Learn the Ways of the New World

Recently I was shocked to learn so many people are still doing Begg. It is no more an acceptable standard of care. Are you still doing Begg Technique ? It is high time you switched to the ways of the world, that is Straight Wire system. It improves your image and income. And it does not cost and needs only minimal learning to learn the new methods. If interested send your full contact details to gurudental@yahoo.com

There is a very interesting study, more and more people now a days take aspirin which leads to thinning of blood, what should we do if such a patient comes to our clinic, shall we stop one week before his appointment, what are the current guidelines ?

Aspirin and bleeding in dentistry: An update and recommendations

Michael T. Brennan, Richard L. Wynn, Craig S. Miller, published in Triple O, Sept 2007 issue

Aspirin use in the United States remains high because of its diverse and beneficial activities. In adults at risk for cardiovascular thrombotic events, low-dose aspirin is an excellent preventive agent; however, its antiplatelet properties have contributed to a perceived increased risk for bleeding after dental extractions. This article discusses recent evidence regarding the thrombotic risks associated with discontinuing aspirin use in patients who take aspirin daily and presents a new recommendation for continuing low-dose aspirin during invasive dental procedures.

Finally:
Aspirin remains the gold standard for the prevention of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and vascular death among patients at high and low risk of these events. In the dental setting, low-dose aspirin use can increase the number of periodontal sites that bleed on probing; however, it has minimal impact on the amount and duration of bleeding following routine dental extractions, and its cardioprotective benefits outweigh the risks of oral bleeding in most dental settings. Therefore, our current recommendation is to continue low-dose aspirin therapy when routine dental extractions are performed, unless specific extenuating circumstances exist. In such cases, discontinuation should be limited to 3 or fewer days as increased risk for thrombotic events increases when discontinuation is between 4 and 30 days. Studies are needed to determine if such short-term discontinuation also increases risk for adverse cardiovascular events.

Microimplant screws for Anchorage

Friends,

MIA is an extremely valuable modality. It helps in your routine treatment and also enables to treat those difficult cases that we thought not treatable by orthodontics. It also improves outcomes in many cases and cuts treatment time. Long ago we had posted several cases on www.healthmantra.com/ic/ , one case was of correction of anterior cant of occlusion

Now there is a wonderful article on correction of post cant by use of MIA, it is in Aug issue of AJODO. here is the abstract and one pic

Introduction: Facial asymmetry is a major complaint of orthodontic patients. In those with severe facial asymmetry, combination treatment of LeFort I osteotomy and mandibular surgery was commonly used. This article demonstrates the usefulness of titanium screws for orthodontic anchorage to intrude the molars in 2 patients with facial asymmetry and canted occlusal plane. Methods and Results: The first patient was a woman, aged 29 years 6 months, with mandibular protrusion and canted occlusal plane; she was treated with molar intrusion and intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy. During presurgical orthodontic treatment, a titanium
screw was implanted in the zygomatic process, and the molars were intruded for 6 months by using an elastic chain of 200 g. After intrusion, the molars were intruded 3.0 mm, and the canted maxillary occlusal plane was improved. The second patient was a young man, aged 16 years 5 months, with mandibular deviation and canted occlusal plane; he was treated with a combination of titanium screw anchorage and intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy. A miniscrew was implanted in the alveolar bone, and the orthodontic load began immediately after placement surgery by using an elastic chain. After 5 months of intrusion, the molars
had been intruded by 3.0 mm. Conclusions: Compared with 2-jaw surgery, this method of molar intrusion is less invasive, involves less psychological stress, is less expensive, and results in less postoperative discomfort. Therefore, treatment with titanium screws for molar intrusion to correct a canted occlusal plane could become a new treatment strategy for patients with facial asymmetry. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2007;132:237-42)

So why wait learn MIA today, email to gurudental@yahoo.com to buy a kit or to get full text of this article.

Certificate Course in Endo and Implants

IGNOU in collaboration with Dental Council of India (DCI) is planning to start Distance Learning Programmes for upgrading the skills and knowledge of BDS Doctors in the area of conservative dentistry(endodontics) and oral implantology. The programme package would include self-reading material in the form of Booklets, VCDs, Audio CDs, Teleconferencing and Practical Training contact sessions in Identified Dental Colleges all over the Country. A continuous assessment and terminal examination would be part of the evaluation system before a certificate is awarded to the successful candidates. The programme fees would include the admission fee, the programme package and the evaluation fees. The expenditure for the traveling and stay during the practical sessions will be incurred by the students.

Course will be conducted only if there is enough interest by good number of dentists. So to express your support for the program fill and mail the proforma by downloading this form CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FORM

For more info on certificate courses in Orthodontics, Endodontics and general dentistry CLICK HERE

Company Sells Directly to Consumers ?

There is this new trend of Manufacturing companies going directly to consumers. Then consumer comes and demands that treatment from you. What do you think, who is making the decision on treatment modality -You or The Company. To see an interesting commercial CLICK HERE

There is another article of interest published in Angle orthodontist. With the trend now more towards Non Extraction treatment we are doing more and more distalisation of molars. This study examines if this is stable or not. CLICK HERE FOR FULL PAPER

Stop Water Fluoridation ?

In a statement released recently, over 600 professionals are urging Congress to stop water fluoridation until Congressional hearings are conducted. They cite new scientific evidence that fluoridation, long promoted to fight tooth decay, is ineffective and has serious health risks. (http://www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html)

Signers include a Nobel Prize winner, three members of the prestigious 2006 National Research Council (NRC) panel that reported on fluoride's toxicology, two officers in the Union representing professionals at EPA headquarters, the President of the International Society of Doctors for the Environment, and hundreds of medical, dental, academic, scientific and environmental professionals, worldwide.

Signer Dr. Arvid Carlsson, winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize for Medicine, says, "Fluoridation is against all principles of modern pharmacology. It's really obsolete."

Paul Connett, PhD, Executive Director of the Fluoride Action Network (FAN), announced that an Online Action Petition to Congress in support of the Professionals' Statement will soon be available at FAN's web site, http://www.fluorideaction.org.

"The NRC report dramatically changed scientific understanding of fluoride's health risks," says Connett. "Government officials who continue to promote fluoridation must testify under oath as to why they are ignoring the powerful evidence of harm in the NRC report," he added.

An Assistant NY State Attorney General calls the report "the most up-to-date expert authority on the health effects of fluoride exposure."

The Professionals' Statement also references:

-- The new American Dental Association policy recommending infant formula NOT be prepared with fluoridated water.

-- The CDC's concession that the predominant benefit of fluoride is topical not systemic.

-- CDC data showing that dental fluorosis, caused by fluoride over-exposure, now impacts one third of American children.

-- Major research indicating little difference in decay rates between fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities.

-- A Harvard study indicating a possible link between fluoridation and bone cancer.

-- The silicofluoride chemicals used for fluoridation are contaminated industrial waste and have never been FDA- approved for human ingestion.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a DC watchdog, revealed that a Harvard professor concealed the fluoridation/bone cancer connection for three years. EWG President Ken Cook states, "It is time for the US to recognize that fluoridation has serious risks that far outweigh any minor benefits, and unlike many other environmental issues, it's as easy to end as turning off a valve at the water plant."

Orthodontic Micro Surgery ?

Publication: International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry July/August 2007 Volume 27 , Issue 4

Orthodontic Microsurgery: A New Surgically Guided Technique for Dental Movement Tomaso Vercellotti, MD, DDS / Andrea Podesta, MD, DDS

Eight patients with malocclusions were treated with a new orthodontic-surgical technique that reduces the duration of treatment compared to conventional techniques. The monocortical tooth dislocation and ligament distraction (MTDLD) technique combines two different dental movements that work separately but simultaneously on opposite root surfaces. On the root surface corresponding to the direction of movement, vertical and horizontal microsurgical corticotomies are performed around each tooth root with a piezosurgical microsaw to eliminate cortical bone resistance. The immediate application of strong biomechanical forces produces rapid dislocation of the root and the cortical bone together. On the root surface opposite the direction of movement, the force of dislocation produces rapid distraction of ligament fibers. During the osteogenic process that follows, application of normal orthodontic biomechanics achieves the final tooth movement. All eight patients underwent periodontal and radiologic examinations for more than 1 year after treatment. No periodontal defects were observed in any of the patients, including one with a severe malocclusion and a thin periodontal tissue biotype. Compared to traditional orthodontic therapy, the average treatment time with the MTDLD technique in the mandible and maxilla was reduced by 60% and 70%, respectively. (Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 2007;27:325–331. To get full text with photographs send a request to icdr@hotmail.com