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Chemists Discover Most Naturally Variable Protein in Dental Plaque Bacterium
ScienceDaily (Aug. 23, 2011)  Two UC San Diego chemists have discovered the most naturally variable
protein known to date in a bacterium that is a key player in the formation of dental plaque.

The chemists, who announced their discovery in this week's early online edition of the journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, say they believe the extreme variability of
the protein they discovered in the bacterium Treponema denticola evolved to adhere to the hundreds
of different kinds of other bacteria that inhabit people's mouths. They call the protein they
discovered "Treponema variable protein," or TvpA for short, and estimate that it is a million
to a billion times more variable than the proteins that play a primary role in vertebrate immune
systems -- the only other known natural system for massive protein variation.

"In Treponema denticola, we found a protein we call TvpA, that varies considerably more than
proteins of the immune system and, to our knowledge, this protein is the most variable natural
protein described to date," said Partho Ghosh, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at
UC San Diego who headed the research effort. "We don't know what it does in this bacterium,
but our hypothesis is that it enables it to adhere to the biofilm, commonly known as dental
plaque, that exists in people's mouths."

Ghosh explained that dental plaque varies from person-to-person in the kinds of bacteria that
adhere to the teeth to form this biofilm. Because plaque grows in a sequential way and because
T. denticola is one of the last key players in the formation of plaque, Ghosh said the bacterium
has no idea what kinds of other bacteria will be present to adhere to.......... More 




Dirty Mouths Lead to Broken Hearts
ScienceDaily (May 5, 2011)

Nurses who care for patients with dementia now have a tailored approach to dental hygiene for their
charges, thanks to a pilot study by a team of nurses.

"Poor oral health can lead to pneumonia and cardiovascular disease as well as periodontal disease,"
said Rita A. Jablonski, even though these illnesses are not usually associated with the mouth.
According to Jablonski, assistant professor of nursing, Penn State, persons with dementia resist
care when they feel threatened. In general, these patients cannot care for themselves and need help.

Jablonski and her team introduced an oral hygiene approach called Managing Oral Hygiene Using Threat
Reduction (MOUTh) specifically for dementia patients. Many of their strategies focus on making the
patient feel more comfortable before and while care is provided, the researchers report in the
current issue of Special Care in Dentistry ....... More 

Highly Sensitive Method To Assess The Extent Of Titanium Leaks From Implants

A new strategy to quantify the levels of titanium in the blood of patients fitted with titanium
orthopaedic implants is presented in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, a Springer journal.
Yoana Nuevo-Ordonez and colleagues of the Sanz-Medel research group from the University of Oviedo
in Spain have developed a highly sensitive method to determine the levels of titanium in human blood,
establishing a baseline for natural levels of titanium in untreated individuals as well as measuring
levels in patients with surgical implants.

Titanium implants are routinely used for bone fractures as well as dental work. It has recently
been shown that titanium-based implants both corrode and degrade, generating metallic debris.
There is some concern over the increased concentrations of circulating metal-degradation products
derived from these implants, and their potential harmful biological effects over a period of time,
including hepatic injury and renal lesions. In order to assess the implications of these 'leaks',
it is essential to accurately measure the basal, normal levels of titanium in the bloodstream,
as well as quantify how much higher levels are in patients with implants.

Nuevo-Ordóñez and team collected blood from 40 healthy individuals and 37 patients with titanium
implants - 15 had tibia implants, eight had femur implants, and 14 had humerus implants (eight
internal and six external fixation implants). They used their new method, based on isotope
dilution analysis and mass spectrometry, or IDA-ICP-MS, to analyze the blood samples.

They found that control individuals had very low levels of titanium in the blood whereas titanium
concentrations were significantly higher for all the patients with implants. The sensitivity of
the method was such that the researchers were also able to show significant differences in titanium
levels for different types of bone fixation devices. The more invasive implants shed more metallic
debris into the blood than the external, superficial designs. The work also identified how the
titanium from the implants is transported in the bloodstream and potentially distributed and accumulated.

The authors conclude: "The simplicity of the methodology based on isotope dilution analysis and
the accuracy and precision of the obtained results should encourage the use of the proposed
strategy on a routine basis."

Source:  Joan Robinson , Springer
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/231737.php


How Cavity-Causing Microbes Invade Heart

ScienceDaily (June 28, 2011)  Scientists have discovered the tool that bacteria normally found in
our mouths use to invade heart tissue, causing a dangerous and sometimes lethal infection of the
heart known as endocarditis. The work raises the possibility of creating a screening tool
-- perhaps a swab of the cheek, or a spit test -- to gauge a dental patient's vulnerability to
the condition.

The identification of the protein that allows Streptococcus mutans to gain a foothold in heart
tissue is reported in the June issue of Infection and Immunity by microbiologists at the
University of Rochester Medical Center.

S. mutans is a bacterium best known for causing cavities. The bacteria reside in dental plaque --
an architecturally sophisticated goo composed of an elaborate molecular matrix created by
S. mutans that allows the bacteria to inhabit and thrive in our oral cavity. There, they
churn out acid that erodes our teeth.

Normally, S. mutans confines its mischief to the mouth, but sometimes, particularly after a dental
procedure or even after a vigorous bout of flossing, the bacteria enter the bloodstream. There,
the immune system usually destroys them, but occasionally -- within just a few seconds -- they
travel to the heart and colonize its tissue, especially heart valves. The bacteria can cause
endocarditis -- inflammation of heart valves -- which can be deadly. Infection by S. mutans is
a leading cause of the condition.

"When I first learned that S. mutans sometimes can live in the heart, I asked myself: Why in
the world are these bacteria, which normally live in the mouth, in the heart? I was intrigued.
And I began investigating how they get there and survive there," said Jacqueline Abranches, Ph.D.,
a microbiologist and the corresponding author of the study.

Abranches and her team at the University's Center for Oral Biology discovered that a
collagen-binding protein known as CNM gives S. mutans its ability to invade heart tissue.
In laboratory experiments, scientists found that strains with CNM are able to invade heart cells,
and strains without CNM are not.

When the team knocked out the gene for CNM in strains where it's normally present, the bacteria
were unable to invade heart tissue. Without CNM, the bacteria simply couldn't gain a foothold;
their ability to adhere was about one-tenth of what it was with CNM.

The team also studied the response of wax worms to the various strains of S. mutans. They found
that strains without CNM were rarely lethal to the worms, while strains with the protein were
lethal 90 percent of the time. Then, when Abranches' team knocked out CNM in those strains,
they were no longer lethal -- those worms thrived.

The work may someday enable doctors to prevent S. mutans from invading heart tissue. Even sooner,
though, since some strains of S. mutans have CNM and others do not, the research may enable
doctors to gauge a patient's vulnerability to a heart infection caused by the bacteria.

Abranches has identified five specific strains of S. mutans that carry the CNM protein, out of
more than three dozen strains examined. CNM is not found in the most common type of S. mutans
found in people, type C, but is present in rarer types of S. mutans, including types E and F.
"It may be that CNM can serve as a biomarker of the most virulent strains of S. mutans," said
Abranches, a research assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
"When patients with cardiac problems go to the dentist, perhaps those patients will be screened
to see if they carry the protein. If they do, the dentist might treat them more aggressively
with preventive antibiotics, for example."

Until more research is done and a screening or preventive tool is in place, Abranches says the
usual advice for good oral health still stands for everyone.

"No matter what types of bacteria a person has in his or her mouth, they should do the same
things to maintain good oral health. They should brush and floss their teeth regularly --
the smaller the number of S. mutans in your mouth, the healthier you'll be. Use a fluoride
rinse before you go to bed at night. And eat a healthy diet, keeping sugar to a minimum,"
added Abranches.

Abranches presented the work at a recent conference on the "oral microbiome" hosted by the
University's Center for Oral Biology. The center is part of the Medical Center's Eastman Institute
for Oral Health, a world leader in research and post-doctoral education in general and pediatric
dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and oral surgery

FDA takes another look at mercury-based dental fillings

There are no new data on the safety of mercury alloy dental fillings, the Food & Drug Administration
wants to know whether the ... Administration ruled that the mercury-containing metal in dental fillings
is safe, but the agency wants to know if the methods it used to ..

Rough titanium dental implants could shorten healing time 

A researcher at the University of Gothenburg was the first to find that titanium is pretty body-friendly
when it comes to dental implants, and new research suggests that a rough surface is better than a smooth
one. Studying the surface of a dental implant at the nano level, Johanna Loberg of the university's dept.
of chemistry discovered that increased surface area on the implant allows the body's own biomechanics
to speed up healing around the implant.

Mom's kiss can spread cavities to baby
Wonder of Vision in Canine Teeth
using a tooth to nurture the eye.
ADA guidelines for Swine Flu
Elephant undergoes dental repair
25 Nov 2010
Kochi, Nov 25 (PTI) In a rare surgery, an elephant in Kerala successfully underwent a conservative
dental treatment to repair his tusk, which had a 50 cm long crack. "The 50 cm long and 4 cm deep crack
was filled using micro and macromechanical bonding using light cure composite resin.

The resin was bonded to the elephant dentin by using nanofilled

Dental advancement may improve root canal procedures
01 July 2010
Dentists have discovered that instead of using root canal procedures that result resulting in non-vital
teeth and inflamed gums, they may have the opportunity to regenerate tissue and teeth damaged by decay
and bacteria.

New dental tool may improve tooth decay detection in children
28 June 2010
Using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) driven biouminescence, the innovative dental tool, dentists are able
to detect visible light caused by bacteria-based ATP that leads to tooth decay

Sleep-Disordered Breathing In Children Identified By Dental Questionnaire
07 June 2010
According to new research that received the Graduate Student Research Award on Saturday, June 5,
at the 19th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, questionnaires can help
dentists screen for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in a pediatric population. SDB includes
obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), upper-airway resistance syndrome, and snoring.

Night Time Eating Linked To Tooth Loss
02 June 2010
Eating food late at night contributes to tooth loss, regardless of the type of food you eat,
according to American and Danish researchers, who noted the reason could be that saliva flow,
which is important for removing...

Little-Known Mouth Fluid May Lead to Test for Gum Disease
ScienceDaily (May 28, 2010) A little-known fluid produced in tiny amounts in the gums, those tough
pink tissues that hold the teeth in place, has become a hot topic for scientists trying to develop
an early, non-invasive test for gum disease, the No. 1 cause of tooth loss in adults. It's not saliva,
a quart of which people produce each day, but gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), produced at the rate
of millionths of a quart per tooth.

Tissue Engineering Technique Yields Potential Biological Substitute for Dental Implants
ScienceDaily (May 25, 2010)  A technique pioneered in the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Laboratory of Dr. Jeremy Mao, the Edward V. Zegarelli Professor of Dental Medicine at Columbia University
Medical Center, can orchestrate stem cells to migrate to a three-dimensional scaffold infused with growth
factor, holding the translational potential to yield an anatomically correct tooth in as soon as nine
weeks once implanted.

Indiana Implant Dentist Receives training In Cutting Edge Protocol To Rescue The Denture Sufferers
Dr. Irfan (Ivan) Atcha and 15 other selected dental clinicians across the U.S. were invited
by Nobel Biocare (world's largest Dental Implant manfacturer), Dr. Yvan Fortin DDS and
Dr. Richard Sullivan(Clincal Director of Nobel Biocare North America) DDS to get trained on
Zygomatic Implants (No Bone Solution) for patients with little to no bone left on the upper jaw
at the Centre D'Implantologie Dentaire in Quebec, Montreal.

"Perception Aesthetics And Smile Design": A New Concept In Creating Natural Smiles
A new website and YouTube video developed by Paul Chalifoux, DDS of Wellesley, Massachusetts,
introduces the concept "Perception Aesthetics and Smile Design" to the public. The concept was
introduced to dentists in an article "Perception Esthetics: Factors that Affect Smile Design"
published in the Journal of Esthetic Dentistry in 1996.

bonds between the white filling and the tooth quickly age and degrade
Tooth-colored fillings may be more attractive than silver ones, but the bonds between the white
filling and the tooth quickly age and degrade. A Medical College of Georgia researcher hopes a
new nanotechnology technique will extend the fillings' longevity.

New tool to detect early signs of plaque build-up
January 17th, 2009 - 4:56 pm ICT by IANS -

London, Jan 17 (IANS) A new dental probe developed by scientists will detect the very
earliest signs of plaque build-up.The toothbrush-sized product has a blue light at
its tip, which, when shone around the mouth and viewed through yellow glasses with a
red filter, allows plaque to be seen easily as a red glow.

Dentists currently use disclosing agents in tablet form to uncover tooth decay and
plaque but these often stain the mouth and taste unpleasant.

Sue Higham, professor at the Liverpool University School of Dental Sciences, who led
the study, said: It is extremely difficult to get rid of all plaque in the mouth.
Left undisturbed it becomes what we call ‘mature’ plaque and gets thicker. This is
what leads to gingivitis, or bleeding gums, and decay.

Early stage plaque is invisible, and so this device will show people the parts of
the mouth that they are neglecting when they brush their teeth, enabling them to
remove plaque before it becomes a problem,she said.

Inspektor TC is designed so that people can easily incorporate it into their daily
dental hygiene routine at home. We now hope to work with industry partners to develop
this prototype so that people can use it in the home to identify plaque before any
serious dental work is needed.

Children in Britain have had an average of 2.5 teeth filled or removed by the age of
15 because of tooth decay. For young people alone, 45 million pounds is currently
being spent every year on the problem, said a Liverpool release.

The team has now received a Medical Futures Innovation Award for the product
- a commendation which acknowledges significant innovation in science.


Four New Quality Resource Guides Added To MetLife's Dental Continuing Education Program
MetLife announced today that four quality resource guides have been added to its
American Dental Association (ADA) and Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) recognized
dental continuing education program. The new self-study courses focus on:
1) Adolescent Oral Health: Perspectives for Dental Practitioners,
2) Cosmetic Dentistry,
3) Digital Radiography (second edition), and
4) Restoration of the Single Tooth Dental Implant.
The courses are available online at www.metdental.com and can be completed for
continuing education credits.

A healthy lifestyle can have an unhealthy effect on teeth

GSK reveals that Modern Lifestyle attacks teeth A healthy lifestyle can have an unhealthy
effect on teeth GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the leading oral care expert, has revealed a link
between the acid erosion of teeth and the modern diet. Acid erosion is the wear to tooth
enamel caused by the 21st century lifestyle which threatens the teeth of both men and women
of all ages. This dental condition is a form of erosion that is caused by acid softening
the surface of the tooth’s enamel and which results in a reduced enamel thickness which
can lead to changes to the teeth such as changes to texture, shape and appearance.
Teeth can also become sensitive. Today there is generally a greater understanding about
lifestyle, health and nutrition. The modern diet is considered healthier than in the past
with more low sugar and low fat options, but GSK warns that the food and drink consumed as
part of the modern diet is often highly acidic and can irreversibly damage teeth. There is
a trend to drink fruit juice, which is seen as more healthy and nutritious, and to choose
low calorie drinks and low fat food options. But acid found in many fruits, fruit juices,
teas, vinegar and certain diet or non-diet soft drinks such as fizzy colas, can cause the
softening of the teeth’s enamel surface making the enamel prone to wear. Modern cooking
trends can also affect the acidic content of food. Research from the University of Dundee
in the United Kingdom found that roasting vegetables such as courgettes, onions and peppers
in the oven increased their acidity compared with traditional cooking methods such as stewing
and boiling. Other demands of modern life have also contributed to the increased risk of
Acid Erosion to teeth ... 
Contd....

Advancement In Tissue Engineering Promotes Oral Wound Healing

Oral tissue engineering for transplantation to aid wound healing in mouth (oral cavity)
reconstruction has taken a significant step forward with a Netherlands-based research team's
successful development of a gum tissue (gingival) substitute that can be used for reconstruction
in the oral cavity.
Contd....

The Amacore Group, Inc. Announces New Dental Insurance Plan

The Amacore Group, Inc., a leader in providing health-related membership benefit programs,
insurance programs, and other innovative and high quality solutions to individuals, families,
and employer groups nationwide, announced that it has launched a new dental insurance plan,
Amacore Elite Dental.
Contd....