Oral health of children who receive dental care through Medicaid lags behind their privately insured peers, even though the children receive the same amount of dental care, according to a study from the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. The study was released in Health Affairs’ December issue, and was discussed by Jaffer A Shariff, DDS, MPH, … Read more
Reports that the upcoming federal budget will announce the government’s plan to tax employer-provided health and dental insurance have generated considerable buzz in Ottawa. It would be a significant change that would affect millions of Canadians and involve billions of dollars. But it could be an idea worth supporting, including by free-market proponents. Here’s the … Read more
Poor oral health is one of the most pressing, unmet health care issues facing Illinois children and adults today according to a new state oral health assessment report Oral Health in Illinois, the first comprehensive statewide oral health assessment ever completed. Tooth decay, dubbed “America’s silent epidemic” by the U.S. Surgeon General, disproportionately affects poor … Read more
Nearly 90 percent of patients at long-term care facilities don’t take advantage of dental services, even when they are free, a recent study by University at Buffalo researchers has found. The research, published last month in Special Care in Dentistry, found that the longer a patient stayed at a long-term care facility, such as a … Read more
Researchers at the University at Buffalo have received a $239,000 grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to study what happens when seemingly harmless bacteria overstay their welcome. The research, led by Jason Kay, PhD, assistant professor of oral biology in the UB School of Dental Medicine, will examine Streptococcus gordonii, a … Read more
Being struck by Cupid’s arrow can be good for your teeth. According to University of Queensland researcher Grace Branjerdporn, finding a soul mate puts a smile on your face in more ways than one. “We studied how the dynamics of our romantic relationships affect our oral health,” Ms Branjerdporn said. “We determined that those who … Read more
For my first editorial with the Oral Health Group, my blatant opinion to start this piece off might not be the smartest idea. But I feel that I owe it to our dedicated readers, and to my two feline children at home, Eleanor and Lou, to be honest and open. With that being said, I … Read more
On Saturday, September 3, 2016, a group of strangers from across Ontario gathered at the Toronto airport. Their mission: head down to Negril, Jamaica to provide free dental treatment and education to impoverished Jamaicans. This was the second annual trip organized by Great Shape! Inc., the Sandals Foundation, and DMC LLP.1 The volunteer group included … Read more
Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) today announced that it has donated more than $80,000 in health care products this year to the Henry Viscardi School at The Viscardi Center, a Long Island-based school for children with severe physical disabilities who often require life-sustaining medical treatment throughout the day. The donation will support the specialized care … Read more
Futuredontics® announced today that company co-founder Fred Joyal is hosting a free webinar for dentists called “What Dental Patients Want.” In this special live presentation, Fred draws on new research to reveal the surprising factors that have the greatest impact on a consumer’s choice of a dental practice. The hour-long webinar will be held on … Read more
Access to oral health care has increased since 2001, yet more children face urgent dental needs, according to a new study co-released today by Delta Dental of Kentucky and Kentucky Youth Advocates. The report, Making Smiles Happen: 2016 Oral Health Study of Kentucky’s Youth, presents findings of the first oral health surveillance study of Kentucky … Read more
Mouth and throat cancers caused by the human papilloma virus have been rising steadily over the past two decades, with a “dramatic” increase among Canadian men, according to a new report from the Canadian Cancer Society. The special report on HPV-associated cancers, released Wednesday as part of the 2016 Canadian Cancer Statistics breakdown, says the … Read more
The California Dental Association Foundation’s volunteer dental event, CDA Cares, provided nearly $1.8 million in charitable dental services to 2,066 people Oct. 15-16 in Stockton. In addition to providing dental services at no charge to Californians who experience barriers to care, CDA Cares educates the public and policymakers about the importance of good oral health … Read more
Well, it’s more accurate to say that an investigative journalist from Associated Press (AP) looked at the evidence about the effectiveness of flossing, and came to the conclusion that flossing does not help humanity. Since then, every patient and their grandmother is asking if they should floss at all. Then, the hordes of less-than-fully-employed or … Read more
The provincial government may want to prevent municipalities from removing fluoride from their water supplies — but that doesn’t mean much for fluoride-free Windsor. Last week, the Ontario legislature passed a non-binding motion that would “remove the portions of the Ontario Municipal Act that allow a municipality to … opt out of fluoridation of its drinking water.” The … Read more
Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is calling on dentists and other oral health professionals to be heroes in their communities by volunteering their time and talent to provide free oral care to children in need as part of the ADA Foundation’s 15th annual Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) program, taking place next year. The American Dental … Read more
Young Dental and Wrigley are excited to introduce Wrigley’s Orbit® Prophy Paste and Gum packs. This first-of-its-kind product lets patients experience the signature flavors of Orbit gum both during and after dental appointments. Each co-pack contains a single-dose cup of Orbit-flavored prophy paste in the brand’s Bubblemint, Spearmint and Peppermint flavors, and a piece of … Read more
On October 1, Canadians celebrated the older adults whose mentoring, leadership, and volunteerism have shaped the nation. National Seniors Day was also an occasion for dental hygienists to remind Canada’s seniors and their caregivers of the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene habits throughout the lifespan. “Thanks to healthier lifestyles and advances in oral and … Read more
The October issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association puts sugar in the spotlight and is designed to encourage dentists to consider their part in the latest movement to curb nutrition-related chronic disease. “Shining a spotlight on added-sugar consumption, especially as it relates to dental caries, is an important first step,” said Kerry … Read more
New American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) criteria specify when it may be appropriate to consider antibiotic administration prior to various dental procedures to prevent infection of orthopaedic replacement joints or implants. “Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for the Management of Patients with Orthopaedic Implants Undergoing Dental Procedures” was recently approved by the AAOS Board of … Read more