Kristen Mott is the associate editor for Dental Products Report and Digital Esthetics.

Kristen Mott

	Take a look around and you’ll most likely notice someone popping a piece of chewing gum into his or her mouth. People have been chewing gum for centuries, and in fact, the average person chews more than 300 sticks of gum every year.

	Whether you prefer Big Red, Juicy Fruit, Orbit, or Dubble Bubble, chewing gum has been shown to improve your breath, help combat stress and enhance concentration. But what if chewing gum also had the ability to detect gum inflammation and eventual dental implant failure?

Trending article: 5 reasons chewing sugarfree gum is good for your oral health

	Dental implants are a common and effective tooth replacement option, but their failure rate is a major issue. Almost 

 with dental implants have been shown to lose at least one implant over a 9-year period.

Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg

 in Bavaria, Germany, noted that the ability to screen broad communities for asymptomatic diseases is key to improving population health. However, current screening methods often involve complex tests or require specialists. In order to change this, the researchers set out to develop a quick and affordable screening method. What they came up with is a sensory chewing gum that uses the tongue as a 24/7 detector, allowing for diagnosis by “anyone, anywhere, anytime.”

, the researchers designed a peptide sensor that was successfully formulated into a chewing gum. In order to test the sensor’s functionality, the researchers incubated it in saliva samples collected from patients with peri-implant disease and saliva samples collected from healthy patients with at least one dental implant. The outcomes were compared using two commercially available tests. 

, in the presence of inflammatory conditions, specific protein-degrading enzymes are activated in the mouth. After five to 10 minutes, these enzymes were shown to break down a special ingredient of the researcher’s chewing gum, which then released a bittering agent.

	The researchers state that the results indicate that large amounts of denatonium, a bitter chemical compound, generated through cleavage of the sensor would be easily sensed by the human tongue in patients with inflammation. They believe that their chewing gum diagnostic would introduce several improvements.

	“First, it is providing rapid read-out within a few minutes,” the researchers state. "Second, the sensor is featuring a diagnosis from saliva thereby removing the need to collect from sites accessible to a dentist only (sulcus fluid). Third, expert knowledge for interpretation is not required while finally the diagnostic can be used anywhere.

	"Therefore, the data provided evidence that the complex kits used today may be complemented or even replaced by much simpler, reliable chewing gum diagnostics. Future applications include the use in a dentist’s office or personal use by anyone, anywhere.”

More from the author: Can a green tea extract help prevent cavities? 

	The researchers note that the next step is to test the chewing gum in humans to demonstrate the ability to discriminate diseased from healthy groups through taste generation.

	“Future clinical trials should aim at pushing the proof of concept provided here into patient recorded outcome measures,” the researchers conclude.

Diagnosing peri-implant disease using the tongue as 24/7 detector

Articles

Researchers in Germany have developed a type of chewing gum that could be used to diagnose inflammation and eventual dental implant failure. 

Can chewing gum be used to detect gum inflammation?

	Now in its eighth year of recognizing exceptional women in the dental industry, Dental Products Report is thrilled to announce the Top 25 Women in Dentistry for 2017.

	This year’s honorees come from across the dental industry, including dentists, industry leaders, office managers, educators and lab technicians. Each of the honorees will be featured in the October issue of Dental Products Report.

See last year's winners: Announcing Dental Products Report's Top 25 Women in Dentistry for 2016

	“There are so many amazing women pushing the dental industry forward, and every one of them deserves recognition for their hard work, passion and dedication,” says Laura Dorr, managing editor of the Modern Dental Network.
	 
	“The dental field would not be where it is today without the forward-thinking, visionary women who have contributed to its growth and success. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to every woman dedicated to furthering dentistry, and also recognize these 25 women whose contributions stand out. “

	The Top 25 Women in Dentistry for 2017 include…

 teaches over 100 days out of the year at LVI Global. In 2017 alone, she has lectured to hundreds of dentists at LVI about improving clinical skills and patient management. In addition to all of the this, Dr. Dickerson is also editor-in-chief of a quarterly dental publication called LVI Visions."

	“Member ADA, ACD, ICD, Pierre Fauchard; 2017 president-elect, Colorado Dental Association; in private practice since 2004; diplomate of American Board of Pediatric Dentistry; chosen multiple times by peers as Top Dentist by 5280 magazine in Denver; associate clinical professor for University of Colorado School of Dentistry, lectures on use of lasers in pediatric dentistry, especially to release tethered oral tissues; presenter, American Dental Educators meeting.”

	“Dr. Maria Maranga is a true powerhouse. A private practice endodontist, Dr. Maranga somehow manages to find time and energy to be a tireless fund- and friend-raiser for the NYS Dental Foundation, whose mission is to improve the oral health of all New Yorkers. Dr. Maranga has a special gift of connecting with others, which she uses to provide valuable mentoring to students and dental residents. She serves organized dentistry as the chair of the American Dental Association's Council on Membership and as a board director of the American Association of Endodontists. Recently, she was instrumental in launching the statewide NYS Veterans Smile initiative, which encourages dentists to volunteer their time and expertise to providing veterans with much needed dental treatment. In each endeavor, she brings 100 percent commitment to excellence.”

	“Dr. M is very involved in the dental community and is constantly writing/blogging about new products and technologies. She is a youthful and fresh voice in dentistry today!”

 is working so hard for her pediatric patients. She is now offering lip and tongue tie releases with a CO

 laser and having a lactation consultant in the room waiting to help mom nurse the infant! She has traveled across the U.S. to learn from other dentists to perfect her technique. She also offers Full Face Orthodontic, which helps develops the midface so we can have prettier and healthier children. She is actually growing the entire maxilla. Cool stuff that no other dentist in Louisiana is offering!"

	"Dr. Jana Winfree has the responsibility for every mouth in Oklahoma. As the health department’s dental director, she has provided invaluable guidance for state policies involving fluoride, communicable diseases, obtaining data for federal programs and initiating new policy. Dr. Winfree formerly held the position of dentist and educator at the Rose State Dental Hygiene program in Oklahoma."

	"Alessa is focused, calm and patient. She is a team player.”

	“She has taught me everything I know. She is my role model.”

	“Alessa is absolutely, unequivocally the best manager i have ever had! She is so considerate for our feelings and always takes the time to see how we are doing. Problems never linger in this office and we are all formed as a family due to this amazing woman!”

	“Tricia is as knowledgeable and passionate as they come. She's engaging and professional with her patients and goes out if her way to educate and calm them when necessary. I'm grateful to know her.”

	“Patricia makes every client feel welcome as if part of her own family and makes a potentially stressful experience comfortable and stress-free.”

 has been an integral part of office mangers across the country, communicating with each other and sharing information. She started one of the first Dental Office Mangers study groups in the country in Buffalo. N.Y. After years of sharing knowledge locally, she has helped form many groups across the country. Those of us in groups with her view her as the ‘go-to’ person for insurance information. I had Colleen speak at my local study group in Indiana and everyone was astounded with the amount of information she provided.”

DPR unveils its list of this year’s honorees.

Announcing Dental Products Report's Top 25 Women in Dentistry for 2017

Announcing Dental Products Report's Top 25 Women in Dentistry of 2017

	Green tea has long been touted for its health benefits. The drink is rich in polyphenols, which have been shown to help slow the growth of bacteria associated with gum disease. Now, researchers in China have discovered that green tea may also prove beneficial in treating tooth sensitivity-and preventing the formation of cavities in those patients.

	About one in eight people has over-sensitive teeth, according to 

. Tooth sensitivity can be attributed to a number of factors, says the 

, including aggressive tooth brushing, tooth decay, periodontal disease, and wearing any of the enamel, among others.

, dentists can try to apply fluoride varnish on exposed areas or use a bonding agent to seal the dentin surface. In extreme cases, a root canal or other dental procedure may be required.

Trending research: Study shows why diabetics are more susceptible to periodontitis

	The Chinese researchers noted that another common method of treating tooth sensitivity is by plugging microscopic hollow tubes within dentin with a mineral called nanohydroxyapatite. However, the researchers say that these blocked tubules are generally weak in combating daily tooth erosion and abrasion. In addition, cariogenic bacteria can produce biofilm on the dentin surface, causing caries and compromising the tubules’ sealing efficacy.

	To address this problem, the researchers encapsulated nanohydroxyapatite and a green tea polyphenol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), in silica nanoparticles, which can reportedly stand up to acid wear and tear. After testing the biomaterial on extracted wisdom teeth, the researchers discovered that it effectively plugged the dentin tubules and released EGCG for at least 96 hours. Furthermore, the material prevented biofilm formation and stood up to tooth erosion and brushing.

	“The development…bridges the gap between multifunctional concept and dental clinical practice and is promising in providing dentists a therapeutic strategy for the management of the dentin surface to counter dentin hypersensitivity and caries,” the researchers state.

	This isn’t the first time tea has been shown to help fight cavities, 

, a group of researchers from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry found that compounds in black tea were capable of killing or suppressing growth and acid production of cavity-causing bacteria in plaque.

Development of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate-Encapsulated Nanohydroxyapatite/Mesoporous Silica for Therapeutic Management of Dentin Surface

Researchers in China have discovered that a nutrient in green tea may help treat tooth sensitivity-and prevent cavities in those patients. 

Can a green tea extract help prevent cavities?

	In addition to causing swollen gums, loose and sensitive teeth, and bad breath, gum disease has been linked to a greater 

in postmenopausal women. New research out of the University at Buffalo shows that postmenopausal women who have a history of periodontal disease may also be at a greater risk of developing a number of cancers, including site-specific ones like esophageal and gallbladder cancer.

	The prospective cohort study was comprised of 65,869 postmenopausal women ages 54 to 86 who were enrolled in the 

, a long-term national health study focused on strategies for preventing heart disease, breast and colorectal cancer, and osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women. Most of the participants were non-Hispanic white women. According to the study, periodontal disease information was obtained via self-report questionnaires administered between 1999 and 2003, and ascertainment of cancer outcomes occurred through September 2013 with a maximum follow-up period of 15 years.

Trending research: Study finds link between periodontal disease and increased risk of breast cancer

	During a mean follow-up of 8.32 years, 7,149 cancers were identified. The researchers discovered that periodontal disease was associated with an increased total cancer risk. Women who reported a history of gum disease had a 14 percent increased risk of overall cancer. The majority of the cancers, about 2,416, were breast cancer. Other high risk cancers included esophageal, gallbladder and melanoma. Stomach cancer was found to be a borderline risk.

	The researchers found similar results in a group of 34,097 women who had never smoked.

	“Periodontal disease increases risk of total cancer among older women, irrespective of smoking, and certain anatomic sites appear to be vulnerable,” the study states. “Our findings support the need for further understanding of the fact of periodontal disease on cancer outcomes.”

Related reading: Study finds gum disease may increase lung cancer risk

	While the study showed a correlation between gum disease in postmenopausal women and an increased cancer risk, the 

 notes some concerns with the conclusions made by the researchers.

	“The study found that self-report of gum disease among postmenopausal women was associated with variation in the prevalence of several cancers,” says an ADA spokesperson. “As a retrospective study, the findings provide no insight about modifiable cancer risk. Further, there were important differences between the women who reported that they did and did not have gum disease. In addition, self-report of gum disease is prone to misclassification. While the reported findings may sound intriguing, there are several statistical and methodological concerns with the study, meaning that the conclusions drawn are speculative.”

Periodontal Disease and Incident Cancer Risk among Postmenopausal Women: Results from the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Cohort

Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention

Researchers found that older women with a history of periodontal disease may be more at risk for site-specific cancers, including esophageal and gallbladder cancer. 

Study finds postmenopausal women with gum disease may have increased cancer risk

The funniest dental memes that have hit the internet so far this year.


The top 10 dental memes of 2017

	While most hygienists love their profession and their patients, they can’t help but to laugh at themselves-and the people around them-every once in a while. Let’s face it, making light of our daily experiences helps us get through the workweek!

	With that in mind, here are 10 of the best dental memes so far in 2017. Some are funny, some are cringe-worthy, and hopefully all of them will put a smile on your face!

	Continue to the next page to see the memes.

	Those who work in snowy states know this situation all too well-and usually dread it every winter.

	Sometimes only other hygienists understand what you mean!

	When the office schedule is running behind, sometimes all you can do is laugh!

	No matter how much you try to educate your patients, there will still be some who refuse to believe what you’re saying.

	We all start off the week with the best of intentions, but by the time Friday rolls around, it's a different story!

	Be honest, this thought has run through your mind at least once.

	The struggles of being a dental hygienist!

	Who wishes they had done this in dental hygiene school?

	Contrary to some doctors’ beliefs, hygienists don’t have all day to wait around. Remember to just take some deep breaths!
	
	

	No longer do lab owners and lab technicians need to deal with piles of paperwork and forms. In today’s digital world, more and more dental labs are embracing lab management software.

Lab management software gives lab owners and technicians quick access to important information-all at the click of a button. As the software continues to evolve, both dentists and labs can expect to experience and improved workflow. Users of this software can take advantage of digital case tracking and scheduling, email notifications, enhanced communication between the dentist and lab, online user portals, and built-in business protection and theft insurance, among other features.

Trending article: The 2017 innovator profiles

	Whether you’re searching for a brand-new system or looking to upgrade your current software, be sure to keep in mind key features that are important to your lab-as well as price point-when researching various options. We’ve compiled some of the most advanced and user-friendly lab management software options currently available.

	Intuit, developer of QuickBooks, and Mainstreet Systems & Software, developer of the DentaLab systems for dental laboratory case management, have joined forces to create DentaLab for QuickBooks. The software is designed to be affordable, comprehensive, reliable and easy to learn. Within the DentaLab system there are reportedly many options available, including features such as web portals for communication to/from the dental office, digital documents, email notifications and use of tablets.

	Mainstreet Systems & Software
	800-257-4535
	

	In addition to basic services like production scheduling, case tracking and invoicing, Evident is designed to give users the services they need to gain control of their business and keep customers happy. EvidentMill is the digital platform that connects labs and milling centers, allowing users to send, receive, track and pay for all their outsourcing needs. A custom branded payment portal is engineered to provide users with a way to match payments to patients and track customer payment behavior. Evident also offers business protection and identity theft insurance.

	Labtrac Enterprise is designed to reschedule the entire laboratory’s workload every day. With this software, every outstanding task for each case in the laboratory will reportedly be rescheduled based on due date priority and re-allocated to every technician based on his or her skills and the number of units he or she is expected to complete in a day. Labtrac also is said to continually monitor all of the cases in the laboratory and report back if any cases are running behind their required completion date.

	Seazona is said to be a complete dental lab system. The software is cloud-based and does not require an expensive server, allowing users to work from anywhere. Lab slips, invoices and statements are all available to doctors online. Seazona reportedly has a simple, clean interface and is easy to use. Additional features are said to include case tracking and scheduling, accounting and reporting, and doctor web access. Seazona also comes with free training, 24/7 technical support, and unlimited cases and user logins.

	Sirona Connect is designed to act as a strategic partner for laboratories looking to build their digital impression business. The software reportedly provides labs various options to develop a successful business plan alongside their dental partners using digital dentistry, making the working relationship and restorative process more efficient and productive. Sirona Connect facilities direct digital communication between dentists and inLab laboratories.

By utilizing lab management software, labs and doctors can improve their workflow.

Digitally transforming your lab

	Diabetics are twice as likely as their non-diabetic counterparts to lose teeth, according to a 2015 study from Duke University. While researchers determined that people with diabetes are more susceptible to periodontitis, they didn’t know why this link existed. New research out of the University of Pennsylvania sheds some light on the connection between diabetes and periodontal disease.

	The team of researchers, led by Dana T. Graves, DDS, interim chair and professor of the department of periodontics at the University of Pennsylvania, examined the oral microbiome of diabetic mice compared to healthy mice. The researchers discovered that the diabetic mice had a similar microbiome to the healthy mice, but once the diabetic mice were hyperglycemic, their oral microbiome became distinct with a less diverse community of bacteria.

	In addition, the researchers found that the diabetic mice also had periodontitis, including a loss of bone supporting the teeth, as well as increased levels of IL-17, a signaling molecule that’s important in immune response and inflammation. In humans, increased levels of IL-17 is associated with periodontal disease.

	To take the study one step further, the team of researchers transferred microorganisms from the diabetic mice to normal germ-free mice that had been raised without exposure to any microbes. These mice also developed bone loss, and markers of inflammation increased.

	The team then repeated these transfer experiments by injecting the diabetic donors with an anti-IL-17 antibody prior to the transfer. Mice that received microbiomes from the treated mice showed less severe bone loss compared to mice that received a microbiome transfer from untreated mice.

	“Diabetes caused a change in the composition of the oral bacteria. This change resulted in a bacterial composition that was more pathogenic and stimulated more inflammation in the gums and greater loss of bone around the teeth,” Graves says.

	As for next steps, Graves says he would like to carry out similar studies in humans.

	“Periodontal disease is closely linked to diabetes. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes increase the risk and severity of periodontitis, an irreversible form of periodontal disease where bone that supports the tooth is lost due to bacteria-induced infection. The degree to which diabetes affects periodontal disease is directly linked to the level of glycemic control, particularly if HbA1c levels are high. Our study underscores the fact that diabetes alters the microbiome to make it more pathogenic. Thus, diabetic individuals need to pay particular attention to their oral hygiene, maintain good plaque control and maintain good control of their blood glucose levels.”

Diabetes Enhances IL-17 Expression and Alters the Oral Microbiome to Increase Its Pathogenicity

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that diabetes causes changes in the oral microbiome that lead to inflammation and risk of bone loss. 