series of Chinese meteor shower superb pictures

Drama name: Let's Go Watch Meteor Shower / 起来 看 流星 雨
Also known as: Meteor Shower
Name in Arabic: to watch the meteor shower
Type: Comedy, Romance
Number of episodes: 36 ring
Broadcast network: Hunan TV
Official Website:  http://ent.hunantv.com/v/tv/liuxingyu/index.html

Drama Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteor_Shower_% 28TV_series% 29


StoryZhou Jochen poor girl her dream of joining the smart Alston University where studying the rich richer and achieved her dream of when and where to accept the other hand, Xiao Hai, who is trying to escape from the hospital to meet with Zhou Eshun coincidence occurs between the incident and funny as the car smashing into the controversy and after considerable signed between the two Touselh Bdrajtha Alkan, who wishes to reach him by virtue of that he was injured and while this is interesting talks and disputes between them and then they meet again at the University of Alston and talk and share a wide range of situations and events ...........

Believe me, a great drama, and quite different from the rest of the copiesMany different aspects ofThe most important of the four heroes do not even dubbed by f4 is more important than that they do not know each other from the beginning and has constructed many friendships differencesWhat I liked most in this dramaThe right of each person having the right of each role and have a story in only 3 remaining copies of the f4 lived a love story, but in this series all the characters are also sister of the hero and the actor is also living a love story between one of these very beautiful Alabtalo this Semi-Alaust wonderful and beautiful clothes and everything ........
Champions
Zheng Shuang


In the role ofZhou JochenGestures with the will of a smart and strong personal ethics to prefer anything else, and her dream to be accepted at the University of AlstonPhotos of the heroine

How Merry Christmas is said around the world at Santa's Net

Happy New Year


Christmas Traditions Around the World

How "Merry Christmas" is said ..... Afrikaans: Geseënde Kersfees Afrikander: Een Plesierige Kerfees African/ Eritrean/ Tigrinja: Rehus-Beal-Ledeats Albanian:Gezur Krislinjden Arabic: Milad Majid Argentine: Feliz Navidad Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand Azeri: Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun Bahasa Malaysia: Selamat Hari Natal Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On! Bengali: Shuvo Naba Barsha Bohemian: Vesele Vanoce Bosnian: (BOSANSKI) Cestit Bozic i Sretna Nova godina Brazilian: Feliz Natal Breton: Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat Bulgarian: Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo Catalan: Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou! Chile: Feliz Navidad Chinese: (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun Chinese: (Mandarin) Sheng Dan Kuai Le Choctaw: Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito Columbia: Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo Cornish: Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth Corsian: Pace e salute Crazanian: Rot Yikji Dol La Roo Cree: Mitho Makosi Kesikansi Croatian: Sretan Bozic Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok Danish: Glædelig Jul Duri: Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or Zalig Kerstfeast English: Merry Christmas Eskimo: (inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo! Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon Estonian: Rõõmsaid Jõulupühi Ethiopian: (Amharic) Melkin Yelidet Beaal Faeroese: Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar! Farsi: Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad Finnish: Hyvaa joulua Flemish: Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar French: Joyeux Noel Frisian: Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier! Galician: Bo Nada Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr! German: Fröhliche Weihnachten Greek: Kala Christouyenna! Haiti: (Creole) Jwaye Nowel or to Jesus Edo Bri'cho o Rish D'Shato Brichto Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara! Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka Hebrew: Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova Hindi: Shub Naya Baras (good New Year not Merry Christmas) Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket Icelandic: Gledileg Jol Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit, or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat Iroquois: Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay. Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto Jiberish: Mithag Crithagsigathmithags Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha Kurdish: Serî sallî nwê pîroz Lao: souksan van Christmas Latin: Natale hilare et Annum Faustum! Latvian: Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu! Lausitzian:Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto Lettish: Priecigus Ziemassvetkus Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu Low Saxon: Heughliche Winachten un 'n moi Nijaar Luxembourgish: Schèine Chreschtdaag an e gudde Rutsch Macedonian: Sreken Bozhik Maltese: IL-Milied It-tajjeb Manx: Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa Maori: Meri Kirihimete Marathi: Shub Naya Varsh (good New Year not Merry Christmas) Navajo: Merry Keshmish Norwegian: God Jul, or Gledelig Jul Occitan: Pulit nadal e bona annado Papiamento: Bon Pasco Papua New Guinea: Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu Pennsylvania German: En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr! Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo Philippines: Maligayang Pasko! Polish: Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie Portuguese:Feliz Natal Pushto: Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha Rapa-Nui (Easter Island): Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua Rhetian: Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn Romanche: (sursilvan dialect): Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn! Rumanian: Sarbatori vesele or Craciun fericit Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom Sami: Buorrit Juovllat Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou Sardinian: Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou Scots Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil huibh Serbian: Hristos se rodi. Singhalese: Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa Slovak: Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok Slovene: Vesele Bozicne Praznike Srecno Novo Leto or Vesel Bozic in srecno Novo leto Spanish: Feliz Navidad Swedish: God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År Tagalog: Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon Tamil: (Tamizh) Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal (good New Year not Merry Christmas) Trukeese: (Micronesian) Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech! Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai or souksan wan Christmas Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun Ukrainian: Srozhdestvom Kristovym or Z RIZDVOM HRYSTOVYM Urdu: Naya Saal Mubarak Ho (good New Year not Merry Christmas) Vietnamese: Chuc Mung Giang Sinh Welsh: Nadolig Llawen Yoruba: E ku odun, e ku iye'dun!

Porcelain Dental Crowns

 
When the size of a filling exceeds a certain proportion of the damaged tooth, it must be replaced with a "cap," also called a "crown."

Porcelain crowns look very natural and don't have a dark metal line.
Porcelain crowns reflect light with a natural healthy glow

Tooth Whitening

 
Wherever you look, teeth are white, white, white. Now you can brighten your smile with our powerful whitening treatments that lighten discolorations caused by coffee, cigarettes, medication, or aging.

You'll notice the difference immediately...and so will everyone else.
You can be custom fitted for a tray containing whitening gel quickly and easily in your initial visit, then you will continue treatments in your home until your teeth are as bright as you want.
Whitening really does work like magic.

Dental Implants

If you are missing one or more teeth, you'll want replacements that are as natural as possible.
If dentures don't work for you, your cosmetic dentist may consider dental implants. Unlike dentures, which can be removed, implants are permanently anchored into the jaw itself.

Generally, if your dentist feels you are a good candidate for implants if you have jawbone ridges that are in good shape and healthy oral tissues. When the implant device is inserted into the jaw, a chemical and mechanical bond is formed. The jawbone actually grows into the implant.
With implants, you get a perfect fit, and they will look and feel as good as (or better than!) your original teeth.

Porcelain Dental Veneers

 
Today we have exciting new biomaterials that can give your smile a lift without invasive treatments.
Ultra-thin porcelain veneers can correct chipped, weakened, or discolored teeth. No more
yellow. No more gaps or embarrassing chips. And veneers can return real structural integrity to damaged teeth, while leaving them looking as good (or possibly better) than the originals.
Veneers are custom made to fit over your natural teeth, with a finish more translucent to blend in with surrounding teeth.
So people won't notice your tooth, they'll simply see your beautiful, natural smile.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

 
Many people have silver fillings in their teeth called amalgams. Over time, however, amalgam can corrode and blacken.

Your cosmetic dentist can now provide an alternative with tooth-colored composite fillings. These are made of a porcelain-like material that actually bonds to the tooth for a tight seal.
Tooth-colored fillings are stain resistant and color-matched to your teeth, making them nearly invisible.
As you can see, tooth-colored fillings can substantially improve the beauty of your teeth.

Tooth Bonding

Tooth bonding is similar to sculpting individual teeth with a special tooth-like material that looks, acts and feels like the real thing.
Bonding is an affordable, quick and painless way to repair many cosmetic flaws or injuries.

Dental bonding can quickly fill in ugly gaps between teeth and repair chips and cracks.
Tooth bonding materials are very durable, but they can still chip and may need to be replaced periodically. However, they are not as costly as porcelain veneers.

Wisdom Teeth Woes

Patients hate to hear about their wisdom teeth ! No one likes the thought of having them removed, and I can't tell you the number of times I've heard, "But they're not hurting me - so why bother ?" The truth is, if you are having pain from your wisdom teeth, chances are, the damage is done. Look at how this wisdom tooth erupted into the root of the adjacent tooth - ouch ! The wisdom tooth was removed, but the adjacent molar required a root canal and a crown... and still has a poor prognosis. Eventually the remaining tooth will need extracting and replacement with a dental implant. But this situation was completely avoidable.

Bottom line: Be smart about your wisdom teeth !!!

Dr. Tekin

Dental Trauma

 

Dental trauma happens every day. As we age, our teeth become more brittle and susceptible to fracture - it's just a part of life. You may bite into an olive pit and break a molar. Or perhaps the root-canaled tooth you were told to crown, but didn't - just, "broke off" ! I see it all the time.


But some trauma is more severe: this patient dove into a shallow pool - ouch !!! She came to me the very next day after her accident. She needed two root canals and an extraction, but she left our office that day with her smile in tact, albeit in a temporary. After some healing, we were able to make an all-ceramic crown and a bridge blend in with her natural teeth. The photo shows her original teeth (top), her trauma (middle), and her restored smile (bottom).

I know patients fear that dental work may look "fake". But I can assure you, if skillfully done, todays dental restorations can look perfectly natural. This nice lady was not expecting her unfortunate accident, but took solace in knowing I was prepared and qualified to restore her smile. I'm happy to report she is completely healed, smiling, and jumping into life... just feet first !!


Brock Tekin D.M.D.

My Dental Photography

 

Dental Photography:

I take a lot of photographs in my dental practice. They serve many purposes: documentation, dentist-to-dentist communication, dentist-to-patient communication, education, and even marketing. The clinical photos I show patients or potential patients are taken by myself. I never use "stock" footage of another dentist's work to pass of as my own, yet I've seen so many dentist's web sites do just that. I believe that is unethical.

The photos I take and show others are my own and are not digitally manipulated other than cropping, resizing.

When I take "before and after" photos, I do so with an "apples to apples" approach: the patient is photographed at the same angle, using the same lighting and the same proportion- so a direct comparison can be made. Is it fair to present it any other way ?

Lastly, all my photographs used are done so with patients signed consent.

Best,

Brock Tekin D.M.D.

Gum Disease Can Sneak Up On You

It’s easy to tell when you have a cavity; but unfortunately, gum disease can exist in your mouth without you even knowing. In fact, you can have the beginning stages of gum disease without noticing any pain or discomfort. Since gum disease can be undetectable, it’s important to watch for warning signs in order to prevent the disease from worsening!

Signs to watch for:

• Gums that appear red or swollen
• Gums that feel tender
• Gums that bleed easily (during brushing or flossing)
• Gums that recede or pull away from the teeth
• Persistent halitosis, or bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Any change in the way teeth come together in the biting position

If you or someone in your family is showing these signs, schedule an appointment right away by calling Art of the Smile, serving Atlanta, GA. We can diagnose the problem and begin treatment to save your teeth and give you back a healthy mouth!

Ask Dr. Tekin: What can Invisalign® do for my oral health?

When considering treatment options, patients often ask us how Invisalign treatment is so different than traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health. Here’s how:

Healthy gums: Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

Easy cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.

Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, just ask Dr. Brock Tekin the next time you’re in for an appointment at our Atlanta, GA dental office. Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page! You can also read this article for more information on Invisalign and your oral health.

5 Popular Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments

Cosmetic dentistry is a dental treatment that enhances the appearance, health and function of your teeth, by improving the esthetic values of your smile. It is becoming progressively more popular day by day in dental patients as it can assist them to achieve whiter or more even teeth by providing restorative benefits. Technological advancements in this field have made today's cosmetic dental treatments more durable and reliable than past few years. In this article, I will discuss some of the most popular and advanced cosmetic dentistry treatments that can improve your smile.

1. Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are used to reshape the teeth by sealing the gap between them. Dental veneers are made up of ceramic shells which closely resemble the enamel of a tooth. By fitting porcelain on the surface of the tooth, it can help conceal cracks and chips, cover gaps, overlay discolored teeth, thus creating a more even and uniform teeth appearance. They are translucent, giving a natural luster and brightness to the teeth. Most dentists believe that it is the best option for those who want to change the shape and appearance of their teeth.

2. Dental Implants

It is another advanced cosmetic dentistry treatment that is used to replace the damaged or broken teeth. In this process new tooth is created by embedding artificial roots in the jaw. This process of artificial tooth root replacement is used to create prosthetic teeth in order to compensate for broken or damaged tooth. Today, dental implant is considered as the most effective replacement option available which offers a permanent and durable solution for missing teeth.

3. Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening procedure is the most popular and commonly performed cosmetic dentistry treatment, giving a whiter and brighter smile. Laser teeth whitening performed by the professional cosmetic dentists, can give great results and last for many years. It is a non-invasive way to achieve sparkling teeth and enhancing the appearance of your smile.

4. Dental Bridge

Dental bridges are also known as fixed partial denture which are basically false teeth. These dental bridges are fused between porcelain crowns to fill the gap between two missing teeth. Dental bridge is a dental restoration which is used to join the prosthetic tooth with the adjacent teeth. It is a permanent solution for bridging the gaps between the missing teeth and can also minimize the risk of gum disease.

5. Composite Bonding

This is another dental procedure that dentists use to correct the problems of chipped, broken, discolored or some other flaws in the teeth. A dental composite material which is just like dentin and enamel is applied to the surface of the tooth or into the cavity. This composite material is sculptured into shape and bonded by using a high-intensity light. This method is also used to restructure the tooth and helps you to regain your sparkling smile.

These are some of the most commonly performed cosmetic dentistry procedures that can correct a large number of dental concerns. Indeed, a variety of advanced cosmetic dentistry treatments can help you get the whiter and a brighter smile you desire.

Dentist Shame!

In the news are dentists, who have tried to either be a voyeur or solicit sex whlist practicing.

I just cannot believe that any dentist will do that, after all that hard work which goes into being a dentist, all those years of study, sweat & toil, you do something so stupid and destroy lives of patients and ggive a bad name to your profession and lose all social credibilty and your job!

What motivates them to do this, is beyond me! I wish these chaps will stop making the rest of the dentists look bad!

GDC is taking steps to prevent such characters from practising again and rightly so.

A dentist tried to seduce a married patient after her husband suffered brain damage in a severe asthma attack, a misconduct hearing was told yesterday

Heather Norton, for the GDC, said: ‘The matters relate to a breach of trust and the advantage we say that Mr Shah sought to take from her in her difficult life circumstances.

Another dentist was playing Jmaes Bond and trying to see women change clothes!

Come on men, get a life! You can go to a night club or dancing bar to get your cheap thrills, leave the patients alone!

UK Dentists want to be called "Doctor"

According to the British Dental Association, a survey among all its memeber dentists, showed that the dentists want to continue the use of prefic of "Dr". 


Four-fifths of dentists, even W1 London Dentists, think it is appropriate to continue to use the courtesy title of 'Dr' according to a poll carried out by the British Dental Association (BDA). The survey was carried out as part of a discussion hosted on the communities section of the BDA website between late July and early September. The debate attracted very high levels of interest, being viewed more than 2,800 times.

The discussion, which was open from late July to early September, saw contributions from dental members of BDA across the UK. The results of the poll will be used to emphasise the profession's concerns in the BDA's formal response to the General Dental Council's consultation on the issue.

Dr Susie Sanderson, Chair of the BDA's Executive Board, said:

"This issue has generated unprecedented levels of interest from contributors to the BDA's online communities. Participants, dentists, have sent a very strong signal about their wish to continue using the title Dr. We have listened to them and will convey the strength of that feeling to the GDC in our response to its consultation on this issue.

"It is clear from the contributions to this forum that, as long as it is made clear that the individual in question is a dentist, patients do not seem to be confused by the use of the title. The practice of referring to dentists in this way is long-established overseas and is also now firmly embedded in the UK."

I even asked Dentist in Marylebone about it and even they want to continue to use the title of "Doctor".

What do you think, are you comfortable calling your dentist doctor?

Dental Care for Nursing Homes- "Patchy"!

Peter Bateman, speaking at a BDA meeting on Monday, the Chair of the BDA’s Salaried Dentists Committee, said that the provision of oral healthcare for residents of nursing homes remained highly variable. He told delegates that people living in care homes typically have poorer oral health than their contemporaries, but are often unable to access appropriate dental care.


Explaining the work being undertaken in Sheffield by the Residential Oral Care Sheffield (ROCS) scheme, Dr Bateman said that he hoped the model adopted there – of salaried dentists in Sheffield, co-ordinating the activity of general dental practitioners across the city and working closely with the staff of care homes – would be expanded both in and beyond the city.  He also called on the Coalition Government to keep its promise to take into account the ROCS model when developing new arrangements for dentistry in England, details of which are expected to be published later this year.

Bateman calls for greater recognition of the work of care professionals, arguing that they are underpaid and undervalued in Britain. The role of advocates in helping vulnerable patients obtain health services is also vital, he explained.

Prison environments also present challenges for dental seo care Dr Bateman said, citing the movement of inmates around institutions as a barrier to providing continuity of care and the failure of some custodial institutions to invest in the facilities necessary for the provision of care as problems.

Dentitst in Birmingham de-frauded NHS of £230,000!

A Birmingham Dentitst has de-frauded the NHS of £230,000/- Wolverhampton Crown Court, sitting in Brierley Hill, heard that this dentist in London used the forged degree certificate to register with the General Dental Council and obtain employment in the NHS between February 2000 and February 2009, earning a total of around £230,000.

She worked in the Oral and Maxillofacial departments at the Royal Wolverhampton Hospital, Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Essex, Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals Foundation Trust and the Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in East Grinstead, Sussex.
The court heard her role involved examining patients, carrying out minor surgical procedures and dealing with trauma alongside senior consultants.

She was charged after an investigation by the NHS Counter Fraud Service and today pleaded guilty to one count of using a false instrument, five counts of obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception, and one count of fraud by false representation.
 -----------------------------------------------

The question is why wasn't this picked up earlier, anyone who comes from overseas have their degree checked and further certificates are needed. GDC should also take responsility for their failure to provide the necessary licenses for this dentist to practise and treat patient's.

NHS Dental Super Surgery Opens in Burnley!

The Quest Dental Care - part of NHS East Lanca-shire, opened its door yesterday. The Quest Dental Care centre contains 12 dental suites equipped with ultra modern facilities and technology to provide a full range of NHS dentistry.

 With a capacity of  treating approx-imately 10,000 patient places within the next 12 months, this practice brings cheers to NHS patients and tears to private dental practices.


And already the practice said it had had hundreds of inquiries.


The practice will also provide training opport-unities to dentists and ther-apists, in partnership with the East Lancashire Dental Education Centre in Accrington.

The NHS East Lanca-shire primary care trust said that the “unique development” next to the bus station was part of its commitment to ensuring that the 382,000 people of Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale are able to access high quality dental care.

In a statement Pauline Hargreaves, Ian Redfearn and Nicholas Taylor, the partners of Quest Dental Care, said: “We are deli-ghted to be moving in to this state-of-the art facility provided by the PCT.

“This is an exciting and innovative project and we have a fantastic team in place who will provide a first class NHS dental service to the local population, as well as training for all members of the dental team.”
Sharon Young, head of primary care contracting for NHS East Lancashire, said the trust was proud of delivering the new multi-million pound centre in a time of financial difficulty.

She said: “NHS East Lancashire is committed to improving access to NHS dental treatment for its residents.
“This new practice will provide high quality NHS treatment right from the town’s centre. We are del-ighted to be helping people to access NHS dental ser-vices close to home.”

To contact the practice visit www.questhealthcare.co.uk

Will a similar Dental Super Surgery in London brings cheers from Londoner's or groans from dentists in London?

Solar Tooth Brush does not need Toothpaste!

A revolutionary new toothbrush has been designed by reserachers, that cleans teeth by creating a solar-powered chemical reaction in the mouth, doing away with the need for toothpaste.

Dr. Kunio Komiyama, a dentistry professor emeritus at the University of Saskatchewan, designed the first model of the unconventional toothbrush 15 years ago. Today, Komiyama and his colleague Dr. Gerry Uswak are seeking recruits to test their newest model, the Soladey-J3X. The toothbrush, which is manufactured by the Shiken company of Japan, will soon be tested by 120 teenagers to see how it compares to a normal toothbrush.

The Soladey-J3X has a solar panel at its base that transmits electrons to the top of the toothbrush through a lead wire. The electrons react with acid in the mouth, creating a chemical reaction that breaks down plaque and kills bacteria. The toothbrush requires no toothpaste, and can operate with about the same amount of light as needed by a solar-powered calculator.

The researchers have already tested the toothbrush in cultures of bacteria that cause periodontal disease, and demonstrated that the brush causes “complete destruction of bacterial cells,” Komiyama said.

Last month, the researchers presented their research at the FDI Annual World Dental Conference in Dubai, where their poster won first prize out of 170 entries.

I wonder when will it come to UK? Will the dentists in London have more plaque to deal with?

Revalidation Drive Started by General Dental Council

 General Dental Council (GDC) has opened its 12 week consultation into revalidation.

The Revalidation drive is on the lines of the GMC drive for doctors, will provide, for the very first time, a way of checking that dentists carry on meeting the GDC's standards after they have joined its registers.


The GDC's Fitness to Practise proceedings are reactive rather than proactive; they assume that dental professionals meet its standards unless the regulator receives information which suggests otherwise. The current trend among governing councils is to  be proactive.

The GDC plans to introduce revalidation for dentists in UK by  2014. Revalidation will make clear the minimum standards that all dentists must meet. It is expected that the majority of dentists will already be meeting these standards and should have no difficulty in revalidating - it will build on the current requirements for continuing professional development.

However, the system will provide an opportunity for those in difficulty to identify and tackle any problems before they become serious.

The structure

A standards and evidence framework will set out the standards dentists must meet under the four domains of clinical, management and leadership, communication and professionalism. The framework will also set out the evidence which will be acceptable to demonstrate compliance with each standard.

Dentists will gather this evidence over five-years, and revalidate at the end of each cycle;

GDC are proposing a three-stage process at the end of each cycle:

- Stage 1 - compliance check, which will apply to all dentists;

- Stage 2 - remediation phase, which will provide an opportunity to dentists who do not pass Stage 1 to remedy deficiencies;

- Stage 3 - in-depth assessment, which will apply to dentists who fail to demonstrate their compliance at the end of the remediation phase.

- Dentists who refuse to engage with the process, or who do but who fail to revalidate, will ultimately be removed from the register, with additional requirements for restoration to the register;

- There will be an appeals process.

The consultation

This consultation, which can be found on the GDC's website, sets out proposals for revalidating dentists. The proposals aim to avoid over-regulation by making as much use of existing and developing quality systems within dentistry as possible. Dentists will, in many cases, already be required to show that they are meeting quality standards. For example through NHS practice inspections or performance appraisals. Our approach is designed so that dentists can meet all our requirements and those of other dental service regulators under one umbrella.

The consultation takes into account the findings of an earlier consultation, research and pilots carried out in 2009. These pilots focussed on the experiences of general dental practitioners (GDPs). However, the GDC anticipates doing further piloting and consultation with other dentist groups in 2011 and 2012.

Chair of the GDC's Revalidation Working Group and Council Member, Denis Toppin said:

"We are keen to get feedback from a full range of stakeholders including registrants, patients, organisations representing the interests of patients and providers of quality initiatives. We want to make sure we get it right for the dentists we regulate. As a practising General Dental Practitioner I want the GDC to keep the extra regulatory burden to a minimum whilst maximising patient protection. We need you to get involved and have your say on our proposals so that you can help us to get them right and have the confidence of the public and professionals alike."

Notes

- The GDC welcomes Dental Care Professional (DCP) input into this consultation.

- The GDC does not plan to consider in-depth whether revalidation is necessary for all DCP groups until the random audit of the first cycle of CPD for DCPs is complete, in late 2013.

- Dentists all went through at least one complete cycle of CPD without any further requirements being put on them, and it would be unfair to DCPs to expect them to begin discussing whether revalidation is necessary until they have had the same opportunity to complete and review one cycle of CPD.

- However if DCPs would like to comment on the proposals for dentists in their capacity as a professional colleague, teacher or trainer, they are welcome to do so.

iPhone use in Dental patients Increases!

iPhone use has increased enormously and as a result of its API being open, developers have made several dental apps for patients.

Some of the iPhone dental apps for patients, i have seen, are as below:


Teeth Whitening Dental Apps:

Tooth whitening dental apps gives instructions regarding tooth whitening along with methods to make your teeth seem dazzling and better.

Whitening the teeth is a cosmetic procedure, whether you decide to have it carried out by an expert, or you choose a comfortable kit of teeth whitening, the consequences will be hard to believe. At present, each individual needs whiter teeth. This iPhone Dental app gives instructions regarding tooth whitening along with methods to make your teeth dazzle.

Motivator of Tooth Brush

The Motivator of Tooth Brush is an app intended to support kids as well as adults equally to clean their teeth. The app checks teeth clean-up along with it provides information regarding the time of brushing.  Dentists are eager to support patients to clean their teeth with a toothbrush for minimum 2 minutes; furthermore this app will allow patients to make sure they carry out this. The new invention and technology might also be attractive to young people and kids.

Cavity Free 3D

The Cavity Free 3D app is a large app and admired one for patients; it has prosperity of information and details regarding the composition of the teeth and provides instructions and recommendations on avoiding oral care issues. The app assists people to find out how to brush the teeth correctly, that encourages superior oral wellbeing.

Dental Anxiety

Darren Marks, renowned primary hypnotherapists of UK, has made an app to assist patients triumph over a terror of the dentist. The app is simple to exercise and directs anxious patients all the way through time to time guidance of defeating nervousness and treating with anxiety. The app is intended to assist patients with dental nervousness and dental fear retrains their intellect and re-constructs their thoughts to build their confidence and make them feel relaxed when leaving for the dentist.

Finding a Dentist

This app assists patients to discover a dentist in W1 London or in the confined region in addition to tenders’ supplementary information together with the services obtainable to carry out, the accurate address, and contact information with an interactive plan to assist patients in discovering the surgical procedure.

I have asked many dentists, including cosmetic dentists in Marylebone, about it and they also report, increasing use of iPhone dental apps among their patients.

Teeth Whitening in London!

Everyone want to have whiter teeth, however they are not interested to spend a lot of money
 
on superficial procedures to whiten the teeth. Therefore, a large number of people have now begun to use the cheaper products that are available in drugstores.


Even though these alternatives declare that consequences are forthcoming, if you deny whitening your teeth, not merely you will not obtain the results and consequences that you want to see, however you can harm your teeth for the future.

There are a lot of options if you want teeth whitening in London, from home teeth whitening kits to having a custom fit tray. Exploring each product, as to what is it as well as what it can do is mystifying every so often. However the reality is always same, that stained teeth are not nice-looking.

Teeth can get stained by eating certain foods, smoking and by anti-biotics. Specialized teeth whitening done by a dentist is thought to be the best way to go about it. Normally, a trip to the dentist does incite anxiety. All whitening schemes differ from individual to individual and depend on the situation of teeth as well as how frequently the teeth whitening scheme is used.


Obviously, whiter teeth can allow you being a more confident and positive person on the whole. If you are concerned with your grin for the reason of discolored teeth more than the years, you could not be really positive and confident of yourself. Therefore preferring buying a whitening kit on the web may be your greatest gamble. In no doubt, you can go to the dentist to acquire the similar practice completed in more money, although acquiring a whitening kit that several people used  and admired is the better way.

Dental Apps for Dentists!

The iPhone is the newest fashion accessory and lots of people now have it. There are a lot of apps obtainable so as to you could do roughly everything you desire with an iPhone.


Dentists in Marylebone are leading  iPhone users into making applications and suggests patients simple methods of having arrangements, searching out regarding various sorts of dealing and searching the application, with the help of  route plotter and maps. Several apps too permit patients to get in touch with their dentist along with asking their dentist any question.

Being an advertising device, the iPhone could be tremendously commanding. Antagonism among dental clinics is widespread; moreover dentists are constantly searching for the innovative methods to appeal fresh clients. Beating into the iPhone trend will certainly perform as an effectual method of aiming fresh customers, mainly young populace. As the apps allow patients to manage schedule with finding out regarding treatments rapidly and simply therefore they are greatly more probable to have their innovative iPhone to arrange a dental scheduled time than selecting up the cell phone and identifying a dental performance.

There are several apps which Baker street dentist use such as:

    •    Mobile Practice

The Mobile Practice in favor of app is perfect for dental proficient as it permits them to do the administration scheme; dentists could observe which patients are coming up for treatment, for how many hours they have been looking for and which process they are looking for. Supplementary information, for example human being instructions, relatives, friends and remarks on patients, is also obtainable. Dentists could also maintain roadway of their every day agenda by merely read-through their iPhone.

    •    Orasphere

Orasphere is an iPhone app intended by Orasphere for dental professionals to teach patients. It includes energetic video tapes that give details of regular dental measures. It’s an outstanding device for dentists to explain their patients what they are going to do and why they are doing specific measures. The dentist could easily inform the patient with an energetic video. It secures lots of instance and power, boosts patient taking, and furthermore secures the dentist from the questions the patient will raise that the dentist may have previously replied before the treatments. Not merely that, it feels you to have a much confidence as a dentist and making you a cool dentist.

    •    Lexi Dental-Complete

The Lexi Dental-Complete app permits people to get to know an enormous record of information as well as gives rapid associations to enlightening assets and clinical details. The app is intended for dental experts and dental scholars and includes a vast variety of descriptions, possessions, associations, diagrams, radiographs and analytic apparatuses.

    •    Little Dental Drug Book

The Little Dental Drug Book includes prosperity of details regarding the medication generally preserved in dentistry, recommendation and guidance of dosage along with regulation about writing instructions for dental specialized.

    •    Dental Expert

The Dental Expert app includes a huge variety of resources for patients and experts on all features of dentistry profession. Dentist students can study and learn about measures and methods by qualified dentists.

What are Dental Plaques - Interesting!

One of the compound microbial communities is a dental plaque. It mainly consists of bacteria, however inorganic compounds as well. It is predicted that dental plaque includes roughly four hundred sorts of bacteria that is not restricted to filaments, rods, cocci plus eukaryotic cells (sort of composite cell, enclosed within a cytoskeleton). Plaque is a kind of soft and sponge deposit. It stays and sticks on teeth as well as gum. Plaque is much easy to remove from the teeth when it is at its initial stages and in spongy form.


The plaque contains inorganic compounds especially phosphorus and calcium, that could make a biggest dilemma and difficulty. Basically such organic compounds are resulted from saliva. And these organic compounds become hard and stiff, when it remains on the teeth for long. They are not easy to remove if they become solid and rigid. The procedure of the solidifying of the plaque is passed on to tough hardening furthermore the resultant stiff coating is known as calculus. The calculus run off from surface on the tooth which is irregular, as a result gives more greeting surface for more plaque to assemble as well as grow even.

It is significant that teeth must be cleaned on a regular basis in turn to get rid of the plaque with the intention that it will not solidify in calculus. If it is not done, then the effect would be double. As presently acknowledged, the calculus gives a greeting residence to upcoming and fresh plaque, permitting the bacterial constituents to increase more rapidly and effortlessly, in comparative ease. If the more plaque is permitted to set down then there would be a greater part of solidification on the surface of tooth. And if there would be more solidifying area, then there will be more greeting to new plaque. In short, it turns out to be a self-nourishing cycle.  

The resulting problem is so as to the greeting surroundings, which the irregular solidified surface gives for plaque is just as striking to additional kinds of bacterial groups. Additionally to the most important setting, these groups are also fascinated to the ordinary bacteria in plaque. These resultant groups of bacteria start to gather after three days of intact plaque that left on the tooth. Subsequent to a week of being uninterrupted, the community of microbes existing on the surface of the tooth draws a further deposit of bacteria, still more difficult than the new bacteria.

The end result is those unclean teeth turn out to be greeting surroundings for all approaches of bacteria. Not merely undisturbed plaque warns the wellbeing of the teeth and gums; however other wellbeing concerns are currently associated to deprived oral concern. Asthma, heart disease, cancer as well as even strokes are currently revealed to have the similar cells that are in plaque, approaching scientists to build an association of deprived dental care plus biggest health concerns. The most excellent method to battle with problems in future is to brush frequently and go to a dentist for a dental cleaning and a check-up.

Tips to get rid of bad breath!

Numerous populaces have trouble dealing with bad breath. One possible explanation for it is that they do not know what the reasons of having bad breath are; so, they cannot think of knowledgeable options regarding caring for it. There are some categories for the reasons of bad breath that explain the solution as well.


The primary kind contains short-term grounds of bad breath. In this category, dealing is comparably much easy. Short-term reasons of bad breath comprises foods such as garlic, strong cheeses, onions and spices, in addition to other sturdy smelling things, coffee, alcohol, smoking and drugs. The simplest treatment; stay away from such stuff.

Dealing with bad breath owing to the next kind is harder in addition to involve major therapeutic intervention. This is a bad breath owing to some fundamental health situations. Lastly, there is exact halitosis, due to bacteria existing on the tongue. Such bacteria are elements of the standard community of bug that exist in the oral cavity as well as it is almost impractical to eliminate them, so treating bad breath of this kind is a not easy and long-standing difficulty.

Preserving a fine breath needs appropriate oral cleanliness. Dreadful breath is due to the gathering of bacteria in an oral cavity and teeth. One of the mainly accommodating things to do is to clean your teeth each subsequent to food. Food elements frequently gather each after consumption. Therefore, it is extremely significant to clean your teeth together with tongue, to stay away of those. Even though, it cannot be eliminated fully, however no less than, you could reduce it. Keep carrying out correct oral cleanliness.

Staying your mouth watery would avoid you from encompassing a bad breath. Dehydrated mouth, habitually due to some drugs or therapeutic troubles will most probably direct to smell troubles. Whenever you chew up bubble gum, it really facilitates in salivation. It makes more dribble in your mouth, consequently staying your mouth watery. The more saliva that is formed in your mouth, the fewer bacteria gathers. Therefore, you must have bubble gums always in hand to stay away from this trouble.

There is as well foodstuff that could root the bad breath. It is extremely vital that you must make sure for this foodstuff. Several of them such as ginger, garlic, onion and other stuff have burly flavors plus smells that can robustly preserve in the mouth for a large time after consuming. Attentiveness of this would assist you to stay away from consuming these kinds of food basis.

Do not waste your precious time on goods that just clean up the breath, as they would not function for a large time. Try to do various investigations plus choose an item that is intended to execute the bacteria, which is responsible for bad breath in your mouth. There are numerous products offered that can kill such bacteria. These items are stand on unusual methods to the trouble, furthermore each person is special, thus one might work in spite of another not.

Preventive Dentistry Competetion 2010

The January 2011 issue of Preventive Dentistry announces the finalists in the Preventive Practice of the Year 2010 competition and invite you, the reader, to vote for the winner.

 Tracey Lennemann suggests how – and why – hygienists should spread their wings this new year and Professor David Conway talks about the social inequalities that impact on mouth cancer.

There are two hours worth of CPD articles – Gabriele Haitzinger talks tactics in the battle against biofilm in a Johnson & Johnson-sponsored article, and hygienist Bobby Keeling looks at motivating patients with new attitude in a CPD article sponsored by Philips. Here is what the dentists in Marylebone, have to say. Robin says that the CPD is good for the CV & also, for continuing education.

There's our second in a series of handy cut-out-and-keep How to... guides with a list of
HTM 01-05's hygiene must-dos, plus, a round-up of oral health news.

BSDHT president Sally Simpson joins regular columnists Pam Swain and Jan Baxendale and there's a look at how infection control must be a team effort.

A dermatologist runs through the occupational hazards of eczema while design expert Cathy Johnson looks to motivate those patients with a new image.

Helmut Nissen tackles those high maintenance areas and hygienist Sue Madhani investigates how teeth are as unique as fingerprints.

Graham Cope and Carole Bartley offer tips to help smokers quit and dental hygienist in London, Tanuja makes her point on acupuncture becoming the norm in dentistry.

Preventive Dentistry profile's Perfect 32's oral health educator Katie Wilkin and there's a round of upcoming conferences and seminars.

Teeth Whitening- The Honest Truth

Virtually everyone wanting to brighten their smile in Uk, can benefit from teeth whitening.  Especially, if you are wanting to have your teeth whitened in Central London, i would recommend that you visit Dentists in Marylebone. Patients with teeth that are discolored due to age, smoking or other extrinsic staining factors are excellent candidates for teeth
whitening. Research indicates that teeth whitening is completely effective in more than 78% of people. As teeth whitening continues to grow in popularity, research continues into all types of whitening systems.

Teeth whitening is not permanent, and works by removing the organic materials in the enamel by dissolving them with a peroxide derivative. Also, teeth whitening is only effective if there is a lot of enamel.

There are two principle forms of teeth whitening: professional whitening and teeth whitening kits.

Professional Teeth Whitening

The most effective and safest method of teeth whitening is the dentist-supervised procedure. First, the dentist will determine whether you are a candidate for teeth whitening and what type of whitening system would provide the best results. The dentist should also go over what you personally can expect for your individual situation. Before the teeth whitening treatment, most dentists clean the teeth, fill any cavities, and make sure the patient's gums are healthy.

Dentists will usually advise trying teeth whitening first, to avoid the need for more complex cosmetic work. Complications that can occur in professional teeth whitening are infrequent and are usually minor in nature. Overall, teeth whitening under professional supervision is an effective method for whitening the teeth.

Teeth Whitening Kits

An alternative method to professional teeth whitening is to use a teeth whitening system or kit. Most teeth whitening systems consists of a whitening gel that is placed in mouthpieces that fit over your teeth for various amounts of time. On average, quality teeth whitening kits cost approximately $500 to $800. Budget teeth whitening systems start at around $29.95, though they are generally less effective.

The American Dental Association has granted its seal of approval to some teeth whitening products, so be sure and look for the ADA mark of approval if you are going to purchase a whitening kit. It is important that the manufacturer's directions are followed precisely when using an at home teeth whitening kit. Also, do not use a teeth whitening product for more than 14 days without consulting a dental professional.

Disadvantages and Limitations of Teeth Whitening

Although teeth whitening is very effective, there can be short term disadvantages, such as sore gums or sore teeth from the bleach. Crowns, bridges, bonding, and fillings only return to their original coloring; they do not lighten any further with professional teeth whitening. Different stains require different solutions, therefore it is important to have a consultation with an oral health professional before trying a teeth whitening product.

While teeth whitening does create brighter smiles, some people's expectations are very high and they are disappointed with the results.

Research continues into all types of whitening systems. Due to its effectiveness, teeth whitening is sure to continue to grow in popularity. Regular professional teeth cleaning by your dentist will help support the lasting success of teeth whitening.

Consider teeth whitening if your teeth are darkened from age, coffee, tea or smoking.

Tooth Ache! Seek an Emergency Dentist!

There is no scarcity of emergency dentists in London, and these professionals are there to help those who are in need of immediate attention. Unforeseen dental problems can crop up at any time of the day. While many dentists are averse to the idea of tending to dental emergencies because it may disrupt their normal routines--emergency patients are
frequently desperate for instant relief--it is the duty of the emergency dentist to provide succor to people in pain. In order to assist people who are often in substantial distress, emergency dentists must be aware of and at ease with every procedure available to relieve this distress.

An expert dental health care professional tries his best to relieve a patient's pain. Emergency dentists may prescribe antibiotics and other medicines to alleviate the pain, although at times these measures do not prove to be very effective in minimizing a patient's suffering.



So what are you waiting for, if you have a tooth ache and live near Central London, go a Central London Dentist, and get yourself sorted!

Dead Tooth! Dead Tooth! Dead Tooth!

A dead tooth is the most common cause of pain that an emergency dentist encounters. Generally, the pain can be relieved through root canal treatment, which helps to do away with the dead and rotting nerve, thereby offering relief to the patient. Emergency dentists may also resort to oral surgery to provide comfort to patients suffering from dental distress. As such, the emergency dentist must be skilled in dental extractions.


When oral surgery is performed on an emergency patient who suffers from pain due to a wisdom tooth, the patient is generally anesthetized. It is the emergency dentist who must ensure that the patient is properly anesthetized. He or she evaluates the extent of the anesthesia by making a small slit around the wisdom tooth.

After it is established that the patient is anesthetized, the incision is extended and the gum tissue is softly drawn away from the wisdom tooth; the dentist then makes the necessary extraction and releive you of the pain.

That said, extraction is the last resort and generally a RCT- Root Canal Treatment is performed, to get rid of the dead tooth.

Straight teeth in ten weeks : The Inman Aligner

Is this you?

• You've got crooked top or bottom front teeth.

• You had a brace when you were younger, but things have relapsed.

And you want to do something about it?

Inman Aligner could be the answer for you...

At York Place Dental we're delighted to be the first Practice in Carlisle to become a certified Inman Aligner provider.

Using hi tech removable braces, you could have the straight upper or lower front teeth that you've always wanted. Easy to wear, cheaper than clear aligners, in as little as six to sixteen weeks you could have straight front teeth. 

And for the first few cases we're throwing in tooth whitening for nothing :-)

No NHS waiting list, you could be starting your treatment in the NewYear.

Why not give us a call on 01228 533431 or check us out on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/yorkplacedental 

We look forward to hearing from you!

Orthodontics

We have a very experience orthodontist (specialist in orthodontics) offering treatment to straighten crowded teeth (braces). The cost varies depending on the type of braces. We are now offering an 'easy payment' scheme, i.e initial deposit of 1/3rd, and the balance to be paid over the course of treatment, usually around 2 years. Please don't hesitate to call the clinic if you want to find out more. We are also offering ceramic orthodontic braces, which is hardly visible and aesthetically pleasing.

Dental Implants - Part 1

What are dental implants? Dental implant is a titanium implant that is placed into the jaw/gum to replace missing teeth. Why titanium? Titanium is the most inert (accepted by human body) and there is no known case of titanium allergy, and it doesn't corrode compared to metal such as iron etc.

Dental implant is one of the latest innovation in dentistry. Previously, any missing teeth can only be replaced with a denture, which is although removable is troublesome and not accepted by everyone. Although dentures are still available as an easier and cheaper option of treatment, dental implant has become more popular because it is the best replacement for natural teeth.
Dental implant is placed to replace the root of the tooth. Once the healing process is completed (around 3 months) the preparation can be made for construction of tooth. The teeth are normally made of porcelain, the shape and colour is 'custom-made' to complement the rest of the teeth.

Case 2

 This gentleman was referred to us for permanent replacement of his denture with implant-retained bridges. The challenge was he had a chronic periodontal problem, and most of his teeth were mobile.

He was then referred to a periodontist, who had suggested multiple extractions of upper teeth due to the severity of his gum problems. However a few teeth has been retained, because they are still firm and the patient wish to keep them.
Multiple units of dental implants were placed and 3 separate screw-retained bridges were constructed.

Case 1

This young lady was referred to us with a history of loss of 4 front teeth 15 years earlier due to motor vehicle accident. She has been wearing dentures ever since, and now looking for a more permanent replacement.

The problem faced was massive bone loss due to resorbtion. Decision was made to place 2 dental implants, with simultaneous bone grafting using a mixture of patient's own bone (taken from her chin) and synthetic bone graft.

After healing period of 6 months, a 4-unit bridge was constructed to replace her denture.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom Teeth

Removal of wisdom tooth

Why do we remove wisdom teeth?

Wisdom tooth, as commonly known, is actually the third molar tooth. For most of us wisdom teeth are the last teeth in the mouth, usually erupted during the late teens or early 20's. For most of us wisdom teeth are either fully erupted, partially erupted or do not erupt at all.

It is common to have some discomfort during eruption of wisdom teeth, epecially the lowers. The most common complaint is pain and swelling. This is normally followed by fever, difficulties in mouth opening, and of course eating. These will normally subside after a few days, however some will require a visit to the dentist or Oral Surgeons for cleaning and a course of antibiotics and painkillers.

Subsequently the teeth might require removal. Since most of wisdom teeth, mainly the lower, are impacted, removal means a minor oral surgical procedure.

The reasons why wisdom teeth have to be removed:
1) recurrent gum infection (pericoronitis)
2) decay (caries)
3) decay of the adjacent teeth
4) cyst developing around the unerupted teeth
5) other reasons deemed removal necessary (during consultation with Oral Surgeon)

Example:

Close-up photo of infected gums around a partially-erupted third molar tooth

Untreated infection spreading to the cheek and neck

X-ray showing a carious wisdom tooth, and the second adjacent molar

Impacted third molar causing decay in the adjacent tooth

Cyst associated with the unerupted third molar

What is third molar surgery

Prior to the surgery, it is very important to have an OPG x-rays taken for a thorough assessment of the anatomy, i.e the shape of the tooth, and the nerve around it.

Third molar surgery is the most common oral surgical procedure performed. This is because most of third molar teeth are partially and unerupted, making it impossible to extract it normally.

As the complexity involved and potential risk, the procedure is better carried out by a qualified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. Majority of surgery is carried out under a local anaesthesia, i.e with 'injections" to numb up the area. Only a small number of cases have to be done under a general anaesthesia due to the difficulties involved.

Prior to the surgery, you can eat / drink as normal.

This is how the surgery is carried out. After the tooth is removed, a few sutures will be applied to the surgical area. This will be removed in a few days. During the healing period, you will be given medications for pain relief.

The Morning Drill: December 20, 2011

Good Morning!

On to today's dentistry and health headlines:

Lack of dental care costing Australia $1.3B annually

Millions of Australians are financially locked out of the country's dental health system, undermining their ability to gain and keep employment and costing the economy more than $1 billion annually, according to a report released December 8 by the advocacy group Brotherhood of St. Laurence.

The Brotherhood of St. Laurence was established in the 1930s to eliminate poverty in Australia.

The report analyzed existing data to estimate the disease burden of untreated dental conditions and the resulting economic burden. The report's authors, Jeff Richardson, PhD, a professor of economics and the foundation director of the Centre for Health Economics at Monash University and Bronwyn Richardson from Campbell Research and Consulting, found that the direct and indirect costs to the economy are significant.

Dentist who helped pimps wants to work again

Onetime Chicago dentist Gary Kimmel went to prison in 2009 after he admitted he aided pimps in a prostitution trafficking ring.

The aid included providing space in Marina Towers for paid sex acts to happen, buying luxury cars for pimps in his name and keeping his office open late to fix the teeth of battered prostitutes.

In one case, Kimmel fixed a prostitute’s teeth for free in exchange for her performing sex acts for his friend, according to prosecutors.

That was back when Kimmel, affectionately referred to as “Doc” by those who know him, ran a popular and successful dental practice at 233 E. Erie.

In an emergency bid at the time of his indictment, the state stripped Kimmel of his ability to practice dentistry. He was sentenced to 37 months in 2009.

Now, Kimmel is already out of prison.

And despite his felony conviction, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned he is ready to practice dentistry again — and eligible to renew his license.

In early December in federal court, Judge Blanche Manning granted an early end to his court supervision, shaving off one year. That cleared the first major legal hurdle to restoring his license.

“We hope to have him back working as a dentist in no time,” his lawyer, Joseph Lopez said.

Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation Reduces Fracture Risk

Combined supplementation with vitamin D and calcium can reduce the risk for fracture, according to the findings of a meta-analysis.

Mei Chung, PhD, MPH, from Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, and colleagues published their findings in the December 20 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The authors mention that active forms of vitamin D participate in a number of biological processes in addition to their indirect effects on bone mineralization. "For example, as recently noted, 1,25-(OH)2D inhibits parathyroid hormone secretion and promotes insulin secretion, inhibits adaptive immunity and promotes innate immunity, and inhibits proliferation and stimulates differentiation of cells," the authors write. "These functions suggest a possible role of vitamin D in cancer prevention."

Oral Bacteria Enables Breaking Bond On Blood Vessels to Allow Invaders in

A common oral bacteria, Fusobacterium nucleatum, acts like a key to open a door in human blood vessels and leads the way for it and other bacteria like Escherichia coli to invade the body through the blood and make people sick, according to dental researchers at Case Western Reserve University.

Yiping Han, professor of periodontics at the Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine, made the discovery in her continued work with the Fusobacterium nucleatum bacterium, one of the most prevalent of the more than 700 bacteria in the mouth.

She found the gram-negative anaerobe has a novel adhesin or bonding agent she's named FadA that triggers a cascade of signals that break the junctures in an interlocking sheath of endothelial cells on blood vessel's surface just enough to allow F. nucleatum and other bacteria into the blood.

A description of bond-breaking process was described in the Molecular Microbiology article, "Fusobacterium nucleatum adhesin FadA binds vascular endothelial cadherin and alters endothelial integrity."

Enjoy your morning!

The Morning Drill: December 21, 2011

Good Morning!

As most dental practices are in the process of closing for the holidays, I wish to take this opportunity to wiish the very best of the season to everyone and a happy new year.

On to today's dentistry and health headlines:

Dentist accused of groping KOP mall employees

An itinerant dentist accused of groping two women employees at King of Prussia Mall stores waived his preliminary hearing Thursday.

Vasanth Dharmaraj, 33, a former Upper Merion resident who relocated to Connecticut, is charged with indecent assault, harassment and disorderly conduct, according to court papers

When Dharmaraja lived in the Philadelphia region, he practiced dentistry in a variety of Pennsylvania cities and towns including Philadelphia, Gilbertsville, Phoenixville, York, Reading, Harrisburg and Temple, according to the Upper Merion police’s Detective Division.

The defendant is free on $25,000 unsecured bail. An arraignment is scheduled in Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas on Feb. 1 at 9:30 a.m.

FTC: Dental Board Cannot Order Nondentists to Stop Whitening

The North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners cannot order nondentists to stop whitening teeth, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has ruled.

The December 2 ruling could have implications for tooth whitening by nondentists in other states, and for the scope of dental boards in general.

The North Carolina board plans to appeal, board attorney Noel Allen told Medscape Medical News. "It's a very unique and radical position that the FTC is taking," said Allen. "It runs contrary to the way states protect their citizens."

At the heart of the case is a question about whether the board is acting more as an arm of the state government, enforcing the law, or as a trade association, to benefit its members.

“Painless” Plasma Brush Is Becoming Reality In Dentistry, MU Engineers Say

University of Missouri engineers and their research collaborators at Nanova, Inc. are one step closer to a painless way to replace fillings. After favorable results in the lab, human clinical trials are underway on the “plasma brush.”

In less than 30 seconds, the plasma brush uses chemical reactions to disinfect and clean out cavities for fillings. In addition to the bacteria-killing properties, the “cool flame” from the plasma brush forms a better bond for cavity fillings.  The chemical reactions involved with the plasma brush actually change the surface of the tooth, which allows for a strong and robust bonding with the filling material.

“There have been no side effects reported during the lab trials, and we expect the human trials to help us improve the prototype,” said Qingsong Yu, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering of MU, and Meng Chen, chief scientist from Nanova, Inc., which holds a co-patent for the plasma brush with MU.

“200 million tooth restorations cost Americans an estimated $50 billion a year, and it is estimated that replacement fillings comprise 75 percent of a dentist’s work. The plasma brush would help reduce those costs,” said Hao Li, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the MU College of Engineering. “In addition, a tooth can only support two or three restorations before it must be pulled. Our studies indicate that fillings are 60 percent stronger with the plasma brush, which would increase the filling lifespan. This would be a big benefit to the patient, as well as dentists and insurance companies.”

U.S. bill would create grant program for dental charities

A bill introduced to the U.S. Congress in November would make it easier for charitable programs such as Donated Dental Services (DDS) to provide necessary dental care to low-income children and adults with serious medical conditions.


S.1878, the "Coordination of Pro-Bono Medically Recommended Dental Care Act," was introduced November 16 by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ). The bill would create a grant program that will support national dental programs such as DDS to coordinate medically recommended dental care for these patients.

The care would be provided by volunteer dentists at no cost to patients with medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, autoimmune disease, and kidney disease or who need heart or joint replacements or transplants.

Enjoy your morning!