The researchers measured 11 PFAS chemicals in blood samples taken from 178 middle-aged women enrolled in the Public Health Institute’s Child Health and Development Studies, a multigenerational study of the impact of environmental chemicals and other factors on disease. To understand how the participants’ behavior influenced their exposure to PFAS, the researchers then compared the blood measurements with results from interviews in which they asked the women about nine behaviors that could lead to higher exposures. The study found that women who flossed with a major brand tended to have higher levels of a type of PFAS called perfluorohexanesulfonic acid in their body compared with those who did not. To further understand the connection, the researchers tested 18 dental flosses for the presence of fluorine, which is a marker of PFAS. All three products of the major brand tested positive for fluorine. In addition, one store brand floss describing itself as a “single-strand Teflon fiber” tested positive for fluorine. The reason scientists are concerned about widespread exposure to PFAS in the population is that the chemicals have been linked to negative health effects, including kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, low birth weight, decreased fertility and effects on the immune system. “This is the first study to show that using dental floss containing PFAS is associated with a higher body burden of these toxic chemicals,” said lead author Katie Boronow, a staff scientist at the institute. “The good news is, based on our findings, consumers can choose flosses that don’t contain PFAS.” The study, titled “Serum concentrations of PFASs and exposure-related behaviors in African American and non-Hispanic white women,” was published online in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology on Jan. 8, 2019.

Tags: dental, flossing, PFAS

Over the course of the most important trade show in the dental industry, DTI will be publishing a total of six daily today issues in English and German with a print run of 10,000 copies per day. The paper will be produced on-site to guarantee the most up-to-date news, product reference guides and exclusive interviews. Free hard copies of today will be made available to IDS visitors every day and can also be accessed 24/7 on the DTI website. Additionally, over the course of the event, daily newsletters featuring the newspaper will be sent to over 200,000 recipients worldwide. Speaking about the publication at IDS, DTI CEO Torsten Oemus said he believes the paper has become so trusted because of the publisher’s years of experience in producing quality bilingual content and because the today covers all major trade shows worldwide.

"today has been the most read publication at IDS at all times"

Since the first today published at IDS in 1999, the paper has continually grown stronger. “Other show papers have come and gone, but today has been the most read publication at IDS at all times owing to its relevant content and extensive distribution at the show and to 150 hotels in and around Cologne,” said Oemus. In addition to its paper at IDS, DTI publishes special today show dailies for more than 80 dental shows around the globe each year. Depending on the size of the event, up-to-the-minute issues covering the respective show are produced and distributed daily. On-site editorial teams provide a comprehensive recap of the previous day’s events. Additional content helps attendees make the most of their time, including information on course offerings, exhibitor lists, floor plans and social events. More information about advertising options can be found here.

Tags: congress, IDS, news, papers

The objective of the study was to continue testing natural components from fruit as bacteria inhibitors, and to further the research of their effects on oral health. The researchers tested high-quality extracts, prepared as bioactive molecules from cranberries, blueberries and strawberries, as well as a combination of the three berry extracts called Orophenol, on 24-hour-old Streptococcus mutans biofilms and compared them to the effects of a vehicle control. The study found that higher concentrations of cranberry extract significantly reduced the bacteria’s metabolic activity and acid production and bacterial/exopolysaccharide biovolumes, as well as resulted in a less compact architectural structure than that of the control-treated biofilms. Orophenol also had a significant impact, but slightly lower than that of cranberries. Only the highest concentration level of blueberry extract significantly reduced metabolic activity and acidogenicity, but did not significantly affect the biovolume or biofilm architecture. The extract from strawberries had no significant impact on any bacterial activity. No extract killed the bacteria. Continued research goes into fruit extracts for oral health care and bacteria management. The study, titled “Inhibitory effects of fruit berry extracts on Streptococcus mutans biofilms”, was published online in the European Journal of Oral Sciences on 28 December 2018 ahead of inclusion in an issue.

Tags: biolfilm, cranberry, fruit berry extract, polyphenols

Firstly, how is the Compact i5 designed to benefit patients? There are a number of ways in which it benefits patients. The automatic leg rest ensures that sitting down is as easy as sitting down on a normal chair, and further creates a feeling of equality between the patient and dentist during the initial communication. This is very important, as loss of control can often be a cause of stress for patients. It is also possible to choose custom-moulded Ultra Relax upholstery with viscoelastic filling that will provide maximum support for the patient, which is particularly appreciated in long treatment sessions. The memory foam adapts well to different body anatomies, thereby allowing the patient to relax. And how is it designed to benefit the dental team? The Compact i5 has a floating chair and small cuspidor base, enabling a lot of space for the legs and good positioning for the foot control. The vast delivery arm movement, together with the narrow upper part of the back-rest, also allows for easy access to treatment, and the balanced instrument arms enable comfortable and effortless instrument use. Planmeca Compact i5 adapts to different working habits, offering a wide variety of options. In addition, owing to the integrated and automated infection control systems, the maintenance functions are easily and quickly performed, contributing to a safe treatment environment for both patient and dental team. The Compact i5 has been designed with future proofing in mind. Could you briefly explain how it achieves this, and why this is a point of emphasis for Planmeca? The Compact i5 is guaranteed to have a long life cycle, so it is important that upgrades to this unit are made possible. The modular design and software-controlled system make it possible for dental practitioners to first buy a basic set-up and then upgrade the unit with new features later on. Upgrading the existing unit with our Planmeca PlanID system, for example, will grant an unlimited number of user profiles, particularly useful in large group practices. It is also possible to add a newly introduced instrument, however, or to enable additional functionalities through a software upgrade. We use primarily aluminium parts with a timeless design as well for the Compact i5, which helps to ensure that the dental unit will be stable and attractive in the future. Overall, Planmeca’s Compact i5 is a future-proof, ecological and safe investment. Will the Compact i5 be on display at the 2019 International Dental Show? Of course! We invite all attendees to visit us at Stand G010/H011 in Hall 11.1, where they can experience not just the Compact i5 in action, but also our range of solutions for digital dentistry. Thank you very much for the interview.

Tags: dental innovation, dental unit, Planmeca

Four areas will be discussed: Diagnosis and Treatment planning implants through digital software, Single tooth innovations specific to Screw vs. Cement Retained Restorations, Contemporary Concepts to treat the severely resorbed Maxilla, Innovations in treating the edentulous Mandible. Participants will learn:

• Benefits of digital diagnosis and treatment planning
• CAD/CAM innovations for single implant restorations
• Efficient, affordable full arch edentulous solutions