Dental Prof

‘No health risk’ over amalgam fillings

- Amalgam fillings containing mercury pose no health risk to the human nervous system, a European Union scientific committee has claimed.
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/>The findings reflect the opinions of some dentists and governments, who have insisted the material is safer and more durable than alternatives.
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/>But patients’ organisations have disputed the results, claiming amalgam is dangerous.
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/>‘The facts do not add up – mercury is the third most toxic poison in the world and we are still putting it in people's mouths,’ said Becky Dutton, of patient organisation Mercury Madness.
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/>The EU said it had investigated claims of a link between amalgams and a variety of systemic conditions, particularly neurological and psychological or psychiatric effects.
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/>The committee said: ‘It is concluded however, that no risks of adverse systemic effects exist and the current use of dental amalgam does not pose a risk of systemic disease.’
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/>Relatively low doses of mercury have been linked to adverse neuro-development impacts.
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/>Many European countries advise against use of amalgam for children and pregnant women due to its impact on brain development, but patient organisations believe that anyone carrying an average of 2.5 grams in their mouths is also at risk.
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/>‘All I can say is that if mercury/amalgams are so safe why have three countries just banned them?’ added anti-mercury campaigner Dutton.
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/>This month the Swedish government is expected to decide on a ban, while Denmark and Norway are taking similar steps.
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/>Another patient organisation in Spain said it rejected the provisional report because it was partial and ignored the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other scientists' recommendations.
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/>The report was prepared by the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) and is made up of external experts.
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/>A public consultation will run to 22 February, after which the EU could potentially revise the preliminary report.
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‘No health risk’ over amalgam fillings

- Amalgam fillings containing mercury pose no health risk to the human nervous system, a European Union scientific committee has claimed.
/>
/>The findings reflect the opinions of some dentists and governments, who have insisted the material is safer and more durable than alternatives.
/>
/>But patients’ organisations have disputed the results, claiming amalgam is dangerous.
/>
/>‘The facts do not add up – mercury is the third most toxic poison in the world and we are still putting it in people's mouths,’ said Becky Dutton, of patient organisation Mercury Madness.
/>
/>The EU said it had investigated claims of a link between amalgams and a variety of systemic conditions, particularly neurological and psychological or psychiatric effects.
/>
/>The committee said: ‘It is concluded however, that no risks of adverse systemic effects exist and the current use of dental amalgam does not pose a risk of systemic disease.’
/>
/>Relatively low doses of mercury have been linked to adverse neuro-development impacts.
/>
/>Many European countries advise against use of amalgam for children and pregnant women due to its impact on brain development, but patient organisations believe that anyone carrying an average of 2.5 grams in their mouths is also at risk.
/>
/>‘All I can say is that if mercury/amalgams are so safe why have three countries just banned them?’ added anti-mercury campaigner Dutton.
/>
/>This month the Swedish government is expected to decide on a ban, while Denmark and Norway are taking similar steps.
/>
/>Another patient organisation in Spain said it rejected the provisional report because it was partial and ignored the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other scientists' recommendations.
/>
/>The report was prepared by the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) and is made up of external experts.
/>
/>A public consultation will run to 22 February, after which the EU could potentially revise the preliminary report.
/>

Jailed dentist struck off

- A dentist who stole almost £140,000 from the NHS has been struck off by the General Dental Council (GDC).
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/>Olowashe Olojugba, of Wigan, Greater Manchester, had claimed payment for hundreds of gold crowns he had not provided in a systematic three-year fraud.
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/>He was jailed for 18 months in October 2007 after admitting stealing credit balances totalling £139,922 between April 2003 and February 2006.
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/>He had worked as a dentist in Hulme, Manchester and Appley Bridge.
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/>Dr Olojugba, of Whitehall Avenue, had initially denied fraud during his trial at Liverpool Crown Court, but during the trial changed his plea and admitted theft.
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/>The fraud charges were then dropped.
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/>He has now been removed from the General Dental Council's register.
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/>The GDC professional conduct committee took into consideration that ‘the judge’s sentencing comments indicated that his behaviour was calculated, blatant and persistently dishonest’.
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/>It recognised that ‘This dishonesty involved a large amount of money fraudulently claimed from the Dental Practice Board for treatment which was not carried out’.
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/>It was not the first time Dr Olojugba had been up before the Porfessional Conduct Committee.
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/>In October 2006 he was found guilty of serious professional misconduct although no action was taken affecting his registration.
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/>The determination referred to instances where he had made ‘erroneous claims for NHS treatment not provided’.
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/>Dr Olojugba was not present at the hearing this week – due to his imprisonment – nor was he represented.
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Porous Structures Help Boost Implant Tissue Integration

Results published in FASEB (the journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) by researchers at Columbia University, including Jeremy Mao of the Columbia College of Dental Medicine, demonstrate a novel way of using porous structures as a drug delivery vehicle that can help boost the integration of host tissue with surgically implanted titanium.

Suni founder donates 6 million shares of stock to ADA Foundation

San Jose, Calif.—The ADA Foundation closed out 2007 on a high note when it received one of the largest donations in Foundation history: 6 million shares of Suni Medical Imaging Inc. stock from Suni founder Paul Suni.

Scottish figures up – but half of adults still without a dentist

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The number of people registered with an NHS dentist in Scotland has increased as has the number of NHS dentists – but more than half of all adults still do not have one.
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/>By the end of September 2007, 48.6% of adults were registered with an NHS dentist – up from 46.5% in June. Child registrations also rose, from 67.5% to 69.9%.
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/>The official statistics also revealed a 2.7% increase in the number of health service dentists between 2006 and 2007.
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/>Dentists say that last year's change in the way NHS registrations were recorded was likely to account for much of the increase.

But Public Health Minister Shona Robison maintained that the figures as ‘really encouraging’.
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/>She said: ‘I am very pleased that more people are now registered with an NHS dentist than have been for a number of years.
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/>‘The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to widening access to NHS dentistry. But I am not complacent - I know there is still much more to be done and some parts of Scotland still have problems with access to an NHS dentist.’
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/>Liberal Democrats said that the figures showed only a ‘minor’ rise in NHS dentists and patients.
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/>Health spokesman Ross Finnie said: ‘These figures are not very encouraging given Scotland's poor oral health record. The Scottish Government must do more to increase the number of dentists in Scotland.’
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/>Mary Scanlon, the Scottish Tories' health spokeswoman, said: ’We still have a third of all children and over half of adults not registered with a dentist. It is a disgraceful state of affairs.’
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/>Andrew Lamb, the BDA’s director for Scotland, said the figures should be treated with caution because of the change in the way registrations are recorded – in the past, patients were deemed to be no longer registered if they did not visit their dentist for 15 months. That has increased to 36 months.
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/>Mr Lamb said these latest statistics were the first to reflect the new registration period, and added: ‘A bigger jump in the number of patients deemed to be registered might have been expected.
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/>‘It is clear that access to NHS dentistry remains a problem for many people in Scotland, and these figures will be a cause of concern to the Scottish Government.’
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Scottish figures up – but half of adults still without a dentist

-

The number of people registered with an NHS dentist in Scotland has increased as has the number of NHS dentists – but more than half of all adults still do not have one.
/>
/>By the end of September 2007, 48.6% of adults were registered with an NHS dentist – up from 46.5% in June. Child registrations also rose, from 67.5% to 69.9%.
/>
/>The official statistics also revealed a 2.7% increase in the number of health service dentists between 2006 and 2007.
/>
/>Dentists say that last year's change in the way NHS registrations were recorded was likely to account for much of the increase.

But Public Health Minister Shona Robison maintained that the figures as ‘really encouraging’.
/>
/>She said: ‘I am very pleased that more people are now registered with an NHS dentist than have been for a number of years.
/>
/>‘The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to widening access to NHS dentistry. But I am not complacent - I know there is still much more to be done and some parts of Scotland still have problems with access to an NHS dentist.’
/>
/>Liberal Democrats said that the figures showed only a ‘minor’ rise in NHS dentists and patients.
/>
/>Health spokesman Ross Finnie said: ‘These figures are not very encouraging given Scotland's poor oral health record. The Scottish Government must do more to increase the number of dentists in Scotland.’
/>
/>Mary Scanlon, the Scottish Tories' health spokeswoman, said: ’We still have a third of all children and over half of adults not registered with a dentist. It is a disgraceful state of affairs.’
/>
/>Andrew Lamb, the BDA’s director for Scotland, said the figures should be treated with caution because of the change in the way registrations are recorded – in the past, patients were deemed to be no longer registered if they did not visit their dentist for 15 months. That has increased to 36 months.
/>
/>Mr Lamb said these latest statistics were the first to reflect the new registration period, and added: ‘A bigger jump in the number of patients deemed to be registered might have been expected.
/>
/>‘It is clear that access to NHS dentistry remains a problem for many people in Scotland, and these figures will be a cause of concern to the Scottish Government.’
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Outcome of an oral health outreach programme for preschool children in a low socioeconomic multicultural area

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, Volume 18, Issue 2, Page 84-90, March 2008. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2008; 18: 84 –90 Background. Despite a significant reduction in the prevalence of dental caries, childhood tooth decay is still a public health problem in both developed and developing countries. ... (Source: International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry)

Massachusetts Dental Society earns Award of Excellence

Washington—The Massachusetts Dental Society was one of nine associations recognized with a 2008 Associations Advance America Award of Excellence from the American Society of Association Executives and the Center for Association Leadership.

Department of Veterans Affairs appoints new dental chief

Washington— The Department of Veterans Affairs appointed Dr. Timothy Ward assistant under secretary for health for dentistry.