material for designing posts, which serve to bond the restored piece to the root, is glass fibre. Initially, metallic posts were considered to be more resistant but less aesthetic. More

New Combination Therapy May Protect Against Implant-Associated MRSA Infections
from Infection Control Today
A new study suggests that combination therapy using the antibiotics linezolid and rifampin may effectively treat drug-resistant MRSA implant-associated infections. Researchers from Switzerland report their findings in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Implanted devices are increasingly used in today's medical community to alleviate pain and improve mobility and function. As a result, the number of implant-associated infections (when bacteria adhere to the implant surface and become imbedded in a protective layer, also known as a biofilm) are also on the rise. More

Fixing Dead Jaw Bones
from WABC-TV
There is a new procedure to help osteoporosis patients and others who have intense jaw pain. That pain may be from osteonecrosis, which is dead bone in the jaw. It's been reported rarely in people taking drugs for weakened bones, drugs such as Fosamax and Actonel. More

A Child's Sweet Tooth May Be All in the Bones
from Forbes
Ever wonder why your children will eat only a few bites of dinner but have no problem scarfing down a big bowl of ice cream? Blame it on their growing bones. New research suggests that children who are growing rapidly have a higher preference for sweets than children growing at a slower rate. More

Teeth of Columbus' Crew Flesh Out Tale of New World Discovery
from Science Daily
The adage that dead men tell no tales has long been disproved by archaeology. Now, however, science is taking interrogation of the dead to new heights. In a study that promises fresh and perhaps personal insight into some of the earliest European visitors to the New World, a team or researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison is extracting the chemical details of life history from the teeth of crew members Christopher Columbus left on the island of Hispaniola after his second voyage to America in 1493-94. More

BioHorizons Announces Its 2009 Global Symposium
from BioHorizons
BioHorizons' 2009 Global Symposium will focus on recent advances in digital dentistry, treatment planning, implant surface treatments, tissue regeneration and implant specific restorations. Scientific sessions will bring together the outstanding and diverse expertise of top dental clinicians to provide insight into today’s most challenging implant and regeneration topics, including technical advances in diagnostic three-dimensional imaging and treatment planning software. More

Straumann to Launch New Anatomic Implant Abutment
from Osseo News
Straumann is teaming up with Ivoclar Vivadent to provide highly esthetic solutions for tooth restoration and replacement. The first product from the partnership will be a new Straumann anatomic dental implant abutment manufactured from Ivoclar's proprietary IPS e.max zirconium dioxide ceramic. More

Drink Green Tea for Healthy Teeth and Gums
from Science Daily
With origins dating back over 4,000 years, green tea has long been a popular beverage in Asian culture, and is increasingly gaining popularity in the United States. And while ancient Chinese and Japanese medicine believed green tea consumption could cure disease and heal wounds, a scientific study recently published in the Journal of Periodontology uncovered yet another benefit of green tea consumption. Researchers found that routine intake of green tea may also help promote healthy teeth and gums. More

Two Sides Quarrel on Wisdom Teeth
from The Columbus Dispatch
Just because a wisdom tooth is there doesn't mean it needs to go. That's the basis of an effort to stop surgeons from removing third molars that haven't caused a problem and aren't about to. Leading the charge is Dr. Jay W. Friedman, a retired Los Angeles dentist who published a paper on the topic in the American Journal of Public Health and wrote a statement recently adopted by the American Public Health Association. More

Dental Disease & Emergency Medicine
from Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Pet owners often do not pay enough attention to their pet's dental health. Periodontal disease has been associated with numerous critical problems such as strokes, kidney disease, liver disease and many others. A recent article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association demonstrated that animals with severe periodontal disease may be at much greater risk for several types of heart disease. Because of these facts, good dental health in pets can lead directly to better health and longer life. More