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DENTAL NEWS: Two health professionals from New York have developed a toothbrush that doesn't require the use of running water. Called AquaFree, the toothbrush uses its own water supply concealed in the brush's handle for rinsing.
AquaFree is the brain child of entrepreneurs and health professionals Todd Spinelli and Frank Ottaviani and was unveiled earlier this month at the annual Greater New York Dental Meeting and Convention.
More than 100,000 of the new toothbrushes will be handed out to local school children in New York City and Long Island in the upcoming months to conserve more than 2 million gallons of water from local residents a day.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated the average citizen wasted 2 gallons of water daily as part of brushing teeth and oral hygiene.
More than 2 billion people in the world don't have access to sanitary water and the AquaFree toothbrush could provide a healthy alternative as well as contribute to the well being of others in which water conservation is mandatory, Spinelli and Ottaviani said.
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DENTAL VIEWS: Saving water is all well and good but I think the creators of this toothbrush fail to realize the biggest advantage of their product is not that it'll save a few gallons of water per year but rather that it'll make it easier for the average person to brush of their teeth more often without having to have access to running water all the time.
Count me as one of these "average persons".
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Dental News
Nationwide, a handful of public health agencies are trying to bring HIV testing to the dental chair. Nowhere is this testing more prevalent than in New York State. "The surprise factor is you are offering this," said Dr. Catrise Austin, who has tested some 100 patients for HIV at VIP Smiles, her New York City clinic, since July.
"The topic of HIV can be uncomfortable for some, so we decided we would talk about it with patients in a matter-of-fact way, the way we talk about cavities and gum disease."
To test for the AIDS-causing virus, all a dentist needs to do is swipe a patient's upper and lower gums with a $15 OraQuick Advance kit. Within 20 minutes, the swab will change colors to indicate a positive or negative result just like a home pregnancy test.
Approximately one in 10 Americans visit a dentist but not a physician each year, and about a quarter of HIV-infected people don't even know their status, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
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Dental News
Health care providers this year rolled out a different sort of stocking stuffer: Gift cards that can be used to pay your dental bills for specific services.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida might have the largest program, selling gift cards at over 1,000 Winn-Dixie and CVS stores in the state. The providers selling them say they can make a good gift, but industry observers say some cards may not be right for many consumers.
In the Blue Cross Blue Shield program, a $19 gift card gets recipients a 10% to 50% discount on braces, dentures, crowns, fillings, oral surgery and cosmetic dentistry and/or a 10% to 60% discount on eye exams, glasses or contact lenses. "They are a wonderful solution, but they are not the ideal solution for everyone," said BCBS of Florida spokesman Doug Bartel who pointed out that the cards do not cover everything and do not replace comprehensive health/dental insurance plans do.
Some say health care is too complicated to be covered by a thin piece of plastic. But supporters disagree. "It's hard enough to afford Christmas, let alone check-ups and doctor's visits," says Sean Ness of Syracuse. "I'd love someone to hand me a card that would cover even some of those [health care] expenses."
Critics Disagree
Some health care professionals point out that health-based gift cards frequently come with numerous restrictions or cost more than the benefit is worth.
One recent version of a health care gift card which failed was Pennsylvania health insurer Highmark who dropped a card after one year because of consumer confusion. "A card is an inanimate object. Health care is a complicated product. It's very difficult to understand. And even the card itself, it had those restrictions and confusion around which products could be bought and which ones couldn't," Highmark spokeswoman Kristin Ash said.
Charlie Villar, who was shopping at a CVS store in Miami where the Blue Cross cards were being sold, said medical and dental bills are too complex for gift cards. "Even with my own health care, you have to take a close look at what your plan offers you. And for $59 or $19, I mean I don't know what I'm going to be giving someone," said Villar, a 38-year-old marketer.
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Dental News
To alleviate the high cost of health care, you can take advantage of tax breaks allowed by the IRS for medical and dental expenses. To qualify, your medical and dental expenses for the year must be higher than the '7.5% limit' of your adjusted gross income. Once your expenses exceed this percentage, you can deduct the cost of treatments from physicians, dentists, and other practitioners. The expense of buying medical aids such as glasses, contact lenses, wheelchairs, and hearing aids can be deducted as well. If you used your car for medical reasons, you can claim 18 cents a mile.
Additionally, certain health/dental insurance premiums, and most medical/dental tests and procedures will count as deductions. If you're self-employed, up to 100 percent of your health/dental insurance costs can be deducted. Medical-related expenses that are not deductible include cosmetic surgery performed for appearance only and over-the-counter medications. Keep in mind that you should maintain good records showing what you and your insurance company have paid. These tips are meant to provide general information on federal income taxes.
For specific advice, please consult a tax advisor or call the toll-free number for Federal Tax Information and Assistance at 1-800-829-1040.
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Added Sugar In Raisin Cereals Increases Acidity Of Dental Plaque
Elevated dental plaque acid is a risk factor that contributes to cavities in children. But eating bran flakes with raisins containing no added sugar does not promote more acid in dental plaque than bran flakes alone, according to new research at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Published in the dental journal Pediatric Dentistry, the study involved children ages 7 to 11 and four different types of test foods -- raisins; bran flakes; raisin bran cereal with added sugar; mix of bran flakes with raisins without added sugar. The study found that adding unsweetened raisins to bran flakes did not increase plaque acid compared to bran flakes alone.
Some dentists believe sweet, sticky foods such as raisins cause cavities because they are difficult to clear off the tooth surfaces, said Christine Wu, professor and director of cariology research at UIC and lead investigator of the study. However, studies have shown that raisins are rapidly cleared from the surface of the teeth just like apples, bananas and chocolate, she said. In a previous study then at the same university, researchers identified several natural compounds from raisins that can inhibit the growth of some oral bacteria linked to cavities or gum disease.
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Dental News
Earlier this week the W.K. Kellogg Foundation released a wide-ranging assessment of dental care in the U.S. which concluded that dental therapists -a relatively new type of dental professional- could provide care to millions of underserved Americans living in dentist-shortage areas.
Similar to a nurse practitioner or physician assistant in the medical field, dental therapists are envisioned as members of the dental team that is led by the dentist or dental specialist.
Some 48 million U.S. children and adults live in areas without enough dentists to provide routine oral health care and millions more can get to a dentist but cannot afford to pay. As a result, many live with pain, miss school or work and, in extreme cases, face life-threatening medical emergencies from consequences of dental infections.
Dental Therapists History in the U.S.
In Alaska, dental therapists began work in 2003 in rural and tribal areas of the state, according to the report. Earlier this year, the neighboring state of Minnesota became the first state to enact a law authorizing the deployment of a new type of health professional, dental therapists, to serve rural and underserved populations.
But the foundation's assessment differed from the Minnesota model by urging a more simplified training and certification process of two years for a therapist or three years for joint dental therapy/dental hygiene education after high school. The report concludes that the "Minnesota dental therapy model requires more schooling and stricter oversight than the established international model -- two differences that could severely diminish its effectiveness by creating barriers to entering the profession and by increasing dental care costs."
Dental Therapists History Abroad
Internationally, dental therapists have been used for decades. However, dental therapy is still relatively new to the United States. Dental therapy began in the 1920s in New Zealand and is now well-established around the world, including countries with advanced dental care similar to the United States, such as England, Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands, the foundation report notes.
"Decades of research have shown that the preventive and basic dental repair services provided by dental therapists are safe, high quality, acceptable to the public, and cost-effective," it concludes.
The full report and executive summary are available on the Foundation's website, www.wkkf.org.
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Dental News
Dr. Paul Krasner, professor of endodontics at Temple University, has invented a specialized storage device to protect knocked out teeth during transport to the dentist. Called Save-A-Tooth®, this new six-part system increases the success rate of reimplanted teeth to 90% from the current 10% rate.
Over five million teeth are knocked out annually in the United States during sports, automobile accidents and in the home. A knocked out tooth begins to die within 15 minutes if it's not successfully reimplanted, on average it costs the victim $3,000 to immediately reimplant the tooth and another $30,000 over their lifetime.
The Save-A-Tooth® System
"Being informed and prepared for a tooth that's been knocked out can mean the difference between a lifetime of dental problems and gigantic dental bills" says, Dr. Krasner. "Millions of teeth are knocked out every year but can be saved if people know what to do when an accident occurs. Save-A-Tooth® is not merely a better storage fluid but an entire scientific methodology that provides the maximum potential for successfully saving knocked out teeth", Dr. Krasner added.
Research has shown that the best storage medium for knocked out teeth is a fluid called 'Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution'. It has the ideal concentration for tooth root cells and contains all of the metabolites and energy that knocked out teeth need to stay alive for 24 hours. This fluid, along with a cushioning, suspension and retrieval apparatus, is found in the Save-A-Tooth®.
Dr. Henry Rankow, a diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics, recommends that sports teams, hospital emergency rooms and ambulances should have a Save-A-Tooth® on hand ahead of time for a when and injury knocked teeth out of someone.
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Dental News
The Consumer Guide to Dentistry has released its predictions about what trends will occur in the oral health industry next year.
Trend #1: 2010 will see a wider variety of dental implants that will be more affordable. Manufactures and dentists have been developing less invasive dental implants and installation procedures. It now takes less time to have a dental implant fitted and the aesthetics are also improving all the time.
Trend #2: Orthodontic procedures are becoming more affordable and more aesthetically pleasing. invisalign, which had cornered the invisible brace market, now has competition which means that the price of braces is being driven down and everybody has a chance of getting a perfect smile.
Trend #3: Treatment is set too become more comfortable and convenient for patients. With new medication being able to speed-up recovery from dental surgery and digital imaging creating 3D impressions of your teeth people can get a check-up receive treatment and then go about their business in a far quicker time.
Trend #4: Steps for the prevention of decay will be stepped up. Thanks to new technologies dentists are finding it easier to detect harmful damaging bacteria.
Trend #5: The Consumer Guide to Dentistry expects to see more people going for high-tech oral cancer screenings. Dentists are now screening more patients for oral cancer than ever before because if it is detected early there are impressive survival rates.
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DENTAL NEWS: One of the most documented yet least known facts about oral health is its connection to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. According to the Web site MayoClinic.com, "Diabetes increases your risk of gum disease, cavities, tooth loss, dry mouth and a variety of oral infections. Conversely, poor oral health can make your diabetes more difficult to control. Infections may cause your blood sugar to rise and require more insulin to keep it under control."
Too Much Bacteria To Blame
Dr. Stephanie Bangs, a dentist in Fort Worth Texas, explains that the link between oral health and cardiovascular disease can be found in bacteria, the idea being that bacteria from the oral cavity can enter the blood stream via gum tissue and infect areas of the body.
"The American Heart Association recently changed the rules on the need for prophylaxis (antibiotics before dental treatment). The idea is that bacteria from the oral cavity can enter the blood stream via gum tissue and infect areas of the body, like joint replacement sites or valves in the heart," said Dr. Bangs. "The new recommendations for patients that require antibiotics before dental treatment include: patients with artificial heart valves, patients with a history of infective endocarditis, heart problems present from birth, a heart transplant that has problems with a heart valve and patients with total joint replacements such as kneeor hip replacements."
Women The Key To Good Oral Health
While the link between oral health and overall health has long been proven, it is still somewhat unknown to the general public. As far as making more people aware of the relationship between the two, educating women, who traditionally manage the family’s health awareness, could be the key. "Women tend to be more in tune with not just dental health, but overall health," says Dr. Kevin Liu, a doctor at Baylor Family Medicine in Keller, Texas.
Some studies have also shown that periodontal disease is associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Periodontal disease in particular is thought to adversely affect endothelial function (inner lining of the blood vessels), thereby leading to vascular disease."
Talk To Your Dentist More
Dental professionals stress that if if you have concerns about your overall health, don’t just talk to your doctor. Make sure your dentist knows your concerns as well. It’s also a good idea to tell your dentist about your medical history so set proper cautionary steps can be taken should you have any health problems that affect your oral health.
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DENTAL VIEWS: Don't kid yourself for a moment; the link between poor oral health and diabetes is real. I recently experienced this first hand when I found out that I have type 2 diabetes only after complaining to my doctor that I was feeling cold all the time (cardiovascular disease?). This, coupled with the fact that it's a struggle to keep my periodontal disease in check, should be enough to convince anyone that taking care of your oral health might lessen your chance of getting diabetes, or at least reducing its severity.
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Dental News
According to a research paper published by GlobalData, on restoration of lost tooth tissue, either from disease or trauma, represents a significant proportion of dental cases. Advancements in stem cell research and tissue engineering fuel the development of novel regenerative therapies, which look for restoring partial tooth tissue loss. Such therapies provide potential for restoration of the structural integrity of dental tissues where the new tissue becomes an integral part of the tooth.
These therapies effectively overcome or minimize some of the problems of restoration failure such as interface failure and bacterial microleakage, with traditional dental materials.
To download the full research paper published by GlobalData about 
stem cell research and dental tissue regrowth report, click here.
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Dental News
It used to be that if you wanted to get whiter teeth, you better be prepared to spend anywhere from $50 -- for an at-home teeth whitening programs such as Crest Whitening strips -- to as much as $500 to have them professionally bleached by dentist. That is until a self-employed mother of three from California discovered a "trick" on how to get whiter teeth using only free trial offers and paying just a few dollars in shipping charges.
Who Is She And What Does She Know?
Cathy from Santa Cruz, California, recently used two different teeth whitening offers from two different companies -- Lucent Whitening and Clean Whites -- to get one full "super" whitening, comparable to what you might attain at a local dentist for $500. Cathy was recently quoted by Consumer Tips Weekly as saying, "My idea was that I’d just use one first and once I ran out I’d switch to the other. The results were good with the first product alone, but what I hadn’t expected was that when I followed it with the second, I noticed improvements in parts of my teeth that the other product hadn’t affected, or had only slightly improved. Like I said, I’m no doctor, dentist, or medical expert, but it appears that each of the separate products focus on DIFFERENT parts of the problem, or that the second one just gave the whitening enough of a "boost" that it finished the job! I found coupon codes for them, I was able to do the whole thing by just paying $1.97 for Lucent Whitening and $0.97 for Clean Whites (as of 09/12/09). I'm just happy I didn't shell out the $500 my dentist would have charged!"
If you’re interested in using Cathy’s trick, below are the links and coupon codes. Remember, to get results like Cathy’s, you will want to use both products together in order to get whiter teeth at home.
Step 1: Click here for Lucent Whitening (Use Promo Code: smile)
Step 2: Click here for Clean Whites (Use Promo Code: save)
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Dental News
Although associated more with orthopedics and sports medicine, platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP), is showing strong potential for accelerated healing of dental implants, according to the editor of the Journal of Oral Implantology James Rutkowski, DMD, PhD.
Dr. Rutkowski reported at the recent annual scientific meeting of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry that PRP therapy can accelerate bone and tissue growth and wound healing and help to better insure long-term success of dental implant procedures.
PRP Explained
Platelet-rich plasma is obtained from a small sample of the patient's own blood. It is centrifuged to separate platelet growth factors from red blood cells. The concentration of platelets triggers rapid growth of new bone and soft tissue. "There is very little risk because we are accelerating the natural process in which the body heals itself," Rutkowski went on to say, "PRP speeds up the healing process at the cellular level, and there is virtually no risk for allergic reaction or rejection because we use the patient's own blood."
"What could be better than using the body's own regenerative powers to grow bone and soft tissue safely and quickly? For dental implant procedures, PRP treatments can jump start bone growth and implant adherence in just two weeks, which cuts down the time between implant placement and affixing the permanent crown," said Rutkowski.
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DENTAL NEWS: Despite the stereotype that the British have bad teeth, better dental care -- especially among seniors -- is likely to lead to a shortage of items used by British dentists in the treatment of cavities, tooth erosion and root canals.
The British Dental Association's (BDA) scientific adviser Professor Damien Walmsley says that the demand for dental supplies that were originally designed only to be used for 20 years could exhaust resources in the British government-run system of dental care in the near future.
BDA research has found that fewer than a third of the over-65s in England currently have their own teeth, but within 20 years that is likely to increase to about 50% of them.
"Decay will cause problems as older people tend to get a different kind of decay, often around the gums, which needs to be treated differently," Professor Walmsley said. "There may also be teeth erosion. We can use compounds to build up teeth as well, as fluoride varnishes to strengthen and protect them."
Walmsley went on to say that there needs to be more research into how best to tackle these problems, something he acknowledged the Department of Health is already doing. "The NHS will need to commission services to meet the needs of all people including those who, because of age, infirmity or complex needs, may have difficulty in accessing traditional dental services," said British Health Minister Ann Keen.
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DENTAL VIEWS: I can't imagine American dentists running out of fillings, crowns or any type of supplies for that matter with the free market dental care system we operate under. (Insert sarcastic comment here. Go ahead; don't be shy.)
