Some Dentists Call for Expansion of HPV Vaccination

Written by Dentistry TodayFriday, 27 January 2012 11:59



There are some dentists around the world who want more people to be vaccinated for human papilloma virus.

In the United Kingdom, there’s a vaccination program for girls. Dentists and other people the medical profession, however, want boys to now be included in the program.

HPV is a huge risk factor for cervical cancer but it has also been linked to oral cancer. The amount of throat cancer cases has roughly doubled in the last 15 years and much of that has been because of HPV. Drinking and smoking are some of the other risk factors.

The HPV vaccination was originally created for the purpose of protecting teenage girls against cervical cancer. But with the increase in cases of HPV, there’s also been a large increase in cancer risk for teenage boys. HPV can be spread through kissing or oral sex even though most people are unaware of the disease’s presence.

Researchers have concluded that boys with HPV are more at risk for developing throat cancer than girls are. The reason can be traced to the fact that there is a larger concentration of viral cells in the female genital tract.

If the vaccination is given to more people, the number of cases of throat cancer will begin to decline after rising the last several years.

Researchers Identify Genetic Variation That Leads to Jaw Issues

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 30 January 2012 15:44



Researchers have pinpointed a genetic variation that increases the risk of developing necrotic jawbone lesions. The condition stems from bisphosphonates.

The study appeared in the online version of The Oncologist.

This research shows that a genetic screening test will be necessary to show who will be able to take these drugs in the future without awful side effects.

There are currently about 3 million women in the United States who take oral bisphosphonates. These bisphosphonates are taken to treat osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates are also taken intravenously by cancer patients.

Bisphosphonates are effective because they bind calcium in the bone and prevent osteoclasts, which are bone cells that break the bone's mineral structure.

This study is so valuable because of the way it will help future tests on this issue.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw leads to extremely painful bone lesions, which can develop into losing the entire jaw. The condition usually occurs in jaws of people that have some kind of dental disease of had some type of in-depth dental procedure.

An issue for the research team is that there aren't any reliable numbers when it comes to the cases of ONJ involving patients taking oral bisphosphonates. Some studies indicate it impacts 1 in 1,000 people with others claim it affects 1 of 100,000 people, according to the American College of Rheumatology.

Genetic factors also are involved when determine who will be impacted by ONJ.

Future studies and tests will be conducted to determine who can take oral bisphosphonates without an increased risk of developing ONJ and who should stay away from the oral bisphosphonates.

New Jersey Law Will Require Fluoridation of Water

New Jersey Law Will Require Fluoridation of Water


Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 01 February 2012 12:43



Water companies in New Jersey will soon be required to fluoridate water, according to a bill passed Monday.

The Assembly Health Committee decided to pass the bill with an 8-0 vote based on the recommendations of dentists and public health officials. Environmentalists and utility officials, however, did not support the bill.

Since 2005 the New Jersey Public Supply Fluoridation Act hadn’t made it through for a full vote. Opponents of the bill had successfully raised concerns over the amount it would cost citizens to fluoridate their town’s water. They were also worried about the possible damaging health effects that may occur.

As of now, the water supply in New Jersey is a lower level than many states. There are only just over one million people of the nearly nine million residents that live in a community with fluoridated water. New Jersey ranks 49th in fluoridation level—only ahead of Hawaii—when compared to the fluoridation levels of other states.

According to information from the New Jersey Dental Association, the state saves $38 in dental and medical bills for every dollar spent on fluoridation.

One issue the opponents of the bill mentioned is the possibility of the low-quality fluoride that the water companies may use. These kinds of fluorides may contain harmful metals.

If the bill eventually becomes enacted, all utility expenses would be passed on to the customers.

The bill will move to an 80-member committee vote unless Assembly members attempt to block it.

Dentistry Expansion Bill Passes in New Jersey

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 19 March 2012 07:45



Dental hygienists in New Jersey may soon have the opportunity to increase their workload.

New Jersey Senator and dentist Joe Pennachio led legislation to permit dental hygienists to increase their allowable practices and increase their role in the dental profession. The legislation was passed by the State Senate this week.

The legislation, called S-298, included the following responsibilities that could be added to the hygienists’ role.
Clarifies that any college or school training dental hygienists be approved specifically by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental association.
Allows certified hygienists to expand their practices under supervision of a dentist to any appropriately equipped school, clinic or public or private New Jersey institution, including nursing homes, veterans’ clinics, hospitals, prisons and facilities that treat persons with developmental disabilities.
Specifies that dental hygienists may practice only in facilities having readily available emergency equipment as regulated by the State Board of Dentistry.
Permits dentists to use discretion on when hygienists must practice under direct supervision, or under the physical management of a dentist, and restricts dentists to supervising no more than three licensed hygienists at on time.
Mandates that dental hygienists can only administer local anesthesia, nitrous oxide and other anesthetic procedures designated by the State Board of Dentistry under the direct supervision of a dentist.
Prohibits a dental hygienist from performing intraoral services aside from administering preventative measures, such as the application of fluorides, sealants and other recognized topical agents designed to prevent oral disease or discomfort.
Establishes that only those licensed to practice dentistry in New Jersey may diagnose, treat or operate on another person and bill or receive payment for dental services.

According to current laws, dental hygienists must possess a degree from an approved school or college of dental hygiene and must be supervised by a licensed dentist. There are various procedures that can only be performed when a dentist is supervising, according to the Board of Dentistry. There are no guidelines in regards to the training for cardiac life support.

Before the law gets put into practice, it must be passed by the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee, and later by the full Assembly. If these hurdles are cleared, it can be signed into law by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie

Dental School Will Now Teach Life-Threatening Medical Emergencies

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 20 March 2012 07:39



The University of Maryland School of Dentistry will now train future dentists to respond to life-threatening medical emergencies in a dental environment. The school joined forces with the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center.

To add this information to the curriculum, a simulated, computerized mannequin will be utilized to teach the students. The mannequin, known as Sim Man, responds to various treatments. It has the ability to talk and offers many of the vital signs that an actual person possesses. It weighs roughly 160 pounds.

The faculty will have the ability to change vital signs based on the way the mannequin is treated by the dental student.

The mannequin was recently utilized by dental students who had no advance knowledge they would be working on it. The mannequin went into cardiac arrest and the students had to decide the proper course of action.

The computer inside the mannequin is programmed to respond the way a person would, and reacts to the depth or force used on chest compressions, for example.

With the mannequin, all aspects of emergency situations can be prepared for. The training team comprises a dentist, assistant and additional medical help. This allows the dentist and doctor to work effectively with each other and provides the knowledge to the students of when they should be doing what in these situations. Every aspect in an emergency situation can result in the patient eventually recovering or the patient’s eventual death.

Dental Hygiene Essential for Congenital Heart Disease Patients

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 20 March 2012 11:45



Many congenital heart disease patients are seeing their risk of endocarditis increase. One reason stands out above others: poor dental hygiene.

Teens with congenital heart disease floss and brush less than other people and they visit the dentist less as well. Conversely, they take better care of their health in regards to alcohol consumption, smoking and drug usage.

Adults with single ventricle physiology also have be known to have worse dental hygiene routines when compared to their peers even though their health in other areas is superior.

This information was presented at the Annual Spring Meeting on Cardiovascular Nursing in Copenhagen, Denmark.

To compile the data, 429 adolescents with congenital heart disease ages 14 to 19 were studied. Nearly all of them were matched up with a control of the same age and gender that did not have congenital heart disease. They completed questionnaires that asked various health-related questions.

A second study was conducted for people ages 16 to 48 with single ventricle physiology. Among this group, 20 percent didn’t visit a dentist in the last year, 46 percent were not flossing their teeth and 39 percent were not physically active.

One of the conclusions drawn from the research is the idea that daily dental hygiene may be the most important step for preventing endocarditis.
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Controversy Involves Dentists Trying to Write Off Medicare Debts

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 21 March 2012 15:27



Dentists in Australia are looking for Medicare debts to be written off. Nearly 50 dentists, however, have been ordered to pay money back because they didn’t fill out the proper paperwork necessary for Medicare patients.

The total amount dentists have been forced to pay back is now more than $21 million. Roughly $250,000 of that money has been recouped as of now.

An audit uncovered the fact that these dentists neglected to fill out the paperwork properly.

There may soon be legislation involving a private members bill, which would effectively wipe the slate clean. There’s also the idea that the dentists didn’t know about the fact that they had to give patients, and the general practitioners who referred the patients, a treatment plan.

There’s also the opinion that the audit of many of the dentists was done in an unfair fashion.

Many dentists claim that they did not know about these procedures and the possible consequences for not complying. A large amount of these dentists could be losing faith in the way government handles aspects of dentistry based on this situation.

Fruit Drinks, Like Energy Drinks, May be Problematic

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 23 May 2012 15:23



Parents need to rethink giving their children fruit drinks.

Dentists are warning that some fruit drinks can have the acidity levels of vinegar. So some parents with good intentions may actually be putting their children's oral health at risk.

Fruits drinks and smoothies were thought to have some nutritional value as a healthy option other than drinks like soda. But, in actuality, these drinks contain sugar, in addition to having high acidity levels.

When consuming these fruit drinks, bacteria in the mouth produce dangerous plaque acids that attack the enamel. With weakened enamel, it's possible for the tooth to become compromised.

According to some studies, there are certain fruit drinks that are considered more acidic than vinegar.

Based on this information, whether or not a drink contain fruits is irrelevant. What's more important whether or not it contains sugar. Water is beneficial because it doesn't have any sugar and lowers the risk of obesity, something that is rising among young children. Drinks filled with sugar is one of the main reasons for this rise.

Two-Step Implantation with Built-up Bone May be More Effective

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 24 May 2012 15:32



There may be an answer to the longstanding debate about whether or not it’s better to allow bone to build up before placing an implant.

New research shows that its more effective to build bone first and then place the implant, allowing more bone growth, according to Prof. Zvi Artzi of Tel Aviv University’s Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dentistry at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine. The information appears in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.

A one-step implant will show more wear and tear over a period time when compared to on implanted via the two-step process. There’s a larger amount of bone resorption around the neck with the one-step procedure. Bonding around the bone is also not as good.

The success of a tooth implant relies upon the biocompatibility of titanium. Human and animal tissues generally accept the implant and grow around it.

Periodontists choose the one- or two-step process based on preference. This particular study was based on long-term results, which are not usually included in the window in which the periodontist would monitor the patient’s procedure. So the researchers tracked the progress of the implants on animals during a two-year stretch.

Despite this research, it’s still possible for the one-step procedure to be better. It all depends on the way the patient heals and reacts. This research isn’t suggesting the one-step procedure doesn’t work, rather that the two-step procedure is more effective based on long-term results

Study Claims Tooth Sensitivity More Painful Than Almost Anything

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 29 May 2012 15:03



The only thing that causes more pain for women than tooth sensitivity is giving birth, according to a new study. Tooth sensitivity was even more painful than menstrual cramps.

The information comes from a comprehensive Arm & Hammer study that surveyed more than 900 men and women. About 25 percent of the people surveyed took time off from work to visit the dentist because of tooth sensitivity. Broken down further, 18 percent of women took time off from work to go to the dentist compared to 36 percent of men.

Tooth sensitivity can impact people of all ages. It stems from damage to the tooth enamel, leaving dentin susceptible.

Visiting the dentist for such things as sensitivity to cold food or drinks or sensitivity to hot food or drinks are some of the most common reasons for going to the dentist.

Tooth sensitivity correlates with maintaining good oral hygiene. Brushing too hard, bad oral hygiene, and acid erosion resulting from sugary or acidic food/drinks can all increase one’s tooth sensitivity.

Toothpaste specifically for sensitive teeth may ease the pain from the condition but the best bet is to visit the dentist.

Aspirin May Lower Risk of Throat Cancer

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 30 July 2012 14:41



IAspirin may provide some new benefits.

A group of researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Technological Assessment concluded that aspirin may lower the risk of esophageal cancer. It accomplishes this by decreasing susceptibility to Barrett's Esophagus, a condition that affects throat cells and is probably the most significant risk factor for esophageal cancer.

Barrett's Esophagus has been rising at alarming rate during the past decade. Much of the research has been in identifying some of the early warnings of BE. Earlier studies have shown that anti-inflammatory drugs that don't contain steroids lower death rates. There's no research, however, involving the impact of taking aspiring and the risk of developing Barrett's Esophagus.

According to this study, researchers in Massachusetts discovered that patients taking aspirin were 44 percent less likely to develop Barrett's Esophagus. There were 434 patients studied. The study also indicated that men were three times as likely to develop the condition when compared to women.

The results don't suggest that people should begin to take large doses of aspirin. Aspirin, however, has been shown to reduce the risk of many illnesses as research continues. It's also not ideal for people to take aspirin with the main goal being to lower the risk of throat cancer, according to Dr. Chin Hur of Massachusetts General Hospital.

Still, many people may benefit if aspirin does, indeed, lower the risk of throat cancer.

Dental Offices in Texas Continue to Close

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 30 July 2012 15:47



Dentists’ offices in Texas continue to close after crackdowns on Medicaid dental payments.

Dentists who have already collected their money from the state after treating Medicaid patients are no longer accepting those patients because the dentists’ Medicaid claims are no longer being accepted. There are more than 4,300 Medicaid dentists in Texas.

Thousands of patients are impacted by this. For a point of reference, in 2010 Medicaid paid for braces on 80,000 children in Texas.

Thanks to the more stringent regulations, 91 percent of new claims are being rejected. There are even instances of children having to have their braces taken off with plenty of time left in which they should be worn.

The new Texas HHS dental director is John Roberts, who took over for the previous director after allegations of questionable Medicaid payments.

Despite the new regulations, there were supposed to be policies in place to enable children with braces to continue to receive the necessary treatment in some way or another. The problem is that if these patients are reassigned to new dentists, these patients will continue to receive the treatment that they never even needed. This will cost the state millions of dollars.

An example of this comes from All Smile Dental Centers. This company is being sued for fraud. It is now getting rid of orthodontic treatment at 13 of its clinics. The problem is 95 percent of its dental claims included some type of fraud, according to one

Stem Cell Therapy May be Capable of Treating Head, Mouth Problems

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 01 August 2012 15:53



Stem cells were recently utilized to regrow craniofacial tissues. The study was the first of its kind and discovered that it was faster and more efficient than other, more conventional bone regeneration treatments.

A research team at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and the Michigan Center for Oral Health Research joined forces with Ann Arbor-based Aastrom Biosciences for this study. The clinical trial included 24 patients who needed jawbone reconstruction after some type of tooth removal.

The patients were treated with experimental tissue repair cells or a guided bone regeneration therapy. The tissue repair cells are still being developed.

This treatment is ideal for people with major defects resulting from some type of disease or trauma. The problems generally include multiple layers of tissue, making the processes to treat the issue complicated.

The benefit of stem cell research is that the patients’ own cells are utilized to regenerate tissue, as opposed to using man-made tissues.

The results from the study could be extremely beneficial. Six and 12 weeks after the cell therapy treatment, patients received dental implants. The patients who received tissue repair cells had greater bone density when compared to the patients who received conventional bone therapy. The experimental group also did not need as much bone grafting when receiving the implants.

The cells used in the therapy were taken from bone marrow in the patients’ hips. The bone marrow was processed thanks to the system Aastrom uses, which enabled various cells to grow. The stem cells were later inserted throughout the mouth and jaw.

Despite this research, this kind of stem cell treatment is still at least five years away—and more than that in all likelihood—from being put into practice. More clinical trials are necessary and it’s essential to include bigger craniofacial defects in a wide array of patients.

Tooth Patch May Aid Whitening

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 27 September 2012 12:21



A tooth patch may be just what many people are looking for to improve their smile.

Japanese scientists have come up with a tooth patch that could be applied to make one’s teeth whiter. The patch could also aid people that suffer from any type of tooth sensitivity.

The sheet, which is just 0.004 mm, is made of hydroxyapatite, the main mineral in tooth enamel.

To formulate the patch, lasers were pointed at compressed blocks of the mineral in a vacuum to make individual particles pop out. The particles then fell onto a separate block of salt. This was later heated to crystallize the components.

After the salt cube was dissolved in water, the dried tooth patch was left.

The patch is also invisible, so people wouldn’t notice it when it’s in the mouth. The patch, however, can take an extensive period time of time—possibly a full day—to stick to the teeth in an optimal fashion.









The patch won’t be ready for usage for a while, however. It will be at least three years before the patch could even be used for cosmetic purposes.

People Prefer Perfect Smile Over Perfect Body

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 27 September 2012 12:41



People would rather have a great smile than be in great shape.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry conducted a study regarding this issue and found an overwhelming majority opted for the smile.

There were 80 percent of American adults who said they would spend money to fix a flaw due to aging. Among these people, 62 percent said they would choose to improve the quality of their teeth while 48 percent stated that they would devote the money toward weight loss.

About 45 percent of Americans think a smile can successfully battle the effects of aging. The second choice for defying age was a person’s eyes, and 34 percent of the people believed that option. Only 10 percent of the people surveyed thought body shape could defy age, while 6 percent said hair and 5 percent said legs.

The study also showed that 54 percent of Americans older 50 thought that a smile could thwart the effects of aging. Just 38 percent of people ages 18 to 29 believe a smile can have that impact.

“A great smile is always in style, and these results prove it,” AACD President Dr. Ron Goodlin said. “Cosmetic dental professionals can rest assured that their services will be needed.”









The research for the study was done through Kelton Global and was scheduled in September, which is Healthy Aging Month. There were 1,018 adults who were 18 and older that took part in the study.

West Virginia Awards Grant to Raise Number of In-State Dentists

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 01 October 2012 08:49



West Virginia is doing its best to increase the number of dentists in the state.

West Virginia University’s School of Dentistry recently awarded a $1.5 million grant to the state. The goal is to entice the school’s graduates to practice dentistry in the state.

The grant will aid in the funding for loan repayment programs for West Virginia students who end up staying in state.

West Virginia already has a shortage of dentists. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that 35 percent of the state dental workforce is likely to retire during the next 10 years. Programs like this are the best way to add an influx of dentists.

Students at WVU had previously lobbied legislators for some type of loan repayment program.

Gum Problems, Erection Problems May be Related

Gum Problems, Erection Problems May be Related

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 05 December 2012 10:44

Men in their 30s with inflamed gums may also have erection problems, according to a new study.

The study appeared in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The correlation involving inflamed gums and erection problems was shown to exist when the inflammation was caused by severe periodontal disease.

To compile the data, a group of Turkish researchers analyzed information about 80 men ages 30 to 40 with erectile dysfunction and compared the results to 82 men without any erection problems.

The information showed that about 53 percent of the men with erectile dysfunction had inflamed gums while only 23 percent of the men with without erectile dysfunction had inflamed gums.

When other factors were taken into account, such as age, body mass index, education, etc. the men with severe periodontal disease were 3.29 times more likely to have erection problems when compared to men with healthy gums.

The average age of the men in the study was just under 36 and there weren’t many differences in the other factors that could have had an impact on the study participants. Their sexual function was determined by utilizing the International Index of Erectile Function and gum health was based on the plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing depth and clinical attachment level.

Erectile dysfunction and chronic periodontitis have similar risk factors, which could explain the results of the survey. This study explored men ages 30 to 40 to analyze the impact of chronic periodontitis on erectile dysfunction without being affected by aging

Fluoridation Issue Pops Up Again in Florida

Fluoridation Issue Pops Up Again in Florida

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 06 December 2012 12:15

An area of Florida will begin to fluoridate its water again.

Pinellas County in Florida finally came to this conclusion after a heated public debate, grassroots education and advocacy from dentists, and voters’ rejection of two previous county commissioners. That’s all it took for the Pinellas County Commission to vote, 6-1, in favor of reinstating fluoridation to the county’s roughly 700,000 residents. The decision was made after three hours of public testimony for and against fluoridation.

The water fluoridation will take effect in March.

The issue began in October 2011 after the commission voted, 4-3, against fluoridating water. The original goal was to cut costs for the county but it developed into a debate about fluoridation.

Each side made its opinion heard, with dentists and dental societies in the area starting a grassroots program to inform people about fluoridation.

The tide turned in favor of fluoridating water when Republicans Nancy Bostock and Neil Brickfield lost their seats in the county commission to Democrats Charlie Justice and Janet Long. It was only a matter of time before the previous vote against fluoridation was overturned.

The issue will likely turn out as something beneficial for Pinellas County. The people are now more educated about the impact of fluoridation than they previously were. The debate about the positive or negative impact of fluoridation will continue for some people but the residents of Pinellas County don’t have to worry about it for now.

Periodontitis may be Preventable

Periodontitis may be Preventable




Written by Dentistry TodayFriday, 07 December 2012 16:50



There could be a new method to stop periodontitis.

By blocking a molecular receptor that is usually targeted by bacteria, scientists from the University of Pennsylvania have shown the ability to prevent periodontitis in a mouse model. They also demonstrated the ability to stop the progression of the disease once it has already begun developing.

The study appeared in the Journal of Immunology.

Previous research showed that Porphyromonas gingivalis, which is the bacterium that causes periodontitis, basically hijacks a receptor on white blood cells. The receptor, C5aR, is part of the complement system, which is also part of the immune system that aids in fighting infection.

There were several other studies that enabled these researchers to come to their conclusion. These studies confirmed the idea that the C5aR receptor could be successful in curbing all types of periodontitis, not just the form that includes P. gingivalis.

More tests will be conducted on mice and other animals to make sure the results would have the same impact on humans.