Scientists Identify Gene Variant Involved in Isolated Cleft Lip
from National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
About 20 percent of isolated cleft lip, one of the world’s most common birth defects, may be due to a one-letter difference in the DNA sequence of a gene involved in facial development, researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health report. The scientists say the discovery could lead to DNA tests to help couples better gauge their risk of having a child with an isolated cleft lip. More

Probabilistic Analysis of Preload in the Abutment Screw of Dental Implants
from Osseo News
Screw loosening is a problem for a percentage of dental implants. The purpose of this study was to examine the inherent variability of material properties, surface interactions, and applied torque in a dental implant system to determine the probability of obtaining desired preload values and to identify the significant variables that affect the preload. More

Saliva Proteins May Help Spot Oral Cancer
from The Washington Post
A simple test of saliva proteins may one day help doctors detect oral cancer, researchers found. For their study, part of the U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research's Human Saliva Proteome Project, researchers collected saliva samples from 64 people with oral squamous cell carcinoma and 64 healthy people. Looking at five protein biomarkers in the saliva samples, researchers determined that the biomarkers confirmed the presence of oral cancer 93 percent of the time. More

RTI Biologics Launches Bovine Pericardium Membrane Implant for Dental Applications
from The Wall Street Journal
RTI Biologics, Inc., the Florida-based processor of orthopedic, dental, hernia and other biologic implants, announced recently that the company's bovine pericardium membrane has been introduced into the dental market through its distributor, Zimmer Dental, under the trade name CopiOs(R). The product was introduced at the American Academy of Periodontology and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons annual meetings, both held in Seattle last month. More

Mini Dental Implants Reinstalled in the Maxilla
from Osseo News
In a study titled, Mini Dental Implants Reinstalled in the Maxilla, the objective was to determine the difference in the success rate for two types of oral installed mini dental implants (OMIs): one type of initially installed OMI and a new implant of the same type that is reinstalled. More

ADA Presents Distinguished Service Award at 149th Annual Session
from The Wall Street Journal
The American Dental Association will honor Leslie Seldin, D.D.S., with the 2008 Distinguished Service Award at the 149th Annual Session and World Marketplace Exhibition in San Antonio on Oct. 17. The Distinguished Service Award is the ADA's highest honor bestowed on an individual. More

Redundant Pathways in Tooth and Palate Development
from National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
In the early 1990s, Americans began hearing the advertising slogan, “Got Milk?” to remind them of the health benefits of drinking milk. If biologists were to co-opt this now clichéd line to explain human development, they might start with “Got Smad4?” This small molecule plays a pivotal role in the classic TGFβ/BMP signaling pathway that initiates the three-dimensional patterning of cells as they form the distinctive shapes of a tooth, palate, or other structures throughout the body. More

NU Dentistry Dean Puts Bite on Selling Old Exams
from Midlands News Service via Southwest Iowa News
The dean of the University of Nebraska Medical Center's College of Dentistry recently did an about-face on the practice of allowing students to sell copies of past dental exams, notes and other study materials to younger dental students. State Auditor Mike Foley said the practice not only raises questions about cheating but whether the university's intellectual property can be sold, even for a fundraiser. More

Michigan Dental Association Stops Illegal Practice of Dentistry, Safeguards Public
from The Wall Street Journal
An Oakland County, Mich., man has been stopped from illegally practicing dentistry, following a lawsuit filed by the Michigan Dental Association (MDA). Oakland County Circuit Judge Daniel O'Brien issued a preliminary injunction Oct. 1 against Everett VanDenEeden doing business as Smile-Rite Denture Center. Under the court order, VanDenEeden is restrained from engaging in the unauthorized practice of dentistry. More