Leading health charity, the Oral Health Foundation, has reiterated its call for the urgent introduction of a gender-neutral HPV vaccination in the UK in order to stop a rapid increase in mouth cancer cases.

Mouth cancer rates in the UK have risen by almost 300% within the last three decades and are predicted to rise by more than a third again before 2035.

The charity believes an increase in human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is responsible for the alarming rise and have branded the UK's current HPV vaccination program as inadequate, unfair and discriminatory against males and putting millions of lives at risk.

Dr. Nigel Carter, OBE, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation, said, "For far too long men have been excluded from being provided a simple and potentially lifesaving HPV vaccine, and this will undoubtedly contribute to the enormous increase in mouth cancer cases.

"Girls have been offered a HPV vaccination though schools to protect against cervical cancer for almost a decade now and it has saved countless lives; the debate around a gender-neutral vaccination has continued for almost this long with no conclusion.

"A decision on a gender-neutral vaccination has been repeatedly and unfairly delayed by the government; every year this wait goes on it means hundreds and thousands of boys miss out on receiving a potentially lifesaving vaccination and remain unprotected from the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world.

"Mouth cancer cases have rocketed to more than 7,500 cases each year in the UK over recent years and claims more than twice as many lives than testicular and cervical cancer combined, this cannot be allowed to continue.

"We urge everybody to join our call for an urgent decision on a gender-neutral HPV vaccination in the UK to be made, if we allow for the current programme to continue as it will continue to contribute to more and more cases of mouth cancer and more and more people losing their lives unnecessarily."

HPV is spread to the mouth via oral sex; HPV can also be responsible for causing cervical, vaginal, penile. and anal cancer. as well as genital warts.

It is estimated that it will cost about £20-24 million per year to extend the current UK HPV vaccination programme to include school age boys in the UK. In comparison, treatment of HPV-related genital warts in men alone in the UK is estimated to be more than £32m a year, there are potentially enormous savings to be made by the NHS through the introduction of a gender-neutral vaccine.

Peter Baker, HPV Action Campaign Director, said, "A decision to vaccinate boys as well as girls against HPV is now long overdue. Boys in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Israel and the United States are offered the vaccine and the Italian government has just decided to do the same. It's unacceptable that boys in the UK are being left behind and exposed to the virus that causes 5% of all cancers worldwide."

E-cigarettes are less toxic and safer to use compared to conventional cigarettes, according to research published in Annals of Internal Medicine this week. 

Cancer Research UK-funded scientists found that people who swapped smoking regular cigarettes for e-cigarettes or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for at least 6 months, had much lower levels of toxic and cancer causing substances in their body than people who continued to use conventional cigarettes.

For the first time, researchers analysed the saliva and urine of long-term e-cigarette and NRT users, as well as smokers, and compared body-level exposure to key chemicals.

Ex-smokers who switched to e-cigarettes or NRT had significantly lower levels of toxic chemicals and carcinogens in their body compared to people who continued to smoke tobacco cigarettes. But, those who used e-cigarettes or NRT while continuing to smoke, did not show the same marked differences, highlighting that a complete switch is needed to reduce exposure to toxins.

Dr Lion Shahab, senior lecturer in the department of epidemiology and public health at UCL, and lead author of the publication, said: “Our study adds to existing evidence showing that e-cigarettes and NRT are far safer than smoking, and suggests that there is a very low risk associated with their long-term use.

“We’ve shown that the levels of toxic chemicals in the body from e-cigarettes are considerably lower than suggested in previous studies using simulated experiments. This means some doubts about the safety of e-cigarettes may be wrong.

“Our results also suggest that while e-cigarettes are not only safer, the amount of nicotine they provide is not noticeably different to conventional cigarettes. This can help people to stop smoking altogether by dealing with their cravings in a safer way.”  

Alison Cox, Cancer Research UK’s director of cancer prevention, said: “Around a third of tobacco-caused deaths are due to cancer, so we want to see many more of the UK’s 10 million smokers break their addiction.”

“This study adds to growing evidence that e-cigarettes are a much safer alternative to tobacco, and suggests the long term effects of these products will be minimal.

“Understanding and communicating the benefits of nicotine replacements, such as e-cigarettes, is an important step towards reducing the number of tobacco-related deaths here in the UK.”

Whip Mix’s own, Royce Thompson, was awarded the Harry Hagman Inventor’s Award at the NADL’s Vision 21 annual meeting. Royce is a Design Engineer who has worked in the dental industry for 22 years, developing some of the most popular articulators and occlusion products in use by dental laboratories. He was chosen to receive the award for his development of Whip Mix’s popular Mark 300 Articulator System.

IonoStar Molar is a newly developed glass ionomer restorative with improved characteristics that include non-stick handling, adjustable material consistency and immediate packability to create better results for both the practitioner and the patient.  

IonoStar Molar can be condensed, modeled and shapedimmediately after insertion and cures within four minutes. Its adjustable consistency allows the practitioner flexibility to customize the feel (softer or firmer) they require while maintaining IonoStar Molar’s initial wettability for maximum marginal adaptability. 

Offering a high level of fluoride release, IonoStar Molar is available in VOCO’s new easy-to-use direct activation application capsule that fits virtually all branded glass ionomer applicators. Its combined enhancements offer a clinical solution that reduces practitioner headaches, reduces procedural time, increases overall quality care for the patient and allows for flexibility to meet various clinical demands and preferences.

Source: VOCO America www.vocoamerica.com

CERRITOS, Calif., Feb. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry (IALD) is excited to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Gum Disease Awareness Month this February. The grassroots movement of Gum Disease Awareness Month has developed into a global effort to educate the public about the overwhelming prevalence and consequences of gum disease, as well as treatment and prevention methods. To coincide with the anniversary, the IALD has launched FightGumDisease.com, a comprehensive resource for dental patients and professionals alike.

Since starting the movement in 2012, the IALD has been committed to spreading the word about this serious and often underestimated disease. Now recognized in 49 U.S. states, Gum Disease Awareness Month is an opportunity for dental professionals to emphasize the importance of successful treatment.  Despite Governor Jerry Brown's oration on commitment to health care, California is the only state that has not recognized this oral health initiative.

FightGumDisease.com highlights the gum disease epidemic, signs and symptoms, systemic connections to other health risks such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, pre-term birth and erectile dysfunction, plus treatment and prevention tips. Additionally, the website shares advice on how to get involved with Gum Disease Awareness Month through social media and support in local communities and organizations.

"When we launched Gum Disease Awareness Month in 2012, our goal was to spread the word about the severity of gum disease and the impact on your overall health," said Dawn M. Gregg, DDS, Training Director for the IALD. "Five years later, we are thrilled with what we have accomplished thus far, but know there is much more work to be done. With the launch of FightGumDisease.com, we continue our dedication to making successful gum disease treatment a reality for Americans and the world at large."

Source: prnewswire.com

Amsterdam, The Netherlands: A test that measures the levels of five chemicals in the breath has shown promising results for the detection of cancers of the esophagus and stomach in a large patient trial presented at the European Cancer Congress 2017.

Together, stomach and oesophageal cancer account for around 1.4 million new cancer diagnoses each year worldwide^. Both tend to be diagnosed late, because the symptoms are ambiguous, meaning the 5-year survival rate for these two types of cancer is only 15%. The new research, involving more than 300 patients, showed that the test could diagnose cancer with an overall accuracy of 85%.

Dr Sheraz Markar, an NIHR Clinical Trials Fellow from Imperial College London, under the supervision of Professor George Hanna, told the Congress: “At present the only way to diagnose esophageal cancer or stomach cancer is with endoscopy. This method is expensive, invasive and has some risk of complications.

“A breath test could be used as a non-invasive, first-line test to reduce the number of unnecessary endoscopies. In the longer term this could also mean earlier diagnosis and treatment, and better survival.”

The trial was based on the results of previous research that suggested differences in the levels of specific chemicals (butyric, pentanoic and hexanoic acids, butanal, and decanal) between patients with stomach or esophageal cancer and patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms without cancer. The new research aimed to test whether this ‘chemical signature’ that seemed to typify cancer could be the basis of a diagnostic test.

In the new study, the research team collected breath samples from 335 people at St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust; University College London Hospital; and the Royal Marsden Hospital, London. Of these, 163 had been diagnosed with stomach or esophageal cancer and 172 showed no evidence of cancer when they had an endoscopy. All the samples were analysed with a technique called selected ion flow-tube mass spectrometry, which is able to accurately measure small amounts of different chemicals in mixtures of gases such as breath.

Researchers measured the levels of the five chemicals in each sample to see which ones matched to the ‘chemical signature’ that indicated cancer.

The results showed that the test was 85% accurate overall, with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 81%. This means that not only was the breath test good at picking up those who had cancer (sensitivity), it was also good at correctly identifying who did not have cancer (specificity).

Markar said, “Because cancer cells are different to healthy ones, they produce a different mixture of chemicals. This study suggests that we may be able detect these differences and use a breath test to indicate which patients are likely to have cancer of the esophagus and stomach, and which do not. However, these findings must be validated in a larger sample of patients before the test could be used in the clinic.”

Over the next 3 years, the researchers will continue with a larger trial, using the test with patients who are being given an endoscopy for gastrointestinal symptoms but not yet diagnosed with cancer. This will assess the ability of the test to pick up cases within a group that is likely to contain only a small percentage of cancers.

The team is also working on breath tests for other types of cancer, such as colorectal and pancreatic, which could be used as first-line tests in general practice surgeries.

The Panthera Master Cup contest is now open for registration through February 28, 2017. Presented in collaboration with Ivoclar Vivadent and Inside Dental Technology, the contest is open to any dental technician, dentist, or denturist. Submissions will be reviewed by five juries using predetermined criteria to evaluate all work and choose the winners. There are no fees to register or participate.

On March 3, each contestant will be shipped an upper and lower model with bite registration. The upper model will be a five-implant case with a ReBourke Bar, and the lower arch will be a four-implant model with a wrap-around bar. Extra lab analogs will also be provided to complete the case; all other required material will have to be provided by contestants.

Participants will need to document each step of their work, which can be done using images, video, and written materials. Final documentation can be submitted in the contestant's choice of media, whether hard copy (print), digital copy (Word, spreadsheet documents), video, etc. Completed cases must be shipped to Panthera by May 31 at the latest; winners will be announced in September.

First place winner will receive a weekend trip to Quebec City and over $10,000 in cash and prizes, as well as an interview to be published in Inside Dental Technology. Second and third place winners will receive $1,750 and $750 in cash and prizes, respectively.

To register or get more information, visit https://www.pantheradental.com/mastercup/

TAUB Products announced a unique verification system for Kidz Seal™ America sealants. This system will allow sealant program monitors to quickly and accurately record and document placed sealants for community health centers and school-based programs.

Kidz Seal America is a pit-and-fissure sealant that can be used in either a dry or wet field. It is tooth-integrating, which does not allow microleakage and offers long-lasting retention. Kidz Seal is low-viscosity and self-adjusting so no additional occlusal adjusting is needed. 

“TAUB realizes how important good oral health is for young children,” says Ed Matthews, vice-president of sales at TAUB Products. “So our mission is to provide sealants for all children who are in need through our Kidz Seal America campaign."

Kidz Seal America comes in a package containing four 1.2-ml syringes and twenty tips and is available through authorized dental dealers nationwide. Kidz Seal will be featured in the TAUB booth #1911 at the 2017 Chicago Midwinter Meeting from February 23-25.

DentalMarketing.net completed its transition to a full-service dental marketing company with the announcement of the Sharp Edge Marketing brand.

"Sharp Edge Marketing improves healthcare providers' lives by providing them the security of knowing their active patient base is being proactively monitored and managed to maximize their unique strategic and financial goals," the company says in a release.

Sharp Edge Marketing specializes in direct mail, call tracking and scoring, staff training, and transparent reporting and analytics via its 24/7 dashboard. Sharp Edge Marketing announced the release of its new website, SharpEdgeMarketing.com, and the following services:

1. Value proposition research and analysis

2. Logo and graphic design services

3. Website development and hosting

4. Google Preferred Provider Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

5. Google Adwords management (PPC)

6. Reputation management

7. Multi-channel call tracking and scoring

8. Direct mail A/B market mailings

9. Integration with practice management software through Dental Intel®

10. Sharp Edge University lead conversion training

Continuing its efforts to help dental practices maximize their potential through effective and insightful marketing strategies, Sharp Edge Marketing announced its partnership with Dental Intel®, a provider of dental business intelligence software.

“Every dental practice needs a strategic patient acquisition plan that has built-in analytics and business intelligence. That plan should be actively managed by a dental marketing specialist to achieve the practice's unique goals,” says Brad Petersen, CEO. “The Sharp Edge Marketing brand reflects our commitment to helping our dental partners be on the cutting edge of an increasingly competitive market.  You can’t control the future of the dental industry, but you can proactively take control of your destiny.”

Sharp Edge Marketing invites dentists to visit SharpEdgeMarketing.com/PR to take advantage of a free marketing budget toolkit.