BURNABY, British Columbia – January 14, 2014 - LED Medical Diagnostics has signed an agreement with the BC Cancer Agency to form a collaborative relationship with Genome British Columbia (Genome BC) to create and commercialize a progression-risk assessment test for oral cancer, according to Dentaltown. The test, the first of its kind for oral cancer, is based on a quantifiable genetic phenomenon known as “Loss of Heterozygosity,” or “LOH.”
To read the full article, click here.
Journal of Oral Implantology – Should a person’s teeth be saved at all costs? Over the last decade, the answer has shifted from yes to no in favor of replacing diseased and damaged teeth with implants. But treatment of patients with periodontitis, inflammatory disease of ligaments and bones supporting teeth, remains controversial because artificial tooth roots are more likely to fail.
An article in the current issue of the Journal of Oral Implantology looks at long-term treatment for a patient with severe periodontal damage. The authors anticipate that the higher risk of implant failure in this patient will be offset by coating the implants with a rough, oxidized surface called TiUnite and by emphasizing the need for diligent oral hygiene. They also expect that by using overdenture prostheses instead of conventional removable dentures, they will improve stability and function—and thus patient satisfaction.
Overall, increased use of implants has improved eating comfort and resulted in few complications after the surgery. However, pressure on implants is suspected to speed up loss of dense cortical bone in the jaw. Research has shown the TiUnite material stimulates bone growth, leading to faster fusion of implants and surrounding jawbone.
The current article is a case report on a 51-year-old patient who had been in a motorcycle accident and has a history of herpes, hepatitis, insulin-dependent diabetes, and persistent recurrent tooth decay. The patient’s remaining teeth were comprised of fractured crowns and older failing implants. The surgeons removed all of his teeth and old implants followed by the immediate insertions of new implants and stabilizing overdentures. Provisional implants were used for support during healing. Five months later, the interim provisional implants and prosthesis were removed and fabrication of a final restorative prosthesis was initiated.
Despite the higher risk of implant failure due to his periodontal disease and diabetes, the patient’s implants have been in place for 12 years with no complications noted at routine checkups and cleanings. The patient has been instructed post surgery in proper use of floss threaders, deep-cleaning brushes, and an oral irrigator. His daily efforts to practice good oral hygiene improved his overall dental health. The patient was pleased with the results one week after the provisional implants were placed and was still happy with the surgery 12 years later. Little care and maintenance of the prostheses have been necessary.
The authors concluded that in this case the prostheses have been effective, predictable, and reliable. They contend that such positive results were only possible because the patient changed their at home oral care preventing plaque buildup and disease.
Full text of the article “Twelve-year clinical and radiological results of a maxillary and mandible implant-retained bar overdentures carried out on oxidized (TiUnite) replace select implants: A clinical case,” Journal of Oral Implantology,Vol. 39, No. 6, 2013, is now available at https://www.joionline.org/doi/full/10.1563/AAID-JOI-D-12-00311
Nobel Biocare has launched creos xeno.protect, beginning in European markets. This new collagen membrane will be part of a larger regenerative product line under the brand name “creos.” Additional products will follow in 2014.
“The introduction of creos xeno.protect emphasizes Nobel Biocare’s long-standing commitment to improving quality of life through innovation. It is a product that harnesses the ingenuity of nature to the benefit of the patient, while at the same time making life easier for the clinician,” said Nobel Biocare CEO, Richard Laube. “In simple terms, creos xeno.protect is a superior regenerative solution that supports clinicians in treating more patients better.”
The creos xeno.protect resorbable porcine membrane for guided bone and guided tissue regeneration procedures has been designed to be very straightforward and practical in everyday clinical use. Clinical studies and early results from clinicians after an extensive prelaunch period confirm it possesses outstanding handling qualities, maintains its size when hydrated and is extremely tear-resistant.[1] This means fewer problems when folding and unfolding, easier positioning without graft displacement and less risk of damaging – and therefore wasting – the membrane. It comes in three practical sizes (15x20 mm, 25x30 mm, and 30x40 mm) to handle larger bone augmentations or smaller periodontal defects. The optimal fit can be found without extensive trimming which limits waste and minimizes costs for both clinicians and patients.
The creos xeno.protect membrane has an extended barrier function that does not compromise on the established high industry standards for biocompatibility or vascularization behavior. It resorbs slowly, providing stable protection of the graft during the required healing period. As it is produced without any chemical cross-linking, creos xeno.protect offers excellent tissue compatibility for fast and predictable healing.
[1] Clinical studies, product information and first-user feedback are available at creos.com/xenoprotect.
Patients faced with the decision of whether dental implants are right for them may have a few more things to consider, following a study conducted by one periodontic faculty member’s interprofessional research team, according to Texas A&M Health Science Center.
“We always thought that implants were the perfect solution for patients — that they wouldn’t get cavities and that once the titanium was in the bone nothing could happen,” says Dr. Pilar Valderrama, assistant professor in periodontics at Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry. “We started this retrieval study and learned that implants are also susceptible to peri-implant disease, a condition similar to periodontal disease.”
The findings about titanium durability are prompting research into the dynamics of this popular dental restorative material. The research team’s findings, published in the Nov. 15 Materials Science Journal, reveal the factors that cause implant corrosion, which is considered a trigger for peri-implantitis and implant failure. The findings show an acidic environment — most likely brought on by bacteria and inflammatory processes — caused the titanium’s surface to oxidize. The end result: severe implant discoloration, pitting and cracking.
To read the full Texas A&M Health Science Center article, click here.
Studio City, CA (PRWEB) January 14, 2014 -- RateCE.com is a service for dental healthcare providers who are making decisions about how to invest their time and money on seminars, lectures, and meetings. The site is available on smartphones, tablets, and laptop computers, enabling users to review and rate the course while they're still in attendance -- because immediacy is critical for accurate evaluations.
Professional continuing education is mandated by state law. To be effective, that continuing education must be scientifically valid and clinically applicable; but, to date, there are only limited ways for dental healthcare personnel to evaluate the quality of courses being offered -- in an unbiased manner, independent of sponsors and free online.
“The only way to maintain and improve the quality of dental continuing education is by opening the review process to professional scrutiny online,” said Dr. Laurence Barsh, Founder and CEO of RateCE,LLC. “For far too long, the review process has remained in control of the course sponsor without comments being available to attendees. We hope to change that with RateCE.com, so that dental healthcare providers will have the advantage of knowing how a course rates prior to attending.”
RateCE, LLC awards “Best Course” shields to sponsors whose courses consistently receive the highest rating from member dental professionals. In addition, RateCE.com has instituted a Top Course Award for 2014 , an Event Space that features brief educational videos from highly-rated seminar presenters, and a listing of the top rated courses of the week.
RateCE,LLC believes that patients should be knowledgeable about the continuing education experience of their dentists. Because of this, RateCE, LLC is providing marketing materials to member dentists in the form of office displays and literature, as well as an online profile of members who have participated in the review process that includes contact information, a biography, and a list of the courses and ratings which each member has attended and rated at RateCE.com.
There is no charge for this service to member dentists or listing course sponsors.
RateCE, LLC is located in Los Angeles, California and was developed and is maintained by Laurence I. Barsh, DMD. Inquiries can be made directly to Dr. Barsh by email, with the contact form at RateCE.com/contact or by phone at 855-5RATECE.
GREENVILLE, N.C. — The School of Dental Medicine at East Carolina University has taken the next step in its service mission by opening its pediatric dental clinic at Ledyard Ross Hall.
Surrounded by state-of-the-art technology, 52 third-year dental students now will have the opportunity to learn the challenges, rewards and technological tools associated with the care of tiny teeth — and the people who own them.
With the formal debut of pediatric services, the dental school's active programs include the pre-doctoral program, leading to a doctor of dental medicine degree (DMD), and postgraduate programs in advanced education in general dentistry (AEGD), general practice residency, and now, pediatric dentistry.
Stuart D. Josell, DMD, chairman of pediatric dentistry and orthodontics at the school, recalled his work in preparing the facility for opening day, which was Dec. 16
"I started out living in a trailer on the campus when the ground was broken but the building wasn't here," Josell said. "After two and a half years or so, it's nice to get this portion up and running and get the children in here for the first full day of work-ups and evaluation."
The faculty chief and his assistant, Dr. Christopher Cotterill, spent the day observing how the students managed their young patients' behaviors and their parents' concerns.
"We're looking for cues from the patients to see if they get uncomfortable — searching around their surroundings suspiciously, fidgeting in their chairs or red eyes holding back tears," he said. "Right now, they look pretty comfortable with the process."
Parents are allowed back to the treatment rooms with their children to watch their care. The parents are briefed ahead of the appointments about comments and behaviors that either can reinforce or undermine the positive relationships being developed between caregivers and their young patients, Josell said.
"We understand that this is all strange to the children, with bright lights and strange devices," Josell said. "We want to make the environment as friendly and non-threatening as possible."
The students also need to be prepared for the unique experience of caring for children, he said.
"They've had dress rehearsals with mannequins and with adult denticians, learning and practicing procedures, and we give them knowledge about what to say and what not to say to children," he said.
Before entering a clinical setting with their young patients, students spend time in educational settings and familiarize themselves with the types of scenarios they will face in the clinic. They even work with a behavioral psychologist to get keyed in for the kinds of facial expressions and body language that will inform them about their patients' emotional condition.
It all worked for Melissa Bryant of Winterville and her daughter, Gracie, 8, who was in the clinic that Monday to get her first set of X-rays.
"They prepared me on how to let her know they would not hurt her, and they positioned me in a place in the treatment room where Gracie can always see me and be reassured," Bryant said.
Third-year dental students Bruce Townsend and Megan Mazzarella took on the task of getting Gracie's X-rays taken while her mom stood at the exam room doorway and watched, giving her daughter encouragement.
The students encountered a delicate young mouth not quite large enough to accommodate the device the child would have to bite down on to hold in place. Cotterill stepped in to show how to handle just such a problem. Working together, the task was successfully accomplished and Gracie was on her way to her next stage of care.
The students said they were happy to learn dentistry at ECU.
"The faculty are awesome; I wouldn't choose to learn anywhere else," Mazzarella said. "I get to work with equipment that is all new and not available at some other dental schools."
Townsend said he is being well-prepared for the real world experience of a pediatric dental practice. He would like to practice in the western portion of the state and understands the university's mission of bringing medical and dental care to the state's underserved population.
"I think it's a great mission, and I'm ready for that," Townsend said. "The world is really changing, and the technology we have will mean we're never out of touch with the best possible tools for care. This wouldn't have been possible even in the early 2000s."
Dental school dean Greg Chadwick talked more about the university's mission and how the school works to serve it.
"Right from the beginning, we've been trying to expand dental care to folks who do not have any," he said.
Chadwick was clear that the program does not compete with private practice dentists, but seeks collaboration to ensure as wide a blanket of coverage for people's dental care needs as possible.
"We tell people that if they are already seeing a dentist, they should continue to go there," Chadwick said. "But we're excited to have a unique opportunity here to provide care for children and help our students see that specialized kind of care in a dental school environment and, hopefully, continue to provide it in private practice or other types of care centers when they leave here."
Read more here: https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2014/01/13/2890531/ecu-clinic-trains-students-to.html#storylink=cpy
Alexandria, Va., USA - The American Association for Dental Research (AADR), with the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), today announced that AADR will provide $75,000 funding to support one dental student competitively selected to participate in the 2014-2015 NIH Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP). The MRSP is designed to train the most promising future dentists, physicians and veterinarians in research so that they can help resolve clinical problems by understanding their biological underpinnings and, conversely, by translating basic research into clinical interventions. Scholars accepted into the MRSP are provided with a year-long, highly competitive research training experience, designed to inspire research careers.
The Program is intended for students who have completed their initial clinical rotations, i.e., typically third-year, but does not exclude students with strong research interests from applying prior to having completed these rotations. The MRSP is a residential program on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, and participants reside in one of the available MRSP housing options. In accordance with this requirement, the selected dental student enrollee will take a year away from dental school. Fourth-year students qualify to apply and participate in the Program, however, accepted fourth-year students must defer graduation before participation.
"There's no better exposure to medical research than to be immersed in that culture on the NIH campus," said AADR President Peter Polverini, D.M.Sc., D.D.S. "AADR is delighted to be partnering with the Foundation for the NIH to support a dental student's participation in the MRSP and to add this program to our portfolio of initiatives developing the next generation of dental, oral and craniofacial researchers."
"The Medical Research Scholars Program helps to break down the barriers to success facing talented young medical, veterinary and dental students, such as access to basic, clinical and translational research experiences with investigators at the NIH," said Maria Freire, Ph.D., President and Executive Director of the Foundation for the NIH. "The FNIH is proud to partner with the American Association for Dental Research on this program and looks forward to working with the NIH to promote the growth of future scholars identified through this program, as they transition to fully independent oral health researchers."
MRSP participants, paired with a dedicated advisor, work within the NIH intramural program for 12-months on a clinical research project or in a basic or translational science laboratory that matches their research interests and career goals. The MRSP provides them with access and exposure to a broad range of exceptional leadership, professional development, scholarship, advocacy and opportunities for innovation.
In October 2012, AADR published an interview with the 2012-2013 class of NIH MRSP dental students [four total], which included current AADR National Student Research Group Vice President Kyle Holmberg. In that interview he stated that in addition to the mentoring from the principal investigators and post-docs and having time to explore interests in biomedical research, one of the benefits of Program participation is research training. "All of the investigators are very good at science and what they do, and many are also clinicians. I don't think there is a better place to learn to be a good clinician-scientist."
The NIH is accepting applications for the 2014-2015 MRSP until January 15, 2014. Please visit https://www.cc.nih.gov/training/mrsp/index.html for more information about the Program.
PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 8, 2014 - SANTA ROSA, Calif. -- AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) today launched its paperless event app, built on the advanced EventPilot platform, for its conference in Boston, from May 21-25, 2014. For the third consecutive year, AAPD is partnering with ATIV to not only provide members with a comprehensive meeting planner, but also to increase revenue through advertising on the mobile app. Learn more at https://www.ativsoftware.com
"Each year, we are dedicated to providing our members with a first class conference experience and EventPilot's smart, organized meeting app has been instrumental in delivering this," said Tonya Almond, CMP, Meeting Services Senior Director, AAPD. "As a non-profit organization, it is crucial for us to raise sponsorship revenue so we can continue to offer member education and services. EventPilot's many ad options allow us to generate this revenue while giving our sponsors attractive and interactive targeted ads."
To enable event organizers to reach their revenue targets, the EventPilot conference app offers an unmatched range of advertising options. The meeting app includes the option to feature a sponsor splash screen, dynamically timed home screen ads, banner ads, special sponsor tab links, and special previews of sponsoring exhibitors at the event. The trackable ads are interactive, so users can explore the sponsor’s website without leaving the meeting app. Organizers can easily estimate their mobile conference app revenue potential with ATIV’s free sponsorship calculator available at https://ativ.me/
The EventPilot app is accessible through many of the popular platforms, including iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android, Tablets, and Kindle Fire.
NEW YORK, NY – The ADEAGies Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Dental Education Association, has selected Columbia University’s College of Dental Medicine (CDM) for a 2014 William J. Gies Award, for outstanding achievement by an academic dental institution in support of dental education. The award recognizes CDM’s Community DentCare program, which provides low- or no-cost dental care to children, adults, and seniors in Northern Manhattan and the Bronx.
“The relationships CDM has developed with the residents of the Washington Heights, Inwood, and Harlem communities of Northern Manhattan, and of the Bronx, are mutually rewarding and central to the College’s mission,” said Christian S. Stohler, DMD, DrMedDent, dean of CDM. “Community DentCare is a tremendous opportunity for our faculty members to share their expertise not only with our neighbors, but with our students. We are proud of this work and honored to be recognized by the ADEAGies Foundation.”
The William J. Gies Awards, named after William J. Gies, PhD, a cofounder of CDM, honors individuals and organizations exemplifying dedication to the highest standards of vision, innovation, and achievement in dental education, research, and leadership. In 1926, Dr. Gies published a report, “Dental Education in the United States and Canada,” which is credited with establishing dentistry as an essential component of academic health sciences education.
“Given the history behind the Gies Awards, it is particularly gratifying to receive this recognition from the ADEAGies Foundation,” said Stephen Marshall, DDS, MPH, associate professor of dental medicine at CUMC and senior associate dean for extramural programs at CDM. “Through our public school-based clinics and Mobile Dental Center, Community DentCare enables us to extend oral health care to thousands of individuals every year who otherwise might not have access to care.”
Community DentCare involves a network of partnerships and collaborations with schools and community health clinics to provide Northern Manhattan’s low-income, underserved, and uninsured residents with access to comprehensive, affordable, and quality dental care. It has provided more than 150,000 patient care visits since its inception in 1996.
The impetus for starting the program was a Washington Heights school principal, who reached out to CDM seeking dental care for the numerous children at her school who were unable to attend class because of toothaches.
Community DentCare has established eight school-based dental clinics, and the program’s Mobile Dental Center van visits more than 80 locations throughout Northern Manhattan and the Bronx, offering comprehensive dental care to children ages 3–5.
The program also provides free screenings, treatment, and education to hundreds of Northern Manhattan children each year as part of the American Dental Association’s national Give Kids a Smile Day.
Community DentCare was established by CDM, the Harlem Hospital Dental Services, and other community groups.
Please click here to read the ADEAGies Foundation news release about the 2014 Gies Awards.
After an extensive nationwide search, AAID President-Elect John Da Silva, DMD, MPH, ScM, AFAAID, has been named Vice Dean at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Dean Bruce Donoff stated that Da Silva’s “extensive institutional knowledge and experience in [HSDM’s] three focal areas—research, education, and patient care—will be of great value as HSDM continues its strategic planning process.”
Dr. Da Silva serves on the Board of Trustees of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and is currently the President Elect. He is also Chair of the Bylaws Committee and serves on the Education Oversight and Nominating Committees. He has received widespread recognition during his academic career, including being named an honored fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and receiving the HSDM Distinguished Junior Faculty Award. He has published numerous journal articles and lectured nationwide. Dr. Da Silva has made major contributions in research and the area of color science. He has also been involved in curricular changes to improve content on substance-abuse screening and brief interventions.
Dr. Da Silva was born in New York City and attended Williams College as an undergraduate. He received his dental degree from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and his MPH degree from the Harvard School of Public Health. He later returned to the School of Public Health and received an ScM in health policy and management. Dr. Da Silva completed specialty training in implant dentistry and prosthodontics at HSDM in 1992. He has been a faculty member there since 1993, first in the Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, then in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences and most recently as the Chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences.
Established in 1951, the AAID is the only dental implant organization that offers credentials recognized by state and federal courts as being bona fide. Its membership, which exceeds 4,600, includes general dentists, oral surgeons, periodontists and prosthodontists from across the United States and in more than 60 other countries.
For more information about the AAID, please visit www.aaid.com or www.aaid-implant.org or call the AAID at 312-335-1550.
