Dental Prof

Dr. Frank DiPlacido Jr., past AAOMS president, dies

Fort Myers, Fla.—Dr. Frank DiPlacido Jr., the 2000-01 president of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, died March 14.

Large-scale studies make strides in mapping the topography of the mouth

Washington—Dental scientists reported the online launch of the first comprehensive database of micro-organisms living in the mouth and the identification of 1,116 unique proteins in saliva in separate announcements March 25.

Poor oral hygiene spells risk of heart disease

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People with a poor oral hygiene routine are at an increased risk of heart disease, according to recent research.

The study – funded by the Health Research Board (HRB) and presented at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’s (RCSI) annual Research Day last week – stated that bleeding gums allowing oral bacteria to enter the bloodstream.

Once in the bloodstream the bacteria stick to platelets (blood clotting cells) and clump together within blood vessels.

This can prevent the blood flow back to the heart and heightens the risk of heart attack.
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/>'The mouth is probably the dirtiest place in the human body, with over 500 different species of bacteria,' said lead researcher Dr Steve Kerrigan from the School of Pharmacy and the Department of Molecular Cellular Therapeutics at RCSI.

'We have recently identified two receptors (proteins) on oral bacteria that we believe play a major role in recognising and sticking to platelets.

'The results of the study suggest that we have identified some of the mechanisms oral bacteria use to inappropriately clot or clump platelets in the blood vessels.'

Dr Kerrigan added that brushing and flossing regularly will reduce this risk factor for heart disease.

NIDCR slates 60th anniversary events at AADR meeting April 2-5 in Dallas

Dallas, Tex.—They're highlighting the future of dental research in a year long celebration of the 60th anniversary of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

ADA resources can build practice, educate patients

The ADA has bundled its top resources together to help you eliminate the guesswork when purchasing references for starting and maintaining your practice.

NICE Revises Guidance On Prophylactic Antibiotic Cover Against Endocarditis

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has just published a guideline entitled Prophylaxis Against Infective Endocarditis. The new guidance, arrived at following a comprehensive analysis and review of all published evidence, now states that antimicrobial prophylaxis is no longer considered necessary for any patients at risk of developing infective endocarditis when undergoing dental procedures.

False Teeth Collection Boxes Recover & Recycle for Charity

Isao Miyoshi with fasle teeth collection box A somewhat unusual recycling initiative will see false teeth collection boxes set up at nine different locations in the southern Japanese city of Fukuoka.

Dental hospital shuts in sterilisation hiccup

- Dundee Dental Hospital was forced to close last week after a sterilisation failure.
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/>Patients were turned away from the medical facility and NHS Tayside said the problem was caused by the breakdown of equipment.
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/>The failure meant appointments for 276 patients were cancelled.
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/>They will be offered rescheduled appointments as soon as possible, said the health board.
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/>Some patients were not aware of the issue and turned up to be told they could not be seen.
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/>Dozens of people were asked to leave the building around 10am and its doors were closed.
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/>A spokeswoman for NHS Tayside said by 4pm yesterday the issues had finally been resolved and the faulty sterilising equipment repaired.
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/>‘There are a whole lot of stages in the decontamination process for instruments and there had been a breakdown in the equipment in one part of that,’ she said.
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/>‘It just meant there were no sterilised instruments to do any work.'
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/>Officials hope to have the hospital back working as normal today (Monday).
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Dental hospital shuts in sterilisation hiccup

- Dundee Dental Hospital was forced to close last week after a sterilisation failure.
/>
/>Patients were turned away from the medical facility and NHS Tayside said the problem was caused by the breakdown of equipment.
/>
/>The failure meant appointments for 276 patients were cancelled.
/>
/>They will be offered rescheduled appointments as soon as possible, said the health board.
/>
/>Some patients were not aware of the issue and turned up to be told they could not be seen.
/>
/>Dozens of people were asked to leave the building around 10am and its doors were closed.
/>
/>A spokeswoman for NHS Tayside said by 4pm yesterday the issues had finally been resolved and the faulty sterilising equipment repaired.
/>
/>‘There are a whole lot of stages in the decontamination process for instruments and there had been a breakdown in the equipment in one part of that,’ she said.
/>
/>‘It just meant there were no sterilised instruments to do any work.'
/>
/>Officials hope to have the hospital back working as normal today (Monday).
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UK Dental Regulator Prosecutes Bristol Man For Illegal Dentistry

The UK dental regulator, the General Dental Council (GDC), has successfully prosecuted Stuart Folland of 43 Whitchurch Road, Bristol for the illegal practice of dentistry. At Bristol Magistrates Court recently, Mr Folland pleaded guilty to practising dentistry illegally from 24 January 2006 to 8 October 2007. He carried out dental work during this period despite being removed from the Dentists Register in January 2006 for non-payment of the annual fee.