Postmenopausal women who are at high risk for broken bones may also be at increased risk for gum disease, a new study suggests.

The research included almost 200 women, aged 51 to 80. They had all gone through menopause within the last 10 years, didn't smoke and hadn't taken hormone replacement therapy, bone loss prevention drugs or diabetes medications for at least five years.

The women's gums were examined and their fracture risk was assessed on a Fracture Assessment Risk Tool (FRAX), which takes into account factors such as weight, height, previous fractures, arthritis, smoking and diabetes.

Many of those factors are also associated with gum disease, the researchers noted.

Women with high fracture risk scores also showed the strongest signs of gum disease, a finding that suggests that fracture risk could be a reliable indicator of gum disease, according to the study published recently in the journal Menopause.

"More investigations are needed, but the FRAX tool score can potentially be used as a way to find women at risk for gum disease," Leena Palomo, director of the periodontics program at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine in Ohio, said in a university news release.

Women can suffer rapid bone loss in the first decade after the start of menopause as their estrogen levels fall. Lower estrogen levels can also lead to changes in the body that result in gum disease.

Health insurance does not cover dental procedures, but there should be coverage for gum disease because it's linked to a woman's overall health, Palomo said.

RAY Company (“RAY”), formerly a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, has announced a new initiative to become an independent manufacturer of market-leading dental imaging technologies. RAY’s strategic decision to leave the Samsung Electronics venture fund provides the company the freedom to focus on the core passion of its founder, Dr. Sangchul Lee, in building a flexible, dynamic  developing innovative, disruptive dental imaging technologies. RAY’s singular focus on the dental market and significant investment by a top venture capital firm with ties in Silicon Valley will lead to substantial growth, particularly in the crucial U.S. market, which comprises 70% of all dental imaging sales.

RAY has just closed a round of funding from the Korean office of BlueRun Ventures, BRV Lotus, a firm with a proven record of investing in technology and medical sectors that are transforming industries. BRV Lotus has a history of driving businesses to long-term growth and with this investment has provided RAY with the capital to continue their quest to develop innovative dental imaging technologies that provide exceptional image quality, an improved clinical workflow, and superior patient care. 

“We have taken a significant investment in RAY because their technology and team have a proven ability to revolutionize the dental category,” said a partner with the Korean office of BlueRun Ventures Lotus.  “Their vast technical expertise, combined with the development and quality control experience gained from Samsung Electronics over the past few years has had a lasting effect on RAY’s ability to provide a new level of technological innovation, quality, and overall value to dentists around the world and, especially, the vital U.S. market.”

In the last year, RAY, in partnership with LED Dental (a subsidiary of LED Medical Diagnostics TSX-V: LMD), has proven their ability to penetrate the U.S. dental imaging space with the RAYSCAN Alpha Extraoral Imaging System, exceeding sales targets, reaching profitability and delivering year-over-year growth of 190% for 2014. RAY plans to create a US-based operation, with offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York to support the rapidly growing customer base.

RAY will be announcing their latest extraoral imaging system, the RAYSCAN Alpha Plus, at the International Dental Show in Cologne, Germany, March 10-14, 2015. Along with the launch at the Chicago Midwinter meeting of RAY’s new RIOSensor Digital Radiography System, an intraoral sensor with dedicated x-ray imaging software , this exciting new imaging platform will be another contribution to the company’s broad product platform.

In obtaining independence from Samsung Electronics, RAY will retain the intellectual property, research and development, upcoming product pipeline and the key employee talent that has driven the company to an emerging leader in the dental imaging space. As a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics over the past five years, RAY has adopted the culture of Samsung as it pertains to their exceptional manufacturing processes, precise engineering and quality control. All current RAY employees will be retained and continue in their current roles, including founder and current CEO, Dr. Sangchul Lee, a recognized expert in the field of iterative reconstruction technique in computed tomography. 

Dr. Lee concludes, “Ever since I was a PhD student, I have had a passion for leveraging technology in the dental space.  This exciting investment by BlueRun will enable the team at RAY to focus solely on how to deliver dental practitioners the best imaging technology for better patient care. Our goal will be to become the market leader in three years and this investment will get us there.”

Researchers find a 99% correlation between tests for hemoglobin A1c at dental visits using finger stick and oral blood 

It is estimated that 8.1 million of the 29.1 million Americans living with diabetes are undiagnosed and many who have diabetes have poor glycemic control. Given that each year many Americans visit a dental provider but not a primary care provider, dental visits may be an opportune site for diabetes screening and monitoring glucose control for many at-risk patients. 

Now, a new study published in the American Journal of Public Health, confirms that using gingival crevicular blood (GCB) for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) testing produced values that were nearly identical to those obtained using finger stick blood (FSB), with a correlation of .991 between the two blood samples of 408 dental patients. Testing HbA1c is promoted by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for diabetes diagnostic purposes and glycemic control monitoring.

“In light of findings from the study, the dental visit could be a useful opportunity to conduct diabetes screening among at-risk, undiagnosed patients – an important first step in identifying those who need further testing to determine their diabetes status,” said the study’s principal investigator, Dr. Shiela Strauss, associate professor of nursing and co-director of the Statistics and Data Management Core for NYU’s Colleges of Nursing and Dentistry. 

The study, “The Potential for Glycemic Control Monitoring and Screening for Diabetes at Dental Visits Using Oral Blood,” builds upon an earlier pilot study in which the feasibility and acceptability to patients and dental providers of using oral blood to screen for diabetes during a routine dental exam was demonstrated. 

While all persons at-risk for diabetes who were never told they had the condition can potentially benefit from additional opportunities for diabetes screening, Dr. Strauss and her team found that participants who were at least forty-five years old might especially reap great benefit from diabetes screening at dental visits. The researchers also noted that HbA1c testing at dental visits could serve as an additional opportunity to determine the extent of glycemic control among those already diagnosed.

“Our study has considerable public health significance because we identify the value and importance of capitalizing on an opportunity at the dental visit (a) to screen at-risk, but as yet undiagnosed patients for diabetes (especially those 45 years or older) and (b) to monitor glycemic control in those already diagnosed so as to enable them to maintain their health to the greatest extent possible,” said Dr. Strauss.

Study recruitment, participation, and data collection took place in the comprehensive care clinics at the New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD) from June 2013 to April 2014.

Co-investigators on the study include: Mary Rosedale, PhD, PMHNP-BC, NEA-BC, Assistant Professor NYUCN; Michael A. Pesce, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Pathology and Cell Biology, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center; David Rindskopf, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Educational Psychology at the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York; Navjot Kaur, BS, RN, NYUCN; Caroline M. Juterbock, BS, RN, NYU Langone Medical Center; Mark Wolff, DDS, PhD, Professor and Chair, Associate Dean for Pre-doctoral Clinical Education, Department of Cariology and Comprehensive Care, NYUCD; Dolores Malaspina, MD, MS, MSPH, NYU Langone Medical Center; Ann Danoff, MD, NYU Langone Medical Center.

A British study finds a correlation between the amount of fluoride in public drinking water and a rise in incidence of underactive thyroid.

While the study is only able to establish an association, not cause-and-effect, experts say the link deserves serious investigation.

"Clinicians in the United States should emphasize to patients this association and should test patients for underactive thyroid," said Dr. Spyros Mezitis, an endocrinologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

"Patients should probably be advised to drink less fluoridated water and consume less fluoridated products, including [fluoridated] toothpaste," added Mezitis, who was not involved in the study.

But a representative of the American Dental Association took issue with the British report.

"Public health policy is built on a strong base of scientific evidence, not a single study," said Dr. Edmond Hewlett, ADA spokesman and a professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry. "Currently, the best available scientific evidence indicates that optimally fluoridated water does not have an adverse effect on the thyroid gland or its function."

The new study was led by Stephen Peckham of the University of Kent in Canterbury, England. They compared 2012 national data on levels of fluoride in drinking water to trends for hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) as diagnosed by family physicians across England.

They found that in locales where tap water fluoride levels exceeded 0.3 milligrams per liter, the risk for having an underactive thyroid rose by 30 percent.

Peckhams's team also found that hypothyroidism rates were nearly double in urbanized regions that had fluoridated tap water, compared with regions that did not.

"Consideration needs to be given to reducing fluoride exposure," the researchers wrote. They believe that public efforts to strengthen dental health should move away from fluoridated water and instead "switch to topical fluoride-based and non-fluoride-based interventions."

Mezitis agreed that, while "fluoridation of the water supply is important for dental health, studies have also shown that iodine deficiency that may be caused by extra ingestion of fluoride is related to hypothyroidism."

He added that "drinking water is fluoridated in the United States, where hypothyroidism is a highly prevalent disorder -- affecting over 15 million individuals mainly female and greater than 40 years old."

Another thyroid expert agreed that attention should be directed at fluoride in the drinking supply.

"This dramatic increase in thyroid dysfunction associated with fluoridation of the water supply adds to previous studies indicating that fluoride has an inhibitory effect on the thyroid gland," said Dr. Terry Davies, a professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York City.

The study "supports the argument that our water supply should be pure water and nothing else," said Davies, who is also an endocrinologist at The Mount Sinai Hospital.

But the ADA's Hewlett countered that other studies have not uncovered a link between fluoridated water and thyroid problems.

"A far more rigorous systematic evaluation of human studies conducted by the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks at the request of the European Commission does not suggest a potential thyroid effect at realistic exposures to fluoride," he said. "Additionally, the 2006 Report by the U.S. National Research Council found no adverse effects on the thyroid even at levels more than four times greater than that used in fluoridation."

And fluoride in the water supply protects dental health, Hewlett added. "Even with the widespread availability of fluoride toothpaste, studies show that community water fluoridation prevents at least 25% of tooth decay in children and adults throughout the lifespan," he said.

The findings are published online Feb. 23 in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland near the base of the neck that produces hormones. Thyroid hormones control the rate of many body activities, including how fast calories are burned and how fast the heart beats. If the thyroid gland isn't active enough, it does not make enough thyroid hormone to meet the body's needs.

A new research project from the University of Copenhagen has established an effective model for the fight against the escalating burden of tooth decay among children in Asia. The model is an important tool in breaking the social inequity in oral health of children.

In developing countries, the number of children who suffer pain and discomfort in addition to missing out on school lessons is increasing. This project demonstrates that the school is a vital key to better oral health. The project also shows how it is possible to organize school oral health intervention, including health promotion and disease prevention for all, in a low-income country in Asia such as Thailand.

The research results are just published in the latest issue of the public health journal Community Dental Health.

Oral health in Asia

The research project -- based on the WHO Health Promoting Schools concept -- focused on increasing the awareness of the importance of oral health among children, families, and schoolteachers in order to develop a healthy school environment, a healthy diet, regular dental care habits in young children and the use of effective fluoridated toothpaste.

Tooth decay is surprisingly high among schoolchildren in Thailand and primarily related to poor living conditions, the high intake of sugars, weak traditions of oral hygiene, low exposure to fluoride for disease prevention, as well as poor availability and accessibility of preventive dental health services.

"It is of vital importance that we learn more about the most effective ways of resolving the health problems, and this project emphasizes the necessity of engaging the school as well as family and schoolteachers," says lead researcher Professor Poul Erik Petersen, from the School of Dentistry, Department for Global Oral Health and Community Dentistry at the University of Copenhagen. "The results of the school programme are impressive with a reduction of 41% in new lesions of tooth decay."

The study was based on a community trial conducted in the Songkla Province in Thailand and involved fifteen schools with a total of 3,706 pre-school students. The two-year study assessed the benefits of an enhanced oral health promotion programme, which included closely supervised tooth brushing with an effective toothpaste containing 1,450 ppm fluoride, compared to customary oral hygiene procedures.

Future school health programmes

The results will hopefully assist Ministries of Health, public health administrators and oral health planners in low and middle-income countries in the Asian region in designing evidence based school health programmes. The experience gained from the research project could also offer new insight into the global fight against poor oral health in children.

"Globally, very few school health programmes are evaluated scientifically. This research project has provided sound information and will thus contribute to the promotion of preventive measures in school oral health programmes," Poul Erik Petersen concludes.

Source: ScienceDaily

Attleboro, MA -- March 24th 2015 – Sterngold Dental, LLC, a world leader in dental products, launched the new SternSnap Overdenture Implant Abutment System that can be used to retain overdentures on most popular implants. It features a low profile that takes up only 2.5mm of height in the denture and has a long-lasting plastic retention cap that comes in three retention levels (1 lb, 2lb and 3 lb) and doesn’t require a metal housing, making it a simpler, more economical option. For more information, call 800-243-9942 or visit www.sterngold.com.

About Sterngold Dental LLC

Founded in 1897, Sterngold Dental, LLC is a world leader in dental products and specializes in alloys, attachments, implants, and restorative systems. Examples are the Stern ERA family of resilient dental attachments and the Natural Profile Abutment System for aesthetic restoration of osseointegrated implants.

Sterngold Dental, LLC is EN ISO 13485:2012+AC:2009 and ISO 13485:2003 (CMDCAS) certified and we also comply with the European Medical Device Directive (93/42/EEC), FDA Quality System Regulations and MHLW Ministerial Ordinance No. 169. All products and procedures are closely monitored under these quality systems. Sterngold Dental, LLC's Implant products have full approval to market in the United States, Sweden, and more than 20 other countries. For more information, visit www.sterngold.com.

Chicago, March 26, 2014 – Nearly 2,000 clinicians from 54 countries attended the 30th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Osseointegration (AO), from March 12-14 in San Francisco. With the theme of “Science, Collaboration and Clinical Excellence for 30 Years,” the event featured presentations from internationally renowned speakers offering their experience and expertise in dental implants and tissue engineering. The meeting also showcased a record-breaking amount of research and a sold-out Exhibit Hall.

“Every year I keep coming back because it’s eye opening every time,” said Dr. Luigi Massa, a general dentist from San Antonio. “Dental school gave us the basics, but AO has definitely opened the door to what is possible.”

During the meeting, AO honored the life and legacy of Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark during a special video.

Visit www.osseo.org to:

-Check out four editions of the AO Daily – the Academy’s official meeting report – to learn more about each day’s activities, including pictures and videos.

-View 350+ E-Posters featuring original research and clinical cases.

-Order conference proceedings on DVD-ROM.

-Claim continuing education credits for the meeting.

-Learn more about the benefits of AO membership, including a subscription to the International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants (JOMI). 

Save the date for the 2016 Annual Meeting, from February 18-20 in San Diego, titled “Globalization of Implant Dentistry: A World Collaboration.” 

Click here to access this press release in its entirety.

AO Elects New President 

Russell D. Nishimura, DDS, a prosthodontist and Professor Emeritus, UCLA School of Dentistry, was appointed 2015-2016 president of AO at the organization’s Annual Business Meeting. 

“The Academy of Osseointegration has always been committed to addressing and supporting the dynamic, rapidly advancing field of implant dentistry and the needs of its members,” said Dr. Nishimura. “I am ready to partner with my fellow Board Members to embrace fresh ideas while also carrying on our long-standing commitment to advancing oral health globally.”

About the Academy of Osseointegration

With 6,000 members in 70 countries around the world, the AO is recognized as the premier international association for professionals interested in implant dentistry. AO serves as a nexus where specialists and generalists can come together to evaluate emerging research, technology, and techniques; share best information; and coordinate optimal patient care using timely, evidence-based science and methods. Follow AO on Facebook and Twitter.

Malvern, PA -- March 25, 2015 – DentalEZ^®, a supplier of integrated products and services for dental health professionals worldwide, is pleased to introduce the new RAMVAC^® Amalgam HoG, a high efficiency filtration system designed to safely and effectively remove harmful waste in an environmentally responsible manner. Powered by Apavia^®, the Amalgam HoG employs advanced vacuum technology and has an industry-leading retention rate of 99.7%.

The Amalgam HoG provides dental practices and patients with economical and environmentally conscious water purification. The Amalgam HoG is equipped with an advanced cyclonic filtration system that efficiently and effectively separates and removes amalgam, mercury, alloy, and other unsafe contaminants from the waterline, protecting and extending the lifespan of the vacuum pump and virtually eliminating harmful waste into the environment.

The Amalgam HoG has a large tank capacity and is durably designed to safely and reliably service up to 10 water systems at one time. The large replacement canisters reduce the frequency of necessary change outs and are universally molded with industry-standard connections that fit all existing installed units. The simple design allows canisters to be removed and replaced without tools. Moreover, the Amalgam HoG has a clear exterior, providing users with visual fill level inspection and making replacement easily identifiable. All replacement canisters are environmentally safe and recyclable.

The Amalgam HoG provides ease of maintenance with no traps to deal with and, depending on the plumbing system, allows ambidextrous installation and replacement. The patented no-tool necessary housing allows for easy access to the filter for extremely simple replacements. Amalgam HoG filters come with a unique handle for lightweight and easy removal, a bag for proper disposal, and a double O-ring bottom canister exchange.

In addition, the Amalgam HoG complies with all existing and pending state regulations. The Amalgam HoG meets all proposed Environmental Protection Agency regulations and is compatible with all new standards, preparing users with early compliance. The Amalgam HoG is NSF certified ISO 11143:2008, and also complies with the American Dental Association’s Best Management Practices (BMPs) that protect the dentist, staff, and patient.

For more information about the Amalgam HoG, please visit www.dentalez.com.

About DentalEZ

DentalEZ is committed to advancing the practice of dentistry through fully integrated products and services. Encompassing five distinct product brands—StarDental^®, DentalEZ, RAMVAC, NevinLabs™, and Columbia Dentoform^®—DentalEZ manufactures everything in the operatory, from handpieces to chairs to vacuum systems to dental simulation models, creating a complete line of products to elevate the health, comfort, and efficiency of the dental operatory. For more information, please visit www.dentalez.com. 

Quebec City, Canada - January 5th, 2015 - Panthera Dental announced it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the Panthera Anti-Snoring Device. This device is a removable intraoral device used for treating snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. It consists of two custom fabricated splints that t separately over the upper and lower teeth and engage by means of adjustable rods.

The device functions as a mandibular repositioner, maintaining the lower jaw in a forward position during sleep. This mechanical protrusion acts to increase the patient’s pharyngeal space, improving their ability to exchange air during sleep.

The device is a prescription device customized for each patient and has an adjustment mechanism enabling the amount of mandibular advancement to be set by the dentist or physician at the time of tting the device. The device can be adjusted only by the dentist. The maximum protrusion of the device is 15 mm in 1-mm increments.

“We are very proud to announce the Panthera Anti-Snoring device to the US market” said Jerry Vogel, Executive VP USA of Panthera Dental. “This particular product is one of the smallest, most elective and patient-friendly devices in the market today. The potential and the impact of sleep challenges for the dental industry is enormous and will add signicant value to dental practices who can now impact so many patients and their families lives in a completely new way”.

About Panthera Dental

Headquartered in Quebec City, Canada, Panthera Dental is a world leader in CAD/CAM prosthetic implant solutions and dental sleep appliances. The rapid growth of the company is based on the values that arevery dear to us, namely highly attentive customer care, quality products, as well as innovation, and on its collaboration with many key opinion leaders in the dentistry eld. Both a pioneer and a leader, Panthera Dental has successfully combined creativity, science and know-how to develop its proprietary innovative technology and is now able to oer next-generation products to the dental industry worldwide.