Protein Involved in Causing Gum Disease, Osteoporosis, Arthritis Identified
from Medical News Today
Investigators at Hospital for Special Surgery, collaborating with researchers from other institutions, have contributed to the discovery that a gene called interferon regulator factor-8 (IRF-8) is involved in the development of diseases such as periodontitis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. More

HHS Issues Rule on Patient Privacy Breaches
from American Dental Association
The ADA is preparing guidance to help dentists comply with the Department of Health and Human Service's interim final rule effective later this month that regulates when and how they must notify patients if their health care information has been exposed in a security breach. Hospitals, doctors and other health care organizations covered under HIPAA are covered by the new rule. The rule takes effect on Sept. 23. More

The Positive Relationship Between Excess Cement and Peri-Implant Disease
from Journal of Periodontology
Cement-retained restorations are commonly used on dental implants. Residual excess cement after placement of fixed partial dentures has been associated with clinical and radiographic signs of peri-implant disease. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between excess dental cement and peri-implant disease using the dental endoscope. More

Comprehensive Implant Education Offered at AAID 58th Annual Meeting
from AAID
More than 1,600 dentists, allied staff and exhibitors are expected to attend attended the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) annual scientific conference, Nov. 11-15, in New Orleans. The event is highly regarded in the dental profession as an innovative and valuable opportunity for continuing education, product demonstrations and networking. More

Fabricating Esthetically-Pleasing Temporaries
from Inside Dental Assisting
It never fails. On a Friday, with 30 minutes left in the work day, a patient walks in with a broken crown. Ideally, you would have had the patient come in during your emergency time and performed a palliative treatment; however, dentistry—and dental patients—can be unpredictable. One of the values our profession prides itself on is customer service: these days, you can’t have too much of it. At this moment, a good clinical assistant has at hand both experience and a “tool box” of emergency equipment. More

Dentists Drill for Dollars
from SmartMoney Magazine
When the economy turned sour last year, some experts said they thought the recession might actually be good for the country’s roughly 160,000 dentists. After all, people would be grinding, gritting and damaging their teeth as they sweated about layoffs and plunging portfolios. But grinding or no grinding, the business boom didn’t materialize for many dentists, as cost-conscious consumers decided that when times are tight, tooth care can be optional. More

Dentists Buy in to Digital Technologies for Precision Care
from The Dallas Morning News
Dental patients, accustomed to seeing sharp tools and paper bibs, should get used to seeing a computer nearby. The digital age has hit dentistry, and patients can see that change in the way crowns are built and X-rays are taken. Dr. Stan Ashworth takes optical digital impressions inside Joanie Pickering's mouth at Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas. The impressions will be used to form a model for a bridge. The new technology is radically reducing the amount of time it takes to create a crown, and it's also giving dentists faster, more precise views inside their patients' mouths. More

Saving Teeth Via Root Canal Not Advised
from United Press International
Patients should forgo prolonged dental heroics – root canals – and replace bad teeth with dental implants, dentists say. "There really is no justification for undergoing multiple endodontic or periodontic procedures, and enduring the pain and financial burden, to save a diseased tooth," John Minichetti, a dentist with the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. More

More than Four Out of Five Dentists Surveyed Reveal that Texting During Dental Treatment a Common Problem
from Medical News Today
More than four out of five dentists surveyed by the Chicago Dental Society revealed that patients send and receive text messages on their cell phones while receiving dental care. The survey was conducted between July 16-25 via e-mail and among dentists in the Chicago Dental Society's Facebook Fan Page. More

Plant Fights Mouth Bacteria
from Science Alert
In the fight against tooth decay, an Australian native plant’s antibacterial properties could provide a natural alternative to medicated mouthwashes. Research conducted at Swinburne University’s Environment and Biotechnology Centre has found that extracts from the emu bush (Eremophila longifolia) can inhibit the growth of oral bacteria, reduce dental plaque development and stop bacteria from sticking to tooth surfaces. More