October 2009 Blog Posts (10)

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.… Continue

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…

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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… Continue

This evening I had a presentation at my dental laboratory with NobelBiocare. The title of the lecture was Zirconia vs PFM Restorations. The speaker, Dr. Thomas Williams showed several examples of less than ideal soft tissue health that resolved with changing to porcelain fused to zirconia restorations. What is the general observations of others on WebDental regarding this subject? Are all ceramics and even composite restorations more biocompatible thna PFM's? Please understand… Continue

“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…

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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… Continue

Children are not "left behind" in the Democratic versions of the health care reform proposals, as reported by Kaiser Health News. This is encouraging news for our nation's children, but not without some pitfalls according to some. Your thoughts?

Low-income kids continue to have difficulty getting proper dental care through Medicaid according to the Government Accountability Office. Some of you may remember the tragic case of a twelve year old boy who died in 2007 because of a brain infection which originated from an untreated dental abscess. Investigators determined that many people, including children, simply do not take advantage of the… Continue

Researchers in China have hypothesized that third molar tooth buds could be harvested during development and later used to replace missing teeth in the future. Could this mean the end of dental implant treatment? The dental implant manufacturers…

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Congratulations on 150 Years!



The American Dental Association turned 150 years old this year, and it’s in very good health for its age. With 157,000 members, the ADA represents more than 70 percent of U.S. dentists, making it the world’s largest and oldest national dental association—America’s leading advocate for oral health.



It's hard to believe that…

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