Mouth Cancer from HPV Virus Reaches All-time High
from the Digital Journal
Mouth cancer is at an all-time high in the U.K., and one of the likeliest culprits for the dangerous surge is the sexually-transmitted HPV virus. Additionally, mouth cancer affects more men than women - and these statistics are driving the British Dental Health Foundation to question the U.K. government on including boys among the recipients of the HPV vaccination that is currently administered only to girls. More

CDC Panel Recommends H1N1 Vaccine for Health Care Workers
from American Dental Association
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices announced July 29 that it is recommending that influenza A (H1N1) vaccine be prioritized for five key populations when the vaccine becomes available—possibly in October. The H1N1 virus was first detected in the United States in April, and has since spread to 70 countries and infected more than 134,000 worldwide. In the U.S. the virus has infected more than 43,000 people, resulting in 302 deaths. More

Effects of an Oral Health Promotion Program in People with Mental Illness
from Journal of Dental Research
More knowledge is needed regarding what works to prevent oral health problems and reduce disparities in oral health. Motivational interviewing has demonstrated utility for improving health behavior, including among those with severe mental illness. This study tests whether MI enhances the efficacy of an oral health education intervention in individuals with severe mental illness. More

PSA Test Recommended for Men with Gum Disease Diagnoses
from Private MD
Men who go to a dentist and find that they have periodontal problems like gingivitis may also want to obtain a PSA test to check for prostate cancer, new research suggests. It may also be easier to use "the five-alarm fire bell of a tooth ache [that] is difficult to ignore," to begin testing for chronic conditions, says Dr Phillipe Hujoel. More

A New Generation of Dental Care Providers
from DentalPlans.com
To help train more dentists to provide dental care for the future, United Concordia Dental has awarded two scholarships to students in San Antonio. Maritza Chavez and Winston Faltine from the dental school at the University of Texas Health Science Center each received $2,500 to help pay for their education in dental care. The program aims to recognize students who display outstanding academic achievements and provide valuable services to their community. More

Open Wide and Say 'Zap': New Way to Clinically Assess Condition of Tooth Enamel Using Lasers
from Science Daily
A group of researchers in Australia and Taiwan has developed a new way to analyze the health of human teeth using lasers. As described in the latest issue of Optics Express, the Optical Society's open-access journal, by measuring how the surface of a tooth responds to laser-generated ultrasound, they can evaluate the mineral content of tooth enamel -- the semi-translucent outer layer of a tooth that protects the underlying dentin. More

'Heroes of Chemistry' for Saving Teeth, Clean Water, New High Blood Pressure Drug
from Medical News Today
You've never met Sumita B. Mitra, Ph.D. But your teeth probably have encountered the results of this scientist's research. Her genius has helped restore millions of decayed, broken, or discolored teeth to their original bright white, natural beauty. More

Dentists Step Up Marketing as Patients Skip their Visits
from The Wall Street Journal
In the slowdown, even dentists are feeling the pinch. David Wong, who runs a private practice with his wife in Tulsa, Okla., has seen his business slip 10 percent since the beginning of this year. That has him spending more time marketing and less time cleaning or pulling teeth. Wong has upped his advertising, taking advantage of low newspaper and broadcast rates, and now sends email reminders to customers on top of traditional mailed postcards. He is even on Twitter, aiming to connect with customers as "not just the guy in a white coat with a drill in his hand." More

Tooth Whitening Leads in Cosmetic Dentistry
from KFSM-TV
After years of grinding, chomping, and chewing, your once-pearly whites may have seen better days. The gloss of lustrous white enamel has faded, exposing the natural yellow layer beneath. Add to that a lifetime's worth of pigments from coffee, tea, red wine, and soda that have gotten lodged in tiny cracks in your teeth. The result: that unattractive yellowish-brown tint that's made tooth whitening one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures in the United States. More

Only Trained Dental and Medical Practitioners Should Administer and Monitor Anesthesia
from Medical News Today
In the wake of news reports concerning the possible use of such anesthetic drugs as Diprivan (propofol) by the late Michael Jackson, questions have been raised about the availability and administration of such agents. More

Merck Readies for First Fosamax Trial
from Reuters
Merck & Co is slated to fight the first of numerous U.S. lawsuits brought by patients who claim they suffered jaw damage from the company's widely used Fosamax treatment for osteoporosis. Some 1280 plaintiff groups, involving almost 900 cases, have alleged jaw problems due to Fosamax, a one-time blockbuster product that recently began facing generic competition in the United States. More