Science in the News

Overview

Science in the News is prepared by the ADA Division of Science and addresses recent articles in the popular press on scientific developments of concern to the dental profession. These features offer timely information on scientific issues in the news, with a brief summary of the article’s principal points, and provide perspective on the reported findings. The aim of these features is to provide accurate information on current scientific issues and emerging developments, and to allow ADA members to communicate effectively with their patients.

If there are any articles in the popular press that you would like to be addressed by Science in the News, please contact the ADA Division of Science at science@ada.org or 312-440-2878.

Features

• HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancers Increasing in the U.S. (Posted 01/18/13) NEW!
  Incidence rates for HPV-related cancers of the oropharynx continue to rise, particularly among white men and women, according to annual report from four health organizations.

• Study Estimates Nearly Half of American Adults Have Periodontal Disease (Posted 09/27/12)
  CDC researchers find that over 47 percent of U.S. adults over age 30 have periodontitis, and almost two-thirds of those over 65 have moderate to severe periodontal disease.

• Transmission of Legionnaires' Disease Traced to Contaminated Dental Unit Waterline (Posted 03/01/12) Elderly woman's death from Legionnaires' disease reportedly associated with exposure to aerosolized water from a contaminated waterline.

• Oral Stem Cells Used to Regenerate Bone and Colonize Myocardial Tissue in Animals (Posted 10/06/11)
  Stem cells from deciduous teeth and dental pulp of canine puppies regenerate mandibular bone defects in dogs, and another study uses human oral mucosal stem cells to colonize damaged cardiac tissue in rats.

• Study Shows Oral Health Findings Can Help Identify Unrecognized Diabetes (Posted 7/28/11)
  Columbia University researchers develop a practical screening algorithm with two dental variables (missing teeth, deep periodontal pockets) that accurately identified 73% of true cases of diabetes or pre-diabetes.

• Drug Industry Plans Transition to One Concentration for Pediatric Liquid Acetaminophen Products (Posted 6/1/11)
  Concentrated acetaminophen drops for infants will be discontinued starting in summer 2011 as the OTC drug industry establishes one concentration for pediatric liquid acetaminophen products (160 mg/5 mL).

• Federal Agencies Announce Scientific Assessments and an Update to the Recommended Community Water Fluoridation Level (Posted 1/31/11)
  HHS proposes updating the recommended optimal fluoridation level to 0.7 ppm for community water systems, and EPA initiates review of the maximum level of fluoride allowed in drinking water.

• Pediatric Authors Evaluate Exposure to BPA from Dental Materials (Posted 9/21/10)
  Team of authors recommends the continued use of resin-based dental materials based on their proven benefits in caries prevention and restorative care, as well as the brevity of exposure to bisphenol-A after sealant or composite placement.
• Oral Bacterium Associated with Uncommon Stillbirth Case (Posted 2/16/10)
  A full-term stillbirth is described as a case of possible bacterial translocation of an anaerobic microbe from the mother's oral cavity to her uterus, after an upper respiratory infection.
• Pediatric Journal Highlights Need for Translational Research, Medical-Dental Collaboration to Improve Children's Oral Health (Posted 12/28/09)
  Special issue promotes strong leadership and collaborative strategies to accelerate progress in improving early childhood oral health and meeting the dental care needs of young children, especially those from low-income families or underserved communities.
• Lifestyle Behaviors That Promote Oral Health Also Decrease Risks for Chronic Disease (Posted 08/27/09)
  Adults who adhered to one of four lifestyle factors, including three that promote oral health (not smoking, healthy diet, and BMI under 30), reduced their chronic disease risk by 50%.
• Two Journals Publish Editors' Consensus on Periodontitis and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (Posted 06/05/09)
  New recommendations intended to increase professional awareness of the association between periodontitis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and provide guidance on research needed to address unanswered clinical questions.
• New Research Suggests Link Between Obesity and Periodontal Disease (Posted 04/21/09)
  Two preliminary studies highlight a growing body of evidence that periodontal disease may occur more commonly in obese individuals.
• Study Finds Higher Incidence of Osteonecrosis of the Jaw in Alendronate Users (Posted 01/22/09)
  USC researchers report that four percent of patients on oral bisphosphonate therapy developed osteonecrosis of the jaw after invasive dental procedures.
• Promising Salivary Protein Biomarkers Identified for Prediction of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Posted 10/16/08)
  Scientists from UCLA identify a panel of five salivary protein biomarkers that predicted the presence of oral squamous cell carcinoma with 93 percent accuracy.
• Clinical Trial Supports Safety of Providing Dental Care to Pregnant Patients (Posted 08/12/08)
   Intervention trial provides evidence for the safety of routine dental care, periodontal therapy, and use of topical and local anesthetics in pregnant women at 13 to 21 weeks' gestation.