Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 22 February 2012 14:35

Live Blog Coverage from Chicago

 

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 22 February 2012 14:35

The Chicago Midwinter Dental Meeting, organized each year by the Chicago Dental Society, will be covered by the Dentistry Today video team in late February. We will be at the McCormick Center showcasing new product releases as manufacturers launch their latest developments. Our blog team will be on the floor interviewing manufacturers, clinicians, and key opinion leaders, capturing the flavor of this year’s meeting. To view these videos and write-ups during and after the meeting, be sure to check in regularly.

Live Blog Coverage

Spinning Toothbrush May Damage Teeth

 

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 27 February 2012 15:33

Spinbrush toothbrushes may not provide the best ways to clean teeth.

United States health officials warned that this electric toothbrush could result in major face or mouth injuries. Parts of the brush have been flying off and chipping or breaking teeth, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The brushes have also caused cuts to the mouth and gums, injuries to the face and eyes, and making people susceptible to choking on the broken parts.

These issues make it essential for parents to watch their children if they utilize these toothbrushes.

There are various models of the Spinbrush, which is made by Arm & Hammer, that could cause problems. These battery-powered toothbrushes come with replaceable heads. The heads are supposed to stay locked onto the toothbrush but that isn’t always the case according to the FDA. There have also been instances in which there are battery burns, cut lips and possibly bristles getting stuck in tonsils.

There have been other electric toothbrushes (Oral-B CrossAction Power and PowerMAX toothbrushes) in the past that have some of these issues, specifically a model in which the brush heads got loose in the mouth.

Health Canada, a Canadian health regulatory body like the FDA in the United States, added Colgate Motion Electric toothbrushes to the list of toothbrushes to pay attention to. These particular toothbrushes “exploded.”

Newly Discovered Oral Bacterium Could Result in Heart Disease, Meningitis

 

 

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 28 February 2012 15:51

A recently identified type of bacterium could have devastating effects.

The bacterium, which inhabits the oral cavity, could result in major health problems, according to the International Journal of Systemic and Evolutionary Microbiology. The discovery will enable scientists to figure out the way it works and the risks it poses.

This type of bacterium was pinpointed by a research team at the Institute of Medical Microbiology of the University of Zurich. The bacterium, Streptococcus tigurinus, was separated from the blood of patients who had endocarditis, meningitis and spondylodiscitis. This bacterium is similar to others that inhabit the mouth.

This bacteria has been around for a while but had never been identified until recently. This step is crucial, according to study leader Dr. Andrea Zbinden, because now it can be treated properly.

This particular bacterium tends to cause major diseases. But dentists and doctors should soon be able to recommend the proper treatment orally and for overall health. Researchers next need to determine how common this bacterium is and how many people need to be treated.

More research is necessary to determine the specific risk factors for S. tigurinus.