A new warning issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), states that certain electric toothbrushes may not be safe for use. On more than one occasion, the battery-powered Arm & Hammer Spinbrush, previously known as the Crest Spinbrush, has been known to break, causing pieces of the toothbrush to injure eyes, and teeth, and even choking. Ali Shumaya, M.P.H...

It is estimated that about 1.1 million men and women in the UK suffer from eating disorders, with the dark figure thought to be even higher, considering that many more keep their problem a secret. A study by the University of Bergen in Norway, showed that patients who suffer from eating disorders, such as Anorexia and Bulimia, experienced substantially more dental health problems...

This week's issue of The Lancet describes a case report of an 82-year-old woman in Italy who died of Legionnaires disease after becoming infected with L pneumophila at her dentist. This case has prompted the authors - led by Dr Maria Luisa Ricci at the Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy, to call for various control measures at dental surgeries to prevent similar incidents...

According to a new study, smoking causes the body to turn against its own helpful bacteria, leaving smokers more vulnerable to disease. Despite the daily disturbance of brushing and flossing, the mouth of a healthy person contains a stable ecosystem of healthy bacteria...

Oral blood samples drawn from deep pockets of periodontal inflammation can be used to measure hemoglobin A1c, an important gauge of a patient's diabetes status, an NYU nursing-dental research team has found. Hemoglobin A1c blood glucose measures from oral blood compare well to those from finger-stick blood, the researchers say...

Gingivitis means inflammation of the gums (gingiva). It commonly occurs because of films of bacteria that accumulate on the teeth - plaque; this type is called plaque-induced gingivitis. Gingivitis is a non-destructive type of periodontal disease. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, which is more serious and can eventually lead to loss of teeth...

Stripping some mouth bacteria of their access key to gangs of other pathogenic oral bacteria could help prevent gum disease and tooth loss. The study, published in the journal Microbiology suggests that this bacterial access key could be a drug target for people who are at high risk of developing gum disease...

Injectable progesterone contraceptives may be associated with poor periodontal health, according to research in the Journal of Periodontology...

When dentists do a root canal they are supposed to use steel posts, and definitely not paper clips. A dentist from Massachusetts has just received a 1-year prison sentence at the Bristol County House of Correction, for using paper clips for just such procedures - he had faced charges of assault and battery, as well as defrauding Medicaid to the tune of $130,000, and intimidating a witness. Dr...

Washington—Suppliers of the technical component of advanced diagnostic imaging services for Medicare beneficiaries must be accredited to be reimbursed for the claim if the service is performed on or after Jan. 1, 2012. The accreditation requirement applies to suppliers of the images and not the physician's interpretation.

Researchers at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine have identified a genetic variation that raises the risk of developing serious necrotic jaw bone lesions in patients who take bisphosphonates, a common class of osteoclastic inhibitors. The discovery paves the way for a genetic screening test to determine who can safely take these drugs...

Sacramento, Calif.—Legislation approved by the state senate Jan. 26 would create a dentist-led Statewide Office of Oral Health within the state Department of Public Health charged with addressing the "significant human and financial costs" of unmet dental needs.

Washington—Quality improvement efforts in organized dentistry and throughout the health care system offer opportunities to increase access to care and “improve and maintain the oral health of the U.S. population,” says a report funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and DentaQuest Institute and intended to advance the national health policy dialogue.

The American Association of Dental Boards’ 2012 Mid-Year Meeting takes place April 22-23 at ADA Headquarters.

Indianapolis—Dr. Lloyd J. Phillips, a past ADA trustee who represented the 7th District from 1970 to 1976, died Jan. 15 here. He was 89.

Hyattsville, Md. – Seven percent of American children aged 17 and younger had unmet dental need in 2010 because their families could not afford dental care, the National Center for Health Statistics said in an analysis of data collected by U.S. Census Bureau interviewers and reported in the Vital and Health Statistics series.

The ADA Council on Dental Benefit Programs is launching a new process to maintain the CDT Code.

NBA high five: Denver Nuggets guard-forward Jordan Hamilton greets a young patient at the TeamSmile dental care day held Dec. 17, 2011, at the Pepsi Center in Denver. More than 100 dental professionals and volunteers provided free dental treatment and preventive care to 125 underserved children from 10 local organizations.

Members interested in running for ADA treasurer can go on ADA.org to find the information necessary for filing for candidacy.

The 2011 House of Delegates changed the rules for how an ADA member becomes a candidate for speaker of the House.