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Int.J Periodontics Resorative Dent. 2009; 29:315-323,
produced by Fidia Advanced Biopolymers Srl in Italy, more info at www.Fidiapharma.com.
An interesting concept using a polymer of polysaccaharide which is the principal component of the extra-cellular matrix which is involved in cell division and tissue formation. HyA is osteoconductive and favours bone formation in tissue healing. It also has bacteriostatic effects on common periodontal pathogens and has an anti-inflammatory role in periodontal/ bone healing.
I have attached an article that seems to be an issue in the office at times....many times! This mainly observes tecxting as a joint issue, but I also see texting invading the dental professionals workspace and becoming deangerous.
Do you experience "texters" in your practice? Texting has become an issue in legal matters, traffic rules, and saftey issues these days. It does now, have a place in the office. There are more and more lobby signs to "turn off cell phone" ! But should we have a "no texting " rule in the dental chair?
An even bigger issue is not only the distraction of actually texting in the dental chair, but joint issues in the hands. As I have said before, whole body health is key to the new age of dentistry. The texting issue is two-fold in this way. Countless times a patient will ansewer a text and even try to text while being treated in the dental chair! I kid you not. This can of course pose quite a danger.
Not only should we think of these issues for the sake of the patients saftey, but overall health as well.
People who are stressed by daily problems or trouble at work seem to be more likely to grind their teeth at night. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Head & Face Medicine studied the causes of 'sleep bruxism', gnashing teeth during the night, finding that it was especially common in those who try to cope with stress by escaping from difficult situations. Maria Giraki, from Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany, worked with a team of researchers to study the condition in 69 people, of whom 48 were 'bruxers'. She said, "Bruxing can lead to abrasive tooth wear, looseness and sensitivity of teeth, and growth and pain in the muscles responsible for chewing. Its causes are still relatively unknown, but stress has been implicated. We aimed to investigate whether different stress-factors, and different coping strategies, were more or less associated with these bruxism symptoms."
Bruxing was not associated with age, sex or education level, but was more common in people who claimed to experience daily stress and trouble at work.
Giraki adds, "Our data support the assumption that people with the most problematic grinding do not seem to be able to deal with stress in an adequate way. They seem to prefer negative coping strategies like 'escape'. This, in general, increases the feeling of stress, instead of looking at the stressor in a positive way."
This article seems to confirm what already know. In our private practice of periodontics, dental implants and bone regeneration in Framingham and Newton, it seems as though we see occlusal wear, cervical abfraction, myofacial pain and other related issues in increasing numbers. Perhaps we can blame this on another phenomenon - the poor economy! What is your experience?
Source: Science Daily
More and more has come to light on this subject. All health care professionals are becoming more aware of whole body wellness as an approach to dentsitry (along with many other avenues in health care). Connecting the body with oral care is essential, as demonstrating in the article presented by WebDental about "Pancreatic Cancer and Saliva".
I know in Pediatrics, we constantly strive to get pediatricians involved with the MOUTH. They seem to stop at the mouth and hand over complete responsibility to us. For example, educating parents about the dangers and risk of breast/ bottle feeding in length (ie, baby-bottle decay). It should always be a joint effort in health care. Referring, but still educating the patient as a whole.
This leads to the effects of the health care crisis as well. Cutting costs has come to cutting corners! Are you practicing any wellness in your office? It may increase receivables within the practice, but it is also key to linking the body to the mouth !
Cherie Tschudi
Source: Science Daily
Journal Reference: Pillas D, Hoggart CJ, Evans DM, O'Reilly PF, Sipilä K, et al. Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Multiple Loci Associated with Primary Tooth Development during Infancy. PLoS Genet, 6(2): e1000856 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000856
Consumer Advisory
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) warns about a potential health risk associated with
long-term, excessive use of GSK’s zinc-containing denture adhesives
Super Poligrip ‘Original’, ‘Ultra Fresh’ and ‘Extra Care’.
This communication is to alert consumers to a potential health risk from long-term excessive use of zinccontaining
denture adhesives Super Poligrip ‘Original’, ‘Ultra Fresh’ and ’Extra Care’.
While zinc is an essential part of the diet, recent publications suggest that an excessive intake of zinccontaining
denture adhesives over several years may lead to the development of neurological symptoms
and blood problems such as anemia. Neurological symptoms may include numbness, tingling or
weakness in the arms and legs and difficulties with walking and balance.
Super Poligrip is safe to use as directed in the product label (see below). The majority of consumers
follow these directions. However, some consumers apply more adhesive than directed and use it more
than once per day. Therefore, as a precautionary measure to minimize any potential risks to these
consumers, GSK has voluntarily stopped the manufacture, distribution and advertising of these products.
GSK has discussed this situation with the FDA and no further action is required.
What consumers should do
If you have been using zinc-containing Super Poligrip ‘Original’, ‘Ultra Fresh’ or ’Extra Care’ for several
years in greater amounts than directed on the package or more than once per day, or have concerns
about your health, you must:
1. Stop using the product.
2. Talk to your doctor.
3. Use a zinc-free alternative such as Super Poligrip ‘Free,’ Super Poligrip ‘Comfort Seal Strips’, or
Super Poligrip ‘Powder’.
People with ill-fitting dentures should seek help from their dental care professional, rather than
compensate for poorly fitting dentures by using excessive adhesive.
Polident Denture Cleanser tablets contain no zinc and are not affected by this announcement.
GSK will soon be introducing zinc-free versions of Super Poligrip ‘Original’, ‘Ultra Fresh’ and ’Extra Care’.
Zinc Free Formula will be clearly shown on the new packaging.
Consumers with questions may call GSK toll free on 1-866-640-1017.
Original Ultra Fresh Extra Care
Comfort Seal Strips
Contains no zinc
Free Powder
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common type of cancer of the pancreas, is also the most lethal of all cancers, with a mortality rate that is approximately the same as the rate of incidence. A "silent killer," pancreatic cancer produces its typical symptoms -- abdominal pain and jaundice -- only in the advanced stage of the disease, making it difficult to fight. Fewer than 5 percent of those diagnosed with the disease live for five years, and full remission is very rare, according to the World Health Organization.
"Worldwide, the prevalence of pancreatic cancer is so high, and the disease is so deadly, that it calls out for a reliable means of early diagnosis," said the study's senior investigator, Dr. David Wong, D.M.D., D.M.Sc., UCLA's Felix and Mildred Yip Professor of Dentistry and associate dean of research at the dental school. "The ability to implement safe, cost-effective, widespread screening could be the answer to saving thousands of lives each year -- and that is what we are after."
"David Wong and his team at the dental school have demonstrated the usefulness of saliva in detecting oral cancer," said co-first author Dr. James Farrell, M.D., an associate professor in the UCLA Division of Digestive Diseases and director of the Pancreatic Diseases Program at UCLA. "As a clinician-scientist who manages patients with all stages of pancreatic cancer, I was eager to work with them to explore the possibilities it could yield in diagnosing this disease."
In the study, the researchers successfully linked changes in the molecular signatures found in human saliva to the presence of early-stage pancreatic cancer.
"Our recent findings underscore the potential for salivary diagnostics to play a pivotal role in the detection of systemic cancers and diseases," said Lei Zhang, Ph.D., an assistant researcher at the UCLA School of Dentistry Dental Research Institute and co-first author of the study. In addition to Wong, Farrell and Zhang, the research team included Hui Zhou, David Akin and No-Hee Park of the UCLA School of Dentistry; David Elashoff of the UCLA School of Public Health; and David Chia of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Wong, Chia and Park are also members of UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Source: Science Daily
Professional Liability for Dentists ~ Important considerations
Our agency has been offering the Professional Protector Plan for Dentsits since 1969. It is more important than ever for you to review your current policy to be certain there are no "grey areas."
For instance, if you own your Practice under an LLC, PC or any other entity, are you protected in the case of a lawsuit? Or have you purchased additional equipment and perhaps not had a review with your agent? Chances are, your practice has changed alot over the past 5, 10 or 15 years and you are entitiled to an annual review. Don't find out when it is too late that you are underinsured.
We are here to look out for your Practice as we have been doing for so many years. Please feel free to contact me personally for more information or check us out at www.davistowle.com/dentist.
Thank You,
Lynn Lavallee
Davis & Towle Insurance Group
(603) 225-6611 office or
(603) 203-3710 call phone
Having received my dental education at Boston University Goldman School of Dentistry in the early 1980's from some of the finest academicians and clinicians, the foundation of my periodontal specialty training centered around a comprehensive treatment planning approach which I continue to employ every day in clinical practice. Along with disease elimination and control of the etiologic factors, attainment of the classic "periodontal prosthesis" was the mainstay and goal of treatment for the most challenging cases. With the advent of predictable bone regeneration and osseointegration of dental implants, contemporary treatment plans no longer include the more "heroic" aspects of the classic approach such as hemisections and root resections. Yet, many of our patients whom were treated with the classic periodontal prosthesis protocol still enjoy successful outcomes today, decades later. Check out an interesting case report by Dr. Myron Nevins and Dr. David Kim to be published in the Journal of Periodontology. The treatment approach and outcome from 1969 is compared to a hypothetical approach in 2009 based upon contemporary options. Kudos to the authors for this perspective and their continued contributions to the dental profession.
Plasma jets could offer a painless alternative to dentists' drills, according to German researchers. The study is in the February issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology.
Plasmas are known as the fourth state of matter after solids, liquids and gases and have an increasing number of technical and medical applications. Plasmas are common everywhere in the cosmos, and are produced when high-energy processes strip atoms of one or more of their electrons. This forms high-temperature reactive oxygen species that are capable of destroying microbes. These hot plasmas are already used to disinfect surgical instruments.
Researchers found that firing low temperature plasma beams at dentin -- the fibrous tooth structure beneath the enamel coating -- reduced the amount of dental bacteria by up to 10,000-fold. The results suggest that plasma jets could be used to remove infected tissue in tooth cavities, a procedure that currently requires a drill.
For the study, the researchers infected dentin from extracted human molars with four strains of bacteria and then exposed the dentin to plasma jets for 6, 12 or 18 seconds. The amount of bacteria that was eliminated increased the longer the dentin was exposed to the plasma jets.
Dr Stefan Rupf from Saarland University who led the research said that the recent development of cold plasmas that have temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius showed great promise for use in dentistry. "The low temperature means they can kill the microbes while preserving the tooth. The dental pulp at the centre of the tooth, underneath the dentin, is linked to the blood supply and nerves and heat damage to it must be avoided at all costs.
Once again, a new technology in dentistry seems promising and exciting! Comments?
More information: Science Daily; Journal of Medical Microbiology
One of our members brought the following story from the BBC to my attention. Scientists in Italy have developed a way of turning rattan wood into bone that is almost identical to the human tissue. The team is lead by Dr Anna Tampieri. "It's proving very promising" she says. "This new bone material is strong, so it can take heavy loads that bodies will put on it. "It is also durable, so, unlike existing bone substitutes, it won't need replacing".
In our periodontal and implant practice, we have been using bone grafts for decades to restore normal physiologic bony parameters around teeth, as well as to facilitate ideal dental implant placement and restoration. In our experience, the synthetic graft materials, although successful, have yielded results that are less desirable than the outcomes achieved with autografts, allografts, and xenografts. However, this is very interesting and promising. Time will tell if it will truly be a viable bone graft material. Check it out.
Source: BBC
