OAK BROOK, Ill. (June 5, 2014) – A new survey from Delta Dental finds more reasons to celebrate the smile during National Smile Month this June. According to the survey of more than 1,000 Americans nationwide, a smile is the most important physical feature that contributes to a person’s attractiveness.¹ And, more than six of 10 Americans (64 percent) say a smile has some bearing on a person’s overall success.

Nearly one-half of Americans (47 percent) cited the smile as the most important physical feature, followed by eyes (27 percent) and physique (16 percent). Men and women agreed on the order, though women said they put more emphasis on a person’s eyes.

According to Jennifer Elliott, vice president of the Delta Dental Plans Association, Delta Dental sponsored its Oral Health and Well-Being Survey to shine a spotlight on the importance of oral health and its relation to overall well-being.

“Delta Dental is dedicated to improving oral health, so we asked Americans about a wide variety of topics, both serious and light, related to their oral health,” Elliott says. “One finding is that people who go to the dentist at least once a year are actually more likely to feel better about their lives.”

Americans Like Their Smiles

More than six of 10 Americans (64 percent) say they like their smile, and almost a third (31 percent) wouldn’t change a thing about it. Those who would change their smile most frequently cited cosmetic improvements such as whitening or straightening of teeth.

“The fact that most Americans like their smiles is a good sign, and Delta Dental is committed to providing access to great oral health care and education so Americans can continue to feel good about their own personal smiles.” Elliott says.

For more results from the Delta Dental Oral Health and Well-Being Survey, visit deltadental.com.

CHICAGO, June 6 – Today, Oral Health America (OHA) is pleased to announce its 13^th annual NSTEP® (National Spit Tobacco Program) slogan contest. Teaming up with Little League® Baseball and Softball, the contest calls on players ages 8-14 to create a compelling ten-word phrase describing the dangers of spit tobacco for a chance to win a trip to the Little League Baseball® World Series.

Fifty years have passed since the publication of the Surgeon General’s Smoking & Health report.  That report marked a major step forward towards reducing the adverse impact of tobacco use. Still each year, anywhere from 10 to 16 million Americans put their health at risk by using spit tobacco products and almost half (46%) of new users are under 18 when they first try it. 

Tobacco use is linked to cancers of the oral cavity, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, stomach and pancreas. Together, NSTEP and Little League educate families about the specific risks of spit tobacco use including oral cancer, gum disease and tooth decay.

“Little League always has and always will have the utmost concern for the health and well-being of all children,” said Stephen D. Keener, President and CEO of Little League Baseball and Softball. “This is why we are proud to assist in promoting Oral Health America’s NSTEP Slogan Contest to make sure all young children understand the risks associated with using smokeless tobacco.” The program seeks to continue to create conversations around the dangers of tobacco and help those who currently chew to quit.

“This contest provides an opportunity to remind Little League athletes about the dangers and contribute to the conversation about the danger of smoking tobacco and the growing array of smokeless products that can result in long-term nicotine dependence,” said Beth Truett, President and CEO of Oral Health America. “We are continually amazed and extremely proud of the creativity and passion these children bring in promoting a tobacco-free lifestyle amongst their peers.”

The participant with the most creative slogan will receive an all-expense paid trip to the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pa. and a $500 cash prize. Plus, Oral Health America will also make a $500 donation to the player’s Little League organization. For more information about the contest, please visit www.oralhealthamerica.org/programs/nstep.

Two hundred and eighty-eight cases of measles were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States between Jan. 1 and May 23, 2014. This is the largest number of measles cases in the United States reported in the first five months of a year since 1994.  Nearly all of the measles cases this year have been associated with international travel by unvaccinated people.

“The current increase in measles cases is being driven by unvaccinated people, primarily U.S. residents, who got measles in other countries, brought the virus back to the United States and spread to others in communities where many people are not vaccinated,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, assistant surgeon general and director of CDC’s National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases.  “Many of the clusters in the U.S. began following travel to the Philippines where a large outbreak has been occurring since October 2013.”

Of the 288 cases, 280 (97 percent) were associated with importations from at least 18 countries.  More than one in seven cases has led to hospitalization.  Ninety percent of all measles cases in the United States were in people who were not vaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.  Among the U.S. residents who were not vaccinated, 85 percent were religious, philosophical or personal reasons. 

The large number of measles cases this year stresses the importance of vaccination. Healthcare providers should use every patient encounter to ensure that all their patients are up to date on vaccinations; especially, before international travel.

More than ever health care providers need to be alert to the possibility of measles and be familiar with the signs and symptoms so they can detect cases early.

“Many U.S. health care providers have never seen or treated a patient with measles because of the nation’s robust vaccination efforts and our rapid response to outbreaks,” said Schuchat.

Patients who present with fever and rash along with cough, runny nose, or pink eye should be evaluated for measles; especially, if the patient is unvaccinated and recently traveled internationally or was exposed to someone else who has measles or recently traveled. If healthcare providers suspect a patient with measles, they should immediately isolate the patient to help prevent the disease from spreading, immediately report the case to their local health department and collect specimens for serology and viral testing.

Timely vaccination is the best way to prevent measles. Infants and young children are at high risk of getting a serious case of measles. CDC recommends two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine for everyone starting at age 12 months. For those travelling internationally, CDC recommends that all U.S. residents older than 6 months receive MMR vaccine, if needed, prior to departure.

Measles is a serious respiratory disease that is highly contagious. Anyone who is not protected against the disease is at risk, especially if they travel internationally. Measles is still common in many parts of the world, including countries in Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. Worldwide, an estimated 20 million people get measles and 122,000 die from the disease each year.  Measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000, meaning that there was no longer continuous measles transmission for more than 12 months.

For more information about the report, visit www.cdc.gov/mmwr.

For more information on measles, please visit:

Measles:

www.cdc.gov/measles 

Measles Cases and Outbreaks:

https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html

For Healthcare Professionals:

https://www.cdc.gov/measles/hcp/index.html 

For Travelers:

https://www.cdc.gov/measles/travelers.html

CHICAGO (June 30, 2014)– The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) held its first-ever consensus workshop on regenerative therapies for periodontal disease titled “Enhancing Periodontal Health Through Regenerative Approaches” on June 1-4, 2014, at the Gleacher Center in downtown Chicago. Fifty-two periodontal experts hailing from the United States, Brazil, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy conducted a systematic review of treatment techniques, culminating in the development of consensus reports and practical applications to aid practitioners in the clinical environment.

Workshop attendees evaluated the latest periodontal studies to determine how findings could be applied in practice settings. Participants also noted priorities for future research. Topics included tissue engineering and the regeneration of bone and gum lost as a result of advanced periodontal disease.

Proceedings from the workshop will be published in the Journal of Periodontology in early 2015 and will include interpretive conclusions and treatment recommendations derived from each systematic review. The reports will also feature evidence-based summaries for various clinical cases and implications for patient-reported outcomes. Practical applications reports will act as a guide for dental professionals as they assess treatment options for their patients. The practical applications reports will be published in Clinical Advances in Periodontics in early 2015.

The workshop was spearheaded by an AAP-designated organizing committee, co-chaired by William Giannobile, DDS, MS, DMSc, and Pamela McClain, DDS. The AAP Foundation, Colgate, the Osteology Foundation, and Geistlich provided support of the workshop’s programming.

The AAP regularly organizes consensus workshops on issues surrounding the science and practice of periodontics. Past sessions include the 2010 Workshop on Inflammation and a 2012 joint session with the European Federation of Periodontology on periodontal disease and systemic diseases.

Cape Town, South Africa – Friday at the 92nd General Session & Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), held in conjunction with the IADR Africa/Middle East Regional Meeting, Rena N. D’Souza, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA, presented a study titled “Multi-Domain Peptides as Bioactive Scaffolds for Dental Tissue Engineering.”

In recent years there has been increasing interest in developing novel bioactive materials that drive regeneration in diseased or injured oral tissues. Synthetic self-assembling multi-domain peptides (MDPs) have shown potential as dental tissue engineering scaffolds due to their unique handling properties and their tailorability to include bioactive sequences.

In this study, MDPs containing cell adhesive, enzyme cleavable and pro-angiogenic bioactive sequences were synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis. These peptides easily formed hydrogels by addition of polyvalent anions, such as phosphate. Physical properties of hydrogels have been characterized by rheology, demonstrating shear thinning and shear recovery. Cyto- and bio-compatibility assays using in vitro, ex vivo and in vivomodel systems have also been performed. Proteins and other bioactive factors can be easily incorporated into MDP hydrogels, allowing them to act as biodegradable delivery systems.

MDPs rapidly recover their viscoelastic properties after shearing, and can be injected into irregular defects. Populations of SHED cells seeded within MDP scaffolds expand and form complex cellular networks in culture. When placed in apposition to dental pulp, mandibular bone and periodontal ligament, in an ex vivo rat mandible slice, cell migration into the scaffold is seen over seven and 14 days. Dental pulp tissue, when exposed to injected MDP scaffolds ex vivo, maintains tissue architecture and vitality. Subcutaneous injection of bioactive MDP scaffolds results in cellular infiltration, neo-matrix formation and vascularization in a rat model.

The researchers found that self-assembling MDP scaffolds demonstrate promise for dental tissue engineering applications in in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo model systems.

This research was supported by U.S. NIH Grant 5R01DE021798 – 03.

This is a summary of abstract #789, “Multi-Domain Peptides as Bioactive Scaffolds for Dental Tissue Engineering,” to be presented by Rena N. D’Souza on Friday, June 27, 2014: 10:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. in Ballroom West of the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

CHICAGO, June 26, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Chicago Dental Society, a professional organization for dentists inCook, Lake and DuPage counties, is marking its 150^th anniversary with the placement of four, four-foot fiberglass molars in the Pioneer Court Plaza.

A total of 10 molars were created in 2013 to kick-off the Chicago Dental Society's sesquicentennial celebration. The public was invited to vote for their favorite tooth online at www.cds.org and at the 149^th Midwinter Meeting – the Chicago Dental Society's annual meeting - as only the top four fan favorites would be moved to Michigan Avenue this summer.

Those teeth currently on display were created by Colgate; Ultradent Products, Inc.; Hu-Friedy Mfg. Company; and Chicago dental practice Dentistry for Kids.

Also competing for spots on Michigan Avenue were teeth created by DentalTown; Freeman; Chicago-based Harry J. Bosworth Company; Chicago dentist JV Discipio, DDS, and Associates, Ltd.; Chicago dental practice Pediatric Dental Health Associates; and Shatkin F.I.R.S.T., Inc.

"For the past 150 years, the Chicago Dental Society has been at the forefront of oral health," said Crete dentist H. Todd Cubbon, a past president of the Chicago Dental Society who is leading its anniversary celebration. "Many Chicagoans are familiar with the statue of G.V. Black – one of the founders of modern dentistry – in Lincoln Park. But the Chicago Dental Society and its members have been active in several efforts to improve oral health over the past 150 years and hope to continue to do so for 150 more."

Among them, CDS Past President Gustav Solfronk stood with Mayor Richard J. Daley to turn the valve that released fluoride intoChicago's water on May 1, 1956. The addition of fluoride into drinking water is considered "one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20^th century" by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

The Chicago Dental Society's Midwinter Meeting remains one of the top dental meetings in the country and one of the top 20 conventions in Chicago. It is estimated to bring $43.5 million to the local economy annually.

The 150^th anniversary molars are on display: 

June 25 - Aug. 25.

Sponsored by:

• Colgate – This molar features colorful kids' drawings.

• Dentistry for Kids – This winking tooth is wearing a crown and surrounded by children's toys that are working to polish the tooth

• Hu-Friedy Mfg. Company — The mosaic pattern on this tooth's surface is made entirely by Hu-Friedy's professional dental products

• Ultradent Products, Inc. — The warm pinks and oranges on this tooth reflect the sunset in Arches National Park, in the company's home state of Utah

Dana Graves of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine is this year’s recipient of the International Association of Dental Research’s Distinguished Scientist Award in Basic Research in Periodontal Disease. The prize, supported by the Colgate-Palmolive Company, recognizes and encourages “outstanding achievements” in periodontal disease research.

Graves is a professor in the Department of Periodontics and vice dean for scholarship and research at Penn Dental Medicine. With more than 150 published papers in peer-reviewed, high-level journals, his research has focused on inflammation, wound repair, diabetes and their relationship to periodontal disease.

The International Association for Dental Research is a nonprofit organization with nearly 11,500 members dedicated to advancing knowledge to improve oral health, supporting oral health researchers and facilitating the communication and application of research findings. 

The Distinguished Scientist Awards are among the highest honors bestowed by the IADR. The prizes will be awarded at the 92nd IADR General Session & Exhibition in Cape Town, South Africa.

Cape Town, South Africa – Today, at the 92nd General Session & Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), held in conjunction with the IADR Africa/Middle East Regional Meeting, M. Kebschull, Columbia University, New York, N.Y., USA, will present a study titled “Gingival Tissue Transcriptomes Identify Phenotypically Distinct Classes of Periodontitis.”

Currently, the recognized principal forms of periodontitis, chronic (CP) and aggressive (AgP) lack an unequivocal, pathobiology-based foundation. In this study researchers explored whether gingival tissue transcriptomes can serve as the basis for an alternative classification of periodontitis. To do this, the researchers used whole-genome gene expression data from 241 gingival tissue biopsies obtained from sites with periodontal pathology, in 120 systemically healthy non-smokers with periodontitis, with available data on clinical periodontal status, subgingival microbial profiles and serum IgG antibodies to periodontal microbiota.

Adjusted model-based clustering of transcriptomic data using finite mixtures generated two distinct clusters of patients that did not align with the current classification of CP and AgP. Distinct expression profiles primarily related to cell proliferation in Cluster #1 and to lymphocyte activation and unfolded protein responses in Cluster #2. Patients in the two clusters did not differ with respect to age, but presented with distinct phenotypes (statistically significantly different whole-mouth clinical measures of extent and severity, subgingival microbial burden by several species, and selected serum antibody responses). Patients in Cluster #2 showed more extensive/severe disease, and were more often male.

These findings suggest that distinct gene expression signatures in pathological gingival tissues translate into phenotypic differences and can provide a basis for a novel classification.

This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., USA, grants DE-015649, DE-021820 and UL1-TR000040, and Colgate-Palmolive, N.J., USA.

This is a summary of abstract #169, “Gingival Tissue Transcriptomes Identify Phenotypically Distinct Classes of Periodontitis,” to be presented by M. Kebschull on Thursday, June 26, 2014, 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. in Ballroom East of the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Cape Town, South Africa – Today, at the 92nd General Session & Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), held in conjunction with the IADR Africa/Middle East Regional Meeting, M. P. Cullinan, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, will present a study titled “Triclosan Slows the Progression of Periodontal Disease in Cardiovascular Patients.”

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of triclosan toothpaste on the progression of periodontal disease in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a randomized controlled clinical trial. In this study, 438 patients with CVD and a minimum of 12 teeth (78% males and 22% females: mean age 61.1 +/- 8.5 years) were randomized to receive triclosan (n=223) or placebo (n=215) toothpaste. Six sites per tooth were examined annually for five years for probing pocket depth (PPD) and relative attachment level using the Florida Probe. Subgingival plaque was collected from interproximal sites, pooled and RT-PCR used to detect periodontal pathogens (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis). Data on numbers of sites showing PPD ≥4mm and loss of attachment (LOA) ≥2mm at each examination were analysed using transition modeling and Markov chain modeling of binary responses (<4/≥4 sites with PPD ≥4mm defining healthy/diseased states).

The researchers found that triclosan significantly reduced the number of proximal sites showing LOA ≥2mm between examinations by 21% on average (p<0.01). There was a smaller and only marginally significant (p=0.10) effect of triclosan in reducing the number of sites showing PPD ≥4mm, with this effect lessened for patients on anti-inflammatory medication. Triclosan also significantly increased the rate of regression from the diseased to the healthy state (p<0.05) but smoking negated this effect. There were no significant main effects of the periodontal pathogens and hypertension (p>0.10) on any of the responses.

This study shows that using triclosan toothpaste over five years slowed the progression of periodontal disease in this cardiovascular population and confirms the effect of triclosan shown in previous studies.

This research was supported by Colgate-Palmolive Company, Piscataway, N. J. USA

This is a summary of abstract #1057, “Triclosan Slows the Progression of Periodontal Disease in Cardiovascular Patients,” to be presented by M. P. Cullinan on Thursday, June 26, 2014, 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. in Ballroom East of the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Cape Town, South Africa – Today, at the 92nd General Session & Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), held in conjunction with the IADR Africa/Middle East Regional Meeting, N.A. Ismail, University College London Eastman Dental Institute, England, will present a study titled “Development of Novel Remineralising Antimicrobial Brushite Cements.”

The objective of this study was to optimize brushite cement properties and assess the effect of incorporation of a novel polymeric antimicrobial (PAM). Cement powders were mixed with aqueous solutions at a powder to liquid ratio (PLR) of 3.3:1 or 4:1 to produce cement pastes and start the setting reaction. The powder consisted of 1g of monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM) and 1.23g of β - tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). MCPM from two sources was employed (particles sizes of 53 and 65 micron). Additionally β-TCP particle size ranged from 4 to 34 micron. The liquid phase was prepared by dissolving PAM powder (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 wt%) in 800 mM aqueous citric acid. Biaxial Flexural strength was determined with a ball on ring jig and Instron frame. Setting kinetics and microstructure were examined using FTIR and SEM.

The viscosity of the brushite cements was advantageously lowered with MCPM of larger particle size. The largest particle size of β-TCP (34 micron) also gave cements of higher flexural strength (up to 30 MPa). Higher PLR increased strength by 5 – 7MPa. High levels of PAM could be added with only a minor reduction in the strength however setting time was delayed and less brushite formed. Adding PAM resulted in a more homogenous and less porous structure.

The researchers found that brushite cement strength can be raised by optimizing component particle size and raising powder content. High levels of PAM can be added without significant reduction in strength but the setting time is delayed and final brushite crystal microstructure altered.

This is a summary of abstract #206, “Development of Novel Remineralising Antimicrobial Brushite Cements,” to be presented by N.A. Ismail, Thursday, June 26, 2014: 10:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. in Ballroom West of the Cape Town International Convention Centre.