The human body is home to a complex ecosystem of microbes increasingly recognized as having a critical role in both health and disease. Viruses can attack and change the composition of bacterial communities, yet little is known about how this might influence human health. In a study published online in Genome Research, scientists have performed the first metagenomic analysis of a bacterial immune system in humans over time, finding that the defenses of the oral microbiome are unique and traceable, information that could help personalize oral health care in the future.
With recent advances in sequencing technologies, researchers are now sampling the genetic diversity of entire microbial and viral communities at once, including those residing within us. Recent studies have investigated viral communities of the respiratory and digestive tracts, suggesting that viruses might influence the microbial ecosystem and health of the human host. Less is known about how viruses affect the oral microbiome, which could have significant implications for diseases of the oral cavity.
A strategy for monitoring the interaction between bacterial communities and viruses is to sequence specific bacterial DNA elements that confer acquired immunity against viral attack, called clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs). Bacteria integrate foreign DNA from encountered pathogens into "spacers" between the repeats, using the spacers to later recognize and respond to the attacker.
In this study, a team of scientists has for the first time analyzed the evolution of the CRISPR bacterial immune system over time in the human body, specifically investigating the oral microbiome. "We knew that bacteria developed specific resistance to viruses," said David Pride of the University of California, San Diego and lead author of the report, "but before this study, we had no idea of the extent to which certain oral bacteria in humans have utilized these resistance mechanisms against viruses."
Pride and colleagues obtained saliva samples from four healthy subjects over the course of 17 months, sequencing CRISPR elements from multiple streptococcal bacteria, the predominant oral community members in many people. The team's analysis of CRISPR repeat and spacer sequences revealed that although there is a set of CRISPRs maintained within each subject over time, ranging from 7% to 22%, there was a remarkable amount of change observed even in short periods.
"Each time we sampled our human subjects, approximately one-third of the immune repertoire in the bacterial community was new," Pride explained, "which suggests that the development of resistance to viruses is occurring at least on a daily basis, if not more frequently."
Pride added that because the bacterial immune repertoire was traceable within the individuals over time, they should be able to track the system within each person and also track bacteria passed between subjects.
"Because these immune features can be used to track bacteria and their respective viruses in humans," Pride said, "it may open to door to more personalized oral health care, where lineages of microbes are traced as a part of routine health care for individuals."
Scientists from the University of California, San Diego (La Jolla, CA), the University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA), the Stanford University School of Medicine
(Stanford, CA), and the University of California, San Francisco (San Francisco, CA) contributed to this study.
This work was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the UNCF-Merck Science Initiative, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and the National Institutes of Health Director's Pioneer Award.
About the article:
The manuscript will be published online ahead of print on December 13, 2010. Its full citation is as follows:
Pride DT, Sun CL, Salzman J, Rao N, Loomer P, Armitage GC, Banfield JF, Relman DA. Analysis of streptococcal CRISPRs from human saliva reveals substantial sequence diversity within and between subjects over time. Genome Res doi:10.1101/gr.111732.110.
среда, 18 мая 2011 г.
Tracing Microbes Between Individuals Towards Personalized Oral Health Care
The human body is home to a complex ecosystem of microbes increasingly recognized as having a critical role in both health and disease. Viruses can attack and change the composition of bacterial communities, yet little is known about how this might influence human health. In a study published online in Genome Research, scientists have performed the first metagenomic analysis of a bacterial immune system in humans over time, finding that the defenses of the oral microbiome are unique and traceable, information that could help personalize oral health care in the future.
With recent advances in sequencing technologies, researchers are now sampling the genetic diversity of entire microbial and viral communities at once, including those residing within us. Recent studies have investigated viral communities of the respiratory and digestive tracts, suggesting that viruses might influence the microbial ecosystem and health of the human host. Less is known about how viruses affect the oral microbiome, which could have significant implications for diseases of the oral cavity.
A strategy for monitoring the interaction between bacterial communities and viruses is to sequence specific bacterial DNA elements that confer acquired immunity against viral attack, called clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs). Bacteria integrate foreign DNA from encountered pathogens into "spacers" between the repeats, using the spacers to later recognize and respond to the attacker.
In this study, a team of scientists has for the first time analyzed the evolution of the CRISPR bacterial immune system over time in the human body, specifically investigating the oral microbiome. "We knew that bacteria developed specific resistance to viruses," said David Pride of the University of California, San Diego and lead author of the report, "but before this study, we had no idea of the extent to which certain oral bacteria in humans have utilized these resistance mechanisms against viruses."
Pride and colleagues obtained saliva samples from four healthy subjects over the course of 17 months, sequencing CRISPR elements from multiple streptococcal bacteria, the predominant oral community members in many people. The team's analysis of CRISPR repeat and spacer sequences revealed that although there is a set of CRISPRs maintained within each subject over time, ranging from 7% to 22%, there was a remarkable amount of change observed even in short periods.
"Each time we sampled our human subjects, approximately one-third of the immune repertoire in the bacterial community was new," Pride explained, "which suggests that the development of resistance to viruses is occurring at least on a daily basis, if not more frequently."
Pride added that because the bacterial immune repertoire was traceable within the individuals over time, they should be able to track the system within each person and also track bacteria passed between subjects.
"Because these immune features can be used to track bacteria and their respective viruses in humans," Pride said, "it may open to door to more personalized oral health care, where lineages of microbes are traced as a part of routine health care for individuals."
Scientists from the University of California, San Diego (La Jolla, CA), the University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA), the Stanford University School of Medicine
(Stanford, CA), and the University of California, San Francisco (San Francisco, CA) contributed to this study.
This work was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the UNCF-Merck Science Initiative, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and the National Institutes of Health Director's Pioneer Award.
About the article:
The manuscript will be published online ahead of print on December 13, 2010. Its full citation is as follows:
Pride DT, Sun CL, Salzman J, Rao N, Loomer P, Armitage GC, Banfield JF, Relman DA. Analysis of streptococcal CRISPRs from human saliva reveals substantial sequence diversity within and between subjects over time. Genome Res doi:10.1101/gr.111732.110.
With recent advances in sequencing technologies, researchers are now sampling the genetic diversity of entire microbial and viral communities at once, including those residing within us. Recent studies have investigated viral communities of the respiratory and digestive tracts, suggesting that viruses might influence the microbial ecosystem and health of the human host. Less is known about how viruses affect the oral microbiome, which could have significant implications for diseases of the oral cavity.
A strategy for monitoring the interaction between bacterial communities and viruses is to sequence specific bacterial DNA elements that confer acquired immunity against viral attack, called clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs). Bacteria integrate foreign DNA from encountered pathogens into "spacers" between the repeats, using the spacers to later recognize and respond to the attacker.
In this study, a team of scientists has for the first time analyzed the evolution of the CRISPR bacterial immune system over time in the human body, specifically investigating the oral microbiome. "We knew that bacteria developed specific resistance to viruses," said David Pride of the University of California, San Diego and lead author of the report, "but before this study, we had no idea of the extent to which certain oral bacteria in humans have utilized these resistance mechanisms against viruses."
Pride and colleagues obtained saliva samples from four healthy subjects over the course of 17 months, sequencing CRISPR elements from multiple streptococcal bacteria, the predominant oral community members in many people. The team's analysis of CRISPR repeat and spacer sequences revealed that although there is a set of CRISPRs maintained within each subject over time, ranging from 7% to 22%, there was a remarkable amount of change observed even in short periods.
"Each time we sampled our human subjects, approximately one-third of the immune repertoire in the bacterial community was new," Pride explained, "which suggests that the development of resistance to viruses is occurring at least on a daily basis, if not more frequently."
Pride added that because the bacterial immune repertoire was traceable within the individuals over time, they should be able to track the system within each person and also track bacteria passed between subjects.
"Because these immune features can be used to track bacteria and their respective viruses in humans," Pride said, "it may open to door to more personalized oral health care, where lineages of microbes are traced as a part of routine health care for individuals."
Scientists from the University of California, San Diego (La Jolla, CA), the University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA), the Stanford University School of Medicine
(Stanford, CA), and the University of California, San Francisco (San Francisco, CA) contributed to this study.
This work was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the UNCF-Merck Science Initiative, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and the National Institutes of Health Director's Pioneer Award.
About the article:
The manuscript will be published online ahead of print on December 13, 2010. Its full citation is as follows:
Pride DT, Sun CL, Salzman J, Rao N, Loomer P, Armitage GC, Banfield JF, Relman DA. Analysis of streptococcal CRISPRs from human saliva reveals substantial sequence diversity within and between subjects over time. Genome Res doi:10.1101/gr.111732.110.
Robert Kinloch Elected As New Chair Of Scottish Dental Practice Committee
Robert Kinloch has been elected as the new Chair of the Scottish Dental Practice Committee (SDPC) of the British Dental Association (BDA). Dr Kinloch, who practises at Alexandria, near Loch Lomond, was elected unopposed and takes up his responsibilities with immediate effect. He succeeds Colin Crawford, who resigned from the Committee to take up an appointment in the salaried dental service.
Dr Kinloch graduated from Glasgow Dental School in 1977. He has dedicated his whole career to general dental practice, working initially as an associate then establishing his own practice in 1981. He remains there to this day, providing predominantly NHS care.
He has a special interest in the role of information technology in dentistry, and has been an advocate of the extension of the N3 national broadband network to dental surgeries in Scotland, which it is hoped is a building block to full clinical systems. He has also provided dental care to the population of the upper reaches of the Amazon in Peru, as part of his work for the Vine Trust, a medical charity of which he is a board member.
He has extensive experience of representing the profession, both in Scotland and UK-wide. He is a current member of the BDA's Executive Board, Chair of the BDA's Scottish Council and Chair of the BDA's UK and Scottish Policy Health Groups. He was President of the West of Scotland branch from 2008 to 2009, and before that served as Branch Secretary for nine years.
Thanking his committee for his mandate, Dr Kinloch said:
"It is an honour to be elected to represent Scotland's high street dentists and I look forward to continuing the good work of SDPC. We have unresolved issues with changing decontamination requirements and plans to introduce lifelong patient registration. We are also pressing for the introduction of an oral health assessment and a revised Statement of Dental Remuneration. All of these issues must be tackled against a backdrop of uncertainty in public spending and a Scottish Government election in just over a year."
Dr Kinloch is married to Elizabeth and has two children. In his spare time he enjoys keeping fit and reading biographies.
Source
British Dental Association
Dr Kinloch graduated from Glasgow Dental School in 1977. He has dedicated his whole career to general dental practice, working initially as an associate then establishing his own practice in 1981. He remains there to this day, providing predominantly NHS care.
He has a special interest in the role of information technology in dentistry, and has been an advocate of the extension of the N3 national broadband network to dental surgeries in Scotland, which it is hoped is a building block to full clinical systems. He has also provided dental care to the population of the upper reaches of the Amazon in Peru, as part of his work for the Vine Trust, a medical charity of which he is a board member.
He has extensive experience of representing the profession, both in Scotland and UK-wide. He is a current member of the BDA's Executive Board, Chair of the BDA's Scottish Council and Chair of the BDA's UK and Scottish Policy Health Groups. He was President of the West of Scotland branch from 2008 to 2009, and before that served as Branch Secretary for nine years.
Thanking his committee for his mandate, Dr Kinloch said:
"It is an honour to be elected to represent Scotland's high street dentists and I look forward to continuing the good work of SDPC. We have unresolved issues with changing decontamination requirements and plans to introduce lifelong patient registration. We are also pressing for the introduction of an oral health assessment and a revised Statement of Dental Remuneration. All of these issues must be tackled against a backdrop of uncertainty in public spending and a Scottish Government election in just over a year."
Dr Kinloch is married to Elizabeth and has two children. In his spare time he enjoys keeping fit and reading biographies.
Source
British Dental Association
Robert Kinloch Elected As New Chair Of Scottish Dental Practice Committee
Robert Kinloch has been elected as the new Chair of the Scottish Dental Practice Committee (SDPC) of the British Dental Association (BDA). Dr Kinloch, who practises at Alexandria, near Loch Lomond, was elected unopposed and takes up his responsibilities with immediate effect. He succeeds Colin Crawford, who resigned from the Committee to take up an appointment in the salaried dental service.
Dr Kinloch graduated from Glasgow Dental School in 1977. He has dedicated his whole career to general dental practice, working initially as an associate then establishing his own practice in 1981. He remains there to this day, providing predominantly NHS care.
He has a special interest in the role of information technology in dentistry, and has been an advocate of the extension of the N3 national broadband network to dental surgeries in Scotland, which it is hoped is a building block to full clinical systems. He has also provided dental care to the population of the upper reaches of the Amazon in Peru, as part of his work for the Vine Trust, a medical charity of which he is a board member.
He has extensive experience of representing the profession, both in Scotland and UK-wide. He is a current member of the BDA's Executive Board, Chair of the BDA's Scottish Council and Chair of the BDA's UK and Scottish Policy Health Groups. He was President of the West of Scotland branch from 2008 to 2009, and before that served as Branch Secretary for nine years.
Thanking his committee for his mandate, Dr Kinloch said:
"It is an honour to be elected to represent Scotland's high street dentists and I look forward to continuing the good work of SDPC. We have unresolved issues with changing decontamination requirements and plans to introduce lifelong patient registration. We are also pressing for the introduction of an oral health assessment and a revised Statement of Dental Remuneration. All of these issues must be tackled against a backdrop of uncertainty in public spending and a Scottish Government election in just over a year."
Dr Kinloch is married to Elizabeth and has two children. In his spare time he enjoys keeping fit and reading biographies.
Source
British Dental Association
Dr Kinloch graduated from Glasgow Dental School in 1977. He has dedicated his whole career to general dental practice, working initially as an associate then establishing his own practice in 1981. He remains there to this day, providing predominantly NHS care.
He has a special interest in the role of information technology in dentistry, and has been an advocate of the extension of the N3 national broadband network to dental surgeries in Scotland, which it is hoped is a building block to full clinical systems. He has also provided dental care to the population of the upper reaches of the Amazon in Peru, as part of his work for the Vine Trust, a medical charity of which he is a board member.
He has extensive experience of representing the profession, both in Scotland and UK-wide. He is a current member of the BDA's Executive Board, Chair of the BDA's Scottish Council and Chair of the BDA's UK and Scottish Policy Health Groups. He was President of the West of Scotland branch from 2008 to 2009, and before that served as Branch Secretary for nine years.
Thanking his committee for his mandate, Dr Kinloch said:
"It is an honour to be elected to represent Scotland's high street dentists and I look forward to continuing the good work of SDPC. We have unresolved issues with changing decontamination requirements and plans to introduce lifelong patient registration. We are also pressing for the introduction of an oral health assessment and a revised Statement of Dental Remuneration. All of these issues must be tackled against a backdrop of uncertainty in public spending and a Scottish Government election in just over a year."
Dr Kinloch is married to Elizabeth and has two children. In his spare time he enjoys keeping fit and reading biographies.
Source
British Dental Association
Dental Scientists Convene In Dallas
Did you know that teledentistry can help provide orthodontic treatment to disadvantaged children? Did you know that saliva can provide diagnostic clues to your systemic health? Have you heard about the new "biological clock" that links tooth growth with other metabolic processes?
These are but a few of the thousands of pieces of information which will be presented when the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) holds its 37th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, April 2-5, 2008, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas.
This year, nearly 1,300 scientific presentations will be made, divided among plenary/oral/poster sessions and symposia/workshops. Estimates are that over 2,000 dental scientists, educators, students, and practicing dentists will convene, representing the latest thinking in dental research.
In addition to the individual presentations, there will be plenary sessions, symposia, and workshops during the four-day meeting, dealing with special-interest topics ranging from improving the oral health of the elderly to advances in local anesthesia. There will also be a "Late-breaking News" session on Saturday morning, featuring nearly 20 exciting presentations on new discoveries.
Featured during Meeting Week will be the AADR/Johnson & Johnson Oral Health Products Hatton Awards Competition for student investigators. The presentations, in poster format, will be judged by top-level scientists. In addition to receiving cash prizes and plaques, winners will compete in the IADR/Unilever Hatton Awards Competition in Toronto, ON, Canada, in July.
The Opening Ceremonies and Awards Program, on Wednesday, April 2, will provide an exciting kick-off for the week's activities. Many awards and fellowships, including the 2008 AADR Distinguished Scientist Award (green section), will be presented.
The Distinguished Lecture Series will feature presentations by three eminent scientists:
* "Nanotechnology for the Enhancement of Human Health", Jim Baker, Jr. [Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine & Biological Science (MNIMBS), Ann Arbor], 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 2
* "Engineering the Clinical Research Enterprise in a Multi-institutional and Multidisciplinary Environment", Milton Packer (University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas), 11:30 a.m., Thursday, April 3
* "Genetic Control of Heart Development and Disease", Eric Olson (University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas), 11:30 a.m., Friday, April 4
These lectures will occur in the Stemmons Ballroom of the Hilton Anatole Hotel.
* A Plenary Session, "Careers in Dental and Craniofacial Research: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - Mainly the Good!", will be held for students on Thursday, April 3, at 4 p.m.
* The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, one of the National Institutes of Health, is celebrating its 60th anniversary with daily workshops and symposia.
One of the unique opportunities offered to students is Lunch & Learning, where students may sign up to discuss, over an informal luncheon, topics of interest with senior researchers. This year, Lunch & Learning will be held on Thursday, April 3. Ten senior scientists from a wide variety of disciplines are volunteering their services for this event.
Returning for the fifth consecutive year are Keynote Speakers, who will be presenting "state-of-the-science" addresses in all of the Scientific Groups.
Also returning to the AADR meeting is a Job Opportunity Bulletin Service (JOBS), available to all registrants, located in the AADR Registration Area. Bulletin boards will be available to job recruiters to post job vacancies. There will also be a New Member Orientation Reception (Wednesday, April 3, 8:30 a.m.), where new members can learn about becoming more involved in the AADR and its specialty Groups and Committees.
For the 27th consecutive year, commercial exhibits will be featured at the Meeting. Meeting participants are encouraged to visit the booths of the following:
Confirmed Exhibitors (as of March 20, 2008)
Exhibitor (Commercial) -- Booth #
3M ESPE Dental Products -- Hospitality Center
BioHorizons -- 216
Bisco Dental Products -- 403
Brasseler USA -- 307
Case Dental & Medical Supply, Inc. -- 306
Colgate-Palmolive Company -- 200-202
Community Research -- 407
Crest Oral-B, P&G Professional Oral Health -- 100-102
Den-Mat Holdings, LLC -- 201
DENTSPLY International -- 303
Designs For Vision, Inc. -- 210
Esstech, Inc. & Specialty Glass, Inc. -- 410
GC America Inc. -- 302
GlaxoSmithKline -- 400
Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, INC. -- 301
Kerr Corporation -- 402
Kuraray America Inc. -- 408
Microbiology International -- 116
Mosby - Elsevier -- 314
Natural Dentist Inc. -- 508
Olympus Corporation -- 214
OMNI Preventive Care, A 3M ESPE Company -- Hospitality Center
Quintessence Publishing Co. Inc. -- 500
Scanco USA, Inc. -- 310
Septodont -- 401
Southern Dental Industries (SDI) -- 203
Sunstar Americas, Inc. -- 309
The Journal of Clinical Dentistry -- 506
Tokuyama America, Inc. -- 114
Ultradent Products, Inc. -- 206-208
Wiley-Blackwell -- 415
Zimmer Dental -- 300
Exhibitor (Educational)
Baylor College of Dentistry:
Texas A&M University Health Science Center -- 316
Forsyth Institute -- 215-217
Howard Hughes Medical Institute -- 308
Minnesota Craniofacial Research
Training (MinnCResT) Program -- 516
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research -- Island 106
NYU Global Public Health -- 311
Stanford University
(Stanford/NASA National Biocomputation Center -- 514
UCLA School of Dentistry -- 510
University of Alberta -- 414
University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry -- 399
University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine -- 502
University of Iowa College of Dentistry -- 411
University of Michigan School of Dentistry -- 406
University of Missouri-Kansas City -- 416
University of North Carolina -- 417
University of Tennessee College of Dentistry -- 315
University of Washington School of Dentistry -- 317
The Exhibition will be held, with the scientific posters, in Trinity Hall I of the Exhibit Hall at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. Exhibit hours will be from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 4. In addition to the scientific portion of the meeting, participants will have ample opportunity to sample the many social offerings available in Dallas and its environs. The 37th Annual Meeting promises to provide an exciting forum for scientific exchange that should be rewarding for all who attend.
These are but a few of the thousands of pieces of information which will be presented when the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) holds its 37th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, April 2-5, 2008, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas.
This year, nearly 1,300 scientific presentations will be made, divided among plenary/oral/poster sessions and symposia/workshops. Estimates are that over 2,000 dental scientists, educators, students, and practicing dentists will convene, representing the latest thinking in dental research.
In addition to the individual presentations, there will be plenary sessions, symposia, and workshops during the four-day meeting, dealing with special-interest topics ranging from improving the oral health of the elderly to advances in local anesthesia. There will also be a "Late-breaking News" session on Saturday morning, featuring nearly 20 exciting presentations on new discoveries.
Featured during Meeting Week will be the AADR/Johnson & Johnson Oral Health Products Hatton Awards Competition for student investigators. The presentations, in poster format, will be judged by top-level scientists. In addition to receiving cash prizes and plaques, winners will compete in the IADR/Unilever Hatton Awards Competition in Toronto, ON, Canada, in July.
The Opening Ceremonies and Awards Program, on Wednesday, April 2, will provide an exciting kick-off for the week's activities. Many awards and fellowships, including the 2008 AADR Distinguished Scientist Award (green section), will be presented.
The Distinguished Lecture Series will feature presentations by three eminent scientists:
* "Nanotechnology for the Enhancement of Human Health", Jim Baker, Jr. [Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine & Biological Science (MNIMBS), Ann Arbor], 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 2
* "Engineering the Clinical Research Enterprise in a Multi-institutional and Multidisciplinary Environment", Milton Packer (University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas), 11:30 a.m., Thursday, April 3
* "Genetic Control of Heart Development and Disease", Eric Olson (University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas), 11:30 a.m., Friday, April 4
These lectures will occur in the Stemmons Ballroom of the Hilton Anatole Hotel.
* A Plenary Session, "Careers in Dental and Craniofacial Research: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - Mainly the Good!", will be held for students on Thursday, April 3, at 4 p.m.
* The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, one of the National Institutes of Health, is celebrating its 60th anniversary with daily workshops and symposia.
One of the unique opportunities offered to students is Lunch & Learning, where students may sign up to discuss, over an informal luncheon, topics of interest with senior researchers. This year, Lunch & Learning will be held on Thursday, April 3. Ten senior scientists from a wide variety of disciplines are volunteering their services for this event.
Returning for the fifth consecutive year are Keynote Speakers, who will be presenting "state-of-the-science" addresses in all of the Scientific Groups.
Also returning to the AADR meeting is a Job Opportunity Bulletin Service (JOBS), available to all registrants, located in the AADR Registration Area. Bulletin boards will be available to job recruiters to post job vacancies. There will also be a New Member Orientation Reception (Wednesday, April 3, 8:30 a.m.), where new members can learn about becoming more involved in the AADR and its specialty Groups and Committees.
For the 27th consecutive year, commercial exhibits will be featured at the Meeting. Meeting participants are encouraged to visit the booths of the following:
Confirmed Exhibitors (as of March 20, 2008)
Exhibitor (Commercial) -- Booth #
3M ESPE Dental Products -- Hospitality Center
BioHorizons -- 216
Bisco Dental Products -- 403
Brasseler USA -- 307
Case Dental & Medical Supply, Inc. -- 306
Colgate-Palmolive Company -- 200-202
Community Research -- 407
Crest Oral-B, P&G Professional Oral Health -- 100-102
Den-Mat Holdings, LLC -- 201
DENTSPLY International -- 303
Designs For Vision, Inc. -- 210
Esstech, Inc. & Specialty Glass, Inc. -- 410
GC America Inc. -- 302
GlaxoSmithKline -- 400
Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, INC. -- 301
Kerr Corporation -- 402
Kuraray America Inc. -- 408
Microbiology International -- 116
Mosby - Elsevier -- 314
Natural Dentist Inc. -- 508
Olympus Corporation -- 214
OMNI Preventive Care, A 3M ESPE Company -- Hospitality Center
Quintessence Publishing Co. Inc. -- 500
Scanco USA, Inc. -- 310
Septodont -- 401
Southern Dental Industries (SDI) -- 203
Sunstar Americas, Inc. -- 309
The Journal of Clinical Dentistry -- 506
Tokuyama America, Inc. -- 114
Ultradent Products, Inc. -- 206-208
Wiley-Blackwell -- 415
Zimmer Dental -- 300
Exhibitor (Educational)
Baylor College of Dentistry:
Texas A&M University Health Science Center -- 316
Forsyth Institute -- 215-217
Howard Hughes Medical Institute -- 308
Minnesota Craniofacial Research
Training (MinnCResT) Program -- 516
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research -- Island 106
NYU Global Public Health -- 311
Stanford University
(Stanford/NASA National Biocomputation Center -- 514
UCLA School of Dentistry -- 510
University of Alberta -- 414
University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry -- 399
University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine -- 502
University of Iowa College of Dentistry -- 411
University of Michigan School of Dentistry -- 406
University of Missouri-Kansas City -- 416
University of North Carolina -- 417
University of Tennessee College of Dentistry -- 315
University of Washington School of Dentistry -- 317
The Exhibition will be held, with the scientific posters, in Trinity Hall I of the Exhibit Hall at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. Exhibit hours will be from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 4. In addition to the scientific portion of the meeting, participants will have ample opportunity to sample the many social offerings available in Dallas and its environs. The 37th Annual Meeting promises to provide an exciting forum for scientific exchange that should be rewarding for all who attend.
Dental Scientists Convene In Dallas
Did you know that teledentistry can help provide orthodontic treatment to disadvantaged children? Did you know that saliva can provide diagnostic clues to your systemic health? Have you heard about the new "biological clock" that links tooth growth with other metabolic processes?
These are but a few of the thousands of pieces of information which will be presented when the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) holds its 37th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, April 2-5, 2008, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas.
This year, nearly 1,300 scientific presentations will be made, divided among plenary/oral/poster sessions and symposia/workshops. Estimates are that over 2,000 dental scientists, educators, students, and practicing dentists will convene, representing the latest thinking in dental research.
In addition to the individual presentations, there will be plenary sessions, symposia, and workshops during the four-day meeting, dealing with special-interest topics ranging from improving the oral health of the elderly to advances in local anesthesia. There will also be a "Late-breaking News" session on Saturday morning, featuring nearly 20 exciting presentations on new discoveries.
Featured during Meeting Week will be the AADR/Johnson & Johnson Oral Health Products Hatton Awards Competition for student investigators. The presentations, in poster format, will be judged by top-level scientists. In addition to receiving cash prizes and plaques, winners will compete in the IADR/Unilever Hatton Awards Competition in Toronto, ON, Canada, in July.
The Opening Ceremonies and Awards Program, on Wednesday, April 2, will provide an exciting kick-off for the week's activities. Many awards and fellowships, including the 2008 AADR Distinguished Scientist Award (green section), will be presented.
The Distinguished Lecture Series will feature presentations by three eminent scientists:
* "Nanotechnology for the Enhancement of Human Health", Jim Baker, Jr. [Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine & Biological Science (MNIMBS), Ann Arbor], 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 2
* "Engineering the Clinical Research Enterprise in a Multi-institutional and Multidisciplinary Environment", Milton Packer (University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas), 11:30 a.m., Thursday, April 3
* "Genetic Control of Heart Development and Disease", Eric Olson (University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas), 11:30 a.m., Friday, April 4
These lectures will occur in the Stemmons Ballroom of the Hilton Anatole Hotel.
* A Plenary Session, "Careers in Dental and Craniofacial Research: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - Mainly the Good!", will be held for students on Thursday, April 3, at 4 p.m.
* The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, one of the National Institutes of Health, is celebrating its 60th anniversary with daily workshops and symposia.
One of the unique opportunities offered to students is Lunch & Learning, where students may sign up to discuss, over an informal luncheon, topics of interest with senior researchers. This year, Lunch & Learning will be held on Thursday, April 3. Ten senior scientists from a wide variety of disciplines are volunteering their services for this event.
Returning for the fifth consecutive year are Keynote Speakers, who will be presenting "state-of-the-science" addresses in all of the Scientific Groups.
Also returning to the AADR meeting is a Job Opportunity Bulletin Service (JOBS), available to all registrants, located in the AADR Registration Area. Bulletin boards will be available to job recruiters to post job vacancies. There will also be a New Member Orientation Reception (Wednesday, April 3, 8:30 a.m.), where new members can learn about becoming more involved in the AADR and its specialty Groups and Committees.
For the 27th consecutive year, commercial exhibits will be featured at the Meeting. Meeting participants are encouraged to visit the booths of the following:
Confirmed Exhibitors (as of March 20, 2008)
Exhibitor (Commercial) -- Booth #
3M ESPE Dental Products -- Hospitality Center
BioHorizons -- 216
Bisco Dental Products -- 403
Brasseler USA -- 307
Case Dental & Medical Supply, Inc. -- 306
Colgate-Palmolive Company -- 200-202
Community Research -- 407
Crest Oral-B, P&G Professional Oral Health -- 100-102
Den-Mat Holdings, LLC -- 201
DENTSPLY International -- 303
Designs For Vision, Inc. -- 210
Esstech, Inc. & Specialty Glass, Inc. -- 410
GC America Inc. -- 302
GlaxoSmithKline -- 400
Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, INC. -- 301
Kerr Corporation -- 402
Kuraray America Inc. -- 408
Microbiology International -- 116
Mosby - Elsevier -- 314
Natural Dentist Inc. -- 508
Olympus Corporation -- 214
OMNI Preventive Care, A 3M ESPE Company -- Hospitality Center
Quintessence Publishing Co. Inc. -- 500
Scanco USA, Inc. -- 310
Septodont -- 401
Southern Dental Industries (SDI) -- 203
Sunstar Americas, Inc. -- 309
The Journal of Clinical Dentistry -- 506
Tokuyama America, Inc. -- 114
Ultradent Products, Inc. -- 206-208
Wiley-Blackwell -- 415
Zimmer Dental -- 300
Exhibitor (Educational)
Baylor College of Dentistry:
Texas A&M University Health Science Center -- 316
Forsyth Institute -- 215-217
Howard Hughes Medical Institute -- 308
Minnesota Craniofacial Research
Training (MinnCResT) Program -- 516
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research -- Island 106
NYU Global Public Health -- 311
Stanford University
(Stanford/NASA National Biocomputation Center -- 514
UCLA School of Dentistry -- 510
University of Alberta -- 414
University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry -- 399
University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine -- 502
University of Iowa College of Dentistry -- 411
University of Michigan School of Dentistry -- 406
University of Missouri-Kansas City -- 416
University of North Carolina -- 417
University of Tennessee College of Dentistry -- 315
University of Washington School of Dentistry -- 317
The Exhibition will be held, with the scientific posters, in Trinity Hall I of the Exhibit Hall at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. Exhibit hours will be from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 4. In addition to the scientific portion of the meeting, participants will have ample opportunity to sample the many social offerings available in Dallas and its environs. The 37th Annual Meeting promises to provide an exciting forum for scientific exchange that should be rewarding for all who attend.
These are but a few of the thousands of pieces of information which will be presented when the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) holds its 37th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, April 2-5, 2008, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas.
This year, nearly 1,300 scientific presentations will be made, divided among plenary/oral/poster sessions and symposia/workshops. Estimates are that over 2,000 dental scientists, educators, students, and practicing dentists will convene, representing the latest thinking in dental research.
In addition to the individual presentations, there will be plenary sessions, symposia, and workshops during the four-day meeting, dealing with special-interest topics ranging from improving the oral health of the elderly to advances in local anesthesia. There will also be a "Late-breaking News" session on Saturday morning, featuring nearly 20 exciting presentations on new discoveries.
Featured during Meeting Week will be the AADR/Johnson & Johnson Oral Health Products Hatton Awards Competition for student investigators. The presentations, in poster format, will be judged by top-level scientists. In addition to receiving cash prizes and plaques, winners will compete in the IADR/Unilever Hatton Awards Competition in Toronto, ON, Canada, in July.
The Opening Ceremonies and Awards Program, on Wednesday, April 2, will provide an exciting kick-off for the week's activities. Many awards and fellowships, including the 2008 AADR Distinguished Scientist Award (green section), will be presented.
The Distinguished Lecture Series will feature presentations by three eminent scientists:
* "Nanotechnology for the Enhancement of Human Health", Jim Baker, Jr. [Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine & Biological Science (MNIMBS), Ann Arbor], 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 2
* "Engineering the Clinical Research Enterprise in a Multi-institutional and Multidisciplinary Environment", Milton Packer (University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas), 11:30 a.m., Thursday, April 3
* "Genetic Control of Heart Development and Disease", Eric Olson (University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas), 11:30 a.m., Friday, April 4
These lectures will occur in the Stemmons Ballroom of the Hilton Anatole Hotel.
* A Plenary Session, "Careers in Dental and Craniofacial Research: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - Mainly the Good!", will be held for students on Thursday, April 3, at 4 p.m.
* The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, one of the National Institutes of Health, is celebrating its 60th anniversary with daily workshops and symposia.
One of the unique opportunities offered to students is Lunch & Learning, where students may sign up to discuss, over an informal luncheon, topics of interest with senior researchers. This year, Lunch & Learning will be held on Thursday, April 3. Ten senior scientists from a wide variety of disciplines are volunteering their services for this event.
Returning for the fifth consecutive year are Keynote Speakers, who will be presenting "state-of-the-science" addresses in all of the Scientific Groups.
Also returning to the AADR meeting is a Job Opportunity Bulletin Service (JOBS), available to all registrants, located in the AADR Registration Area. Bulletin boards will be available to job recruiters to post job vacancies. There will also be a New Member Orientation Reception (Wednesday, April 3, 8:30 a.m.), where new members can learn about becoming more involved in the AADR and its specialty Groups and Committees.
For the 27th consecutive year, commercial exhibits will be featured at the Meeting. Meeting participants are encouraged to visit the booths of the following:
Confirmed Exhibitors (as of March 20, 2008)
Exhibitor (Commercial) -- Booth #
3M ESPE Dental Products -- Hospitality Center
BioHorizons -- 216
Bisco Dental Products -- 403
Brasseler USA -- 307
Case Dental & Medical Supply, Inc. -- 306
Colgate-Palmolive Company -- 200-202
Community Research -- 407
Crest Oral-B, P&G Professional Oral Health -- 100-102
Den-Mat Holdings, LLC -- 201
DENTSPLY International -- 303
Designs For Vision, Inc. -- 210
Esstech, Inc. & Specialty Glass, Inc. -- 410
GC America Inc. -- 302
GlaxoSmithKline -- 400
Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, INC. -- 301
Kerr Corporation -- 402
Kuraray America Inc. -- 408
Microbiology International -- 116
Mosby - Elsevier -- 314
Natural Dentist Inc. -- 508
Olympus Corporation -- 214
OMNI Preventive Care, A 3M ESPE Company -- Hospitality Center
Quintessence Publishing Co. Inc. -- 500
Scanco USA, Inc. -- 310
Septodont -- 401
Southern Dental Industries (SDI) -- 203
Sunstar Americas, Inc. -- 309
The Journal of Clinical Dentistry -- 506
Tokuyama America, Inc. -- 114
Ultradent Products, Inc. -- 206-208
Wiley-Blackwell -- 415
Zimmer Dental -- 300
Exhibitor (Educational)
Baylor College of Dentistry:
Texas A&M University Health Science Center -- 316
Forsyth Institute -- 215-217
Howard Hughes Medical Institute -- 308
Minnesota Craniofacial Research
Training (MinnCResT) Program -- 516
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research -- Island 106
NYU Global Public Health -- 311
Stanford University
(Stanford/NASA National Biocomputation Center -- 514
UCLA School of Dentistry -- 510
University of Alberta -- 414
University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry -- 399
University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine -- 502
University of Iowa College of Dentistry -- 411
University of Michigan School of Dentistry -- 406
University of Missouri-Kansas City -- 416
University of North Carolina -- 417
University of Tennessee College of Dentistry -- 315
University of Washington School of Dentistry -- 317
The Exhibition will be held, with the scientific posters, in Trinity Hall I of the Exhibit Hall at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. Exhibit hours will be from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 4. In addition to the scientific portion of the meeting, participants will have ample opportunity to sample the many social offerings available in Dallas and its environs. The 37th Annual Meeting promises to provide an exciting forum for scientific exchange that should be rewarding for all who attend.
No Registration - No Excuses - No Job - General Dental Council, UK
"It's that simple," said GDC President Hew Mathewson, speaking at the GDC Council meeting this week in Cardiff. He continued: "If you're a dental technician wondering about whether to register or not, the message from the GDC is loud and clear - register now or find a new career. If you pass up the chance to register during transition, it will be too late. There's no opting out. If someone advises you not to register, why not ask them if they'll pay your fine, or subsidise your lab when the work stops in August?"
GDC Chief Executive Duncan Rudkin explained: "From August next year, if you're not registered and you call yourself a dental technician, we will prosecute you in court. If you call yourself something else but imply that you are a dental technician, we will prosecute you in court. And if you are a GDC registrant sending lab work to unregistered technicians or employing them as such, you'll face fitness to practise proceedings and put your own registration at risk."
The Council has issued this sharp warning to dental technicians as the legal deadline for registration approaches. Continuing to work unregistered after the July 2008 deadline is not a viable option.
All dental technicians and dental nurses must be registered with the GDC by 30 July 2008. More information about registration, including application forms, is available from the GDC website at gdc-uk. You can also request an application form by contacting our Registration Department on GDCregistrationgdc-uk.
After 30 July 2008, a dental technician who has an old qualification (one not recognised after 30 July 2008), or who has no qualification and plans to register on the basis of experience, will permanently lose the opportunity to register as a dental technician, unless they are able and willing to qualify from scratch.
Dental technicians need to pay a first registration fee and nothing more until July 2009 when the first annual retention fee is due. The current registration fee of ??72 is guaranteed until the end of 2007. From 1 January 2008 the fee will be ??96.
Students enrolled on a GDC-approved training programme will be able to work without being registered with the GDC until they have finished their studies. The GDC is developing more detailed guidance on how this will work, but student status is not a viable alternative to registration for someone who is already a dental technician.
Guidance to dentists and registered dental care professionals will ensure that laboratory work cannot be commissioned from or provided by unregistered individuals, who will be effectively disabled from offering dental laboratory services.
The Council meeting took place on Tuesday 18 September 2007 in Cardiff.
General Dental Council, UK
GDC Chief Executive Duncan Rudkin explained: "From August next year, if you're not registered and you call yourself a dental technician, we will prosecute you in court. If you call yourself something else but imply that you are a dental technician, we will prosecute you in court. And if you are a GDC registrant sending lab work to unregistered technicians or employing them as such, you'll face fitness to practise proceedings and put your own registration at risk."
The Council has issued this sharp warning to dental technicians as the legal deadline for registration approaches. Continuing to work unregistered after the July 2008 deadline is not a viable option.
All dental technicians and dental nurses must be registered with the GDC by 30 July 2008. More information about registration, including application forms, is available from the GDC website at gdc-uk. You can also request an application form by contacting our Registration Department on GDCregistrationgdc-uk.
After 30 July 2008, a dental technician who has an old qualification (one not recognised after 30 July 2008), or who has no qualification and plans to register on the basis of experience, will permanently lose the opportunity to register as a dental technician, unless they are able and willing to qualify from scratch.
Dental technicians need to pay a first registration fee and nothing more until July 2009 when the first annual retention fee is due. The current registration fee of ??72 is guaranteed until the end of 2007. From 1 January 2008 the fee will be ??96.
Students enrolled on a GDC-approved training programme will be able to work without being registered with the GDC until they have finished their studies. The GDC is developing more detailed guidance on how this will work, but student status is not a viable alternative to registration for someone who is already a dental technician.
Guidance to dentists and registered dental care professionals will ensure that laboratory work cannot be commissioned from or provided by unregistered individuals, who will be effectively disabled from offering dental laboratory services.
The Council meeting took place on Tuesday 18 September 2007 in Cardiff.
General Dental Council, UK
No Registration - No Excuses - No Job - General Dental Council, UK
"It's that simple," said GDC President Hew Mathewson, speaking at the GDC Council meeting this week in Cardiff. He continued: "If you're a dental technician wondering about whether to register or not, the message from the GDC is loud and clear - register now or find a new career. If you pass up the chance to register during transition, it will be too late. There's no opting out. If someone advises you not to register, why not ask them if they'll pay your fine, or subsidise your lab when the work stops in August?"
GDC Chief Executive Duncan Rudkin explained: "From August next year, if you're not registered and you call yourself a dental technician, we will prosecute you in court. If you call yourself something else but imply that you are a dental technician, we will prosecute you in court. And if you are a GDC registrant sending lab work to unregistered technicians or employing them as such, you'll face fitness to practise proceedings and put your own registration at risk."
The Council has issued this sharp warning to dental technicians as the legal deadline for registration approaches. Continuing to work unregistered after the July 2008 deadline is not a viable option.
All dental technicians and dental nurses must be registered with the GDC by 30 July 2008. More information about registration, including application forms, is available from the GDC website at gdc-uk. You can also request an application form by contacting our Registration Department on GDCregistrationgdc-uk.
After 30 July 2008, a dental technician who has an old qualification (one not recognised after 30 July 2008), or who has no qualification and plans to register on the basis of experience, will permanently lose the opportunity to register as a dental technician, unless they are able and willing to qualify from scratch.
Dental technicians need to pay a first registration fee and nothing more until July 2009 when the first annual retention fee is due. The current registration fee of ??72 is guaranteed until the end of 2007. From 1 January 2008 the fee will be ??96.
Students enrolled on a GDC-approved training programme will be able to work without being registered with the GDC until they have finished their studies. The GDC is developing more detailed guidance on how this will work, but student status is not a viable alternative to registration for someone who is already a dental technician.
Guidance to dentists and registered dental care professionals will ensure that laboratory work cannot be commissioned from or provided by unregistered individuals, who will be effectively disabled from offering dental laboratory services.
The Council meeting took place on Tuesday 18 September 2007 in Cardiff.
General Dental Council, UK
GDC Chief Executive Duncan Rudkin explained: "From August next year, if you're not registered and you call yourself a dental technician, we will prosecute you in court. If you call yourself something else but imply that you are a dental technician, we will prosecute you in court. And if you are a GDC registrant sending lab work to unregistered technicians or employing them as such, you'll face fitness to practise proceedings and put your own registration at risk."
The Council has issued this sharp warning to dental technicians as the legal deadline for registration approaches. Continuing to work unregistered after the July 2008 deadline is not a viable option.
All dental technicians and dental nurses must be registered with the GDC by 30 July 2008. More information about registration, including application forms, is available from the GDC website at gdc-uk. You can also request an application form by contacting our Registration Department on GDCregistrationgdc-uk.
After 30 July 2008, a dental technician who has an old qualification (one not recognised after 30 July 2008), or who has no qualification and plans to register on the basis of experience, will permanently lose the opportunity to register as a dental technician, unless they are able and willing to qualify from scratch.
Dental technicians need to pay a first registration fee and nothing more until July 2009 when the first annual retention fee is due. The current registration fee of ??72 is guaranteed until the end of 2007. From 1 January 2008 the fee will be ??96.
Students enrolled on a GDC-approved training programme will be able to work without being registered with the GDC until they have finished their studies. The GDC is developing more detailed guidance on how this will work, but student status is not a viable alternative to registration for someone who is already a dental technician.
Guidance to dentists and registered dental care professionals will ensure that laboratory work cannot be commissioned from or provided by unregistered individuals, who will be effectively disabled from offering dental laboratory services.
The Council meeting took place on Tuesday 18 September 2007 in Cardiff.
General Dental Council, UK
FDA Advises Consumers To Avoid Toothpaste From China Containing Harmful Chemical
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today warned consumers to avoid using tubes of toothpaste labeled as made in China, and issued an import alert to prevent toothpaste containing the poisonous chemical diethylene glycol (DEG) from entering the United States.
DEG is used in antifreeze and as a solvent.
Consumers should examine toothpaste products for labeling that says the product is made in China. Out of an abundance of caution, FDA suggests that consumers throw away toothpaste with that labeling. FDA is concerned that these products may contain "diethylene glycol," also known as "diglycol" or "diglycol stearate."
FDA is not aware of any U.S. reports of poisonings from toothpaste containing DEG. However, the agency is concerned about potential risks from chronic exposure to DEG and exposure to DEG in certain populations, such as children and individuals with kidney or liver disease. DEG in toothpaste has a low but meaningful risk of toxicity and injury to these populations. Toothpaste is not intended to be swallowed, but FDA is concerned about unintentional swallowing or ingestion of toothpaste containing DEG.
FDA has identified the following brands of toothpaste from China that contain DEG and are included in the import alert: Cooldent Fluoride; Cooldent Spearmint; Cooldent ICE; Dr. Cool, Everfresh Toothpaste; Superdent Toothpaste; Clean Rite Toothpaste; Oralmax Extreme; Oral Bright Fresh Spearmint Flavor; Bright Max Peppermint Flavor; ShiR Fresh Mint Fluoride Paste; DentaPro; DentaKleen; and DentaKleen Junior. Manufacturers of these products are: Goldcredit International Enterprises Limited; Goldcredit International Trading Company Limited; and Suzhou City Jinmao Daily Chemicals Company Limited. The products typically are sold at low-cost, "bargain" retail outlets.
Based on reports of contaminated toothpaste from China found in several countries, including Panama, FDA increased its scrutiny and began sampling toothpaste and other dental products manufactured in China that were imported into the United States.
FDA inspectors identified and detained one shipment of toothpaste at the U.S. border, containing about 3 percent DEG by weight. In addition, FDA inspectors found and tested toothpaste products from China located at a distribution center and a retail store. The highest level found was between 3-4 percent by weight. The product at the retail store was not labeled as containing DEG but was found to contain the substance.
DEG poisoning is an important public safety issue. The agency is aware of reports of patient deaths and injuries in other countries over the past several years from ingesting DEG-contaminated pharmaceutical preparations, such as cough syrups and acetaminophen syrup. FDA recently issued a guidance document to urge U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturers to be vigilant in assuring that glycerin, a sweetener commonly used worldwide in liquid over-the-counter and prescription drug products, is not contaminated with DEG.
FDA continues to investigate this problem. If FDA identifies other brands of toothpaste products containing DEG, FDA will take appropriate actions, including adding products and their manufacturers to the import alert to prevent them from entering the United States.
Consumers can report adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of these products to FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program:
fda/medwatch/report.htm
fda
DEG is used in antifreeze and as a solvent.
Consumers should examine toothpaste products for labeling that says the product is made in China. Out of an abundance of caution, FDA suggests that consumers throw away toothpaste with that labeling. FDA is concerned that these products may contain "diethylene glycol," also known as "diglycol" or "diglycol stearate."
FDA is not aware of any U.S. reports of poisonings from toothpaste containing DEG. However, the agency is concerned about potential risks from chronic exposure to DEG and exposure to DEG in certain populations, such as children and individuals with kidney or liver disease. DEG in toothpaste has a low but meaningful risk of toxicity and injury to these populations. Toothpaste is not intended to be swallowed, but FDA is concerned about unintentional swallowing or ingestion of toothpaste containing DEG.
FDA has identified the following brands of toothpaste from China that contain DEG and are included in the import alert: Cooldent Fluoride; Cooldent Spearmint; Cooldent ICE; Dr. Cool, Everfresh Toothpaste; Superdent Toothpaste; Clean Rite Toothpaste; Oralmax Extreme; Oral Bright Fresh Spearmint Flavor; Bright Max Peppermint Flavor; ShiR Fresh Mint Fluoride Paste; DentaPro; DentaKleen; and DentaKleen Junior. Manufacturers of these products are: Goldcredit International Enterprises Limited; Goldcredit International Trading Company Limited; and Suzhou City Jinmao Daily Chemicals Company Limited. The products typically are sold at low-cost, "bargain" retail outlets.
Based on reports of contaminated toothpaste from China found in several countries, including Panama, FDA increased its scrutiny and began sampling toothpaste and other dental products manufactured in China that were imported into the United States.
FDA inspectors identified and detained one shipment of toothpaste at the U.S. border, containing about 3 percent DEG by weight. In addition, FDA inspectors found and tested toothpaste products from China located at a distribution center and a retail store. The highest level found was between 3-4 percent by weight. The product at the retail store was not labeled as containing DEG but was found to contain the substance.
DEG poisoning is an important public safety issue. The agency is aware of reports of patient deaths and injuries in other countries over the past several years from ingesting DEG-contaminated pharmaceutical preparations, such as cough syrups and acetaminophen syrup. FDA recently issued a guidance document to urge U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturers to be vigilant in assuring that glycerin, a sweetener commonly used worldwide in liquid over-the-counter and prescription drug products, is not contaminated with DEG.
FDA continues to investigate this problem. If FDA identifies other brands of toothpaste products containing DEG, FDA will take appropriate actions, including adding products and their manufacturers to the import alert to prevent them from entering the United States.
Consumers can report adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of these products to FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program:
fda/medwatch/report.htm
fda
FDA Advises Consumers To Avoid Toothpaste From China Containing Harmful Chemical
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today warned consumers to avoid using tubes of toothpaste labeled as made in China, and issued an import alert to prevent toothpaste containing the poisonous chemical diethylene glycol (DEG) from entering the United States.
DEG is used in antifreeze and as a solvent.
Consumers should examine toothpaste products for labeling that says the product is made in China. Out of an abundance of caution, FDA suggests that consumers throw away toothpaste with that labeling. FDA is concerned that these products may contain "diethylene glycol," also known as "diglycol" or "diglycol stearate."
FDA is not aware of any U.S. reports of poisonings from toothpaste containing DEG. However, the agency is concerned about potential risks from chronic exposure to DEG and exposure to DEG in certain populations, such as children and individuals with kidney or liver disease. DEG in toothpaste has a low but meaningful risk of toxicity and injury to these populations. Toothpaste is not intended to be swallowed, but FDA is concerned about unintentional swallowing or ingestion of toothpaste containing DEG.
FDA has identified the following brands of toothpaste from China that contain DEG and are included in the import alert: Cooldent Fluoride; Cooldent Spearmint; Cooldent ICE; Dr. Cool, Everfresh Toothpaste; Superdent Toothpaste; Clean Rite Toothpaste; Oralmax Extreme; Oral Bright Fresh Spearmint Flavor; Bright Max Peppermint Flavor; ShiR Fresh Mint Fluoride Paste; DentaPro; DentaKleen; and DentaKleen Junior. Manufacturers of these products are: Goldcredit International Enterprises Limited; Goldcredit International Trading Company Limited; and Suzhou City Jinmao Daily Chemicals Company Limited. The products typically are sold at low-cost, "bargain" retail outlets.
Based on reports of contaminated toothpaste from China found in several countries, including Panama, FDA increased its scrutiny and began sampling toothpaste and other dental products manufactured in China that were imported into the United States.
FDA inspectors identified and detained one shipment of toothpaste at the U.S. border, containing about 3 percent DEG by weight. In addition, FDA inspectors found and tested toothpaste products from China located at a distribution center and a retail store. The highest level found was between 3-4 percent by weight. The product at the retail store was not labeled as containing DEG but was found to contain the substance.
DEG poisoning is an important public safety issue. The agency is aware of reports of patient deaths and injuries in other countries over the past several years from ingesting DEG-contaminated pharmaceutical preparations, such as cough syrups and acetaminophen syrup. FDA recently issued a guidance document to urge U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturers to be vigilant in assuring that glycerin, a sweetener commonly used worldwide in liquid over-the-counter and prescription drug products, is not contaminated with DEG.
FDA continues to investigate this problem. If FDA identifies other brands of toothpaste products containing DEG, FDA will take appropriate actions, including adding products and their manufacturers to the import alert to prevent them from entering the United States.
Consumers can report adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of these products to FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program:
fda/medwatch/report.htm
fda
DEG is used in antifreeze and as a solvent.
Consumers should examine toothpaste products for labeling that says the product is made in China. Out of an abundance of caution, FDA suggests that consumers throw away toothpaste with that labeling. FDA is concerned that these products may contain "diethylene glycol," also known as "diglycol" or "diglycol stearate."
FDA is not aware of any U.S. reports of poisonings from toothpaste containing DEG. However, the agency is concerned about potential risks from chronic exposure to DEG and exposure to DEG in certain populations, such as children and individuals with kidney or liver disease. DEG in toothpaste has a low but meaningful risk of toxicity and injury to these populations. Toothpaste is not intended to be swallowed, but FDA is concerned about unintentional swallowing or ingestion of toothpaste containing DEG.
FDA has identified the following brands of toothpaste from China that contain DEG and are included in the import alert: Cooldent Fluoride; Cooldent Spearmint; Cooldent ICE; Dr. Cool, Everfresh Toothpaste; Superdent Toothpaste; Clean Rite Toothpaste; Oralmax Extreme; Oral Bright Fresh Spearmint Flavor; Bright Max Peppermint Flavor; ShiR Fresh Mint Fluoride Paste; DentaPro; DentaKleen; and DentaKleen Junior. Manufacturers of these products are: Goldcredit International Enterprises Limited; Goldcredit International Trading Company Limited; and Suzhou City Jinmao Daily Chemicals Company Limited. The products typically are sold at low-cost, "bargain" retail outlets.
Based on reports of contaminated toothpaste from China found in several countries, including Panama, FDA increased its scrutiny and began sampling toothpaste and other dental products manufactured in China that were imported into the United States.
FDA inspectors identified and detained one shipment of toothpaste at the U.S. border, containing about 3 percent DEG by weight. In addition, FDA inspectors found and tested toothpaste products from China located at a distribution center and a retail store. The highest level found was between 3-4 percent by weight. The product at the retail store was not labeled as containing DEG but was found to contain the substance.
DEG poisoning is an important public safety issue. The agency is aware of reports of patient deaths and injuries in other countries over the past several years from ingesting DEG-contaminated pharmaceutical preparations, such as cough syrups and acetaminophen syrup. FDA recently issued a guidance document to urge U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturers to be vigilant in assuring that glycerin, a sweetener commonly used worldwide in liquid over-the-counter and prescription drug products, is not contaminated with DEG.
FDA continues to investigate this problem. If FDA identifies other brands of toothpaste products containing DEG, FDA will take appropriate actions, including adding products and their manufacturers to the import alert to prevent them from entering the United States.
Consumers can report adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of these products to FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program:
fda/medwatch/report.htm
fda
Fluoride No Benefit To Low-Income Americans, Study Shows
Even when fluoridated water is the most consumed item, cavities are extensive when diets are poor, according to a study in Caries Research.(1)
Burt and colleagues studied low-income African-American adults, 14-years-old and over, living in Detroit, Michigan, where water suppliers add fluoride chemicals attempting to prevent cavities. Yet, 83%of this population has severe tooth decay and diets high in sugars and fats, and low in fruits and vegetables.
"The most frequently reported food on a daily basis was tap water," write Burt's research team. Second were soft drinks and third were potato chips.
Tooth decay in fluoridated Detroit's toddlers' teeth is also shocking. Almost all of Detroit's five-year-olds have cavities; most of them go unfilled.(2)
Low-Income Americans are often priced out of healthy eating.(2a).
"Soda and chips are a cheap and accessible belly-filling meal," says lawyer Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation. "Fluoridation delivers only risks to poorly-fed Americans without any benefits," says Beeber.
"Interventions to promote oral health are unlikely to be successful without improvements in the social and physical environment," write Burt et al.
Further evidence that fluoridation fails:
-- In New York State, fluoridation has not leveled out decay rates between haves and have-nots. Less cavities are not found in all fluoridated NYS counties.(3)
-- In Illinois, where fluoridation is state-mandated, 70% of Spanish-speaking-only and 50% of English-speaking-only third-graders have cavities.(4)
-- A recent large federal government study shows that low-income children's primary tooth decay has spiked upwards. Non-poor children's primary decay rates were stable (5). "It's possible that those who drink free fluoridated tap water may actually have more cavities," says Beeber .
-- In fluoridated Anchorage, Alaska, sugar turned generations of the healthiest teeth in the world into some of the worst. (6)
-- Most fluoridated cities and states are experiencing tooth decay crises. See: fluoridenews.blogpsot
"Recent media reports blaming bottled water for cavity increases are unscientific, illogical and deceptive," says Beeber.
From 1/3 to ?? of U.S. school children are fluoride overdosed and sport dental fluorosis (fluoride discolored and/or pitted teeth).(7) Excess fluoride leads to decayed teeth.(8)
"Fluoride is ineffective in non-healthy eaters and of no benefit to healthy eaters," says Beeber.
New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.
PO Box 263
Old Bethpage, NY 11804
orgsites/ny/nyscof
FluorideAction
FluorideResearch
Burt and colleagues studied low-income African-American adults, 14-years-old and over, living in Detroit, Michigan, where water suppliers add fluoride chemicals attempting to prevent cavities. Yet, 83%of this population has severe tooth decay and diets high in sugars and fats, and low in fruits and vegetables.
"The most frequently reported food on a daily basis was tap water," write Burt's research team. Second were soft drinks and third were potato chips.
Tooth decay in fluoridated Detroit's toddlers' teeth is also shocking. Almost all of Detroit's five-year-olds have cavities; most of them go unfilled.(2)
Low-Income Americans are often priced out of healthy eating.(2a).
"Soda and chips are a cheap and accessible belly-filling meal," says lawyer Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation. "Fluoridation delivers only risks to poorly-fed Americans without any benefits," says Beeber.
"Interventions to promote oral health are unlikely to be successful without improvements in the social and physical environment," write Burt et al.
Further evidence that fluoridation fails:
-- In New York State, fluoridation has not leveled out decay rates between haves and have-nots. Less cavities are not found in all fluoridated NYS counties.(3)
-- In Illinois, where fluoridation is state-mandated, 70% of Spanish-speaking-only and 50% of English-speaking-only third-graders have cavities.(4)
-- A recent large federal government study shows that low-income children's primary tooth decay has spiked upwards. Non-poor children's primary decay rates were stable (5). "It's possible that those who drink free fluoridated tap water may actually have more cavities," says Beeber .
-- In fluoridated Anchorage, Alaska, sugar turned generations of the healthiest teeth in the world into some of the worst. (6)
-- Most fluoridated cities and states are experiencing tooth decay crises. See: fluoridenews.blogpsot
"Recent media reports blaming bottled water for cavity increases are unscientific, illogical and deceptive," says Beeber.
From 1/3 to ?? of U.S. school children are fluoride overdosed and sport dental fluorosis (fluoride discolored and/or pitted teeth).(7) Excess fluoride leads to decayed teeth.(8)
"Fluoride is ineffective in non-healthy eaters and of no benefit to healthy eaters," says Beeber.
New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.
PO Box 263
Old Bethpage, NY 11804
orgsites/ny/nyscof
FluorideAction
FluorideResearch
Fluoride No Benefit To Low-Income Americans, Study Shows
Even when fluoridated water is the most consumed item, cavities are extensive when diets are poor, according to a study in Caries Research.(1)
Burt and colleagues studied low-income African-American adults, 14-years-old and over, living in Detroit, Michigan, where water suppliers add fluoride chemicals attempting to prevent cavities. Yet, 83%of this population has severe tooth decay and diets high in sugars and fats, and low in fruits and vegetables.
"The most frequently reported food on a daily basis was tap water," write Burt's research team. Second were soft drinks and third were potato chips.
Tooth decay in fluoridated Detroit's toddlers' teeth is also shocking. Almost all of Detroit's five-year-olds have cavities; most of them go unfilled.(2)
Low-Income Americans are often priced out of healthy eating.(2a).
"Soda and chips are a cheap and accessible belly-filling meal," says lawyer Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation. "Fluoridation delivers only risks to poorly-fed Americans without any benefits," says Beeber.
"Interventions to promote oral health are unlikely to be successful without improvements in the social and physical environment," write Burt et al.
Further evidence that fluoridation fails:
-- In New York State, fluoridation has not leveled out decay rates between haves and have-nots. Less cavities are not found in all fluoridated NYS counties.(3)
-- In Illinois, where fluoridation is state-mandated, 70% of Spanish-speaking-only and 50% of English-speaking-only third-graders have cavities.(4)
-- A recent large federal government study shows that low-income children's primary tooth decay has spiked upwards. Non-poor children's primary decay rates were stable (5). "It's possible that those who drink free fluoridated tap water may actually have more cavities," says Beeber .
-- In fluoridated Anchorage, Alaska, sugar turned generations of the healthiest teeth in the world into some of the worst. (6)
-- Most fluoridated cities and states are experiencing tooth decay crises. See: fluoridenews.blogpsot
"Recent media reports blaming bottled water for cavity increases are unscientific, illogical and deceptive," says Beeber.
From 1/3 to ?? of U.S. school children are fluoride overdosed and sport dental fluorosis (fluoride discolored and/or pitted teeth).(7) Excess fluoride leads to decayed teeth.(8)
"Fluoride is ineffective in non-healthy eaters and of no benefit to healthy eaters," says Beeber.
New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.
PO Box 263
Old Bethpage, NY 11804
orgsites/ny/nyscof
FluorideAction
FluorideResearch
Burt and colleagues studied low-income African-American adults, 14-years-old and over, living in Detroit, Michigan, where water suppliers add fluoride chemicals attempting to prevent cavities. Yet, 83%of this population has severe tooth decay and diets high in sugars and fats, and low in fruits and vegetables.
"The most frequently reported food on a daily basis was tap water," write Burt's research team. Second were soft drinks and third were potato chips.
Tooth decay in fluoridated Detroit's toddlers' teeth is also shocking. Almost all of Detroit's five-year-olds have cavities; most of them go unfilled.(2)
Low-Income Americans are often priced out of healthy eating.(2a).
"Soda and chips are a cheap and accessible belly-filling meal," says lawyer Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation. "Fluoridation delivers only risks to poorly-fed Americans without any benefits," says Beeber.
"Interventions to promote oral health are unlikely to be successful without improvements in the social and physical environment," write Burt et al.
Further evidence that fluoridation fails:
-- In New York State, fluoridation has not leveled out decay rates between haves and have-nots. Less cavities are not found in all fluoridated NYS counties.(3)
-- In Illinois, where fluoridation is state-mandated, 70% of Spanish-speaking-only and 50% of English-speaking-only third-graders have cavities.(4)
-- A recent large federal government study shows that low-income children's primary tooth decay has spiked upwards. Non-poor children's primary decay rates were stable (5). "It's possible that those who drink free fluoridated tap water may actually have more cavities," says Beeber .
-- In fluoridated Anchorage, Alaska, sugar turned generations of the healthiest teeth in the world into some of the worst. (6)
-- Most fluoridated cities and states are experiencing tooth decay crises. See: fluoridenews.blogpsot
"Recent media reports blaming bottled water for cavity increases are unscientific, illogical and deceptive," says Beeber.
From 1/3 to ?? of U.S. school children are fluoride overdosed and sport dental fluorosis (fluoride discolored and/or pitted teeth).(7) Excess fluoride leads to decayed teeth.(8)
"Fluoride is ineffective in non-healthy eaters and of no benefit to healthy eaters," says Beeber.
New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.
PO Box 263
Old Bethpage, NY 11804
orgsites/ny/nyscof
FluorideAction
FluorideResearch
Brushing Dentures Might Be Best Cleaning Method
Brushing removable dentures with a paste product might be the best way to keep them clean, better than soaking in effervescent or enzyme cleaning solutions, suggests a new review of what little dental literature exists on the topic.c
Keeping dentures clean and free from plaque buildup can help prevent oral infections and gingivitis; however, few clinical studies focus on the best way to clean partial or complete dentures.
This scarcity of studies on real-life patients was surprising, said lead review author Raphael Freitas de Souza, D.D.S. Most studies of denture cleaning methods happen in the laboratory. "We need clinical trials," he said.
Dr. de Souza, with the Ribeir??o Preto Dental School of the University of S??o Paulo in Brazil, and colleagues evaluated six randomized controlled studies. In some studies, the denture wearers were in institutions, while other studies involved patients at university dental clinics. Studies compared different denture cleaning methods to one another or to a placebo.
Cleaning methods included soaking dentures in enzyme solutions, soaking in effervescent solutions, routine brushing with a paste product and a combination of brushing and soaking. The studies examined the effects of each method on outcomes such as irritation in the mouth or inflammation of the gums and other oral tissue, the presence of bad breath and how much plaque was on the dentures.
Although it is not possible to draw a strong conclusion on what method works best, de Souza said, there was weak evidence that among chemical cleaners, enzyme-cleaning products were more effective than a placebo.
"We cannot be pretty sure what the most effective methods for denture cleaning are. But we can infer possibly that brushing can give better results," he said. A patient with poor manual dexterity who cannot brush well might be better off using chemical cleaners and soaks, he added.
The new review appears in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews such as this one draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.
The results of the review are interesting, but might have little effect from a practical standpoint, said Susan Brackett, D.D.S, director of public and professional relations for the American College of Prosthodontists. She is in private practice as a prosthodontist in Oklahoma City.
"We give our patients a sheet of instructions and recommend that they mechanically clean the dentures by brushing with dishwashing soap to get the major debris off," she said. All dentures should be stored in water or a cleaning solution overnight because dentures should not dry out, she added. "If they like, patients can soak the dentures in an effervescent solution overnight. You can do both mechanical and chemical, but it is not absolutely necessary."
De Souza said that professionals usually do not recommend boiling dentures because it can cause them to deform. Similarly, heating dentures in water or another solution in a microwave oven can cause damage to the dentures, Brackett said. If using household bleach do so carefully, because it can cause discoloration in gum-colored portions of dentures, she added. "We do recommend a solution of water, bleach and Calgon to treat a yeast infection, but that is not something for routine basis," she said.
Another cleaning method is an ultrasound device that vibrates the water the dentures are in. Brackett said that battery-operated ultrasound cleaners are available for about $10, but that the professional models used by prosthodontists' offices to clean dentures are better. In her office, dentures undergo ultrasonic cleaning when the patient comes in for an annual check-up, which is advisable both to check for fit and wear and tear on the dentures and to screen for head and neck cancer.
The Cochrane Library contains high quality health care information, including Systematic Reviews from The Cochrane Collaboration. These reviews bring together research on the effects of health care and are considered the gold standard for determining the relative effectiveness of different interventions. The Cochrane Collaboration is an international nonprofit, independent organization that produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions.
de Souza RF, et al. Interventions for cleaning dentures in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 4.
Keeping dentures clean and free from plaque buildup can help prevent oral infections and gingivitis; however, few clinical studies focus on the best way to clean partial or complete dentures.
This scarcity of studies on real-life patients was surprising, said lead review author Raphael Freitas de Souza, D.D.S. Most studies of denture cleaning methods happen in the laboratory. "We need clinical trials," he said.
Dr. de Souza, with the Ribeir??o Preto Dental School of the University of S??o Paulo in Brazil, and colleagues evaluated six randomized controlled studies. In some studies, the denture wearers were in institutions, while other studies involved patients at university dental clinics. Studies compared different denture cleaning methods to one another or to a placebo.
Cleaning methods included soaking dentures in enzyme solutions, soaking in effervescent solutions, routine brushing with a paste product and a combination of brushing and soaking. The studies examined the effects of each method on outcomes such as irritation in the mouth or inflammation of the gums and other oral tissue, the presence of bad breath and how much plaque was on the dentures.
Although it is not possible to draw a strong conclusion on what method works best, de Souza said, there was weak evidence that among chemical cleaners, enzyme-cleaning products were more effective than a placebo.
"We cannot be pretty sure what the most effective methods for denture cleaning are. But we can infer possibly that brushing can give better results," he said. A patient with poor manual dexterity who cannot brush well might be better off using chemical cleaners and soaks, he added.
The new review appears in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews such as this one draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.
The results of the review are interesting, but might have little effect from a practical standpoint, said Susan Brackett, D.D.S, director of public and professional relations for the American College of Prosthodontists. She is in private practice as a prosthodontist in Oklahoma City.
"We give our patients a sheet of instructions and recommend that they mechanically clean the dentures by brushing with dishwashing soap to get the major debris off," she said. All dentures should be stored in water or a cleaning solution overnight because dentures should not dry out, she added. "If they like, patients can soak the dentures in an effervescent solution overnight. You can do both mechanical and chemical, but it is not absolutely necessary."
De Souza said that professionals usually do not recommend boiling dentures because it can cause them to deform. Similarly, heating dentures in water or another solution in a microwave oven can cause damage to the dentures, Brackett said. If using household bleach do so carefully, because it can cause discoloration in gum-colored portions of dentures, she added. "We do recommend a solution of water, bleach and Calgon to treat a yeast infection, but that is not something for routine basis," she said.
Another cleaning method is an ultrasound device that vibrates the water the dentures are in. Brackett said that battery-operated ultrasound cleaners are available for about $10, but that the professional models used by prosthodontists' offices to clean dentures are better. In her office, dentures undergo ultrasonic cleaning when the patient comes in for an annual check-up, which is advisable both to check for fit and wear and tear on the dentures and to screen for head and neck cancer.
The Cochrane Library contains high quality health care information, including Systematic Reviews from The Cochrane Collaboration. These reviews bring together research on the effects of health care and are considered the gold standard for determining the relative effectiveness of different interventions. The Cochrane Collaboration is an international nonprofit, independent organization that produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions.
de Souza RF, et al. Interventions for cleaning dentures in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 4.
Brushing Dentures Might Be Best Cleaning Method
Brushing removable dentures with a paste product might be the best way to keep them clean, better than soaking in effervescent or enzyme cleaning solutions, suggests a new review of what little dental literature exists on the topic.c
Keeping dentures clean and free from plaque buildup can help prevent oral infections and gingivitis; however, few clinical studies focus on the best way to clean partial or complete dentures.
This scarcity of studies on real-life patients was surprising, said lead review author Raphael Freitas de Souza, D.D.S. Most studies of denture cleaning methods happen in the laboratory. "We need clinical trials," he said.
Dr. de Souza, with the Ribeir??o Preto Dental School of the University of S??o Paulo in Brazil, and colleagues evaluated six randomized controlled studies. In some studies, the denture wearers were in institutions, while other studies involved patients at university dental clinics. Studies compared different denture cleaning methods to one another or to a placebo.
Cleaning methods included soaking dentures in enzyme solutions, soaking in effervescent solutions, routine brushing with a paste product and a combination of brushing and soaking. The studies examined the effects of each method on outcomes such as irritation in the mouth or inflammation of the gums and other oral tissue, the presence of bad breath and how much plaque was on the dentures.
Although it is not possible to draw a strong conclusion on what method works best, de Souza said, there was weak evidence that among chemical cleaners, enzyme-cleaning products were more effective than a placebo.
"We cannot be pretty sure what the most effective methods for denture cleaning are. But we can infer possibly that brushing can give better results," he said. A patient with poor manual dexterity who cannot brush well might be better off using chemical cleaners and soaks, he added.
The new review appears in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews such as this one draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.
The results of the review are interesting, but might have little effect from a practical standpoint, said Susan Brackett, D.D.S, director of public and professional relations for the American College of Prosthodontists. She is in private practice as a prosthodontist in Oklahoma City.
"We give our patients a sheet of instructions and recommend that they mechanically clean the dentures by brushing with dishwashing soap to get the major debris off," she said. All dentures should be stored in water or a cleaning solution overnight because dentures should not dry out, she added. "If they like, patients can soak the dentures in an effervescent solution overnight. You can do both mechanical and chemical, but it is not absolutely necessary."
De Souza said that professionals usually do not recommend boiling dentures because it can cause them to deform. Similarly, heating dentures in water or another solution in a microwave oven can cause damage to the dentures, Brackett said. If using household bleach do so carefully, because it can cause discoloration in gum-colored portions of dentures, she added. "We do recommend a solution of water, bleach and Calgon to treat a yeast infection, but that is not something for routine basis," she said.
Another cleaning method is an ultrasound device that vibrates the water the dentures are in. Brackett said that battery-operated ultrasound cleaners are available for about $10, but that the professional models used by prosthodontists' offices to clean dentures are better. In her office, dentures undergo ultrasonic cleaning when the patient comes in for an annual check-up, which is advisable both to check for fit and wear and tear on the dentures and to screen for head and neck cancer.
The Cochrane Library contains high quality health care information, including Systematic Reviews from The Cochrane Collaboration. These reviews bring together research on the effects of health care and are considered the gold standard for determining the relative effectiveness of different interventions. The Cochrane Collaboration is an international nonprofit, independent organization that produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions.
de Souza RF, et al. Interventions for cleaning dentures in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 4.
Keeping dentures clean and free from plaque buildup can help prevent oral infections and gingivitis; however, few clinical studies focus on the best way to clean partial or complete dentures.
This scarcity of studies on real-life patients was surprising, said lead review author Raphael Freitas de Souza, D.D.S. Most studies of denture cleaning methods happen in the laboratory. "We need clinical trials," he said.
Dr. de Souza, with the Ribeir??o Preto Dental School of the University of S??o Paulo in Brazil, and colleagues evaluated six randomized controlled studies. In some studies, the denture wearers were in institutions, while other studies involved patients at university dental clinics. Studies compared different denture cleaning methods to one another or to a placebo.
Cleaning methods included soaking dentures in enzyme solutions, soaking in effervescent solutions, routine brushing with a paste product and a combination of brushing and soaking. The studies examined the effects of each method on outcomes such as irritation in the mouth or inflammation of the gums and other oral tissue, the presence of bad breath and how much plaque was on the dentures.
Although it is not possible to draw a strong conclusion on what method works best, de Souza said, there was weak evidence that among chemical cleaners, enzyme-cleaning products were more effective than a placebo.
"We cannot be pretty sure what the most effective methods for denture cleaning are. But we can infer possibly that brushing can give better results," he said. A patient with poor manual dexterity who cannot brush well might be better off using chemical cleaners and soaks, he added.
The new review appears in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews such as this one draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.
The results of the review are interesting, but might have little effect from a practical standpoint, said Susan Brackett, D.D.S, director of public and professional relations for the American College of Prosthodontists. She is in private practice as a prosthodontist in Oklahoma City.
"We give our patients a sheet of instructions and recommend that they mechanically clean the dentures by brushing with dishwashing soap to get the major debris off," she said. All dentures should be stored in water or a cleaning solution overnight because dentures should not dry out, she added. "If they like, patients can soak the dentures in an effervescent solution overnight. You can do both mechanical and chemical, but it is not absolutely necessary."
De Souza said that professionals usually do not recommend boiling dentures because it can cause them to deform. Similarly, heating dentures in water or another solution in a microwave oven can cause damage to the dentures, Brackett said. If using household bleach do so carefully, because it can cause discoloration in gum-colored portions of dentures, she added. "We do recommend a solution of water, bleach and Calgon to treat a yeast infection, but that is not something for routine basis," she said.
Another cleaning method is an ultrasound device that vibrates the water the dentures are in. Brackett said that battery-operated ultrasound cleaners are available for about $10, but that the professional models used by prosthodontists' offices to clean dentures are better. In her office, dentures undergo ultrasonic cleaning when the patient comes in for an annual check-up, which is advisable both to check for fit and wear and tear on the dentures and to screen for head and neck cancer.
The Cochrane Library contains high quality health care information, including Systematic Reviews from The Cochrane Collaboration. These reviews bring together research on the effects of health care and are considered the gold standard for determining the relative effectiveness of different interventions. The Cochrane Collaboration is an international nonprofit, independent organization that produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions.
de Souza RF, et al. Interventions for cleaning dentures in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 4.
New Process Could Improve Dental Restoration Procedures
Oral surgeons may one day have an easier, less costly approach to one important aspect of dental restoration, thanks to a newly patented process developed by researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T).
The process computerizes the method for creating a dental bar, also called an over-denture. For dental restoration procedures, the device is the bridge connecting dental implants to dentures.
The computerized approach was developed by Dr. Ming Leu, the Keith and Pat Bailey Missouri Distinguished Professor of Integrated Product Manufacturing at Missouri S&T, and one of Leu's former students, Amit Gawate, who received a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri S&T in 2005. Leu and Gawate were recently awarded a patent for their process.
Typically, a dental technician creates the device through a laborious manual process that involves molding and casting. But Leu's approach is entirely digital and automated.
"This method can reduce the cost as well as the time involved" in fabricating dental bars, Leu says.
The conventional approach involves first making an impression of the area of the mouth where a denture would be placed, then casting a model of the gums and implants. From there, technicians design and fabricate the dental bar from a metal material.
Rather than making a physical model, Leu's process uses digital imaging technology to take a picture of a patient's mouth. From there, computer algorithms developed by Leu and Gawate crunch the image data to create a computer-aided design model of the actual dental bar. That model can then be fabricated using either an "additive manufacturing" or a computer-numerically controlled (CNC) machining process.
"Additive manufacturing is a way of making a part by adding material, one layer at a time, rather than removing material, as you would do with machining," he says. The process uses less material than machining or other processes and can be easily tailored to individualized parts of different geometries, Leu adds.
An expert in manufacturing, Leu first became interested in dental surgery after a prosthodontist contacted Leu about some previous research with additive manufacturing. In 2000, Leu developed a way to create prototypes of manufactured parts out of ice, a method he called "rapid freeze prototyping," and the prosthodontist thought the approach would be a cost-effective way to make models for dental surgery. Together, they obtained funding from the National Science Foundation to investigate the approach. From there, Leu developed the computer-aided method for dental bar design.
The process computerizes the method for creating a dental bar, also called an over-denture. For dental restoration procedures, the device is the bridge connecting dental implants to dentures.
The computerized approach was developed by Dr. Ming Leu, the Keith and Pat Bailey Missouri Distinguished Professor of Integrated Product Manufacturing at Missouri S&T, and one of Leu's former students, Amit Gawate, who received a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri S&T in 2005. Leu and Gawate were recently awarded a patent for their process.
Typically, a dental technician creates the device through a laborious manual process that involves molding and casting. But Leu's approach is entirely digital and automated.
"This method can reduce the cost as well as the time involved" in fabricating dental bars, Leu says.
The conventional approach involves first making an impression of the area of the mouth where a denture would be placed, then casting a model of the gums and implants. From there, technicians design and fabricate the dental bar from a metal material.
Rather than making a physical model, Leu's process uses digital imaging technology to take a picture of a patient's mouth. From there, computer algorithms developed by Leu and Gawate crunch the image data to create a computer-aided design model of the actual dental bar. That model can then be fabricated using either an "additive manufacturing" or a computer-numerically controlled (CNC) machining process.
"Additive manufacturing is a way of making a part by adding material, one layer at a time, rather than removing material, as you would do with machining," he says. The process uses less material than machining or other processes and can be easily tailored to individualized parts of different geometries, Leu adds.
An expert in manufacturing, Leu first became interested in dental surgery after a prosthodontist contacted Leu about some previous research with additive manufacturing. In 2000, Leu developed a way to create prototypes of manufactured parts out of ice, a method he called "rapid freeze prototyping," and the prosthodontist thought the approach would be a cost-effective way to make models for dental surgery. Together, they obtained funding from the National Science Foundation to investigate the approach. From there, Leu developed the computer-aided method for dental bar design.
New Process Could Improve Dental Restoration Procedures
Oral surgeons may one day have an easier, less costly approach to one important aspect of dental restoration, thanks to a newly patented process developed by researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T).
The process computerizes the method for creating a dental bar, also called an over-denture. For dental restoration procedures, the device is the bridge connecting dental implants to dentures.
The computerized approach was developed by Dr. Ming Leu, the Keith and Pat Bailey Missouri Distinguished Professor of Integrated Product Manufacturing at Missouri S&T, and one of Leu's former students, Amit Gawate, who received a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri S&T in 2005. Leu and Gawate were recently awarded a patent for their process.
Typically, a dental technician creates the device through a laborious manual process that involves molding and casting. But Leu's approach is entirely digital and automated.
"This method can reduce the cost as well as the time involved" in fabricating dental bars, Leu says.
The conventional approach involves first making an impression of the area of the mouth where a denture would be placed, then casting a model of the gums and implants. From there, technicians design and fabricate the dental bar from a metal material.
Rather than making a physical model, Leu's process uses digital imaging technology to take a picture of a patient's mouth. From there, computer algorithms developed by Leu and Gawate crunch the image data to create a computer-aided design model of the actual dental bar. That model can then be fabricated using either an "additive manufacturing" or a computer-numerically controlled (CNC) machining process.
"Additive manufacturing is a way of making a part by adding material, one layer at a time, rather than removing material, as you would do with machining," he says. The process uses less material than machining or other processes and can be easily tailored to individualized parts of different geometries, Leu adds.
An expert in manufacturing, Leu first became interested in dental surgery after a prosthodontist contacted Leu about some previous research with additive manufacturing. In 2000, Leu developed a way to create prototypes of manufactured parts out of ice, a method he called "rapid freeze prototyping," and the prosthodontist thought the approach would be a cost-effective way to make models for dental surgery. Together, they obtained funding from the National Science Foundation to investigate the approach. From there, Leu developed the computer-aided method for dental bar design.
The process computerizes the method for creating a dental bar, also called an over-denture. For dental restoration procedures, the device is the bridge connecting dental implants to dentures.
The computerized approach was developed by Dr. Ming Leu, the Keith and Pat Bailey Missouri Distinguished Professor of Integrated Product Manufacturing at Missouri S&T, and one of Leu's former students, Amit Gawate, who received a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri S&T in 2005. Leu and Gawate were recently awarded a patent for their process.
Typically, a dental technician creates the device through a laborious manual process that involves molding and casting. But Leu's approach is entirely digital and automated.
"This method can reduce the cost as well as the time involved" in fabricating dental bars, Leu says.
The conventional approach involves first making an impression of the area of the mouth where a denture would be placed, then casting a model of the gums and implants. From there, technicians design and fabricate the dental bar from a metal material.
Rather than making a physical model, Leu's process uses digital imaging technology to take a picture of a patient's mouth. From there, computer algorithms developed by Leu and Gawate crunch the image data to create a computer-aided design model of the actual dental bar. That model can then be fabricated using either an "additive manufacturing" or a computer-numerically controlled (CNC) machining process.
"Additive manufacturing is a way of making a part by adding material, one layer at a time, rather than removing material, as you would do with machining," he says. The process uses less material than machining or other processes and can be easily tailored to individualized parts of different geometries, Leu adds.
An expert in manufacturing, Leu first became interested in dental surgery after a prosthodontist contacted Leu about some previous research with additive manufacturing. In 2000, Leu developed a way to create prototypes of manufactured parts out of ice, a method he called "rapid freeze prototyping," and the prosthodontist thought the approach would be a cost-effective way to make models for dental surgery. Together, they obtained funding from the National Science Foundation to investigate the approach. From there, Leu developed the computer-aided method for dental bar design.
Drive To Provide Dental Sealants To Children - Office Of Oral Health, Arkansas Department Of Health
A simple procedure that dentists and dental hygienists do can effectively prevents tooth decay and makes it possible for a child to grow up without cavities and fillings. Dental sealants are special protective plastic coatings that are placed on the grooves on the chewing surfaces of teeth where 90 percent of decay occurs in children.
The Office of Oral Health at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is joining forces with Arkansas Children's Hospital to provide free dental sealants to as many as 2000 children across the state in a campaign called "Seal the State." The clinics will be led by dentists, dental hygienists and program workers from ADH and Arkansas Children's Hospital, with volunteer participation from dental professionals and schools around the state. The first of more than twenty such clinics to be held statewide took place at M.L. King Magnet Elementary school in Little Rock today.
Sealants prevent tooth decay by creating a barrier between the teeth and decay-causing sugars and bacteria. Sealants also stop cavities from growing and can prevent the need for expensive fillings. Sealants are 100% effective if they are fully retained on the tooth. According to the U.S. Surgeon General's 2000 report on oral health, sealants have been shown to reduce decay by more than 70 percent. The combination of sealants and fluoride has the potential to nearly eliminate tooth decay in school age children. Sealants are most effective when provided to children at highest risk for tooth decay.
A screening survey of 7100 Arkansas public school third grade students revealed that 31 percent, or nearly one-third, of those children had untreated tooth decay. Tooth pain has been identified as the number one reason for absence from school. Tooth decay, left untreated, can cause pain and tooth loss. Poor oral health is associated with several serious chronic diseases, including heart disease and kidney disorders. Tooth decay can cause difficulty in eating and lead to being under-weight, and can have negative effects on an individual's self-esteem and employability.
The campaign has been funded by The Daughters of Charity Foundation in St. Louis, MO.
For more information on dental sealants and fluoride, call the Office of Oral Health at the Arkansas Department of Health, 501-661-2595, or visit AROralhealth.
News Source
Arkansas Dept. of Health
healthyarkansas
The Office of Oral Health at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is joining forces with Arkansas Children's Hospital to provide free dental sealants to as many as 2000 children across the state in a campaign called "Seal the State." The clinics will be led by dentists, dental hygienists and program workers from ADH and Arkansas Children's Hospital, with volunteer participation from dental professionals and schools around the state. The first of more than twenty such clinics to be held statewide took place at M.L. King Magnet Elementary school in Little Rock today.
Sealants prevent tooth decay by creating a barrier between the teeth and decay-causing sugars and bacteria. Sealants also stop cavities from growing and can prevent the need for expensive fillings. Sealants are 100% effective if they are fully retained on the tooth. According to the U.S. Surgeon General's 2000 report on oral health, sealants have been shown to reduce decay by more than 70 percent. The combination of sealants and fluoride has the potential to nearly eliminate tooth decay in school age children. Sealants are most effective when provided to children at highest risk for tooth decay.
A screening survey of 7100 Arkansas public school third grade students revealed that 31 percent, or nearly one-third, of those children had untreated tooth decay. Tooth pain has been identified as the number one reason for absence from school. Tooth decay, left untreated, can cause pain and tooth loss. Poor oral health is associated with several serious chronic diseases, including heart disease and kidney disorders. Tooth decay can cause difficulty in eating and lead to being under-weight, and can have negative effects on an individual's self-esteem and employability.
The campaign has been funded by The Daughters of Charity Foundation in St. Louis, MO.
For more information on dental sealants and fluoride, call the Office of Oral Health at the Arkansas Department of Health, 501-661-2595, or visit AROralhealth.
News Source
Arkansas Dept. of Health
healthyarkansas
Drive To Provide Dental Sealants To Children - Office Of Oral Health, Arkansas Department Of Health
A simple procedure that dentists and dental hygienists do can effectively prevents tooth decay and makes it possible for a child to grow up without cavities and fillings. Dental sealants are special protective plastic coatings that are placed on the grooves on the chewing surfaces of teeth where 90 percent of decay occurs in children.
The Office of Oral Health at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is joining forces with Arkansas Children's Hospital to provide free dental sealants to as many as 2000 children across the state in a campaign called "Seal the State." The clinics will be led by dentists, dental hygienists and program workers from ADH and Arkansas Children's Hospital, with volunteer participation from dental professionals and schools around the state. The first of more than twenty such clinics to be held statewide took place at M.L. King Magnet Elementary school in Little Rock today.
Sealants prevent tooth decay by creating a barrier between the teeth and decay-causing sugars and bacteria. Sealants also stop cavities from growing and can prevent the need for expensive fillings. Sealants are 100% effective if they are fully retained on the tooth. According to the U.S. Surgeon General's 2000 report on oral health, sealants have been shown to reduce decay by more than 70 percent. The combination of sealants and fluoride has the potential to nearly eliminate tooth decay in school age children. Sealants are most effective when provided to children at highest risk for tooth decay.
A screening survey of 7100 Arkansas public school third grade students revealed that 31 percent, or nearly one-third, of those children had untreated tooth decay. Tooth pain has been identified as the number one reason for absence from school. Tooth decay, left untreated, can cause pain and tooth loss. Poor oral health is associated with several serious chronic diseases, including heart disease and kidney disorders. Tooth decay can cause difficulty in eating and lead to being under-weight, and can have negative effects on an individual's self-esteem and employability.
The campaign has been funded by The Daughters of Charity Foundation in St. Louis, MO.
For more information on dental sealants and fluoride, call the Office of Oral Health at the Arkansas Department of Health, 501-661-2595, or visit AROralhealth.
News Source
Arkansas Dept. of Health
healthyarkansas
The Office of Oral Health at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is joining forces with Arkansas Children's Hospital to provide free dental sealants to as many as 2000 children across the state in a campaign called "Seal the State." The clinics will be led by dentists, dental hygienists and program workers from ADH and Arkansas Children's Hospital, with volunteer participation from dental professionals and schools around the state. The first of more than twenty such clinics to be held statewide took place at M.L. King Magnet Elementary school in Little Rock today.
Sealants prevent tooth decay by creating a barrier between the teeth and decay-causing sugars and bacteria. Sealants also stop cavities from growing and can prevent the need for expensive fillings. Sealants are 100% effective if they are fully retained on the tooth. According to the U.S. Surgeon General's 2000 report on oral health, sealants have been shown to reduce decay by more than 70 percent. The combination of sealants and fluoride has the potential to nearly eliminate tooth decay in school age children. Sealants are most effective when provided to children at highest risk for tooth decay.
A screening survey of 7100 Arkansas public school third grade students revealed that 31 percent, or nearly one-third, of those children had untreated tooth decay. Tooth pain has been identified as the number one reason for absence from school. Tooth decay, left untreated, can cause pain and tooth loss. Poor oral health is associated with several serious chronic diseases, including heart disease and kidney disorders. Tooth decay can cause difficulty in eating and lead to being under-weight, and can have negative effects on an individual's self-esteem and employability.
The campaign has been funded by The Daughters of Charity Foundation in St. Louis, MO.
For more information on dental sealants and fluoride, call the Office of Oral Health at the Arkansas Department of Health, 501-661-2595, or visit AROralhealth.
News Source
Arkansas Dept. of Health
healthyarkansas
The American Dental Education Association's Abigail Gorman Receives Rising Star Award At The 2007 Nonprofit CFO Of The Year Awards Luncheon
The American Dental Education Association's (ADEA) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Abigail W. Gorman, M.B.A., received the CFO Rising Star Award at the 2007 Nonprofit CFO of the Year Awards Luncheon. Ms. Gorman was honored for producing exemplary work in the nonprofit industry and representing the future of the nonprofit financial management profession.
"I was impressed to see hundreds of Abigail's peers (and many of mine) in the nonprofit sector in attendance at the awards luncheon. Everyone at ADEA is thrilled to see Abigail recognized for her significant contributions to the field of financial management and to ADEA in particular," said ADEA Executive Director Richard W. Valachovic, D.M.D., M.P.H.
Ms. Gorman directs administrative, financial, and organizational activities as COO of ADEA. Since joining ADEA in 2002, she has implemented the highest standards of financial stewardship and workflow efficiency. ADEA's membership has grown from 2,500 individual members to more than 16,000, with a 90% retention rate. Institutional membership has grown more than 25%. To accommodate this growth, Ms. Gorman formed a new internal management team responsible for finance, administration, information technology, membership, communications, marketing, meetings, professional development, knowledge management, and application services. This team ensures a tight link between the organization's strategic goals and financial management, to provide value added member services to a rapidly growing individual and institutional membership base.
With an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business, Ms. Gorman, whose baccalaureate degree is from Smith College, came to ADEA as Director of Finance and Operations in 2002. She became the organization's first Chief Operating Officer in 2005 after negotiating a successful transition from offices located on Massachusetts Avenue in the District of Columbia to larger quarters on K Street, also in the District. She brought to her new position a wealth of experience in management consulting in the private sector and skillfully made the transition to the nonprofit sector. A native of New Jersey, Ms. Gorman now resides with her family in Maryland.
Abigail Gorman's Rising Star Award
Hosted by West, Lane & Schlager and Tate & Tryon, the 2007 Nonprofit CFO of the Year Awards program honors financial executives in the Washington, DC, area for their contributions in exceptional leadership, operational excellence, and a commitment to promoting improved accountability and financial reporting practices. The Rising Star Award was one of three awards presented at the luncheon held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington last week. Award recipients were selected from nominations and chosen by an independent judging panel of nonprofit industry experts and academic leaders in the Washington area.
About the American Dental Education Association
The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) is the voice of dental education. Its members include all U.S. and Canadian dental schools and many allied and postdoctoral dental education programs, corporations, faculty, and students. The mission of ADEA is to lead individuals and institutions of the dental education community to address contemporary issues influencing education, research, and the delivery of oral health care for the health of the public. ADEA's activities encompass a wide range of research, advocacy, faculty development, meetings, and communications like the esteemed Journal of Dental Education, as well as the dental school admissions services AADSAS and PASS.
American Dental Education Association
"I was impressed to see hundreds of Abigail's peers (and many of mine) in the nonprofit sector in attendance at the awards luncheon. Everyone at ADEA is thrilled to see Abigail recognized for her significant contributions to the field of financial management and to ADEA in particular," said ADEA Executive Director Richard W. Valachovic, D.M.D., M.P.H.
Ms. Gorman directs administrative, financial, and organizational activities as COO of ADEA. Since joining ADEA in 2002, she has implemented the highest standards of financial stewardship and workflow efficiency. ADEA's membership has grown from 2,500 individual members to more than 16,000, with a 90% retention rate. Institutional membership has grown more than 25%. To accommodate this growth, Ms. Gorman formed a new internal management team responsible for finance, administration, information technology, membership, communications, marketing, meetings, professional development, knowledge management, and application services. This team ensures a tight link between the organization's strategic goals and financial management, to provide value added member services to a rapidly growing individual and institutional membership base.
With an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business, Ms. Gorman, whose baccalaureate degree is from Smith College, came to ADEA as Director of Finance and Operations in 2002. She became the organization's first Chief Operating Officer in 2005 after negotiating a successful transition from offices located on Massachusetts Avenue in the District of Columbia to larger quarters on K Street, also in the District. She brought to her new position a wealth of experience in management consulting in the private sector and skillfully made the transition to the nonprofit sector. A native of New Jersey, Ms. Gorman now resides with her family in Maryland.
Abigail Gorman's Rising Star Award
Hosted by West, Lane & Schlager and Tate & Tryon, the 2007 Nonprofit CFO of the Year Awards program honors financial executives in the Washington, DC, area for their contributions in exceptional leadership, operational excellence, and a commitment to promoting improved accountability and financial reporting practices. The Rising Star Award was one of three awards presented at the luncheon held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington last week. Award recipients were selected from nominations and chosen by an independent judging panel of nonprofit industry experts and academic leaders in the Washington area.
About the American Dental Education Association
The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) is the voice of dental education. Its members include all U.S. and Canadian dental schools and many allied and postdoctoral dental education programs, corporations, faculty, and students. The mission of ADEA is to lead individuals and institutions of the dental education community to address contemporary issues influencing education, research, and the delivery of oral health care for the health of the public. ADEA's activities encompass a wide range of research, advocacy, faculty development, meetings, and communications like the esteemed Journal of Dental Education, as well as the dental school admissions services AADSAS and PASS.
American Dental Education Association
The American Dental Education Association's Abigail Gorman Receives Rising Star Award At The 2007 Nonprofit CFO Of The Year Awards Luncheon
The American Dental Education Association's (ADEA) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Abigail W. Gorman, M.B.A., received the CFO Rising Star Award at the 2007 Nonprofit CFO of the Year Awards Luncheon. Ms. Gorman was honored for producing exemplary work in the nonprofit industry and representing the future of the nonprofit financial management profession.
"I was impressed to see hundreds of Abigail's peers (and many of mine) in the nonprofit sector in attendance at the awards luncheon. Everyone at ADEA is thrilled to see Abigail recognized for her significant contributions to the field of financial management and to ADEA in particular," said ADEA Executive Director Richard W. Valachovic, D.M.D., M.P.H.
Ms. Gorman directs administrative, financial, and organizational activities as COO of ADEA. Since joining ADEA in 2002, she has implemented the highest standards of financial stewardship and workflow efficiency. ADEA's membership has grown from 2,500 individual members to more than 16,000, with a 90% retention rate. Institutional membership has grown more than 25%. To accommodate this growth, Ms. Gorman formed a new internal management team responsible for finance, administration, information technology, membership, communications, marketing, meetings, professional development, knowledge management, and application services. This team ensures a tight link between the organization's strategic goals and financial management, to provide value added member services to a rapidly growing individual and institutional membership base.
With an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business, Ms. Gorman, whose baccalaureate degree is from Smith College, came to ADEA as Director of Finance and Operations in 2002. She became the organization's first Chief Operating Officer in 2005 after negotiating a successful transition from offices located on Massachusetts Avenue in the District of Columbia to larger quarters on K Street, also in the District. She brought to her new position a wealth of experience in management consulting in the private sector and skillfully made the transition to the nonprofit sector. A native of New Jersey, Ms. Gorman now resides with her family in Maryland.
Abigail Gorman's Rising Star Award
Hosted by West, Lane & Schlager and Tate & Tryon, the 2007 Nonprofit CFO of the Year Awards program honors financial executives in the Washington, DC, area for their contributions in exceptional leadership, operational excellence, and a commitment to promoting improved accountability and financial reporting practices. The Rising Star Award was one of three awards presented at the luncheon held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington last week. Award recipients were selected from nominations and chosen by an independent judging panel of nonprofit industry experts and academic leaders in the Washington area.
About the American Dental Education Association
The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) is the voice of dental education. Its members include all U.S. and Canadian dental schools and many allied and postdoctoral dental education programs, corporations, faculty, and students. The mission of ADEA is to lead individuals and institutions of the dental education community to address contemporary issues influencing education, research, and the delivery of oral health care for the health of the public. ADEA's activities encompass a wide range of research, advocacy, faculty development, meetings, and communications like the esteemed Journal of Dental Education, as well as the dental school admissions services AADSAS and PASS.
American Dental Education Association
"I was impressed to see hundreds of Abigail's peers (and many of mine) in the nonprofit sector in attendance at the awards luncheon. Everyone at ADEA is thrilled to see Abigail recognized for her significant contributions to the field of financial management and to ADEA in particular," said ADEA Executive Director Richard W. Valachovic, D.M.D., M.P.H.
Ms. Gorman directs administrative, financial, and organizational activities as COO of ADEA. Since joining ADEA in 2002, she has implemented the highest standards of financial stewardship and workflow efficiency. ADEA's membership has grown from 2,500 individual members to more than 16,000, with a 90% retention rate. Institutional membership has grown more than 25%. To accommodate this growth, Ms. Gorman formed a new internal management team responsible for finance, administration, information technology, membership, communications, marketing, meetings, professional development, knowledge management, and application services. This team ensures a tight link between the organization's strategic goals and financial management, to provide value added member services to a rapidly growing individual and institutional membership base.
With an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business, Ms. Gorman, whose baccalaureate degree is from Smith College, came to ADEA as Director of Finance and Operations in 2002. She became the organization's first Chief Operating Officer in 2005 after negotiating a successful transition from offices located on Massachusetts Avenue in the District of Columbia to larger quarters on K Street, also in the District. She brought to her new position a wealth of experience in management consulting in the private sector and skillfully made the transition to the nonprofit sector. A native of New Jersey, Ms. Gorman now resides with her family in Maryland.
Abigail Gorman's Rising Star Award
Hosted by West, Lane & Schlager and Tate & Tryon, the 2007 Nonprofit CFO of the Year Awards program honors financial executives in the Washington, DC, area for their contributions in exceptional leadership, operational excellence, and a commitment to promoting improved accountability and financial reporting practices. The Rising Star Award was one of three awards presented at the luncheon held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington last week. Award recipients were selected from nominations and chosen by an independent judging panel of nonprofit industry experts and academic leaders in the Washington area.
About the American Dental Education Association
The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) is the voice of dental education. Its members include all U.S. and Canadian dental schools and many allied and postdoctoral dental education programs, corporations, faculty, and students. The mission of ADEA is to lead individuals and institutions of the dental education community to address contemporary issues influencing education, research, and the delivery of oral health care for the health of the public. ADEA's activities encompass a wide range of research, advocacy, faculty development, meetings, and communications like the esteemed Journal of Dental Education, as well as the dental school admissions services AADSAS and PASS.
American Dental Education Association
Delta Dental Of Missouri Introduces New MAXAdvantageSM Benefit Option To Extend The Maximum Benefit Amount And Encourage Preventive Care
Delta Dental of Missouri (Delta Dental), the largest dental benefits provider in Missouri, announced the introduction of its new MAXAdvantageSM benefit option that effectively extends the amount of treatment covered under the plan year maximum benefit amount (the dollar value limit of coverage for each member for each benefit year). The new MAXAdvantageSM benefit option also encourages members to obtain preventive care because their plan year maximum benefit amount is no longer reduced when members take advantage of most basic diagnostic and preventive care, such as routine and comprehensive dental exams, as well as periodontal exams; X-rays; cleanings for children and adults; and child and adult fluoride and fluoride varnishes. In effect, this increases the coverage reach of the plan year maximum benefit amount, as more of the maximum is reserved for treatment for other restorative or major care.
"Unlike 'maximum rollover' options, which accrue at the end of the year for next year's coverage for only those who have not hit their maximum, the MAXAdvantageSM accrues immediately and is available to all members with no additional paperwork or applications for members to complete," says Richard Klassen, Chief Marketing Officer for Delta Dental of Missouri. "We want to promote wellness and preventive care for all in a way that immediately benefits our members: that's why we believe MAXAdvantageSM is a richer benefit than most 'maximum rollover' options," added Klassen.
The new MAXAdvantageSM benefit option is now available to all new and renewing Delta Dental of Missouri clients. When employees are encouraged to obtain preventive care and have more funds available for restorative and major care, the net result may very well be a long-term reduction in dental claims costs.
There also is mounting scientific evidence of a relationship between oral health and overall health that suggests that improved oral health, especially periodontal health, may help reduce costs associated with some health conditions. It is said that routine oral health care is:
Helping Diabetics Control Blood Glucose Levels
A number of research studies, including one supported by Delta Dental at the University of Michigan and University of Detroit Mercy, show that when diabetics have their teeth cleaned professionally, their blood glucose levels are easier to control. This is significant because glycemic control has proven to be one of the best ways to prevent complications of diabetes.
Helping Pregnant Women Give Birth to Healthy Babies
Premature birth is on the rise in the U.S., and periodontal disease has been identified as a potential contributing factor. Scientific evidence indicates that pregnant women with gum (periodontal) disease are seven times more likely to give birth to premature babies. According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 19 percent of the 250,000 premature low birth weight infants born in the U.S. each year may be attributed to infectious oral disease.
Helping to Identify Other Systemic Health Problems
Routine oral health exams can also uncover signs and symptoms of a number of additional diseases and medical conditions. According to the American Dental Hygienists' Association some of these include heart disease, osteoporosis, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, HIV and some types of cancer.
"The evidence is still emerging, but Delta Dental of Missouri intends to lead in encouraging preventive oral health care and in potentially helping to reduce the costs for more serious oral health and overall health issues," said Steve P. Gaal, Chief Executive Officer for Delta Dental of Missouri.
"When we encourage more members to obtain regular diagnostic and preventive care, everyone benefits," added Gaal.
The MAXAdvantageSM benefit option joins Delta Dental's other new benefit offering, Healthy Smiles, Healthy LivesSM (HSHL) benefit, launched last year, that provides up to four dental and/or periodontal cleanings for members with certain health conditions (diabetes, pregnancy, suppressed immune system, kidney failure or on dialysis) in order to improve preventive and periodontal care coverage for these members. HSHL benefits also cover other preventive treatments, such as sealants for both children and adults, Brush Biopsy (an early diagnostic test for oral cancer), and implants.
Delta Dental of Missouri is the leader in dental benefits in Missouri, serving more than 1.1 million members working more than 1400 client companies, and is a member of Delta Dental Plans Association, the oldest and largest dental benefits provider in the U.S., serving over 50 million Americans (one in four families with dental benefits) and 88,000 client companies.
Delta Dental
"Unlike 'maximum rollover' options, which accrue at the end of the year for next year's coverage for only those who have not hit their maximum, the MAXAdvantageSM accrues immediately and is available to all members with no additional paperwork or applications for members to complete," says Richard Klassen, Chief Marketing Officer for Delta Dental of Missouri. "We want to promote wellness and preventive care for all in a way that immediately benefits our members: that's why we believe MAXAdvantageSM is a richer benefit than most 'maximum rollover' options," added Klassen.
The new MAXAdvantageSM benefit option is now available to all new and renewing Delta Dental of Missouri clients. When employees are encouraged to obtain preventive care and have more funds available for restorative and major care, the net result may very well be a long-term reduction in dental claims costs.
There also is mounting scientific evidence of a relationship between oral health and overall health that suggests that improved oral health, especially periodontal health, may help reduce costs associated with some health conditions. It is said that routine oral health care is:
Helping Diabetics Control Blood Glucose Levels
A number of research studies, including one supported by Delta Dental at the University of Michigan and University of Detroit Mercy, show that when diabetics have their teeth cleaned professionally, their blood glucose levels are easier to control. This is significant because glycemic control has proven to be one of the best ways to prevent complications of diabetes.
Helping Pregnant Women Give Birth to Healthy Babies
Premature birth is on the rise in the U.S., and periodontal disease has been identified as a potential contributing factor. Scientific evidence indicates that pregnant women with gum (periodontal) disease are seven times more likely to give birth to premature babies. According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 19 percent of the 250,000 premature low birth weight infants born in the U.S. each year may be attributed to infectious oral disease.
Helping to Identify Other Systemic Health Problems
Routine oral health exams can also uncover signs and symptoms of a number of additional diseases and medical conditions. According to the American Dental Hygienists' Association some of these include heart disease, osteoporosis, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, HIV and some types of cancer.
"The evidence is still emerging, but Delta Dental of Missouri intends to lead in encouraging preventive oral health care and in potentially helping to reduce the costs for more serious oral health and overall health issues," said Steve P. Gaal, Chief Executive Officer for Delta Dental of Missouri.
"When we encourage more members to obtain regular diagnostic and preventive care, everyone benefits," added Gaal.
The MAXAdvantageSM benefit option joins Delta Dental's other new benefit offering, Healthy Smiles, Healthy LivesSM (HSHL) benefit, launched last year, that provides up to four dental and/or periodontal cleanings for members with certain health conditions (diabetes, pregnancy, suppressed immune system, kidney failure or on dialysis) in order to improve preventive and periodontal care coverage for these members. HSHL benefits also cover other preventive treatments, such as sealants for both children and adults, Brush Biopsy (an early diagnostic test for oral cancer), and implants.
Delta Dental of Missouri is the leader in dental benefits in Missouri, serving more than 1.1 million members working more than 1400 client companies, and is a member of Delta Dental Plans Association, the oldest and largest dental benefits provider in the U.S., serving over 50 million Americans (one in four families with dental benefits) and 88,000 client companies.
Delta Dental
Delta Dental Of Missouri Introduces New MAXAdvantageSM Benefit Option To Extend The Maximum Benefit Amount And Encourage Preventive Care
Delta Dental of Missouri (Delta Dental), the largest dental benefits provider in Missouri, announced the introduction of its new MAXAdvantageSM benefit option that effectively extends the amount of treatment covered under the plan year maximum benefit amount (the dollar value limit of coverage for each member for each benefit year). The new MAXAdvantageSM benefit option also encourages members to obtain preventive care because their plan year maximum benefit amount is no longer reduced when members take advantage of most basic diagnostic and preventive care, such as routine and comprehensive dental exams, as well as periodontal exams; X-rays; cleanings for children and adults; and child and adult fluoride and fluoride varnishes. In effect, this increases the coverage reach of the plan year maximum benefit amount, as more of the maximum is reserved for treatment for other restorative or major care.
"Unlike 'maximum rollover' options, which accrue at the end of the year for next year's coverage for only those who have not hit their maximum, the MAXAdvantageSM accrues immediately and is available to all members with no additional paperwork or applications for members to complete," says Richard Klassen, Chief Marketing Officer for Delta Dental of Missouri. "We want to promote wellness and preventive care for all in a way that immediately benefits our members: that's why we believe MAXAdvantageSM is a richer benefit than most 'maximum rollover' options," added Klassen.
The new MAXAdvantageSM benefit option is now available to all new and renewing Delta Dental of Missouri clients. When employees are encouraged to obtain preventive care and have more funds available for restorative and major care, the net result may very well be a long-term reduction in dental claims costs.
There also is mounting scientific evidence of a relationship between oral health and overall health that suggests that improved oral health, especially periodontal health, may help reduce costs associated with some health conditions. It is said that routine oral health care is:
Helping Diabetics Control Blood Glucose Levels
A number of research studies, including one supported by Delta Dental at the University of Michigan and University of Detroit Mercy, show that when diabetics have their teeth cleaned professionally, their blood glucose levels are easier to control. This is significant because glycemic control has proven to be one of the best ways to prevent complications of diabetes.
Helping Pregnant Women Give Birth to Healthy Babies
Premature birth is on the rise in the U.S., and periodontal disease has been identified as a potential contributing factor. Scientific evidence indicates that pregnant women with gum (periodontal) disease are seven times more likely to give birth to premature babies. According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 19 percent of the 250,000 premature low birth weight infants born in the U.S. each year may be attributed to infectious oral disease.
Helping to Identify Other Systemic Health Problems
Routine oral health exams can also uncover signs and symptoms of a number of additional diseases and medical conditions. According to the American Dental Hygienists' Association some of these include heart disease, osteoporosis, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, HIV and some types of cancer.
"The evidence is still emerging, but Delta Dental of Missouri intends to lead in encouraging preventive oral health care and in potentially helping to reduce the costs for more serious oral health and overall health issues," said Steve P. Gaal, Chief Executive Officer for Delta Dental of Missouri.
"When we encourage more members to obtain regular diagnostic and preventive care, everyone benefits," added Gaal.
The MAXAdvantageSM benefit option joins Delta Dental's other new benefit offering, Healthy Smiles, Healthy LivesSM (HSHL) benefit, launched last year, that provides up to four dental and/or periodontal cleanings for members with certain health conditions (diabetes, pregnancy, suppressed immune system, kidney failure or on dialysis) in order to improve preventive and periodontal care coverage for these members. HSHL benefits also cover other preventive treatments, such as sealants for both children and adults, Brush Biopsy (an early diagnostic test for oral cancer), and implants.
Delta Dental of Missouri is the leader in dental benefits in Missouri, serving more than 1.1 million members working more than 1400 client companies, and is a member of Delta Dental Plans Association, the oldest and largest dental benefits provider in the U.S., serving over 50 million Americans (one in four families with dental benefits) and 88,000 client companies.
Delta Dental
"Unlike 'maximum rollover' options, which accrue at the end of the year for next year's coverage for only those who have not hit their maximum, the MAXAdvantageSM accrues immediately and is available to all members with no additional paperwork or applications for members to complete," says Richard Klassen, Chief Marketing Officer for Delta Dental of Missouri. "We want to promote wellness and preventive care for all in a way that immediately benefits our members: that's why we believe MAXAdvantageSM is a richer benefit than most 'maximum rollover' options," added Klassen.
The new MAXAdvantageSM benefit option is now available to all new and renewing Delta Dental of Missouri clients. When employees are encouraged to obtain preventive care and have more funds available for restorative and major care, the net result may very well be a long-term reduction in dental claims costs.
There also is mounting scientific evidence of a relationship between oral health and overall health that suggests that improved oral health, especially periodontal health, may help reduce costs associated with some health conditions. It is said that routine oral health care is:
Helping Diabetics Control Blood Glucose Levels
A number of research studies, including one supported by Delta Dental at the University of Michigan and University of Detroit Mercy, show that when diabetics have their teeth cleaned professionally, their blood glucose levels are easier to control. This is significant because glycemic control has proven to be one of the best ways to prevent complications of diabetes.
Helping Pregnant Women Give Birth to Healthy Babies
Premature birth is on the rise in the U.S., and periodontal disease has been identified as a potential contributing factor. Scientific evidence indicates that pregnant women with gum (periodontal) disease are seven times more likely to give birth to premature babies. According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 19 percent of the 250,000 premature low birth weight infants born in the U.S. each year may be attributed to infectious oral disease.
Helping to Identify Other Systemic Health Problems
Routine oral health exams can also uncover signs and symptoms of a number of additional diseases and medical conditions. According to the American Dental Hygienists' Association some of these include heart disease, osteoporosis, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, HIV and some types of cancer.
"The evidence is still emerging, but Delta Dental of Missouri intends to lead in encouraging preventive oral health care and in potentially helping to reduce the costs for more serious oral health and overall health issues," said Steve P. Gaal, Chief Executive Officer for Delta Dental of Missouri.
"When we encourage more members to obtain regular diagnostic and preventive care, everyone benefits," added Gaal.
The MAXAdvantageSM benefit option joins Delta Dental's other new benefit offering, Healthy Smiles, Healthy LivesSM (HSHL) benefit, launched last year, that provides up to four dental and/or periodontal cleanings for members with certain health conditions (diabetes, pregnancy, suppressed immune system, kidney failure or on dialysis) in order to improve preventive and periodontal care coverage for these members. HSHL benefits also cover other preventive treatments, such as sealants for both children and adults, Brush Biopsy (an early diagnostic test for oral cancer), and implants.
Delta Dental of Missouri is the leader in dental benefits in Missouri, serving more than 1.1 million members working more than 1400 client companies, and is a member of Delta Dental Plans Association, the oldest and largest dental benefits provider in the U.S., serving over 50 million Americans (one in four families with dental benefits) and 88,000 client companies.
Delta Dental
Majority Of Dentists Believe Use Of 'Dr' Title Is Appropriate , UK
Four-fifths of dentists think it is appropriate to continue to use the courtesy title of 'Dr' according to a poll carried out by the British Dental Association (BDA). The survey was carried out as part of a discussion hosted on the communities section of the BDA website between late July and early September. The debate attracted high levels of interest, being viewed more than 2,800 times.
The discussion, which was open from late July to early September, saw contributions from BDA members across the UK. The results of the poll will be used to emphasise the profession's concerns in the BDA's formal response to the General Dental Council's consultation on the issue.
Dr Susie Sanderson, Chair of the BDA's Executive Board, said:
"This issue has generated unprecedented levels of interest from contributors to the BDA's online communities. Participants have sent a very strong signal about their wish to continue using the title Dr. We have listened to them and will convey the strength of that feeling to the GDC in our response to its consultation on this issue.
"It is clear from the contributions to this forum that, as long as it is made clear that the individual in question is a dentist, patients do not seem to be confused by the use of the title. The practice of referring to dentists in this way is long-established overseas and is also now firmly embedded in the UK."
The discussion, which was open from late July to early September, saw contributions from BDA members across the UK. The results of the poll will be used to emphasise the profession's concerns in the BDA's formal response to the General Dental Council's consultation on the issue.
Dr Susie Sanderson, Chair of the BDA's Executive Board, said:
"This issue has generated unprecedented levels of interest from contributors to the BDA's online communities. Participants have sent a very strong signal about their wish to continue using the title Dr. We have listened to them and will convey the strength of that feeling to the GDC in our response to its consultation on this issue.
"It is clear from the contributions to this forum that, as long as it is made clear that the individual in question is a dentist, patients do not seem to be confused by the use of the title. The practice of referring to dentists in this way is long-established overseas and is also now firmly embedded in the UK."
Majority Of Dentists Believe Use Of 'Dr' Title Is Appropriate , UK
Four-fifths of dentists think it is appropriate to continue to use the courtesy title of 'Dr' according to a poll carried out by the British Dental Association (BDA). The survey was carried out as part of a discussion hosted on the communities section of the BDA website between late July and early September. The debate attracted high levels of interest, being viewed more than 2,800 times.
The discussion, which was open from late July to early September, saw contributions from BDA members across the UK. The results of the poll will be used to emphasise the profession's concerns in the BDA's formal response to the General Dental Council's consultation on the issue.
Dr Susie Sanderson, Chair of the BDA's Executive Board, said:
"This issue has generated unprecedented levels of interest from contributors to the BDA's online communities. Participants have sent a very strong signal about their wish to continue using the title Dr. We have listened to them and will convey the strength of that feeling to the GDC in our response to its consultation on this issue.
"It is clear from the contributions to this forum that, as long as it is made clear that the individual in question is a dentist, patients do not seem to be confused by the use of the title. The practice of referring to dentists in this way is long-established overseas and is also now firmly embedded in the UK."
The discussion, which was open from late July to early September, saw contributions from BDA members across the UK. The results of the poll will be used to emphasise the profession's concerns in the BDA's formal response to the General Dental Council's consultation on the issue.
Dr Susie Sanderson, Chair of the BDA's Executive Board, said:
"This issue has generated unprecedented levels of interest from contributors to the BDA's online communities. Participants have sent a very strong signal about their wish to continue using the title Dr. We have listened to them and will convey the strength of that feeling to the GDC in our response to its consultation on this issue.
"It is clear from the contributions to this forum that, as long as it is made clear that the individual in question is a dentist, patients do not seem to be confused by the use of the title. The practice of referring to dentists in this way is long-established overseas and is also now firmly embedded in the UK."
Quarter Of A Million Lose Access To NHS Dentistry, UK
Statistics published by The Information Centre offer further evidence that the Government's 2006 reforms are failing to achieve their aim of improving access to NHS dentistry. The figures show that more than a quarter of a million people across England have lost access to NHS dentistry since the implementation of reforms in April 2006.
The statistics show that 27,879,000 patients were seen by an NHS dentist in England in the 24 months up to 30 June 2007, compared to 28,145,000 in the 24 months up to 31 March 2006, a reduction of 266,000 patients. This figure is in addition to the approximately two million people that the Department of Health acknowledges wanted access but were unable to get it before March 2006.
Peter Ward, Chief Executive of the British Dental Association, said:
"These statistics offer further evidence that the Government's reforms to NHS dentistry aren't achieving their stated aims. This contract has failed to improve access for patients and failed to allow dentists to deliver the kind of modern, preventive care they believe their patients deserve.
"It's time that the Government started listening to what dentists and patients are telling them and recognise that urgent action is required to address these problems."
Notes:
1. The Information Centre figures are available here.
2. The Department of Health's estimate of approximately two million people wishing to access NHS dentistry in England but unable to do so prior to the implementation of reforms in April 2006 is available here.
3. The Information Centre is an independent NHS Special Health Authority that collects, analyses and distributes national statistics on health and social care.
4. The British Dental Association (BDA) is the professional association for dentists in the UK. It represents over 20,000 dentists working in general practice, in community and hospital settings, in academia and research, and in the armed forces.
British Dental Association
The statistics show that 27,879,000 patients were seen by an NHS dentist in England in the 24 months up to 30 June 2007, compared to 28,145,000 in the 24 months up to 31 March 2006, a reduction of 266,000 patients. This figure is in addition to the approximately two million people that the Department of Health acknowledges wanted access but were unable to get it before March 2006.
Peter Ward, Chief Executive of the British Dental Association, said:
"These statistics offer further evidence that the Government's reforms to NHS dentistry aren't achieving their stated aims. This contract has failed to improve access for patients and failed to allow dentists to deliver the kind of modern, preventive care they believe their patients deserve.
"It's time that the Government started listening to what dentists and patients are telling them and recognise that urgent action is required to address these problems."
Notes:
1. The Information Centre figures are available here.
2. The Department of Health's estimate of approximately two million people wishing to access NHS dentistry in England but unable to do so prior to the implementation of reforms in April 2006 is available here.
3. The Information Centre is an independent NHS Special Health Authority that collects, analyses and distributes national statistics on health and social care.
4. The British Dental Association (BDA) is the professional association for dentists in the UK. It represents over 20,000 dentists working in general practice, in community and hospital settings, in academia and research, and in the armed forces.
British Dental Association
Quarter Of A Million Lose Access To NHS Dentistry, UK
Statistics published by The Information Centre offer further evidence that the Government's 2006 reforms are failing to achieve their aim of improving access to NHS dentistry. The figures show that more than a quarter of a million people across England have lost access to NHS dentistry since the implementation of reforms in April 2006.
The statistics show that 27,879,000 patients were seen by an NHS dentist in England in the 24 months up to 30 June 2007, compared to 28,145,000 in the 24 months up to 31 March 2006, a reduction of 266,000 patients. This figure is in addition to the approximately two million people that the Department of Health acknowledges wanted access but were unable to get it before March 2006.
Peter Ward, Chief Executive of the British Dental Association, said:
"These statistics offer further evidence that the Government's reforms to NHS dentistry aren't achieving their stated aims. This contract has failed to improve access for patients and failed to allow dentists to deliver the kind of modern, preventive care they believe their patients deserve.
"It's time that the Government started listening to what dentists and patients are telling them and recognise that urgent action is required to address these problems."
Notes:
1. The Information Centre figures are available here.
2. The Department of Health's estimate of approximately two million people wishing to access NHS dentistry in England but unable to do so prior to the implementation of reforms in April 2006 is available here.
3. The Information Centre is an independent NHS Special Health Authority that collects, analyses and distributes national statistics on health and social care.
4. The British Dental Association (BDA) is the professional association for dentists in the UK. It represents over 20,000 dentists working in general practice, in community and hospital settings, in academia and research, and in the armed forces.
British Dental Association
The statistics show that 27,879,000 patients were seen by an NHS dentist in England in the 24 months up to 30 June 2007, compared to 28,145,000 in the 24 months up to 31 March 2006, a reduction of 266,000 patients. This figure is in addition to the approximately two million people that the Department of Health acknowledges wanted access but were unable to get it before March 2006.
Peter Ward, Chief Executive of the British Dental Association, said:
"These statistics offer further evidence that the Government's reforms to NHS dentistry aren't achieving their stated aims. This contract has failed to improve access for patients and failed to allow dentists to deliver the kind of modern, preventive care they believe their patients deserve.
"It's time that the Government started listening to what dentists and patients are telling them and recognise that urgent action is required to address these problems."
Notes:
1. The Information Centre figures are available here.
2. The Department of Health's estimate of approximately two million people wishing to access NHS dentistry in England but unable to do so prior to the implementation of reforms in April 2006 is available here.
3. The Information Centre is an independent NHS Special Health Authority that collects, analyses and distributes national statistics on health and social care.
4. The British Dental Association (BDA) is the professional association for dentists in the UK. It represents over 20,000 dentists working in general practice, in community and hospital settings, in academia and research, and in the armed forces.
British Dental Association
Discovery Of Shared Genetic Link Between The Dental Disease Periodontitis And Heart Attack
The relationship between the dental disease periodontitis and coronary heart disease (CHD) has been known for several years. Although a genetic link seemed likely, until now its existence was uncertain. Now, for the first time, scientists have discovered a genetic relationship between the two conditions, a researcher told the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics.
Dr. Arne Schaefer, of the Institute for Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Kiel, Germany, said that his team had discovered a genetic variant situated on chromosome 9 which was shared between the two diseases. "We studied a genetic locus on chromosome 9p21.3 that had previously been identified to be associated with myocardial infarction, in a group of 151 patients suffering from the most aggressive, early-onset forms of periodontitis, and a group of 1097 CHD patients who had already had a heart attack. The genetic variation associated with the clinical pictures of both diseases was identical," he said. The scientists went on to verify the association in further groups of 1100 CHD patients and 180 periodontitis patients.
"We found that the genetic risk variant is located in a genetic region that codes for an antisense DNA called ANRIL", said Dr. Schaefer, "and that it is identical for both diseases."
When a gene is ready to produce a protein, the two strands of DNA in the gene unravel. One strand produces messenger RNA, and will express a protein. Antisense RNA is complementary to the mRNA, and is often carried by the reverse strand, the 'anti-sense' strand of the DNA double helix. This strand does not encode for a protein, but can bind specifically to the messenger RNA to form a duplex. Through this binding, the antisense strand inhibits the protein expression of the mRNA .
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and periodontitis, which leads to the loss of connective tissue and the bone support of teeth, is the major cause of tooth loss in adults over 40 years. Periodontitis is very common, and around 90% of people aged over 60 suffer from it. Research has already shown a genetic basis for both diseases.
"We intend to push ahead with our work to try to understand more about the function of this RNA molecule and the pathway in which it operates in healthy gums and also in periodontitis. In the meantime, because of its association with CHD, we think that periodontitis should be taken very seriously by dentists and diagnosed and treated as early as possible", said Dr. Schaefer.
Both CHD and periodontitis are propagated by the same risk factors - most importantly smoking, diabetes and obesity - and there is also a gender relationship, with men possibly more liable to these diseases than women. Researchers have also shown similarities in the bacteria found in the oral cavity and in coronary plaques, and both diseases are characterised by an imbalanced immune reaction and chronic inflammation.
"These factors already indicated a possible mutual genetic basis underlying the two diseases", said Dr. Schaefer. Now we know for sure that there is a strong genetic link, patients with periodontitis should try to reduce their risk factors and take preventive measures at an early stage", he said. "We hope that our findings will make it easier to diagnose the disease at an early stage, and that in future a greater insight into the specific pathophsyiology might open the way to effective treatment before the disease can take hold."
Dr. Arne Schaefer, of the Institute for Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Kiel, Germany, said that his team had discovered a genetic variant situated on chromosome 9 which was shared between the two diseases. "We studied a genetic locus on chromosome 9p21.3 that had previously been identified to be associated with myocardial infarction, in a group of 151 patients suffering from the most aggressive, early-onset forms of periodontitis, and a group of 1097 CHD patients who had already had a heart attack. The genetic variation associated with the clinical pictures of both diseases was identical," he said. The scientists went on to verify the association in further groups of 1100 CHD patients and 180 periodontitis patients.
"We found that the genetic risk variant is located in a genetic region that codes for an antisense DNA called ANRIL", said Dr. Schaefer, "and that it is identical for both diseases."
When a gene is ready to produce a protein, the two strands of DNA in the gene unravel. One strand produces messenger RNA, and will express a protein. Antisense RNA is complementary to the mRNA, and is often carried by the reverse strand, the 'anti-sense' strand of the DNA double helix. This strand does not encode for a protein, but can bind specifically to the messenger RNA to form a duplex. Through this binding, the antisense strand inhibits the protein expression of the mRNA .
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and periodontitis, which leads to the loss of connective tissue and the bone support of teeth, is the major cause of tooth loss in adults over 40 years. Periodontitis is very common, and around 90% of people aged over 60 suffer from it. Research has already shown a genetic basis for both diseases.
"We intend to push ahead with our work to try to understand more about the function of this RNA molecule and the pathway in which it operates in healthy gums and also in periodontitis. In the meantime, because of its association with CHD, we think that periodontitis should be taken very seriously by dentists and diagnosed and treated as early as possible", said Dr. Schaefer.
Both CHD and periodontitis are propagated by the same risk factors - most importantly smoking, diabetes and obesity - and there is also a gender relationship, with men possibly more liable to these diseases than women. Researchers have also shown similarities in the bacteria found in the oral cavity and in coronary plaques, and both diseases are characterised by an imbalanced immune reaction and chronic inflammation.
"These factors already indicated a possible mutual genetic basis underlying the two diseases", said Dr. Schaefer. Now we know for sure that there is a strong genetic link, patients with periodontitis should try to reduce their risk factors and take preventive measures at an early stage", he said. "We hope that our findings will make it easier to diagnose the disease at an early stage, and that in future a greater insight into the specific pathophsyiology might open the way to effective treatment before the disease can take hold."
Discovery Of Shared Genetic Link Between The Dental Disease Periodontitis And Heart Attack
The relationship between the dental disease periodontitis and coronary heart disease (CHD) has been known for several years. Although a genetic link seemed likely, until now its existence was uncertain. Now, for the first time, scientists have discovered a genetic relationship between the two conditions, a researcher told the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics.
Dr. Arne Schaefer, of the Institute for Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Kiel, Germany, said that his team had discovered a genetic variant situated on chromosome 9 which was shared between the two diseases. "We studied a genetic locus on chromosome 9p21.3 that had previously been identified to be associated with myocardial infarction, in a group of 151 patients suffering from the most aggressive, early-onset forms of periodontitis, and a group of 1097 CHD patients who had already had a heart attack. The genetic variation associated with the clinical pictures of both diseases was identical," he said. The scientists went on to verify the association in further groups of 1100 CHD patients and 180 periodontitis patients.
"We found that the genetic risk variant is located in a genetic region that codes for an antisense DNA called ANRIL", said Dr. Schaefer, "and that it is identical for both diseases."
When a gene is ready to produce a protein, the two strands of DNA in the gene unravel. One strand produces messenger RNA, and will express a protein. Antisense RNA is complementary to the mRNA, and is often carried by the reverse strand, the 'anti-sense' strand of the DNA double helix. This strand does not encode for a protein, but can bind specifically to the messenger RNA to form a duplex. Through this binding, the antisense strand inhibits the protein expression of the mRNA .
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and periodontitis, which leads to the loss of connective tissue and the bone support of teeth, is the major cause of tooth loss in adults over 40 years. Periodontitis is very common, and around 90% of people aged over 60 suffer from it. Research has already shown a genetic basis for both diseases.
"We intend to push ahead with our work to try to understand more about the function of this RNA molecule and the pathway in which it operates in healthy gums and also in periodontitis. In the meantime, because of its association with CHD, we think that periodontitis should be taken very seriously by dentists and diagnosed and treated as early as possible", said Dr. Schaefer.
Both CHD and periodontitis are propagated by the same risk factors - most importantly smoking, diabetes and obesity - and there is also a gender relationship, with men possibly more liable to these diseases than women. Researchers have also shown similarities in the bacteria found in the oral cavity and in coronary plaques, and both diseases are characterised by an imbalanced immune reaction and chronic inflammation.
"These factors already indicated a possible mutual genetic basis underlying the two diseases", said Dr. Schaefer. Now we know for sure that there is a strong genetic link, patients with periodontitis should try to reduce their risk factors and take preventive measures at an early stage", he said. "We hope that our findings will make it easier to diagnose the disease at an early stage, and that in future a greater insight into the specific pathophsyiology might open the way to effective treatment before the disease can take hold."
Dr. Arne Schaefer, of the Institute for Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Kiel, Germany, said that his team had discovered a genetic variant situated on chromosome 9 which was shared between the two diseases. "We studied a genetic locus on chromosome 9p21.3 that had previously been identified to be associated with myocardial infarction, in a group of 151 patients suffering from the most aggressive, early-onset forms of periodontitis, and a group of 1097 CHD patients who had already had a heart attack. The genetic variation associated with the clinical pictures of both diseases was identical," he said. The scientists went on to verify the association in further groups of 1100 CHD patients and 180 periodontitis patients.
"We found that the genetic risk variant is located in a genetic region that codes for an antisense DNA called ANRIL", said Dr. Schaefer, "and that it is identical for both diseases."
When a gene is ready to produce a protein, the two strands of DNA in the gene unravel. One strand produces messenger RNA, and will express a protein. Antisense RNA is complementary to the mRNA, and is often carried by the reverse strand, the 'anti-sense' strand of the DNA double helix. This strand does not encode for a protein, but can bind specifically to the messenger RNA to form a duplex. Through this binding, the antisense strand inhibits the protein expression of the mRNA .
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and periodontitis, which leads to the loss of connective tissue and the bone support of teeth, is the major cause of tooth loss in adults over 40 years. Periodontitis is very common, and around 90% of people aged over 60 suffer from it. Research has already shown a genetic basis for both diseases.
"We intend to push ahead with our work to try to understand more about the function of this RNA molecule and the pathway in which it operates in healthy gums and also in periodontitis. In the meantime, because of its association with CHD, we think that periodontitis should be taken very seriously by dentists and diagnosed and treated as early as possible", said Dr. Schaefer.
Both CHD and periodontitis are propagated by the same risk factors - most importantly smoking, diabetes and obesity - and there is also a gender relationship, with men possibly more liable to these diseases than women. Researchers have also shown similarities in the bacteria found in the oral cavity and in coronary plaques, and both diseases are characterised by an imbalanced immune reaction and chronic inflammation.
"These factors already indicated a possible mutual genetic basis underlying the two diseases", said Dr. Schaefer. Now we know for sure that there is a strong genetic link, patients with periodontitis should try to reduce their risk factors and take preventive measures at an early stage", he said. "We hope that our findings will make it easier to diagnose the disease at an early stage, and that in future a greater insight into the specific pathophsyiology might open the way to effective treatment before the disease can take hold."
84th General Session & Exhibition Of The IADR
From June 28-July 1, 2006, thousands of dental research scientists, students, and educators from around the world will convene in Brisbane, Australia, as the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) holds its 84th General Session & Exhibition at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCC). This is also the 1st Meeting of the IADR's Pan-Asian-Pacific Federation (PAPF), comprised of the Australian/New Zealand, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Southeast Asian Divisions of the IADR.
This press kit contains:
* a background paper on the IADR and PAPF (blue),
* a general news release on the meeting (blue),
* a release on the reinstated Isaac Schour Award (blue),
* a release on the IADR/GlaxoSmithKline Innovation in Oral Care Awards (blue),
* procedures for arranging interviews (blue),
* a guide to the releases (blue),
* who's who in the releases (blue),
* releases on selected abstracts (white),
* releases on the 2006 Distinguished Scientist Award-winners (goldenrod),
* a release on the IADR Distinguished Service Award, IADR Honorary Membership, the E.W. Borrow Memorial Award, the IADR David B. Scott Fellowship, the Norton Ross Fellowship, the John Clarkson Fellowship, the IADR/Lion Dental Research Award for Junior Investigators, the IADR/Colgate Research in Prevention Travel Awards, the IADR/Unilever Division Travel Awards, the IADR/GlaxoSmithKline Innovation in Oral Care Awards, the William J. Gies Awards, and the AADR/NIDCR Bloc Travel Grant winners (green); and
* a release on symposia/keynotes/workshops (green).
Contact: Linda Hemphill
International & American Association for Dental Research
This press kit contains:
* a background paper on the IADR and PAPF (blue),
* a general news release on the meeting (blue),
* a release on the reinstated Isaac Schour Award (blue),
* a release on the IADR/GlaxoSmithKline Innovation in Oral Care Awards (blue),
* procedures for arranging interviews (blue),
* a guide to the releases (blue),
* who's who in the releases (blue),
* releases on selected abstracts (white),
* releases on the 2006 Distinguished Scientist Award-winners (goldenrod),
* a release on the IADR Distinguished Service Award, IADR Honorary Membership, the E.W. Borrow Memorial Award, the IADR David B. Scott Fellowship, the Norton Ross Fellowship, the John Clarkson Fellowship, the IADR/Lion Dental Research Award for Junior Investigators, the IADR/Colgate Research in Prevention Travel Awards, the IADR/Unilever Division Travel Awards, the IADR/GlaxoSmithKline Innovation in Oral Care Awards, the William J. Gies Awards, and the AADR/NIDCR Bloc Travel Grant winners (green); and
* a release on symposia/keynotes/workshops (green).
Contact: Linda Hemphill
International & American Association for Dental Research
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