Stem Cells May Improve the Adaptability of Dental Implants
from RDH Magazine
A procedure using stem cells may provide a more thorough regeneration of periodontal tissue around dental implants, according to a new report published in the Journal of Oral Implantology. Dental implants closely resemble natural teeth, but an implant's ability to react to patient growth, pressure from chewing, and future orthodontic work is diminished if it is not surrounded by sufficient periodontal tissue. More

What You Can't See Can Hurt You
from Inside Dentistry
Infection control in the dental office has come a long way in the past 25 years or more. In the 1980s, less than 30 percent of dentists wore gloves, masks, or gowns, according to the Academy of General Dentistry. Today, these infection-control tools are required in all dental practices. The development and revision of precautions to protect against the transmission of blood-borne and other occupational microbial pathogens is based on updated scientific information, as well as documented and inferred clinical applications of new knowledge. More

"Meth Mouth" Costly at Indiana Jail
from WANE-TV
It's referred to as "meth mouth". As the use of meth has increased over the years, dental bills at county jails have as well. That cost ultimately gets paid for by the tax payer. Inside the LaGrange County jail in Indiana, there are a lot of meth users, and in turn a lot of people who need a dentist. By the time a meth user gets checked into lock up Dr. Alan Wilhere with American Dental Service says there's little more he can do than pull the problem tooth out so it'll stop causing pain. More

Putting Teeth in Health Care Reform
from The Washington Post
The 2007 death of a Prince George's County, Va., boy because of an untreated dental abscess was a tragic reminder of the connection between oral health and overall health. Yet dental care remains the most common unmet health-care need of children in the United States. Tooth decay is five times as likely to be found in children as is asthma, which, like most common illnesses, is covered by health insurance. But at least 26 million children lack dental coverage, more than twice as many as lack medical insurance, according to federal health statistics. More

Research Planned to Examine the Link Between Memory Loss and Oral Health
from About.com
Memory loss is considered by many to be an inevitable part of the natural aging process. When looking at the possible causes of mild to moderate memory loss, would you be surprised if I told you gum disease could be one of them? The National Institute of Health recently awarded a $1.3 million grant intended to fund studies that look for a link between gum disease and memory loss. More

Influence of Defect Depth on Resonance Frequency Analysis and Insertion Torque Values for Implants Placed in Fresh Extraction
from Osseo News
Clinical studies show promising outcomes with implants inserted at the time of extraction. However, this often results in an initial bone defect at the marginal region which preferably should heal for an optimal function. Therefore, monitoring of these implants is vital. More

Bone Regeneration with Autologous Biomaterial; Rapid Induction of Vital New Bone in Maxillary Sinus Floor by Platelet Concentrate Alone at 23x Baseline
from Implant Dentistry
To date, most clinicians and researchers have been using platelet concentrate within the range of 4× to 8× baseline. In this case report a new procedure involving strategic pooling and triple spin was developed and used to concentrate platelets to 23× baseline. The concentrate alone was infused into morselized resorbable collagen sponge, activated with calcium chloride and autologous thrombin, then placed as an autologous graft into the left sinus floor of a healthy 80-year-old woman. More

Prize Winning Research Could Bring Relief to 3.5 Million Denture Stomatitis (Oral Thrush) Sufferers
from Medical News Today
A research project, which has the potential to bring relief to the estimated 3.5 million UK sufferers of oral thrush, has won the Armourers & Brasiers Venture Prize. This will allow the project to proceed to clinical evaluation. According to the most recent adult dental survey, 28 percent of the UK population wears dentures and a quarter of these are likely to develop denture stomatitis or fungal induced stomatitis (mainly Candida albicans), commonly known as oral thrush. This is a significant problem for denture wearers and is seemingly on the increase. More

Fracture Strength of Zirconia Implants after Artificial Aging
from Wiley InterScience
Zirconia might be an alternative material to titanium for dental implant fabrication. However, no data are available on the fracture strength of one-piece ZrO2 oral implants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the fracture strength of ZrO2 implants after exposure to the artificial mouth. More

Historic Legislation Gives FDA Authority to Regulate Tobacco
from American Dental Association
The U.S. and American Dental Association presidents praised historic legislation giving the Food and Drug Administration new authority to regulate the manufacture, marketing and distribution of tobacco products. The association has long-standing policy that cigarettes and other tobacco products are nicotine delivery devices that should be regulated by the FDA. More

Academy Creates Tool for Dental Community to Share Reactions with Align Technology
from Dental Office Magazine
The Academy of General Dentistry has responded to member inquires regarding Align Technology's new "Proficiency Requirements for Invisalign." The AGD is concerned about these requirements and how they may adversely affect the practice of general dentistry. More

Mexican Dentists Now Fill Only Time
from The Washington Post
People drove the 360 miles from Phoenix for some periodontal attention. Looking for a good deal on a new crown? As the signs all say (in English): No appointment necessary! Palomas was the Mexican border town that discount dentistry built. Palomas is like Vegas, except people don't come to gamble, they come for root canals. More