New findings from the University of Birmingham show that patients with chronic kidney disease patients and periodontitis (severe gum disease) have a higher mortality rate than those with chronic kidney disease alone.

The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, adds to the growing evidence for poor oral health being associated with other chronic diseases.

Data from 13,734 participants in the US-based Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) were analysed to show that individuals with both periodontitis and chronic kidney disease had an all-cause mortality rate of 41% at 10 years, compared to 32% for those with chronic kidney disease alone.

To put this into context, the increase in 10 year mortality associated with diabetes in patients with chronic kidney disease, independent of periodontitis, is from 32% in non-diabetics to 43% in diabetics.

Periodontitis is a chronic non-communicable disease, and in its most severe form is the sixth most prevalent human disease, affecting 11.2% of the world’s population.

Chronic non-communicable diseases, such as kidney disease, are increasingly prevalent, partly as a result of an aging population and an increase in sedentary lifestyles and refined diets. Their impact upon the global disease burden and healthcare economy is significant, and evidence suggests that 92% of older adults have at least one chronic disease.

Professor Iain Chapple, from the University of Birmingham, explained, “It’s important to note that oral health isn’t just about teeth. The mouth is the doorway to the body, rather than a separate organ, and is the access point for bacteria to enter the bloodstream via the gums. A lot of people with gum disease aren’t aware of it, perhaps they just have blood in their spit after brushing teeth, but this unchecked damage to gums then becomes a high risk area for the rest of the body.”

Mr Praveen Sharma, a co-author of the study, added, “We are just beginning to scratch the surface of the interplay between gum disease and other chronic diseases; whether that be kidney disease, diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Knowing the heightened risk that gum disease presents to patients who already have another chronic disease tells us that oral health has a significant role to play in improving patient outcomes.”

Following this paper, the team are now investigating the link between gum and kidney disease further, to identify if the association is causal, and if so, whether treating gum disease and maintaining oral health can improve the overall health of patients with kidney disease.

Professor Chapple said, “It may be that the diagnosis of gum disease can provide an opportunity early detection of other problems, whereby dental professionals could adopt a targeted, risk-based approach to screening for other chronic diseases.”

Philadelphia, PA (February 18, 2016) – Health spending in 2013 accounted for 17.4 percent of the Gross Domestic product (GDP) but by 2024, it is projected to make up 19.4 percent of GDP, according to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. That meaning $1.00 out of every $5.00 spent in the US will be on health care. As these numbers continue to rise, the competition amongst college-bound students is becoming even more aggressive.

Fortunately, board-certified oral and maxillofaical surgeons Dr. Robert Mogyoros, DMD and Dr. Mark Funt, DMD of Greater Philadelphia Oral Surgery are implementing a unique educational opportunity that will help junior high and high school students learn more about their options in the dental, medical, and healthcare field. The Academic Advantage program is designed to provide students with a clear roadmap outlining the requirements for medical school, including all academic, extracurricular, and professional prerequisites students must complete throughout their schooling. 

The program will educate participating students about the limitless potential of a dental, medical, or healthcare career, and help them gain a solid grasp of each step required along the path to pursuing a career in oral and maxillofacial surgery and other specialty areas of medicine. Students and their parents will have the rare opportunity to learn what is expected from them in their high school career, while also receiving guidance through the college search and application process.

“We’ve created a roadmap of different classes, electives, activities, and work experience requirements that will prepare students for success as they enter high school and plan for their future,” said Dr. Mogyoros. “By enlisting the support of partners in our community, we will help them in accomplishing any components of the process where they feel challenged, like finding counseling and financial resources.”

Drs. Mogyoros and Funt, Dr. Kevin Chin, General Dentist at Kevin Chin DDS PC, Katie Murt, Admissions Counselor at Penn State, and independent college educational counselor Byron Goldstein, will host a free 90-minute seminar that will detail everything participants need to know about the life of a medical professional, how to get into the top schools, and what they should be doing now to prepare for the future. Especially in the healthcare field, the initial high school years are crucial for planning higher education. Drs. Mogyoros and Funt will be giving thorough examples of their personal journeys into becoming oral and maxillofacial surgeons and what the career entails. Dr. Chin will discuss his journey through dental school and what being a general dentist is all about. Finally, Katie Murt and Byron Goldstein will inspire students to work hard in school, get the best grades and test scores, and follow a well-considered academic and extracurricular plan.

“Having the ability and opportunity to give back to the future surgeons, dentists, and doctors of our community is something that feels extremely rewarding and exciting,” said Dr. Funt.

Using the program, Drs. Mogyoros and Funt have set a goal to help students recognize that it takes far more than a solid grade point average to succeed in the medical field. They hope to teach students that a career in medicine requires an assortment of other activities, including volunteering, internships, and lab work. –

Students can RSVP online by visiting, www.greaterphiladelphiaoralsurgery.com/academicadvantage.

Newswise — LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In a study of patients entering the hospital for acute stroke, researchers have increased their understanding of an association between certain types of stroke and the presence of the oral bacteria (cnm-positive Streptococcus mutans). Robert P. Friedland, M.D., the Mason C. and Mary D. Rudd Endowed Chair and Professor in Neurology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, was a co-author of the study, published online this month in Scientific Reports, a journal of the Nature Publishing Group.

In the single hospital study, researchers at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center in Osaka, Japan, observed stroke patients to gain a better understanding of the relationship between hemorrhagic stroke and oral bacteria. Among the patients who experienced intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), 26 percent were found to have a specific bacterium in their saliva, cnm-positive S. mutans. Among patients with other types of stroke, only 6 percent tested positive for the bacterium.

Strokes are characterized as either ischemic strokes, which involve a blockage of one or more blood vessels supplying the brain, or hemorrhagic strokes, in which blood vessels in the brain rupture, causing bleeding.

The researchers also evaluated MRIs of study subjects for the presence of cerebral microbleeds (CMB), small brain hemorrhages which may cause dementia and also often underlie ICH. They found that the number of CMBs was significantly higher in subjects with cnm-positive S. mutans than in those without.

The authors hypothesize that the S. mutans bacteria may bind to blood vessels weakened by age and high blood pressure, causing arterial ruptures in the brain, leading to small or large hemorrhages.

“This study shows that oral health is important for brain health. People need to take care of their teeth because it is good for their brain and their heart as well as their teeth,” Friedland said. “The study and related work in our labs have shown that oral bacteria are involved in several kinds of stroke, including brain hemorrhages and strokes that lead to dementia.”

Multiple research studies have shown a close association between the presence of gum disease and heart disease, and a 2013 publication by Jan Potempa, Ph.D., D.Sc., of the UofL School of Dentistry, revealed how the bacterium responsible for gum disease worsens rheumatoid arthritis.

The cnm-negative S. mutans bacteria is found in approximately 10 percent of the general population, Friedland says, and is known to cause dental cavities (tooth decay). Friedland also is researching the role of oral bacteria in other diseases affecting the brain.

“We are investigating the role of oral and gut bacteria in the initiation of pathology in the neurodegenerative disorders Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s with collaborators in the United Kingdom and Japan.”

Newswise — Chicago, IL (February 17, 2016) — As part of the largest gathering of dental hygiene professionals in the U.S., the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) will launch a charitable fun run/walk entitled In Motion: 5K Run-Walk-Fun on Thursday, June 9 at 8:00 p.m. in downtown Pittsburgh. Set to take place during the 2016 Center for Lifelong Learning (CLL) at the 93rd Annual Session (AS), the race is designed to raise funds for ADHA’s foundation, the Institute for Oral Health (IOH), which is committed to empowering, supporting, and developing education and research opportunities for dental hygiene professionals.

“The Institute for Oral Health is thrilled to host its inaugural 5K to further our mission of service, research and scholarship,” said Kelli Swanson Jaecks, MA, RDH, Chair of the ADHA Institute of Oral Health. “This event will be the highlight of the annual session, and whether you run, walk or shuffle, I invite everybody to participate in what will be the first of many memorable 5Ks to come.”

Proceeds from the fun run/walk will help fund scholarships for dental hygiene students, provide research opportunities for those expanding the field of dental hygiene, and support dental hygienists who donate their services to improve access to oral health care and education in their communities.

Runners and walkers of all skill levels are invited to participate in the event as individuals or in teams. All participants will be treated to an “After Glow Party” immediately following the race. In addition, ADHA is hosting an In Motion: 5K Run-Walk-Fun Song Contest on social media from Feb. 22 through March 7. The song with the most votes by the end of the contest will be crowned the anthem of this year’s race.

“The In Motion: 5K Run-Walk-Fun is an exciting way to engage students, exhibitors, friends, alumni, states, corporate sponsors and districts, all running or walking together for a great cause,” said ADHA CEO Ann Battrell. “With more funds, IOH can increase its presence nationwide and continue to do great work in the field of oral health.”

For 5K registration information, please visithttps://www.crowdrise.com/ADHARunWalk2016. To join in the race excitement and stay updated, please follow the ADHA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, using the hashtag #IOH5K. You can also visit IOH’s Facebook pagehere.

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The dynamic, interactive and state-of-the-art DENTSPLY Implants World Summit Tour, a scientific congress on implant dentistry, is coming to Tokyo, San Diego, Nice and Shanghai during 2017.

Dedicated to enhanced quality of life for patients and a vision of a world where everyone eats, speaks and smiles with confidence, DENTSPLY Implants will tour the globe on the premise “Because inspiration and confidence matters” to inspire clinicians and researchers to come together to share scientific knowledge and clinical experience and to discover and the latest innovations in implant dentistry.

“Attending international scientific congresses is a must for today’s dental professionals in order to keep up with the latest scientific, clinical and digital development, especially in implant dentistry. And with a tour like this, you are able to attend a congress that is not just geographically close to where you live, but also tailor-made to your needs and the market that you work in,” says Professor Clark Stanford from University of Illinois at Chicago, and also a member of the International Scientific Committee for the DENTSPLY Implants World Summit Tour.

The World Summit Tour will welcome 1,200 dental professionals in each of the four cities of the tour. At each tour stop, dental professionals will experience an international yet intimate and familiar setting, with a congress program made up of scientific lectures from international and regional speakers, hands-on workshops on various solutions, a display of the comprehensive portfolio, and hospitality second-to-none.

International Scientific Committee

An international group of well-renowned experts will contribute to the scientific program for the World Summit Tour:

• Tomas Albrektsson—University of Gothenburg; Malmö University, Sweden

• Christoph Hämmerle—University of Zurich, Switzerland

• Ye Lin—Peking University, China

• Jan Lindhe—University of Gothenburg, Sweden

• Clark Stanford—University of Illinois at Chicago, USA

• Meike Stiesch—Hannover Medical School, Germany

• Tetsu Takahashi—Tohoku University, Japan

Follow the DENTSPLY Implants World Summit Tour 2017 at:

www.worldsummittour.com

#worldsummittour

February 12, 2016 (ST. PAUL, Minn.) – At its December 2015 board meeting, the Patterson Foundation elected to grant nearly $195,000 to nonprofit organizations in the oral health and animal health fields, raising its annual total giving to more than $980,000.

More than $365,000 of the donations made by the Foundation in 2015 were for scholarships awarded to dependents of Patterson Companies employees to pursue higher-ˇeducation degrees. The remaining donations were in the form of grants to nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing dental care to those in need and assistance dogs to individuals with disabilities.

Interfaith Dental Clinic in Nashville, Tenn., was awarded a $16,480 grant in December from the Foundation, and has received $85,000 from the Foundation since 2008. Interfaith’s mission is to restore, protect and improve the oral health of the uninsured and low-ˇincome residents of Middle Tennessee by providing access to affordable quality dental care, oral disease prevention services and oral health education. Since Interfaith’s founding in 1994, the dental clinic has grown from a part-ˇtime, two-ˇchair operation, to a comprehensive dental clinic with two state-ˇof-ˇthe-ˇart facilities, 36 team members and more than 300 clinical and community volunteers. Last fiscal year, the clinic provided more than 12,500 patient visits to the underserved.

Rhonda Switzer-ˇNadasdi, DMD, CEO, Interfaith Dental Clinic, said that the year-ˇover-ˇyear support of the Foundation has helped the clinic realize more long-ˇterm goals. “Consistent support gives Interfaith Dental Clinic the opportunity to implement strategies that can take longer than a year to come to fruition and that is a game-ˇchanger,” she said. Issues like improving access to care and building clinical team experience are examples that Switzer-ˇ Nadasdi cited as long-ˇterm projects that have benefited from continuous support from the Foundation and other organizations.

“One of our goals in 2016-ˇ2017 is to fully launch a new registered dental assistant training program operating within our two charity clinics,” Switzer-ˇNadasdi said. “The Patterson Foundation funding means we will have consistent senior-ˇlevel registered dental assistant staffing that will also mentor those bright young professionals in training. … With support we can count on to fund staffing, we can create a successful training program. The result will put us on a trajectory of a more sustainable future as the training program will not only enhance our potential workforce and volunteer pool, but will generate additional free training labor and tuition dollars to buy more care for those in need.”

Tennessee ranks 47th among states in oral health with limited access to care being the primary challenge. It is also one of six states that have no dental coverage for Medicaid enrollees who are 21 years or older. Michelle Mennicke, manager of the Patterson Foundation, said “Interfaith is truly making a difference in the lives of people in Tennessee who would otherwise go without dental care. The Foundation has been thrilled to watch Interfaith Dental Clinic’s growth over the years and we applaud the work of their dedicated volunteer dental professionals.”

For the complete list of grant recipients in 2015, visit pattersonfoundation.net/grant-recipients. For the complete list of 2015 scholarship recipients, visit pattersonfoundation.net/2015-scholarship-recipients.

New technology makes it possible to place dental implants with no incisions, minimal discomfort, and little disruption to the patient’s life. The latest in dental implant coatings, nanostructured titanium, is even stronger and heals even faster than implants using conventional coatings.

An article in the current issue of the Journal of Oral Implantology reports on the use of this nanostructured titanium and techniques that can shorten the treatment time for a patient. These implants should also decrease the risk of implant failure and disease complications.

When patients need a dental implant, they naturally want their new tooth quickly and with as little pain as possible. Both can be achieved with the latest advances in implant technology. Guided surgery allows an implant to be placed quickly without incisions, and new implant materials let the surgeon set a crown on the implant straight away.

This case report used the latest technology to even greater effect. In this case, the patient needed an implant to replace a missing front tooth. The surgeon successfully combined model-guided surgery with immediate placement of a nanostructured titanium implant, a final abutment, and the tooth.

The nanostructured titanium integrates with the bone faster, is stronger, and is less susceptible to disease than conventional implant materials. The model-guided surgery is highly accurate yet less expensive than computer-based techniques. By using a thin acupuncture needle, the surgeon was able to create the model without anesthetizing the patient. By keeping the original root structure, the surgeon was able to lessen the risk of gum recession.

The combination resulted in a successful implant, without the receding gums often visible when an implant patient smiles. The flapless surgery involved less pain compared to incision-based techniques. The faster process reduced disruption in the patient’s eating and other daily living habits, and discomfort was minimal.

The author concluded that these types of implants have great promise and that nanostructured titanium is particularly appropriate for immediate placement of the implant and tooth. The author noted: “the patient was pleased with the aesthetic result, the improvement in function, and the ease of maintenance.”

Source: Journal of Oral Implantology

A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Dentistry shows that prescription tray therapy had positive results for 66 patients with chronic periodontal disease. All patients included in the study had been in long-term maintenance therapy and had exhausted treatment options before being prescribed the customized Perio Tray® (Perio Protect, LLC) to deliver a gel with 1.7% hydrogen peroxide into periodontal pockets. Data were collected at tray delivery, at 6 months, at one year and at annual intervals up to 5 years. Significant reductions in gingival bleeding were demonstrated for smokers and non-smokers who used the tray delivery of peroxide once or twice a day for 10 minutes. The clinical and statistical reductions were observed at 6 months and maintained for the length of the study.

The lengthy duration of data collection and the patient population make this study particularly important for clinicians. According to the published report, all subjects in this investigation had prior long-term, comprehensive periodontal care, including surgical intervention and ongoing maintenance therapy every 2-4 months, and they were all failing to respond and at high risk for continual destruction of periodontal ligament and alveolar bone.

Lead author and treating periodontist Dr. R. Bruce Cochrane explains, “I did everything possible for these patients before the prescription trays. Most had had at least one surgical intervention and continued to bleed in over 50% of their pockets.” The substantial 60-85% reduction in bleeding gums for these patients after 6 months of prescription tray usage is significant. Also noteworthy is that only 1 tooth out of 1745 teeth was lost to periodontal disease during the period studied.

For dentists and hygienists who are weighing the benefits of prescription tray therapy, this research is especially helpful. The data reinforce clinical trial results and are statistically and clinically significant. Good clinical decisions have to take into account many considerations including patient expectations and preferences, financial concerns, and individual conditions and health histories. “It’s gratifying,” explains Cochrane, “to be able to help patients improve their health and happily return to my practice.”

Patients appreciate the prescription Perio Tray, describing it as comfortable, flexible, and easy to use. In one controlled clinical trial, all patients assigned to Perio Tray subject groups unanimously agreed that they would recommended the trays to others. Dr. Cochrane’s patients reported the tray usage was easy and credited the Perio Tray therapy to their healthier, brighter smiles.

The new study is available in abstract form at jclindent.com or in full length at Providers.PerioProtect.com/clinical-research. For more information about lead author Dr. Bruce Cochrane, see doctorcochrane.com. Perio Tray therapy is explained in detail on Providers.PerioProtect.com.   

MELVILLE, N.Y., Feb. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC), the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners, announced today its donation of more than$12,000 in oral health products to The Smiles for Life Foundation in support of three humanitarian visits to underserved communities in Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and Nepal.

As part of its agreement with The Smiles for Life Foundation, Henry Schein's donation of toothbrushes and other oral health supplies will be divided between the Foundation's three missions, which are scheduled for later this spring. At each mission site, volunteer oral health professionals will work with local dentists and hygienists to provide treatment—including cleanings, root canals, implants, and more—and oral hygiene education to the local population. Volunteers also provide ongoing training to the local practitioners to ensure that community members are able to access care on a continuing basis.

The Foundation is the children's charity arm of Crown Council, an international association of independent dental practices committed to promoting oral health, fighting oral cancer, and serving communities.

"Henry Schein Cares is helping entire societies build health care capacity so that the benefit of these missions lasts long after our work is done," said Steven J. Anderson, Co-founder of Crown Council and Trustee of The Smiles for Life Foundation. "These humanitarian efforts are uniquely designed to teach and train local dental providers while immediately benefitting those in need. The effort would not be possible without the partnership with Henry Schein Cares."

The donation is an initiative of Henry Schein Cares, the Company's global social responsibility program, and continues Henry Schein'snine-year partnership with The Smiles for Life Foundation. More than 1,000 volunteers from the U.S. and Canada have treated thousands of patients during 29 Foundation expeditions since 2007.

"Henry Schein is pleased to continue its support of The Smiles for Life Foundation in its mission to not only provide essential care to those in need, but to also equip local dentists with the knowledge and experience they need to sustain good oral health in their own communities," said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein, Inc. "This partnership is a prime example of our Company's commitment to working with like-minded organizations to 'help health happen' throughout the world."

3Shape Implant Studio featuring edentulous treatment receives FDA 510(k) market clearance

Copenhagen –3Shape announces that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted (510k) USA market clearance for the latest version of its Implant Studio® software, which features an edentulous patient treatment workflow.

3Shape Implant Studio software merges CT/ Cone Beam CT imaging with 3D digital surface scans of the teeth and gingival situation to provide a digital view of dental patients. This enables dental professionals to evaluate the clinical situation, including, bone density and nerve positions, for creating prosthetic implant planning and surgical guide design.

Implant Studio introduces a dedicated workflow for implant planning and surgical guide design for edentulous patients. Edentulous patients can now be treated by using only CBCT/CT scan data and through the application of a dual scan protocol. The latest version of the software also features more than 20 new functional improvements including, the ability to manual align scans, gingiva-supported surgical guides and an innovative two-piece guide design. In addition, surgical guides designed in Implant Studio™ are optimized for milling and/or 3D printing.

“3Shape is very excited to receive FDA (510k) market clearance once again for our Implant Studio software. Importantly, the newest version has now added an edentulous patient workflow. This is extremely valuable as people of all ages are choosing dental implants to meet their restorative needs. Implant Studio provides dental professionals with an easier-to-use and more efficient workflow for caring for their patients,” says Flemming Thorup, 3Shape president and CEO.

The dental implant market in the U.S. is projected to reach $5 billion by 2018, with 3 million Americans already having implants. That number is predicted to grow by 500,000 per year, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.

Implant Studio is available through 3Shape resellers. Availability to end-users will depend on the specific system configuration.

3Shape experts will be demonstrating Implant Studio including complete workflows using intraoral and CBCT scans at the 2016 Midwinter Meeting in Chicago, February 25-27.

For more information about Implant Studio, please visit https://www.3shape.com/en/new+products/implant+studio/cad+software

See Implant Studio training video series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCWnYzDhJOgOutlSxX_0rH1UneXU03XKO