Dental Prof

Dental X-rays will detect osteoporosis

- A piece of software developed in Manchester that can detect osteoporosis by automatically reading routine dental X-rays has secured a deal that could see it help millions of women worldwide.
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/>The technology, Osteodent, which is being commercialised by the University of Manchester’s IP commercialisation company, has secured a deal with Swedish company Crebone AB for the rights to sell the software until 2010.
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/>The software is designed to increase the detection rates of osteoporosis, which can be treated effectively if identified early.
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/>Currently, most women with osteoporosis don’t realise they have the condition until late in the disease when they suffer a bone fracture of the spine, hip or wrist.
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/>In the UK alone, there are an estimated 3.5million suitable dental X-ray examinations carried out each year.
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/>The University of Manchester received a €1.4m EU grant in 2003 to conduct a study of 670 women’s X-rays in the UK, Sweden, Belgium and Greece.
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/>The results of the study, which have recently been published, show that Osteodent is the most accurate method for identifying individuals with osteoporosis using dental X-rays and clinical markers.
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/>Since the results of the European study were announced, there has been a high level of interest in the product.
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/>Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Imaging, Keith Horner said: ‘Currently it tends to be only ‘the worried well’ or those with well-informed GPs whose osteoporosis risk is properly assessed.
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/>‘Osteodent will open up the opportunity of being tested to millions of women who attend a dentist and would otherwise not be tested.
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/>‘We’re very excited about this product because we know it has enormous potential.
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/>‘As Osteodent works as part of a routine dental appointment it could have substantial benefits for our NHS financially. In countries with private healthcare systems, Osteodent could also be very lucrative to dentists.’
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/>For more information, visit www.umip.com.  
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EQUATOR Network seeks enhanced medical research

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The EQUATOR Network (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) is a new quality improvement initiative that seeks to enhance the reliability of medical research literature by promoting transparent and accurate reporting.
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/>Researchers, editors and peer reviewers put an incredible effort into the production of health research publications. However, there is clear evidence that many published studies are reported poorly.

This has serious consequences for further research and clinical practice.

It is the intention that the Network’s goal of enhancing the reliability of medical research literature will be achieved through:
/>• Raising awareness of the crucial importance of good reporting of research
/>• Becoming the recognised global centre providing resources and training relating to the reporting of health research and use of reporting guidelines
/>• Assisting in the development, dissemination and implementation of reporting guidelines
/>• Monitoring the status of the quality of reporting across health research literature
/>• Conducting research relating to the quality of reporting.

The EQUATOR Network is directed by an international Executive Group that brings together leading experts in health research methodology, statistics, reporting and editorial work.

The first EQUATOR annual lecture, presented by Sir Iain Chalmers, editor of the James Lind Library and former director of the first Cochrane Centre, will take place on Thursday 26 June at the Royal Society of Medicine in London.

EQUATOR’s meeting will focus on a better understanding of the problems associated with health research reporting and the use of reporting guidelines, and will discuss potential solutions that can lead to the improvement of the health research literature.

For further information, go to www.equator-network.org.

Lead found in dental work panics US

- US dental authorities are reacting swiftly to reports of lead found in dental work imported from China and India.
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/>The American Dental Association (ADA) and National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL) are now calling for more stringent regulation of imported dental material following a TV report citing two cases of patients being sick after lead was found in their dental restorations.
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/>It’s prompted Florida lawmakers to push for full disclosure and the ADA to issue guidelines to its members regarding outsourcing work abroad.
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/>The new legislation will require all dental laboratories to disclose to dentists where a product was manufactured and what materials were used, and provide certificates of authenticity.
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/>In the UK, the General Dental Council (GDC) recently warned dentists of the risk of legal comeback if laboratory work carried out overseas went wrong.
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/>The GDC maintain that dentists who commission technical work from laboratories outside the UK – and which do not meet the standards set by the Medical Devices Directive (MDD) – are in danger of being solely culpable if mistakes are made.
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/>From August, registration of dental care professionals becomes mandatory and all technical work in the UK must be undertaken in a laboratory that employs technicians registered with the GDC.
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/>Additionally, all labs must be registered with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
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/>Currently, the only guarantee is via a third party, the laboratory’s ‘authorised representative’ in the UK, who is supposed to be responsible for ensuring that the manufacturer complies with the MDD.
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/>But the GDC feels this fails to deliver enough reassurance for dental patients here.
/>
/>GDC Chief Executive, Duncan Rudkin, said that if a dentist had not taken the appropriate steps to ensure that work coming in from overseas was of appropriate quality, there would be no-one else to take responsibility.
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/>In its guidelines to newly registering dental technicians, the GDC states:
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/>‘The GDC does not have the power to protect the UK technology industry from foreign competition, any more than we have the power to stop patients seeking dental care abroad.
/>
/>‘We make it very clear to GDC registrants, including dentists, clinical dental technicians and dental technicians that they need to understand and comply with their responsibilities under the laws and regulations governing their business, which in this case include the medical devices regulations.’
/>
/>‘Individual dentists and technicians are accountable to the GDC for fulfilling these responsibilities, regardless of whether they are ‘GDC rules’ or simply part of the law of the land.'
/>
/>Currently only 2,883 technicians out of a possible 10,000 in the UK have registered with the GDC and there are worries about bringing so many on board by the end of July.
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/>Richard Daniels, Chief Executive of the Dental Laboratories Association (DLA), believes that clearer communications policy being pursued by the GDC may encourage more technicians to register.
/>

Lead found in dental work panics US

- US dental authorities are reacting swiftly to reports of lead found in dental work imported from China and India.
/>
/>The American Dental Association (ADA) and National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL) are now calling for more stringent regulation of imported dental material following a TV report citing two cases of patients being sick after lead was found in their dental restorations.
/>
/>It’s prompted Florida lawmakers to push for full disclosure and the ADA to issue guidelines to its members regarding outsourcing work abroad.
/>
/>The new legislation will require all dental laboratories to disclose to dentists where a product was manufactured and what materials were used, and provide certificates of authenticity.
/>
/>In the UK, the General Dental Council (GDC) recently warned dentists of the risk of legal comeback if laboratory work carried out overseas went wrong.
/>
/>The GDC maintain that dentists who commission technical work from laboratories outside the UK – and which do not meet the standards set by the Medical Devices Directive (MDD) – are in danger of being solely culpable if mistakes are made.
/>
/>From August, registration of dental care professionals becomes mandatory and all technical work in the UK must be undertaken in a laboratory that employs technicians registered with the GDC.
/>
/>Additionally, all labs must be registered with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
/>
/>Currently, the only guarantee is via a third party, the laboratory’s ‘authorised representative’ in the UK, who is supposed to be responsible for ensuring that the manufacturer complies with the MDD.
/>
/>But the GDC feels this fails to deliver enough reassurance for dental patients here.
/>
/>GDC Chief Executive, Duncan Rudkin, said that if a dentist had not taken the appropriate steps to ensure that work coming in from overseas was of appropriate quality, there would be no-one else to take responsibility.
/>
/>In its guidelines to newly registering dental technicians, the GDC states:
/>
/>‘The GDC does not have the power to protect the UK technology industry from foreign competition, any more than we have the power to stop patients seeking dental care abroad.
/>
/>‘We make it very clear to GDC registrants, including dentists, clinical dental technicians and dental technicians that they need to understand and comply with their responsibilities under the laws and regulations governing their business, which in this case include the medical devices regulations.’
/>
/>‘Individual dentists and technicians are accountable to the GDC for fulfilling these responsibilities, regardless of whether they are ‘GDC rules’ or simply part of the law of the land.'
/>
/>Currently only 2,883 technicians out of a possible 10,000 in the UK have registered with the GDC and there are worries about bringing so many on board by the end of July.
/>
/>Richard Daniels, Chief Executive of the Dental Laboratories Association (DLA), believes that clearer communications policy being pursued by the GDC may encourage more technicians to register.
/>

Bill for Dental Hygienists to do More Than Clean

A Minnesota House Committee passed a bill to allow Dental Hygienists to do simple fillings, pull teeth and even some root canals. The Minnesota Dental Association opposes the bill.

A dental health crisis exists in almost every state because low-income Americans can't afford dentistry or they can't find a dentist willing to accept Medicaid or there is no dentist living or working in their rural or low-income neighborhoods.

As a result, many groups are trying to fill that void much to the dismay of organized dentistry who enjoy a lucrative monopoly.

The TV video report is here: http://wcco.com/video/?id=38796@wcco.dayport.com

Denturist bill clears House panel

The bill would allow denturists - people who are trained to make dentures - to be licensed and work independently rather than working in conjunction with a dentist.

AAPD Announces Partnership With Head Start

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the recognized leader in children's oral health, today announced a partnership with the Office of Head Start (OHS) to help combat children's tooth decay, the most common chronic childhood disease. The OHS has awarded a five-year, $10 million dollar contract to the AAPD to establish dental homes for one million children enrolled annually in OHS programs.

Aapd announces partnership with head start

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the recognized leader in children's oral health, today announced a partnership with the Office of Head Start (OHS) to help combat children's tooth decay, the most common chronic childhood disease. The OHS has awarded a five-year, $10 million dollar contract to the AAPD to establish dental homes for one million children enrolled annually in OHS programs. (Source: Pediatrics News From Medical News Today)

Michigan Children Get Special Help To Reduce Tooth Decay

A special program, Varnish! Michigan, funded by Delta Dental and administered by the Michigan Department of Community Health, is helping to prevent tooth decay in nearly 16,000 children enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start programs throughout the state. Launched in the fall of 2007 with a $250,000 grant from Delta Dental, the program provides applications of fluoride varnish on the teeth of low-income children up to five years of age.

Segal Dental Survey Reveals Opportunities To Bite Down On Plan Costs, USA

The Segal Company recently conducted a Survey of Dental Coverage to determine the current state of that coverage. The survey reveals there are opportunities to reevaluate dental plan designs in order to lower costs and/or add value to dental coverage.