February 9, 2021 | Middle East & Africa | News

DOHA, Qatar: Since periodontitis and COVID-19 are both associated with systemic inflammation, researchers from Qatar University and Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar have investigated the connection of periodontitis with severe outcomes of the respiratory syndrome. The study findings supported a link between the two diseases, as COVID-19 patients with periodontitis were more likely to experience complications or to die.

February 9, 2021 | Europe | Advertorial

LUCERNE, Switzerland: On 11 February, GC is celebrating its 100^th anniversary since it was founded in Japan in 1921. To commemorate this significant milestone, GC has planned a number of both internal and external initiatives throughout the year.

February 8, 2021 | Interviews

As part of work supported by a series of rapid-response grants for COVID-19-related research, mechanical engineering PhD student Dongjie Jia at Cornell University, U.S., helped develop a design for an open-faced helmet for patient use that is connected to a medical-grade air filtration pump from the top that creates a reverse flow of air to prevent cough droplets from entering the clinic environment. In an interview with Dental Tribune International, Jia explained how this project, which was funded by the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, was born and how it could help medical professionals in the ongoing pandemic.

February 5, 2021 | News

DUBAI, UAE: Non-urgent dental treatment has been suspended in the emirate of Dubai—the most populous city and territory in the UAE. According to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), the precautionary measure aims to protect patients and healthcare personnel from SARS-CoV-2 and to hinder the spread of the virus.

February 4, 2021 | News

LONDON, UK: One of the greatest challenges for the dental profession in returning to normal business is the inherent risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via emitted sprays, associated with commonly performed dental procedures. A recent study by researchers at Imperial College London, King’s College London, and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust found that controlling certain parameters could help during the current crisis to alter the key properties of sprays.

February 3, 2021 | Europe | News

LEIPZIG, Germany: New discoveries about COVID-19 are outpacing the nomenclature. Research is emerging that suggests that a large number of COVID-19 patients experience symptoms in the oral cavity that are not yet recognised as typical signs of the disease. Geographic tongue—which is being referred to as “COVID tongue”—has been observed in those with COVID-19, as have herpetic lesions and oral aphthous ulceration.

February 2, 2021 | Americas | News

RICHMOND, Va., U.S.: The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic continues to create insecurity around the world. A survey of dental and dental hygiene students enrolled at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, U.S., has investigated whether their post-graduation career plans have been affected by the pandemic. A considerable number stated that the current situation caused anxiety and concern about the security of the dental profession.

February 2, 2021 | Europe | Advertorial

COPENHAGEN, Denmark/SCHAAN, Liechtenstein: 3D scanner developer 3Shape and smart product systems manufacturer Ivoclar Vivadent are scaling up their collaborative efforts. Their common goal is to develop the best possible oral health solutions for the health and well-being of patients.

February 1, 2021 | Americas | Business

ATLANTA, U.S.: Vyne Dental, a recognized market leader in health care information exchange and electronic communication management, has announced the results of the Vyne State of the Dental Industry Report 2021. This comprehensive survey of over 400 dental practices in the U.S. sought to understand how they have transformed in 2020 and their perspectives headed into the new year. It considered the impact of 2020, hiring and the economy, technology, industry and overall practice outlook.

February 1, 2021 | Europe | Advertorial

DARMSTADT, Germany: Exocad, an Align Technology company, has announced its 2020 holiday contribution to the non-profit organisation Overland for Smile (ONLUS), which it has supported since 2018. Exocad’s donation is estimated to help support dental care for more than 160 disadvantaged children and teenagers in eastern Europe.

January 29, 2021 | Europe | Advertorial

FRANKFURT, Germany: HuFriedyGroup recently held a digital kick-off event to officially launch the new brand to over 400 distributor partners throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. At the event, Andrew Xilas was also formally introduced as the president of HuFriedyGroup with effect from 1 January 2021.

January 28, 2021 | News

HARLOW, UK: Now that many questions regarding COVID-19, including its symptoms, risks and recovery time, have been answered, researchers are faced with a new dilemma: SARS-CoV-2 reinfection and immunity. Although unusual, it is evident that reinfections do occur, and in a recent study, researchers explored whether individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 are protected from future infection. The findings suggested that past infection may provide natural immunity and that the said immunity is effective for approximately half a year after the initial infection.

January 27, 2021 | Americas | News

WASHINGTON, U.S.: This year, there are only eight jobs that are better than that of dentist, according to the 2021 list of best jobs in the U.S. compiled by U.S. News & World Report. The media company’s annual jobs report provides rankings lists and research related to professions, and dentist was ranked ninth on the 2021 Best Jobs list.

January 27, 2021 | Americas | Advertorial

YORBA LINDA, Calif., U.S.: Nobel Biocare is inviting dental professionals to join what it calls the Mucointegration era with the launch of its Xeal and TiUltra surfaces in the U.S. These new surfaces are applied to implants and abutments, optimizing tissue integration at every level.

January 26, 2021 | Europe | News

ST JULIAN’S, Malta: Owing to the current travel restrictions in Europe and worldwide, the European Aligner Society (EAS) has postponed its third congress, originally scheduled for March, to 7–9 October 2021. However, the event will still be held in Malta, and EAS hopes that the congress will still be opened by the Maltese deputy prime minister and minister of health.

January 26, 2021 | Europe | Interviews

Periodontitis and peri-implantitis are both inflammatory conditions that affect gingival tissue. However, owing to the anatomical differences between teeth and implants, the two diseases require distinct treatments. In a recent interview, Dental Tribune International spoke with Dr Georgios N. Belibasakis, professor of clinical oral infection biology and head of the Division of Oral Diseases at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm in Sweden, on the topic. Belibasakis has recently co-authored a study on the microbial pathogenesis of peri-implantitis and believes that a deeper understanding of the issue could help develop improved strategies for prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

January 25, 2021 | Americas | News

BALTIMORE, U.S.: A study by researchers at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore has found that a wide range of oral sex behaviors may affect a person’s risk of infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) and his or her risk of developing the oropharyngeal cancers that are associated with the virus.

January 25, 2021 | News

BIRMINGHAM, UK: Previous studies have confirmed a connection between periodontitis and chronic kidney disease (CKD), as they showed that patients with severe inflammation of the gingivae also had poorer kidney function. A new study led by researchers from the University of Birmingham has found, for the first time, that a biological imbalance causes the correlation between these two diseases.

January 22, 2021 | News

LONDON, UK: Dentists in England currently receive their former National Health Service (NHS) contract value provided they spend the same amount of time working on providing NHS care as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, slowing down or completely halting all business operations. However, the new system of targets imposed by the UK government states that dentists who are unable to deliver 45% of their pre-pandemic dental activity will face financial penalties plus potential breach of contract consequences. Naturally, dental professionals have opposed the new contractual arrangement, claiming that it threatens the viability of many practices and undermines patient care.

January 21, 2021 | Europe | Advertorial

MORTSEL, Belgium: After two decades of practising dentistry, Dr Veronica Stahl became frustrated about the lack of consumer products that combat dental plaque effectively. After being introduced to hemp-derived cannabinoids through a course on medical cannabis, Stahl undertook her own research which proved that cannabinoids fight plaque as effectively as chlorhexidine in mouthwash. She has now launched the STOP range of oral care products for dentists and consumers, and says that the naturally occurring compounds have huge untapped potential in dentistry.

January 21, 2021 | Europe | News

GENEVA, Switzerland: For 120 years, FDI World Dental Federation has focused its mission on the goal of improving oral health worldwide. In a recently published report, titled Vision 2030: Delivering Optimal Oral Health for All, the organisation shared how it plans to continue to go forward with that goal in the foreseeable future.

January 20, 2021 | Americas | Education

Zirconia implants are the best solution for missing teeth in the cosmetic region. Those who attend a live webinar to be presented by Dr. Paresh Patel, ICOI diplomate, will learn why the innovations in zirconia implants are an essential benefit to the dental practice. “Zirconia Implants for the Cosmetic Zone” will be presented on Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. EST (New York).

January 20, 2021 | Americas | Education | News

BUFFALO, N.Y., U.S.: A student at the University at Buffalo (UB) School of Dental Medicine has developed a new initiative that aims to remove barriers to studying dentistry for students of color. The free program, named Destination Dental School, is open to eligible undergraduate students from all over the U.S. and will provide them with a number of mentoring, training and sponsorship opportunities.

January 20, 2021 | Middle East & Africa | Interviews

Dr Elham Kateeb’s professional career has been devoted to dentistry: She is an associate professor of dental public health and the dean of scientific research at Al-Quds University in Palestine, an elected member of FDI World Dental Federation’s Public Health Committee and a health service researcher, to name but a few of her responsibilities. She is also involved in the education of a future generation of dentists, an undertaking which is not without its challenges. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, has had a great impact on the way she and her students work and learn together. In an interview with Dental Tribune International, Kateeb spoke about these difficulties and of how there could be a positive outcome for the whole of dentistry.

January 20, 2021 | Europe | Advertorial

SCHAAN, Liechtenstein: Ivoclar Vivadent has announced that it has appointed Patric Frank as its new chief of marketing. Frank, who has been with the company since early 2019 and has had extensive experience in marketing and brand management, will help strategically drive Ivoclar Vivadent’s global expansion forward and strengthen its position in the growing dental market worldwide.

January 19, 2021 | News

LONDON, UK: The British Dental Association (BDA) warned in early January that hundreds of dental practices would be put out of business if the government did not abandon NHS targets for patient volumes during the national lockdown. New polling has since revealed the extent to which UK residents are cancelling or avoiding dental treatment altogether, and Dr Dave Cottam, the BDA’s chair of the General Dental Practice Committee, says that when the facts change, so must the policies.