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It can if you use the new Soladey-Ionic toothbrush (J3X), recently announced the Japanese toothbrush manufacturer Soladey.  The brush was designed by University of Saskatchewan (Canada) Professor Kunio Komiyama.  Komiyama had presented his research about the solar powered toothbrush at the FDI Annual World Dental Conference, Dubai.

Here’s how the company says it works:

Inside the toothbrush’s handle, there is a light-activated titanium rod (a patented semiconductor), which when exposed to any light source, converts the light into negatively-charged ions (electrons).  These ions are released, and blend with saliva to attract positive (hydrogen) ions from the acid in the dental plaque on your teeth.  This neutralizes the acid, and dissolves the plaque, according to Soladey’s research.  http://www.soladey.com/research.htm

Here are some comments by the users in a recent clinical trial in Canada:

“I am truly delighted with Soladey-2.  I have a clean and fresh mouth each time I use it.”  J.J.

“For a number of years, I have had a lot of plaque build up and consequential pocketing of the gum tissue, which lead to periodontal surgery. I have tried all types and styles of brushes in an attempt to prevent further problems.  After trying the Soladey-2, my gum tissue is healthier, and I have no plaque build up.”  N.G Registered Nurse

Here’s a comment by Dr. Michael Bruno, a Manhattan prosthodontist (from the New York Times), who was favorably impressed.  Long-term testing is necessary, he said, but it seems the brush can easily remove plaque at the “delicate interface” between hard and soft tissues, and also reach into the very deepest grooves. “The brush represents a potential paradigm shift in the profession,” he said.

The concept makes sense, said Donald C. Selmarten, a senior scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo. “They are suggesting you can do oxidative electrochemistry inside your mouth,” he said. “The principle sounds reasonable. It is not out there in left field.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/13/health/13teet.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=+soladey+toothbrush&st=nyt

According to the Soladey site, the toothbrush has been in use, in various forms, in Japan since the 1980s. The predecessors, the Eco, and J3, are made in China; about 2M units are sold annually in Japan.  The J3X, which has has been modified to have a longer handle than it’s predecessor, won’t be available till later in 2010. The J-2 was used in the Canadian trials, which were conducted with Dr. Gerry Uswak, who will conduct further testing with 120 teenagers with the J3X.

Dr. Kunio Komiyama paper was presented to World Dental Federation, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland:

http://www.fdiworldental.org/

The brush can be purchased from:

www.soladey.com

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Dr. Brian Fitzgibbons, manager of MCR clinical for MetLife, announced there are not enough dental consultants in the United States to handle all of the US MetLife dental claims.  Consequently the company is moving some claims processing over to the subcontinent.

“This has been researched, and because we cannot obtain acceptable space locally, and MetLife is a global company, it has been decided that our new MCR panel will be formed at the MetLife facility in Noida, India. Noida is located just outside of Delhi,” Mr. Fitzgibbons wrote.

Naturally, some US dentists disagree with the staffing change, as they maintain that training for US dentists, who should be the ones approving, or denying the insurance claims, maybe different than that of a dentist trained according to Indian standards.

Mr. Fitzgibbons’ letter goes on to state that the consulting dentists in India have undergone “an extensive selection process, are clinically experienced and have been personally interviewed by me.” Once the Indian dentists have been trained, they would work the same as the U.S. consultants and be subject to the same standards “concerning reporting, review quality and production expectations.”

Patients, of course, have yet to be informed of this practice, and they will no doubt have something to say about it as well.  Offshoring by MetLife, maybe a first for American insurers, and only the beginning in a wave of outsourcing, however the controversy surrounding this topic also won’t be going away anytime soon.

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Researchers from the University of Arizona, the University of Mississippi, Jackson, and the Oregon Research Institute in Eugene performed a study in which 2,160 adult tobacco users from 68 private dental clinics in Mississippi, compared two types of dentist tobacco cessation.  One used the USPHS guideline, the other AAR’s, which counseled patients in person, as well as to a tobacco quit line.

79% of the people in the study were smokers,  the rest used smokeless, or both forms of tobacco.  About half of the people in the study said they were going to quit smoking in the next 30 days. About the same percentage had tried quitting over the last year.

People in AAR group were slightly more successful, and discussed tobacco related oral health with their dentists or hygienists, in terms of when they were going to, and how to quit, such as with nicotine patches, or gum.  People who received counseling, phone or otherwise, were about 4 times as likely to stop using tobacco (smoking or smokeless tobacco) for at least 9 months.

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Trace amounts of mercury are used in amalgam dental cavity fillings, and has been for a long period of time.  It’s use is not without growing controversy.  Last February, the United Nations Environmental Protection Programme met in Nairobi, Kenya to discuss the Global Mercury Partnership.  Upon conclusion of the meeting, the Governing Council issued the following mandates regarding the use of mercury in general, as well as in dental practice:

(a) Enhancing capacity for mercury storage;

(b) Reducing the supply of mercury from, for example, primary mercury mining;

(c) Conducting awareness-raising and pilot projects in key countries to reduce mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining;

(d) Reducing mercury use in products and processes and raising awareness of mercury-free alternatives;

(e) Providing information on best available techniques and best environmental practices and on the conversion of mercury-based processes to non-mercury based processes;

(f) Enhancing development of national inventories on mercury;

(g) Raising public awareness and supporting risk communication;

(h) Providing information on the sound management of mercury;

The overall goal of the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership is to protect human health and the global environment from the release of mercury and its compounds by minimizing and, where feasible, ultimately eliminating global, anthropogenic mercury releases to air, water and land.

The American Dental Association, under the guidance of Dr. Ronald L. Tankersley, ADA president, recently issued a statement in response to this initiative, specifically regarding the use of mercury in dental fillings.   “No decision regarding the use of dental amalgam should ignore the health benefits to patients from the availability and use of dental amalgam,” the Association said in an Aug. 11, 2010, letter to the U.S. Department of State. “Dental amalgam remains a very important treatment option for repairing teeth damaged by dental caries (the infectious disease that causes cavities) because it is easy to use, cost effective, safe based on decades of use and research, and reliable.”

In essence the ADA is asking that the UNEP findings be consistent with scientific research standards, consider cost benefit of continuing to use amalgam, the soverignty of each nation to act in accordance with it’s own laws, that any treaty be voluntary, and that any dental treatment choice must ultimately rest upon agreement between dentist and patient.  So far, there has been no formal UNEP response to the ADA’s letter.

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“Baby teeth fall out anyway. So why bother taking good care of them?”

Kids dentists and family dentists get asked this question all the time. Here are six reasons why parents should begin caring for their baby’s teeth as early:

• Placeholders for permanent teeth – Baby teeth are place holders for permanent teeth. So the decay and loss of baby teeth can deform the mouth permanently. So if you are worried about your child having great teeth later in life, you need to take good care of baby teeth.
• Important for nutrition – Primary teeth will help babies and children in chewing and biting for a number of years, until they develop permanent teeth. So their early loss could interfere with your child’s nutrition.
• Healthy development and self confidence – Healthy teeth are necessary for the development of normal speech and appearance, both of which are important to your child’s self confidence. When a child has rotten, faulty or missing teeth she cannot speak clearly or smile and laugh with abandon. If she feels the need to keep quiet, cover her mouth while talking or be careful while smiling or laughing aloud, she will not feel good about herself; especially when she sees other kids do not have the same setbacks.
• Give them a good start – Painful teeth and gums can lead to loss of concentration. Kids can miss school due to toothache and other issues. Both these can interfere with their educational attainments.
• Good dental habits are developed early – If baby gets used to brushing her teeth early, she is well on her way to developing positive dental habits during childhood, teen years and into adulthood.
• Earlier you begin with dental care, the better – Younger babies are more malleable than older ones and more open to new experiences. They are also likely to be less stubborn than older babies. So, it is best to start baby dental care routines early, even when the baby cannot hold her own tooth brush steadily or do it on her own.

Now you have six great reasons to motivate you take good care of your little one’s brand new baby teeth.

You can read more about dental care for babies, children and adolescents in other Free Dentist Finder articles.

http://www.freedentistfinder.com/dentistry-articles-detail.php?id=82

http://www.freedentistfinder.com/dentistry-articles-detail.php?id=88

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Here are a few videos on how to get a celebrity smile.  The first is from the Early Show (CBS) hosted by Harry Smith, who is interviewing Dr. Marc Lowenburg.

The next is a basic primer on using hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to white your teeth.  (Note: do not attempt this if you think you have, or have been diagnosed with gum disease.)

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According to a recent poll, the following female celebrities are rated the top 10 female smiles. What do you think?

1. Jennifer Garner
2. Rachael McAdams
3. Britney Spears
4. Jessica Alba
5. Hilary Duff
6. Julia Roberts
7. Mandy Moore
8. Ashlee Simpson
9. Cameron Diaz
10. Kirsten Dunst

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The National Children’s Oral Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of and fighting pediatric dental disease. Pediatric dental diseases are the country’s No. 1 chronic childhood illnesses. The NCOHF, by helping to offer children’s dental health services, hopes to reduce childhood dental disease both now and in the next generation.

Beginning in 2006, over the last 4 years, the NCOHF has provided over US$6.5 million in funding, donated dental products and technical resources to local American communities, providing essential dental health care services to over 1 million children.

The NCOHF Affiliate network has a 10 year plan, which includes treating up to 5 million children, and provide more than 20 million dental screenings for children through various community activities and centers.

For complete details see:

http://www.dental-tribune.com/articles/content/scope/news/region/usa/id/2369

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University Of The Pacific – Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry:

On June 28th at 12 noon, kids can participate in the Klinic Golf Classic. It’s billed as a “day on the green,” which is to be followed by a dinner and live auction. Donations go to support UOP’s endowment. The proceeds will also provide dental care to underserved Northern California children.

Address:
The Olympic Club, Lakeside Clubhouse, Skyline Blvd., S.F.
Tickets: $450.
(415) 929-6403.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/25/LVF31E2QME.DTL#ixzz0rugWlyIh

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Silver or amalgam fillings have been around for quite sometime, but have become less popular of late. What are silver/amalgam fillings? These types of fillings are called amalgams because they combine different metals to form a new material that is stronger, and longer lasting than the sum of it’s parts.

Many dentist offices have stopped filling cavities with amalgam. This mainly due to the improved strength and durability of composite, or white fillings. Patients naturally prefer fillings that match the color of their teeth, so preventive dentistry (fillings) will go unnoticed, and thus the teeth are more natural in appearance. Now that composite-white fillings bond as well or better to the tooth than amalgam, it is generally the desired filler of choice for most patients.

Amalgam is comprised of silver, copper, and tin mixed with a little drop of mercury. You shake them all together to form the amalgam . After a few seconds of settling, the substance becomes putty-like. It is then placed into the prepared cavity area and hardens in a few minutes.

Although mercury is used to “cure” the other metals, once inserted and hardened, their is virtually no mercury coming out of the filling. Amalgam fillings are quite safe, as has been determined by extensive scientific clinical studies (NEJoM 2003/NIH 2004). Although there are many who maintain that any trace level of mercury is too potentially harmful to the human body, this is more based on preference, than clinical studies.

Amalgam fillings are still, for many, the standard of care, because they last longer than most composite-white filler materials. If a dentist is still doing silver fillings, that is still an acceptable method of treatment.

ADA Statement on Dental Amalgam http://www.ada.org/1741.aspx

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