New York, NY – December 23, 2014 – Over 600 dentists and hygienists from across the US gathered together to learn about the latest perspectives on evidence-based dentistry as part of Colgate^®’s first “Science to Cities” five-city educational lecture tour. 

With presentations spanning Boston, Atlanta, San Francisco, Houston and Chicago, dental professionals nationwide were offered access to informative lectures presented by an impressive lineup of key industry thought leaders, including John Comisi, DDS, MAGD; JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, PhD; Angelo Mariotti, DDS; and Ann Eshenaur Spolarich, RDH, PhD. 

“We were extremely pleased with the number of attendees and the interest in the lectures,” remarked Dr. Barbara Shearer, Director of Scientific Affairs for Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals. “Attendees in all cities were extremely engaged in the presentations which in turn created a truly interactive environment. The information was delivered by some of the most dynamic speakers in our profession today and they were all very effective in providing the most current, relevant information pertaining to evidence-based dentistry in a detailed yet interesting manner. We received extremely positive feedback and we hope to continue our efforts throughout even more cities in the near future.”

Entitled, “New Perspectives on Evidence-Based Dentistry,” the lectures offered timely, applicable, and educational information featuring new approaches to the practical application of evidence-based dentistry in clinical practice. Each lecture revealed the ongoing prevalence of the gum disease epidemic among the US population while helping dental professionals make informed evidence-based recommendations for patient home care. The fundamentals of systematic reviews were also discussed including how to interpret results and the role these reviews play in evidence-based dentistry. 

Moreover, new insights on implant maintenance and the role of triclosan with respect to inflammation were thoroughly examined as well as a review of the safety and efficacy of triclosan for use in Colgate Total^® toothpaste. 

For information about upcoming Colgate events, please visit colgateoralhealthnetwork.com.  

Dentin can be described as a biological composite with collagen matrix embedded with nanosized hydroxyapatite mineral crystallites. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cysteine cathepsins are families of endopeptidases. Enzymes of both families are present in dentin and collectively capable of degrading virtually all extracellular matrix components. A review published in the Journal of Dental Research describes these enzymes and their presence in dentin, mainly focusing on their role in dentin caries pathogenesis and loss of collagen in the adhesive hybrid layer under composite restorations. 

To access the study online, click here.

Both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate passed the “cromnibus” bill earlier this month, which was proposed by the Departments of Labor, Health & Human Service and Education and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 2015. The accompanying report included four areas that addressed oral health — items that are highlighted below.

Alternative Dental Health Providers — While the agreement continues to carry bill language that prohibits the use of funds for alternative dental health care provider demonstration projects, this language is not intended to prohibit or preclude a state’s ability to independently develop policies to increase patient access to dental care in underserved areas in order to address the unique needs and demands of that state.

Oral Health in the Emergency Room — The report addresses the number of unnecessary emergency room visits due to a lack of dental providers in rural communities, citing a significant need for oral health care and oral health education in these communities. The Office of Rural Health Policy is encouraged to support mobile dentistry programs led by properly licensed dental providers.

Division of Oral Health — The agreement supports the Department of Health (DOH) for needed enhancements to state oral health infrastructure grants, national surveillance activities and community prevention programs, and urges the DOH to support clinical and public health interventions that target pregnant women and young children at highest risk for dental caries. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is encouraged to work across the Department of Health and Human Services to improve the coordination of oral health surveillance in a manner that reliably measures and reports health outcomes.

Dental Caries — While dental caries have significantly decreased for most Americans over the past four decades, disparities remain among some population groups. The agreement encourages the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) to explore more opportunities related to dental caries research, and coordinate with CDC’s Division of Oral Health to identify research opportunities.

Source: American Dental Hygienists’ Association

Dec. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Older adults who have lost all their teeth have faster decreases in memory and walking ability than people who still have at least some of their teeth, a new study says.

The findings suggest that total tooth loss could provide an early warning of increased risk of physical and mental decline in older people, the British researchers said.

However, the findings don't prove that tooth loss causes the physical or mental decline.

The study included more than 3,100 participants 60 and older. People with no remaining teeth did about 10 percent worse on tests of memory and of walking speed than those with at least some teeth, the researchers found.

The link between complete tooth loss and mental and physical problems was strongest in people between 60 to 74 years old compared to those 75 and older, according to the study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

"Tooth loss could be used as an early marker of mental and physical decline in older age, particularly among 60- to 74-year-olds," lead author Georgios Tsakos, professor of epidemiology and public health at University College London, said in a college news release.

Tsakos noted that socioeconomic factors, such as education and income, may be the common links between tooth loss and poor physical and mental health.

"Regardless of what is behind the link between tooth loss and decline in function, recognizing excessive tooth loss presents an opportunity for early identification of adults at higher risk of faster mental and physical decline later in their life. There are many factors likely to influence this decline, such as lifestyle and psychosocial factors, which are amenable to change," Tsakos said.

As World Oral Health Day (WOHD) 2015 approaches, FDI World Dental Federation wants people to make a healthy New Year’s resolution and reduce their use of tobacco – or give it up completely - as part of the 2015 World Oral Health Day ‘Smile for life’ campaign.

There are many types of tobacco available worldwide, including manufactured cigarettes, roll-your own cigarettes, snuff and chewing tobacco, and all are addictive and detrimental to health. The use of tobacco can significantly increase the risk of many serious oral health problems, including:

• Oral cancer

• Gum disease

• Premature tooth loss

• Tooth discolouration

• Bad breath

• Reduced ability to taste and smell

Oral cancer is amongst the most prevalent cancers worldwide and incidence rates are higher in men than women[1]. The use of tobacco, including smokeless tobacco and excessive consumption of alcohol, are the key risk factors in oral cancer and together are estimated to account for 90% of oral cancers worldwide. This percentage could be significantly lowered through a reduction in the use of tobacco and alcohol intake[2].

Speaking about the severe risks of tobacco use, Dr Patrick Hescot, FDI President-Elect, said: “To help tackle the increased risk of oral cancer, tooth loss and antisocial effects such as bad breath, it's time to reduce or, ideally, give up tobacco use. Tobacco use in all forms is dangerous for health and oral health; what better reason could you have for giving up tobacco as a New Year’s resolution?”

The FDI would also like to encourage health professionals to participate in tobacco prevention activities. Dentists and their teams can help communicate important messages to patients about the threats posed by tobacco use and help them to identify the key risk factors and the early signs of oral cancer, as well as gum disease and other oral health problems, in their early stages. Patients may not always recognise early symptoms, so the FDI and its partners encourage people of all ages to schedule regular check-ups with their dentists.

Dr Tin Chun Wong, FDI President, said: “Prevention is key and most common oral diseases, including those linked to tobacco use, are largely preventable. Alongside personal effort, oral healthcare providers can play a role in promoting healthy lifestyles by incorporating tobacco cessation programmes into their practices. This January, it’s time to give up smoking and have something new to smile about.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Dental Education Association (ADEA)’s ADEAGies Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 William J. Gies Awards for Vision, Innovation and Achievement. The Gies Awards, named after dental education pioneer William J. Gies, Ph.D., debuted in 2008 and honor individuals and organizations that exemplify the highest standards in oral health and dental education, research and leadership.

For more than 10 years as the philanthropic arm of ADEA, the ADEAGies Foundation has enhanced the oral health of the public through programs that support the development of individuals and innovative practices in the dental professions. The Gies Awards will be presented on March 9, 2015, in conjunction with the 2015 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition in Boston, MA. The Procter & Gamble Company isthe premier sponsor of the awards.

The honorees were selected by a distinguished panel of judges consisting of the ADEAGies Foundation Board of Trustees. The 2015 Gies Award recipients are (in alphabetical order):

Carol A. Aschenbrener, M.D., Chief Medical Education Officer (2011–14), Association of American Medical Colleges

Gies Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Public or Private Partner

Walter C. Guralnick, D.M.D., Professor Emeritus of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Gies Award for Outstanding Innovation by a Dental Educator

The Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM®) Program, Drexel University College of Medicine

Gies Award for Outstanding Vision by a Public or Private Partner

Stuart M. Hirsch, D.D.S., Vice Dean for Development, New York University College of Dentistry

Gies Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Dental Educator

Peter J. Polverini, D.D.S., D.M.Sc., Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, University of Michigan School of Dentistry

Gies Award for Outstanding Vision by a Dental Educator

Eduardo D. Rodriguez, M.D., D.D.S., Chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery, Director of the Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Helen L. Kimmel Professor of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center

Gies Award for Outstanding Innovation by a Dental Educator

Jeanne Craig Sinkford, D.D.S., Ph.D., Senior Scholar in Residence, American Dental Education Association

Gies Award for Outstanding Vision by a Dental Educator

Tufts Dental Facilities Serving Individuals with Disabilities

Gies Award for Outstanding Achievement by an Academic Dental Institution

University of Manitoba Faculty of Dentistry

Gies Award for Outstanding Innovation by an Academic Dental Institution

“The Gies Awards are our chance to honor the women and men who have dedicated their careers to educating students, and to celebrate our partners working to create a new health care norm where oral health is inextricably linked to overall health,” says Richard W. Valachovic, D.M.D., M.P.H., President of the ADEAGies Foundation and President and CEO of ADEA. “The dental health professions are forever changed by the work and commitment of the 2015 award recipients, and we are so pleased to recognize them in Dr. Gies’ name.”

Tickets for the celebration can be purchased online at adea.org/2015 when registering for the 2015 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition. For information on table sponsorship, contact Trish Smith at tsmith@wearecoulter.com / 703-506-3272.

VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 15, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - According to a new report by iData Research, the growth in dental implant placements combined with an increasing prevalence of bone graft usage will drive rapid growth in the number of implants being placed with bone graft substitutes. The total U.S. market for dental bone graft substitutes (BGS) and other dental biomaterials is valued at nearly $341 million in 2014.

"The overall dental regenerative market is expected to display growth at a few percentage points higher relative to the dental implant market," explains Dr. Kamran Zamanian, CEO of iData. "This correlates with the fact that an increased portion of dental implant procedures are incorporating some sort of bone regenerative product, whether it is a growth factor or a bone graft substitute coupled with a barrier membrane."

Other key findings from the iData Research report entitled U.S. Dental Bone Grafts Substitutes – 2015:

Increased Number of General Practitioners: An increasing number of general practitioners is expected to perform more bone grafting and implantation procedures, thus further driving the market throughout the forecast period.

Majority Use Resorbable Membranes: Resorbable membranes are especially convenient for smaller bone grafting procedures such as socket preservation, which will increase in usage as the number of GPs who perform dental implant treatment continues to rise.

Technological Developments: The fear of disease transmission has prompted an array of technological innovations in the market for BGS and dental biomaterials. Companies are conducting experiments with different materials and new methods of tissue treatment.

Zimmer Dental has experienced increased revenue recently via sales of its more premium priced CopiOs® Pericardium Membrane and Puros® tissue matrices, both of which are manufactured by RTI Biologics and have boosted Zimmer's overall market share in the United States.

For Further Information:

This in-depth look at the dental bone grafts market is part of a new report published by iData entitled "U.S. Dental Bone Grafts Substitutes – 2015," which covers the U.S. dental bone grafts substitutes market as a whole, as well as the following market segments:

• Dental Bone Graft Substitute Markets

• Dental Growth Factor Markets

• Dental Barrier Membrane Markets

• Potential Autograft Markets

• Allograft Markets

• Mineralized Allograft Markets

• DBM Markets

• Xenograft Markets

• Synthetics Markets

• Emdogain™ Markets

• GEM 21S® Markets

• INFUSE® Markets

• Osteocel® Markets

The global series on the "Dental Bone Grafts Substitutes Markets" covers 25 countries including the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and 15 countries in Europe. The full reports provide a comprehensive analysis including units sold, procedure numbers, market value, forecasts, as well as detailed competitive market shares and analysis of major players' success strategies in each market and segment. Register online or email us at info(at)idataresearch(dot)net for a U.S. Dental Bone Grafts Substitutes – 2015 report brochure and synopsis. iData covers a wide range of other dental global markets. Each of the following categories covers 16 to 25 countries. Visit the iData Research Dental Category page for more details.

• Dental Implants

• Dental CAD / CAM

• Dental Prosthetics

• Dental Imaging

• Dental Lasers

• Dental Materials

• Dental Overtures

• Dental Equipment

• Dental Hygiene

• Dental Instruments

The ADA Center for Evidence-Based Dentistry is collaborating with NYU College of Dentistry to offer the ADA/NYUCD Advanced Evidence-Based Dentistry Workshop at NYUCD, February 9-13, 2015.

The ADA Center for Evidence-Based Dentistry has a two-fold vision: to disseminate the most current scientific evidence and to help dentists implement the current best evidence in practice. The Center has several ongoing programs to help dentists implement EBD.

This course will cover the primary aspects of evidence-based dental practice, including implementing best evidence in clinical practice and teaching and information on navigating the ADA EBD website.

This 5-day interactive program includes a pre-assignment and multiple hands-on activities and attendees will receive CE credits from the ADA. The American Dental Association designates this activity for 35 continuing education credits. Instructors include EBD experts Richard Niederman, D.M.D., M.A., Derek Richards, B.D.S., M.Sc., DDPH, FDS (DPH), Elliot Abt, D.D.S., M.S., M.Sc., and Analia Veitz-Keenan, D.D.S. Tuition is $2,500 and includes course materials and lunch. ADA members will receive a 20% discount

The course is open to both US-based and international individuals and is focused toward all dentists and members of the dental team, involved in practice-based research networks (PBRNs) and other professionals involved in dentistry.

Please register online through the American Dental Association. For more information, please contact dental.fsdc@nyu.edu.

The 2012 Tips From Former Smokers campaign spent only $480 per smoker who quit and $393 per year of life saved, according to an analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The results of the study were published today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

A commonly accepted threshold for cost-effectiveness of a public health intervention is $50,000 per year of life saved. When related to smoking, that cost-effectiveness figure may also include costs of counseling, medications and other expenses contributing to successful cessation. Even when those costs are added to the cost of the Tipscampaign, the total is still 15 times less than the $50,000 benchmark for cost-effectiveness.

“There is no question the Tips campaign is a ‘best buy’ for public health – it saves lives and saves money,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Smoking-related disease costs this nation more than $289 billion a year. The Tips campaign is one of the most cost-effective of all health interventions. This study shows how much the Tips campaign accomplished by being on the air for just 12 weeks. We would expect the benefits to be even greater if Tips was on the air all year.”

Tips From Former Smokers is the first federally funded national mass media anti-smoking campaign. It launched in 2012 with a campaign cost of roughly $48 million. The campaign was responsible for an estimated 100,000 smokers quitting permanently. The study also calculated the 2012 campaign will save about 179,000 healthy life-years at a cost of $268 per year of healthy life gained, and contributed to averting about 17,000 premature deaths at a cost of about $2,200 per premature death averted.

Hard-hitting mass media campaigns can effectively reduce cigarette use. The 2014 Surgeon General’s Report called for high-impact national media campaigns to air at high frequency and exposure levels year round for a decade or more, as part of a comprehensive strategy to bring down smoking rates to under 10 percent.

“This is further proof the Tips campaign is a smart, effective and efficient use of taxpayer dollars,” said Tim McAfee, M.D., M.P.H., Director of  CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, and one of the authors of the study.  “Our mission is to protect the public health, and the 2012 Tips ads did this by motivating 1.6 million smokers to make a quit attempt. In addition, our responsibility is to spend public dollars as wisely and efficiently as possible. This study shows Tips cleared this bar with ample room to spare.”

Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States, killing about 480,000 Americans each year. For every person who dies this year, there are over 30 Americans who continue to live with a smoking-related disease. Additional research from the CDC, also released today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, shows that annual health care spending in the U.S. attributable to cigarette smoking totals as much as $170 billion a year, and 60 percent of that cost is paid for by Americans through public programs such as Medicare or Medicaid. 

Surveys show about 70 percent of all smokers want to quit, and research shows quitting completely at any age has major and immediate health benefits. Smokers can get free help quitting by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW. There they can get free counseling and information about the seven smoking cessation medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Free help is also available at the website www.smokefree.gov.

For more information on the Tips From Former Smokers campaign, including profiles of the former smokers, other campaign resources and links to the ads, visit www.cdc.gov/tips.