CHICAGO, April 17, 2014 — The new American Dental Association (ADA) Oral Pathologist app is a handy tool to aid dentists in the diagnosis of lesions, papules, nodules, ulcers, vesicles and many other oral pathology conditions.

For chairside use with mobile devices, the ADA Oral Pathologist app was developed by Dr. Michael Kahn, chairman and tenured professor of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.

App features include:

- Access content anywhere (Internet not needed)

- Registration or subscriptions not required

- Compatible with Android or Apple

- Search for over 200 oral pathology conditions by name, or perform searches by entering information such as gender, age, clinical site, and clinical observations

- Includes suggestions for management

The ADA Oral Pathologist app is available from the Apple Store or on Google Play for $59.99. For more information, visit success.ada.org/en/apps/.

INTELIHEALTH - Regular check-ups aren't just good for children; they can help older adults keep healthy mouths.

That's the conclusion of a study from the University of Bergen, Norway. It included 4,143 adults who were born in 1942. They completed surveys in 1992 (at age 50), and then at ages 55, 60, and 65.

At age 50, 69% of the adults had regular dental check-ups. By age 65, this had decreased to 64%. People who continued to have regular check-ups were less likely than others to report problems with their mouths and teeth. They also were less likely to lose teeth during the 15-year study period.

The American Dental Association (ADA) notes that older adults are still at risk for tooth decay, gum disease and mouth cancer. Regular dental check-ups may help to identify these problems before they become advanced. Even older adults who have lost all of their teeth should have regular check-ups, the ADA says. The organization recommends seeing a dentist at least once a year.

The Norwegian study appears in the April issue of the journal Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology.

Source: InteliHealth News Service

BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - April 15, 2014) - LED Medical Diagnostics Inc. has announced that its wholly-owned US operating subsidiary, LED Dental Ltd. has entered into non-exclusive partnerships with Atlanta Dental Supply Company and Nashville Dental, Inc. for distribution of the Company's VELscope^® Vx Enhanced Oral Assessment System and product line within the United States market.

"It is an honor to partner with both Atlanta Dental and Nashville Dental for distribution within the Southeast," said Lamar Roberts, president of LED Dental. "Both of these dealers have extensive networks that will maximize the potential for the VELscope^® Vx product line while providing cutting-edge technology to their customers."

"We are excited to offer the market-leading adjunctive oral mucosal examination tool to our client base," said Todd Brown, vice president of equipment for Nashville Dental, Inc. "The VELscope^® Vx is saving lives by discovering a wide range of oral abnormalities, including oral cancer, sooner. This technology is in high-demand in the dental industry, and we're proud to add it to our portfolio."

Use of the VELscope^® Vx aids in the detection of an array of oral abnormalities, often before they become apparent to the unassisted eye. It is also the only tissue fluorescence device with photo/video documentation capabilities through the viewing mechanism, a key function for referrals and patient records. The device's distinctive blue-spectrum light causes the soft tissues of the mouth to naturally fluoresce. Healthy tissues appear in distinct patterns that are visibly disrupted by trauma or disease, such as neoplastic lesions, chemical irritation, side-effects from medication, thermal damage, as well as fungal, viral or bacterial infections.

"We support the VELscope^® Vx as an important, potentially life-saving device," said Tom Richardson, vice president of sales for Atlanta Dental. "LED Dental has established itself as the market leader for tissue fluorescence visualization, and we're proud to partner with them. The VELscope^® Vx is a welcome addition to our portfolio of outstanding equipment."

The VELscope^® Vx product line will be represented in five states through Atlanta Dental's team of 160 employees and five states through Nashville Dental's team of 108 employees. Today, VELscope^® systems are used to conduct more examinations for oral cancer and other oral diseases than any other adjunctive device. To date, more than 13,000 VELscope^® Vx systems are in use globally, and dental practitioners have performed more than 25 million exams with the technology.

"Atlanta Dental and Nashville Dental are companies whose core values of innovation, teamwork and service embody our own," said Dr. David Gane, CEO of LED Medical Diagnostics Inc. "They are the true pioneers of dental supply sales in the Southeast region of the U.S., and their clientele has been well served by them for generations. Having a partner who is entrenched within the communities they serve and who continues to increase their service levels and product offerings is exactly the type of relationship we were seeking for expansion of the VELscope^® market."

Alexandria, Va., USA – The International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) have published a paper titled “Rare Bone Diseases and Their Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Manifestations.” The complete review by researchers Sunday O. Akintoye, Andrea B. Burke, Alison M. Boyce, Michael Collins, Brian L. Foster, Rachel I. Gafni, Janice S. Lee, Mary Scott Ramnitz, Martha J. Somerman, and J. Timothy Wright is published in the OnlineFirst portion of the IADR/AADR Journal of Dental Research (JDR).

Hereditary diseases affecting the skeleton are heterogeneous in etiology and severity. Though many of these conditions are individually rare, the total number of people affected is great. These disorders often include dental-oral-craniofacial (DOC) manifestations, but the combination of the rarity and lack of in-depth reporting often limit our understanding and ability to diagnose and treat affected individuals.

In this insightful and thorough review, researchers focused on dental, oral and craniofacial manifestations of rare bone diseases. Discussed in this report are defects in four key physiologic processes in bone/tooth formation that serve as models for the understanding of other diseases in the skeleton and DOC complex: progenitor cell differentiation (fibrous dysplasia), extracellular matrix production (osteogenesis imperfecta), mineralization (familial tumoral calcinosis/hyperostosis hyperphosphatemia syndrome, hypophosphatemic rickets, and hypophosphatasia), and bone resorption (Gorham-Stout disease). For each condition, the authors highlight causative mutations (when known), etiopathology in the skeleton and DOC complex, and treatments.

By understanding how these four foci are subverted to cause disease, the researchers aimed to improve the identification of genetic, molecular, and/or biologic causes, diagnoses, and treatment of these and other rare bone conditions that may share underlying mechanisms of disease.

The research was supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Intramural Research Programs, and by NIDCR/National Institutes of Health grant 1R56DE022932 (SOA). Visit https://jdr.sagepub.com/content/early/recent for more information about this study or contact Ingrid L. Thomas at ithomas@iadr.org to request a PDF of the article.

University of Texas Arlington and Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital are investigating whether bone grown from the body’s own stem cells can replace traditional types of bone grafting.

The process, which has been successful in previous lab experiments, uses biodegradable polymer scaffolding material and bone morphogenetic protein, or BMP, which was inserted into the abdomen of mice to attract stem cells that in turn produced bone. BMPs are proteins known to promote bone growth. The research is detailed in a new paper, “Tissue Engineering Bone Using Autologous Progenitor Cells in the Peritoneum,” published by the online journal PLoS One.

Dr. Liping Tang, UT Arlington bioengineering chair and professor, and Dr. Joseph Borrelli, chair of orthopedics for Texas Health Arlington Memorial, co-authored the paper and are lead investigators of the research project.

Tang said the process will allow surgeons to establish a “mini-bioreactor” in a patient’s own body. Scientists determined that the abdomen of a mouse effectively mimics the traumatic and foreign body environmental response that takes place during various bone repair procedures in humans. Bone tissue can be generated in a few days through the process, he said, rather than the weeks or months existing processes take in a lab setting.

“This research will help us to formalize a specific type of scaffolding mixture that could eliminate the use of current bone grafting techniques,” Borrelli said.

The procedure could help with open bone fractures, osteomyelitis, fractures that fail to heal, congenital malformations, tumors and, in a more general sense, perhaps osteoporosis.

The goal is to use the body’s own healing capacity in bone repair, Borrelli said. For instance, today if a patient suffers from a bone defect or complex tibia fracture, a surgeon may perform an iliac crest bone graft, taking bone from the pelvis.

During the bone graft procedure, the surgeon uses a mechanism that scrapes or shaves bone from the pelvis. The bone shavings are then placed directly into the defect or combined with other proteins. If successful, the research involving Borrelli and Tang will eliminate the grafting technique altogether.

Borrelli said the current grafting procedure has a 25% complication rate. He said the new procedure will help curtail the complication rate associated with bone grafting and reduce medical costs.

“In the future, a physician will be able to inject the scaffolding material with the ideal protein into the area where the patient’s bone needs to grow or repair, and the patient’s cells will never have to leave the body,” Borelli said. “It will cut down on cost. It will cut down on surgery time. It will enhance patient comfort, too.”

Khosrow Behbehani, dean of the UT Arlington College of Engineering, said the collaboration between the hospital and the university is the kind of collaboration that can lead to innovation in health care.

“Partners like Texas Health Arlington Memorial keep our researchers focused on goals that will help people,” Behbehani said. “The work by Dr. Tang and Dr. Borrelli holds the promise of a medical advancement that can save patients time and money and improve treatment.”

The research team said the process could become an outpatient procedure in the future.

Texas Health Arlington Memorial is funding $90,000 to support further research on this and other clinically relevant projects. This money will also pay for a doctoral student in Tang’s lab.

“We couldn’t think of a better collaborative project to be a part of,” said Kirk King, Texas Health Arlington Memorial president. “By working with talented individuals at UT Arlington, we’re helping advance science with the ultimate goal of enhancing health care to improve an individual’s quality of life. It’s a challenging task but one we’ll be honored to see come to fruition.”

Source: University of Texas Arlington

Queens, New York -- The Fialkoff Dental Study Club, founded by Dr. Bernard Fialkoff, a New York Periodontist and Dental Implant Specialist, traveled to Cuba earlier this month on a historic humanitarian mission. The 16-member group, which included prominent dentists from the Tri-State area, donated desperately needed dental equipment, and met with Cuban dentists, dental students, and public health specialists during their five day stay in Havana.

Disarm/Global Health Partners, a nonprofit organization that has donated more than $120 million worth of desperately needed medicines and medical supplies to Cuba over the past 20 years, enabled the dental delegation’s visit. Bob Schwartz, Executive Director of Disarm/Global Health Partners, found the club’s goal to be worthy of support.

In addition to Dr. Fialkoff and Schwartz, participants included Dr. Kaveh Niknia, Dr. Edward Portnoy, Dr. Charles Pellicane, Dr. Deborah Zivari, Dr. Matthew Lee, Dr. Jonelle Cox, Dr. Elie Marzouk and others. Javier Bajana, Disarm/GHP’s Latin American Program Director, and Meghan Fialkoff, Dr. Fialkoff’s Community Affairs Director, were responsible for travel logistics.

Dr. Fialkoff, who was born in Cuba 55 years ago, was asked by members of the Dental Study Club to make the trip a reality. "To assume the title of doctor means more than restoring teeth,” noted Dr. Fialkoff. “We have responsibilities to the patient, which will continue to grow as science and research expand the body of knowledge. Entrenchment in old fashioned ideas leads to steady decline especially if outlook towards the future is ignored." The dentist participants hope humanitarian activities like these can help ameliorate conflicts and misunderstandings.

The Study Club includes dentists from the five boroughs, Westchester, and Long Island. Each month the group meets in Queens to discuss advanced dental techniques and new procedures in dentistry. Recent topics included "Evidence Based Shade Taking - Achieving the Superior Cosmetic Restoration," "Periodontal Plastic Surgery," and "Sleep Apnea and Snoring - Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment Methods.”

Dr. Fialkoff has had a periodontal, dental implant, cosmetic laser plastic surgery office for more than 32 years at 56-03 214th Street in Bayside, NY. Recently the office added 3D cone beam cat-scan imaging for patient diagnosis and laser equipment for non-surgical laser therapies. Dr. Fialkoff has been a featured speaker in many venues including the Spanish American Medical Society, and was recently inducted into the Long Island Academy of Odontology.

His office website and blog, which shows Fialkoff Dental Study Club photos and bulletins, and other community activities is www.baysidedentist.com. Dr. Fialkoff also has a web page devoted to the study club at: https://baysidedentist.com/our-office/fialkoff-dental-study-club/ and the Cuba Humanitarian Trip at: https://baysidedentist.com/our-office/humanitarian-trip/.

INTELIHEALTH - Nearly all women with bulimia have dental problems, and most do not talk about their condition with a dentist, a study has found.

Researchers from Northwestern University surveyed about 200 adult women with bulimia, an eating disorder in which a person eats large amounts of food and then vomits on purpose. Frequent vomiting can lead to worn tooth enamel, mouth sores, and other oral problems.

About 92% of the women surveyed said they had dental problems. And nearly all of them were concerned about how bulimia might affect their mouths. But only 29% of the women had talked with a dentist about it.

Also, nearly 33% of the women brushed their teeth after vomiting, which is not recommended. This can spread stomach acids over the teeth. Instead, the American Dental Association suggests rinsing with baking soda. This neutralizes the acids.

An estimated 10 million Americans have a serious eating disorder, such as bulimia or anorexia. The conditions affect nearly every aspect of life, including dental health. Nearly 9 of every 10 people with bulimia will show signs of worn-down tooth enamel. Over time, teeth can change color and shape. They also can become brittle and sensitive to hot or cold. Many people with bulimia also have dry mouth. This can increase the risk of tooth decay.

The authors of the study suggest education for dental professionals about how to talk to patients who appear to have an eating disorder. Some of these patients are children or teenagers. The authors also recommend the development of policies and guidelines for notifying parents in such cases.

The study appears in the April issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.

Source: InteliHealth News Service

HAVERTOWN, PA -- (Marketwired - Apr 3, 2014) - PeriRx LLC, a developer of non-invasive, oral diagnostic technology, recently announced that it will be introducing the world's most clinically advanced and scientifically validated molecular DNA biomarker test for oral squamous cell carcinoma detection in the late spring.

According to PeriRx LLC's CEO Stephen M. Swanick, "This is a simple-to-use, painless and non-invasive test designed for front line healthcare practitioners that enables them to detect disease earlier, enhance patient wellness and reduce the overall cost of healthcare." 

The salivary test is based on a strong scientific foundation of NIH-funded research with initial discovery and pre-validation work by Dr. David Wong of the University of California at Los Angeles. The test also has the distinction of being the first of its kind assay in the world to aid in the identification and early detection of oral lesions at the highest risk for cancer.

These discriminatory salivary biomarkers have been clinically validated in multiple large trials including studies in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute and with premiere US academic medical centers such as the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and the Providence Health System in Detroit.

For more information, visit www.PeriRx.com. To become an early adopter of the salivary test, or to become an investor in PeriRx LLC, contact Stephen M. Swanick at 610-449-9625 or perirx@rcn.com.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A whiter smile is just one of the things you can purchase at Opry Mills Mall. Spa Whitening offers teeth-whitening services ranging from $79 to $400. The kiosk owner and product manufacturer says the chemical used is an all-natural formulation of sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, with other natural ingredients. A former State Dentistry Board President, Dr. Mike Tabor says the products may be safe, but there is no way to be sure since the kiosks operate with no state oversight.

In 2009 the Dentistry Board issued a cease and desist order shutting down dental kiosks in malls. The businesses are making a comeback after the owners fought back and Davidson County Chancery Court Judge issued a stay.

Tennessee and other states are watching the outcome of a similar challenge in North Carolina. That case is being considered by the US Supreme Court. The ruling could determine whether dental teeth whitening and other cosmetic services can be offered at mobile kiosks and who regulates them.

Source: WZTV Nashville

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) April 09, 2014 -- Partners in Complete Health has announced its documentary on oral health “Say Ahh” is now available to the public, including non-dental and non-medical communities. The world’s first documentary on oral health, “Say Ahh” takes an informative, patient-friendly approach to explaining the oral-systemic connection. The film has been screened in dental and medical communities across the country since its release in late 2012.

“Say Ahh” follows the true stories of six families as they discover the real-life impact that their oral health is having on their lives. The message: mouth and body are connected and the source of getting people to achieve and maintain good health can be found in the mouth.

Gary Kadi, chairman of Partners in Complete Health says the American public generally is unaware of the profound connection between the mouth and the body. “Say Ahh” is an attempt to raise awareness and connect the dots.

“This movie is quite personal for me. Growing up in a family where both my parents had gum disease, I’ve supported the businesses of dental offices for years,” said Kadi. “What I witnessed is many dental professionals as the unsung heroes of healthcare—arresting health complications through proactive and preventative treatment rather than reactive. With this approach, these medical professionals were saving lives and money and creating a solution to our healthcare situation.”

For more information on “Say Ahh,” visit https://www.sayahhthemovie.com. Also, join our Facebook and Twitter communities at https://www.facebook.com/sayahhthemovie and @garykadi.