Dentist Links Fosomax-type Drugs To Jaw Necrosis
Researchers at the University Of Southern California, School Of Dentistry release results of clinical data that links oral bisphosphonates to increased jaw necrosis. The study is among the first to acknowledge that even short-term use of common oral osteoporosis drugs may leave the jaw vulnerable to devastating necrosis, according to the report appearing in the January 1 Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA). Osteoporosis currently affects 10 million Americans.

Osteoporosis Drug Linked To Bone Death In Jaw
A new US study found that even short term use of oral bisphosphonates like Fosomax (alendronate), commonly used to treat osteoporosis, may leave the jaw vulnerable to devastating necrosis (death of bone tissue).

Oral Health: Prevention Is Key
At this time of year, when many people may have consumed much more food and sugary drink than usual, the lead Editorial in this week's Lancet is dedicated to oral health and its neglect. Because oral health is rarely life threatening, it can be a low priority for national governments - and teeth can be seen as expendable. Dentists have taken little interest in advocacy to promote good oral health, preferring to treat rather than prevent oral diseases.

Treating Gum Disease Linked To Lower Medical Costs For Patients With Diabetes
A new report suggests that treating gum disease in patients who have diabetes with procedures such as cleanings and periodontal scaling is linked to 10 to 12 percent lower medical costs per month. The findings are encouraging but the study was not designed to firmly establish cause and effect, said George Taylor, University of Michigan associate professor of dentistry, who also has an appointment in epidemiology in the U-M School of Public Health.

Preventing Early Childhood Dental Caries: UCSF Receives $24.4 Million
The UCSF School of Dentistry has received the largest grant in its history: $24.4 million from the National Institutes of Health to address socio-economic and cultural disparities in oral health. The seven-year grant, which is funded through the NIH National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, will enable the UCSF Center to Address Disparities in Children's Oral Health (nicknamed CAN DO) to launch new programs in preventing early childhood tooth decay.

British Dental Association Welcomes Recognition Of Excellence In UK Dental Research
The British Dental Association (BDA) has welcomed the recognition of the excellence of research at UK dental schools. The findings of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise confirm the high standard of dental research in the UK, with all fourteen institutions whose staff were subject to the assessment recognised for the world-leading originality, significance and rigour of their work.

Dieting May Cut Risk For Gum Disease, Mostly In Males
For men, especially older men, dieting may help reduce the risk of gum disease more than for women, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and other institutions. The study, published in the journal Nutrition, also provides the latest clue to a powerful link between chronic inflammation and poor health, according to Mark Reynolds, DDS, PhD, associate professor at the Dental School, part of UMB.

Boston University Professor Receives NIH Award To Study Histatin 5
Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine (BUGSDM) Professor and Chair of Periodontology and Oral Biology Dr. Frank Oppenheim was awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for his research titled, "Microbicidal Salivary Histidine-Rich Proteins," on November 25. The four-year grant totals $1,543,752. Dr. Oppenheim will serve as Principal Investigator and BUGSDM Assistant Professor Dr.

Proper Dental Care Can Reduce The Risk Of Atherosclerosis, A Leading Cause Of Heart Disease
The next person who reminds you to floss might be your cardiologist instead of your dentist. Scientists have known for some time that a protein associated with inflammation (called CRP) is elevated in people who are at risk for heart disease. But where's the inflammation coming from? A new research study by Italian and U.K. scientists published online in The FASEB Journal shows that infected gums may be one place.

Funding For Building Better Bones And Tissue In The Lab
Tissue engineering holds great promise for the treatment of conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, fibrosis, periodontal disease and traumatic injuries. However, bone and cartilage currently produced in the laboratory don't have sufficient strength to function in the body so they're not clinically viable. Dr.

Government Appoints Independent Group To Review NHS Dentistry, UK
An independent review team to help improve access for patients who want to see an NHS dentist was appointed today by Health Secretary Alan Johnson. Increased investment in NHS dentistry has seen improvements in some parts of the country but access remains a problem in some areas. The review team will investigate why there are variations in access and advise how everyone who wants to see an NHS dentist can do so.

British Dental Association Reaction To Announcement Of Independent Review Of Dentistry
The BDA has greeted today's announcement that the Department of Health has commissioned an independent review of NHS dentistry as a step forward in addressing the significant problems facing NHS dentists and patients. The review was announced today by Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson. Responding to the announcement, BDA Executive Board Chair Susie Sanderson said: "The BDA is pleased to see the long overdue announcement of a review of NHS dentistry in England.

Fighting Gum Disease With Gene Therapy
Scientists at the University of Michigan have shown that gene therapy can be used to successfully stop the development of periodontal disease, the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. The findings will be published online Dec 11 in advance of print publication in Gene Therapy.

Hospital-Borne Pneumonia Can Be Prevented By Toothbrushing, TAU Study Finds
Hospital-borne infections are a serious risk of a long-term hospital stay, and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), a lung infection that develops in about 15% of all people who are ventilated, is among the most dangerous. With weakened immune systems and a higher resistance to antibiotics, patients who rely on a mechanical ventilator can easily develop serious infections - as 26,000 Americans do every year.

British Dental Association's Arguments Win Unfair Termination Contract Case
A Court of Appeal judgement has today rejected the Government's attempts to interpret a clause in a Personal Dental Services (PDS) contract, accepting arguments put forward by the British Dental Association's legal representation. The clause in question would have given primary care trusts (PCTs) the right to terminate a dentist's PDS agreement on minimal notice and without the dentist breaching the terms of their contract.