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DENTAL NEWS
Researchers at the University of Minho in Portugal have found that yeasts which cause hard to treat mouth infections are are killed using silver nanoparticles under laboratory conditions.
These yeast infections --caused by Candida albicans and Candida glabrata-- target the young, old and those with compromised immune systems. Professor Mariana Henriques, lead researcher on this project, said that her and her fellow researchers hope to test silver nanoparticles in mouthwash and dentures as a potential preventative measure against these infections. These two yeasts cause painful infections that affect seven out of ten denture wearers.
Findings of this research were published in the Society for Applied Microbiology's journal Letters in Applied Microbiology. Some researchers have expressed concerns around the safety of nanoparticle use but the authors stress this research is at an early stage and extensive safety trials will be carried out before any product reaches the market. However, Professor Henriques hopes to integrate silver nanoparticles into dentures which could prevent infections from taking hold.
"With the emergence of Candida infections which are frequently resistant to the traditional antifungal therapies, there is an increasing need for alternative approaches. So, silver nanoparticles appear to be a new potential strategy to combat these infections (as) the nanoparticles are relatively stable in liquid medium they could be developed into a mouthwash solution in the near future", said Professor Henriques.
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DENTAL NEWS
According to the IRS, there are eight different types of dental/medical expenses you may deduct when you file your tax return this April.
1. You must itemize You deduct qualifying medical and dental expenses if you itemize on Form 1040, Schedule A.
2. Deduction is limited You can deduct total medical care expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income for the year. You figure this on Form 1040, Schedule A.
3. Expenses must have been paid in 2011 You can include the medical and dental expenses you paid during the year, regardless of when the services were provided. You’ll need to have good receipts or records to substantiate your expenses.
4. You can’t deduct reimbursed expenses Your total medical expenses for the year must be reduced by any reimbursement. Normally, it makes no difference if you receive the reimbursement or if it is paid directly to the doctor or hospital.
5. Whose expenses qualify You may include qualified medical expenses you pay for yourself, your spouse and your dependents. Some exceptions and special rules apply to divorced or separated parents, taxpayers with a multiple support agreement or those with a qualifying relative who is not your child.
6. Types of expenses that qualify You can deduct expenses primarily paid for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease, or treatment affecting any structure or function of the body. For drugs, you can only deduct prescription medication and insulin. You can also include premiums for medical, dental and some long-term care insurance in your expenses. Starting in 2011, you can also include lactation supplies.
7. Transportation costs may qualify You may deduct transportation costs primarily for and essential to medical care that qualify as medical expenses. You can deduct the actual fare for a taxi, bus, train, plane or ambulance as well as tolls and parking fees. If you use your car for medical transportation, you can deduct actual out-of-pocket expenses such as gas and oil, or you can deduct the standard mileage rate for medical expenses, which is 19 cents per mile for 2011.
8. Tax-favored saving for medical expenses Distributions from Health Savings Accounts and withdrawals from Flexible Spending Arrangements may be tax free if used to pay qualified medical expenses including prescription medication and insulin.
For more information on the ducting dental or medical expenses, see IRS Publication #502 or Publication #969 available at IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
