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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.

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Features

• ADA Issues Evidence-Based Clinical Recommendations on Pit-and-Fissure Sealants NEW!
  (Posted 03/27/08)
  ADA report provides a comprehensive analysis of the best research evidence on pit-and-fissure sealants, plus graded recommendations for use in clinical decision-making.
  
  
• Cannabis Smoking Associated with Periodontal Disease, New Study Says
  (Posted 02/22/08)
  Longitudinal research finds regular marijuana use may be a risk factor for periodontal disease in young adults, independing of tobacco smoking.
  
  
• Recent Developments in Salivary Diagnostic Research for Cancer Detection
  (Posted 01/29/08)
  Scientists use salivary rinse to detect molecular changes associated with head and cancer, and new proteomic research finds 49 salivary proteins that are differentially expressed in breast cancer patients.
  
  
• Scientific American Features Article on Fluoride
  (Posted 12/20/07)

• Study Supports Benefits of Community Water Fluoridation for Older Adults
  (Posted 12/18/07)
  Analysis of dental HMO data found that older adults living in areas with water fluoridation received fewer restorations.

• Potential Salivary Biomarkers Identified for Detecting Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome
  (Posted 11/13/07)
  UCLA scientists identify first panel of candidate genomic biomakers for the potential detection of primary Sjogren's syndrome.
  
  
• Study Finds No Association Between Breastfeeding and Early Childhood Caries
  (Posted 10/05/07)
  Evaluation of national health survey data identifies poverty, Mexican American ethnic status, and maternal prenatal smoking as independent risk factors for early childhood caries.
  
  
• Australian Study Evaluates Nitrous Oxide Safety for Patients Undergoing
  Major Surgery
  (Posted 08/24/07)
  International clinical trial suggests that nitrous oxide in major medical surgery may be associated with more adverse side effects, but the study authors caution that the findings are not applicable to dental procedures or other minor surgery.
  

• Cochrane Review Finds Acetaminophen Effective for Pain Relief After Wisdom Tooth Extraction
  (Posted 07/31/07)
  New systematic review supports 1000 milligrams of acetaminophen as an optimal dose for safe and effective treatment of postoperative pain following third molar surgery.
  
  
• Periodontal Bacteria Associated with Oral Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women
  (Posted 06/25/07)
  Cross-sectional study finds that infections with four species of subgingival bacteria were associated with bone loss in the oral cavity, but further research is needed to clarify the complex associations between periodontal disease and systemic bone loss.
  
  
• Study Suggests Chronic Periodontitis May Increase Risk for Tongue Cancer
  (Posted 05/25/07)
  Case-control study indicates that alveolar bone loss, on a per-millimeter basis, may be associated with increased risk of tongue cancer in men, but further studies are needed to validate this finding.
  
  
• National Survey Shows Increase in Early Childhood Caries
  (Posted 05/07/07)
  New research from the CDC finds dental caries rose four percent over the past decade for children between ages 2 to 5.
  
  
• American Heart Association Issues New Guidelines for Preventing Infective Endocarditis
  (Posted 04/20/07)
  The AHA now recommends antibiotic prophylaxis only for patients at greatest risk of negative outcomes from infective endocarditis, and only if they receive dental procedures that involve mucosal perforation or manipulation of gingival tissues or periapical region of teeth.
  
  
• Patient-to-Patient Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus Reported in Dental Setting
  (Posted 04/10/07)
  Actual mechanism of the patient-to-patient transmission in an oral surgeon's operatory is undetermined, but universal HBV vaccination may have prevented the infection.
  
  
• Study Claims Increased Dietary Vitamin C May Reduce Oral Cancer Risk
  (Posted 03/28/07)
  A long-term evaluation of male health professionals finds that increased intake of vitamin C from dietary sources, but not supplements, was associated with lower risk of oral premalignant lesions.
  
  
• Improved Endothelial Function in Patients Receiving Intensive Periodontal Treatment
  (Posted 03/08/07)
  Study finds that intensive periodontal therapy improves endothelial function in adult patients with severe periodontitis, but further research is still needed.
  
  
• Japanese Scientists Develop Tooth Structures in Mice from Single Cells
  (Posted 02/28/07)
  New study uses bioengineered tooth germ to develop structurally correct teeth in
  adult mice.
  
  
• Percutaneous Injury Prevention in Dental Settings
  (Posted 02/13/07)
  New surveillance study suggests needlesticks are still prevalent in dental practice, but many could be reduced by using safety-enhanced devices and implementing safer work practice controls.
  
  
• Communication Between Health Care Providers and Patients: Addressing the Challenges of Limited Oral Health Literacy
  (Posted 02/02/07)
  Patients of all ages and ethnicities, even ones with high education levels, may have less than optimal health literacy.
  
  
• New Advisory Cautions Against Early Cessation of Antiplatelet Therapy for Patients with Drug-Eluting Stents
  (Posted 01/24/07)
  Advisory panel recommends that patients with drug-eluting stents defer elective procedures with significant risks of bleeding until antiplatelet therapy is completed.
  
  
• Using Software to Screen Panoramic Radiographs for Osteoporosis Risk Assessment
  (Posted 01/10/07)
  New research suggests software measurements of mandibular cortex width in panoramic radiographs could help identify patients at risk for osteoporosis.
  
  
• Salivary Diagnostics and Breast Cancer Screening
  (Posted 12/20/06)
  Researchers are developing tests to detect a breast cancer biomarker in saliva.
  
  
• Salivary Diagnostics—Comparing Salivary Protein to Salivary mRNA
  (Posted 12/20/06)
  Investigators confirm that proteins and messenger RNA co-exist in saliva, indicating that both may be useful for diagnosing and monitoring diseases.
  
  
• An Evaluation of Periodontal Disease and Pancreatic Cancer Risk in Men
  (Posted 12/01/06)
  Preliminary study indicates that men between ages 40 and 75 with a history of periodontal disease could be at increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer, but more research is needed.
  
  
• Systematic Review Finds Home-Use Tooth Whiteners Have Short-Term Effectiveness, But Long-Term Evaluations Still Needed
  (Posted 11/09/06)
  New systematic evaluation of over-the-counter and dentist-dispensed tooth whiteners for home use found differences in product effectiveness were due to levels of active ingredients.
  
  
• FDA Approves Claim That Bottled Water with Fluoride Reduces Caries Risk
  (Posted 10/26/06)
  New labeling will assist consumers in identifying bottled water containing
  0.6 to 1.0 mg/L fluoride.
  
  
• Study Finds Increased Adherence of Streptococcus Mutans to Composite Materials
  (Posted 10/06/06)
  Research evaluates adhesion of S. mutans to a variety of dental materials—including
  titanium, gold, amalgam alloy and composite—in the absence and presence of saliva.
  
  
• Supporting Further Review of the Scientific Evidence on Restorative Materials
  (Posted 09/15/06)
  An overview of ADA testimony to a recent meeting of a public advisory committee of the Food and Drug Administration.
  
  
• Exploring the Association Between Dental and Arterial Plaque
  (Posted 08/28/06)
  A discussion of the association between periodontal disease and cardiovascular diseases.
  
  
• Severe Pain in Patients Taking the Oral Bisphosphonates Fosamax and Actonel
  (Posted 08/09/06)
  The FDA reports extreme and disabling bone, joint and muscle pain as another adverse reaction in some patients taking Fosamax and Actonel.
  
  
• New ADA Report Offers Evidence-Based Clinical Recommendations for Professionally Applied Topical Fluoride
  (Posted 08/09/06)
  The clinical recommendations, published in the August JADA and at ADA.org, indicate that professionally applied topical fluoride should be considered as a caries-preventive method for moderate- and high-risk patients of all ages, including children under 6 and adults over 18.
  
  
• Prevention Magazine Looks at Water Fluoridation
  (Posted 07/18/06)
  Science in the News clarifies some misinformation presented in Prevention magazine's August cover story on the safety and effectiveness of community water fluoridation.
  
  
• New Study Explores Bisphenol A Exposure and Prostate Cancer
  (Posted 06/14/06)
  A research study finds that bisphenol A exposure may predispose laboratory rats to precancerous prostate lesions, but there is no evidence to suggest a link between any adverse health condition and bisphenol A leached out of dental sealants.
  
  
• Reports Address Osteonecrosis of the Jaw in Patients Receiving
  Bisphosphonate Therapy
  (Posted 05/09/06)
  Novartis and the American Academy of Oral Medicine have developed new recommendations for dental treatment of patients taking bisphosphonates.
  
  
• Two New Clinical Studies Support the Safety and Use of Dental Amalgam in Children
  (Posted 04/19/06)
  Two new studies evaluate overall health effects of dental amalgam in children.
  
  
• National Research Council Issues Report on EPA Standards for Fluoride in Drinking Water
  (Posted 04/19/06)
  A new report reviews toxicologic, epidemiologic and exposure data relating to high levels of naturally occurring fluoride in drinking water.
  
  
• Acidic Beverages Can Erode Exposed Root Surfaces, New Study Claims
  (Posted 03/24/06)
  A new laboratory study from the University of Iowa investigates the erosion potential
  of acidic beverages on the root surfaces of extracted teeth.
  
  
• Study Finds Smokers at Greater Risk for Root Canal Treatment
  (Posted 03/03/06)
  Cigarette smoking can nearly double the risk of needing a root canal, investigators report.
  
  
• Study Supports Fluoride Varnish in Reducing Early Childhood Caries
  (Posted 02/16/06)
  Fluoride varnish can reduce the incidence of tooth decay in young children, according to new research from the University of California-San Francisco.
  

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