Kent Coulter and his colleagues at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio have developed a new proof-of-concept dental restorative material under a program funded by the National Institutes of Health that seeks to replace amalgam with other materials. The new fillings are made with a plastic-like material containing zirconia nanoplatelets.
Coulter and his colleagues designed a way to make a roll of this material under vacuum. They envision that this material would be lifted from the roll and packed in a dental cavity and then cured — using an ultraviolet lamp or some other means — so that it hardens in place without shrinking.
It seems like ziconia continues to be a very exciting, useful and beneficial material in dental practice. Comments?
Source: Science Daily
On the eve of Thanksgiving, all dental professionals should be thankful for having the opportunity to “make a difference” and enhance the quality of life for our dental patients on a daily basis. And, our patients should be equally thankful for the healthy teeth that allows them to enjoy the Thanksgiving meal! Congratulations to all of you. Wishing you a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving.
A patient mentioned a great article written by Jane E. Brody in the Health section of the New York Times regarding dental implants as the treatment of choice when compared to fixed bridges. The author unfortunately had experienced failure of a conventional three unit fixed bridge. Fortunately, she has the option of restoring her quality of life with an implant supported crown.
In our periodontal practice in Framingham and Newton, Massachusetts, implant dentistry and related procedures represent the bulk of our daily treatment activities. We have placed thousands of dental implants since 1988, with a success rate of greater than 98%. The majority of our cases result from failing root canals, tooth fractures, and recurrent decay.
Although conventional tooth-supported three unit bridges still have a viable role in dentistry, it is refreshing to see that the general public is becoming more educated about the most ideal treatment options. Kudos to Jane E. Brody for her article today. Please share your thoughts on this topic.
photo credit: Cary Feuerman DMD
One day in medical clinics, the big picture of a patient’s state of health may be found in little pictures from the mouth, says Li Mao, MD, a new professor at the University of Maryland Dental School.
The mouth or oral cavity area is an excellent indicator of the whole body’s health, says Mao, who is the chair of the new Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences at the School.
Mao recently joined the Dental School to be at the forefront of a movement to retool dental education, he says, to make dentists practice more within the bigger health care community.
Future lung cancer prevention trials, for example, could soon be designed so that surface tissues inside the cheek could be checked to detect tobacco-induced damage in the lungs, according to a study led by Mao last year published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.
“We hypothesized that tobacco-induced molecular alterations in the oral epithelium are similar to those in the lungs,” says Mao. “This might have broader implications for using the mouth as a diagnostic indicator for general health.” More..
Source: Newswise
An American Dental Association survey of dentists reported that a majority of dentist feel that their work level is comfortable. Given the current economic climate and jobless claims exceeding 10% on a national level, I wonder if those dentists would respond in the same way today. Comments?
Oral biologists formulated a mint that fights cavities with an ingredient called Cavistat. Cavistat contains two main components that protect the teeth. First, the amino acid arginine metabolizes certain bacteria, which neutralizes the acid generated by sugars. This raises the pH to help prevent damage to teeth. Cavistat also introduces other chemical compounds that protect against the dissolving of the minerals of the teeth. See the video and read more. Happy Halloween!
Source: American Institute of Physics
A new study looks at the highly sophisticated structure of teeth and how this structure could be applied to aircraft and space vehicles of the future. It’s been a mystery: how can our teeth withstand such an enormous amount of pressure, over many years, when tooth enamel is only about as strong as glass? Professor Herzl Chai of Tel Aviv University’s School of Mechanical Engineering and his colleagues at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and George Washington University gives the answer.
The researchers applied varying degrees of mechanical pressure to hundreds of extracted teeth, and studied what occurred on the surface and deep inside them. The study, published in the May 5, 2009, issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, shows that it is the highly-sophisticated structure of our teeth that keeps them in one piece — and that structure holds promising clues for aerospace engineers as they build the aircraft and space vehicles of the future. Check it out at Science Daily.
Scientist and Professor Meital Zilberman of Tel Aviv University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering has developed a new biologically active “scaffold” made from soluble fibers, which may help humans replace lost or missing bone. The invention, which does not yet have a name, could be used to restore missing bone in a limb lost in an accident, or repair receded jawbones necessary to secure dental implants, says Prof. Zilberman. The scaffold can be shaped so the bone will grow into the proper form. They’re also specially developed to release bioactive drugs and proteins in a controlled manner. After a period of time, the fibers can be programmed to dissolve, leaving no trace. Her technology also has potential uses in cosmetic surgery. Instead of silicon implants to square the chin or raise cheekbones, the technology can be used to “grow your own” cheekbones or puffy lips. But Prof. Zilberman says it’s far too early to think of such uses. She first started her work in biomaterials at the UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Texas, and currently is concentrating on various medical applications. One of them intends to make dental implants more effective. She envisions applying the invention to organ tissue regeneration in the future. This sounds extremely promising for dental implant treatment! Comments?
Source: Science Daily
“White wine rots your teeth… and brushing makes it worse,” claimed the Daily Mail today, a British newspaper. This statement was based on a study published in the Journal of Nutrition Research. According to the study, dental erosion from red wine is not as severe. ‘The tradition of enjoying different cheeses for dessert or in combination with drinking wine might have a beneficial effect on preventing dental erosion because cheese contains calcium in a high concentration.’ The British National Health Service takes issue with the research and findings. What do you think?
photo credit: MailOnline
If you are still wondering if social networking has a place in dentistry, take a look at the video below. Given the enormous power of social networking, all dental professionals can connect with and learn from others, as well as promote themselves and their practices. You are only limited by your imagination!