TUSDM in the Media

November 2009

Eat your candy; then Brush - Carole Palmer, TUSDM professor, discusses brushing your teeth before eating candy, and other strategies that help ensure healthy teeth after halloween.

October 2009

The American Way of Dentistry: Healthy teeth for all - The article discusses the claim that a shortage of dentists exists and mentions TUSDM as one of the dental schools that have developed two-year programs to train foreign dentists.

Need a New Heart? Grow Your Own - The Boston Globe article discusses regenerative medicine and TUSDM's Dr. Johnathan Garlick's research on skin-like tissue derived from human embryonic stem cells.

September 2009

Your source for dental information: Is the World Wide Web your choice? - Dr. David Leader, assistant clinical professor of general dentistry at TUSDM, writes about finding relevant dental information online. He discusses steps to ensure finding accurate information, and how to analyze personal websites for validity.

News Release--The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine Applauds New Dental Sleep Medicine Program - AADSM President, Jeffery Pancer, D.D.S., applauds TUSDM for being the first to implement a university-level Dental Sleep Medicine Program. He says he hopes others will follow TUSDM's lead.

August 2009

NYC's Most Active Citizens - Tufts Trustee and Graduate, Jonathan Tisch, explains how the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service helps students feel like 'Citizen Dentists' after graduation, and prepares them to be lifelong active citizens.

July 2009

News Release--New Treatment for Receding Gyms: No Pain, Lots of Gain - Tufts dental researchers show tissue regeneration application, which provides a less invasive treatment for receding gums.

New treatment for receding gums works long-term - Drs. Terrance Griffin and Wai S. Cheung discuss their process of regenerating gum tissue, which reduces pain and discomfort. The study shows promising long-term results.

Doctors say Chernobyl children are in good shape - The children from the Chernobyl Children Project prepare for dental appointments at TUSDM, while also seeking other medical care.

The Chernobyl Children Project brings children affected by the 1986 nuclear power plant disaster to the U.S. for medical care.

The Chernobyl Children: Parting is such sweet sorrow - After difficult goodbyes, one child from the Chernobyl Children Project will remain in the United States and seek more medical care. An exam at TUSDM revealed a benign tumor behind his teeth.

News Release--Skin-like Tissue Developed from Human Embryonic Stem Cells - Dental and tissue engineering researchers at both the TUSDM and the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences work together to grow tissue that mimics human skin and the tissue lining the mouth.

Treating Gum Recession May Become Virtually Painless, Says Study - Notable problems associated with gum grafting surgery include pain, discomfort and longer recovery time. The article discusses a painless way to treat receding gums, discovered by researchers at TUSDM.

Next Generation Medical Procedures - Researchers at TUSDM work on using stem cells to repair tooth decay. The article also discusses three other head-centered cosmetic procedures that may lead to even more medical advances.

June 2009

Going Vertical - The vertical expansion project required constant communication and perfect planning. Find out how TUSDM and Shawmut Design & Construction worked to overcome many challenges, including maneuvering the largest crane in New England through the streets of Chinatown.

Gum disease, mouth-tissue research gain tech attention - Mass High Tech Journal discusses the growing problem of receding gums, which exposes the teeth, and how TUSDM's Terrence Griffin, associate professor, uses his own unique technique to correct the problem.

Cavities and the many causes of tooth decay - Dr. David Leader, assistant clinical professor of general dentistry at TUSDM, writes about the many causes of tooth decay, and how to take preventative measures to ensure healthy teeth.

May 2009

Off to the Lab: Medical, Dental, and Veterinary Students Given a Chance to Make Their Own Discoveries - TUSDM student, Uvri Reuparelia, is one of 112 students selected and sponsored by HHMI to work at a laboratory at NIH or a research university of their choice. The student is one of two dental students in the country selected to be an HHMI-NIH Research Scholar. (In 2008, TUSDM had the only dental student in the country selected.)

ADA names Dr. Kathleen T. O'Loughlin as executive director - Trustee and alumnus Dr. O'Loughlin becomes the first female executive director/chief operating officer of the ADA on June 1.

April 2009

Finding Dental Care At A Discount - A television news story featuring the Orthodontics clinic at Tufts includes removal of a patient's braces aired on WBZ's 5:30pm news. Dr. Briss and a resident are interviewed regarding the reduced cost and high level of care provided by the clinic. "...'We offer probably the best care you can get,' explained Dr. Barry Briss who runs the program at Tufts. Briss said the trainees are already dentists who graduated at the top of their class and they are closely supervised. 'Not only is the patient assigned to a resident doctor, but they are also assigned to an individual faculty member,' he said..."

March 2009

Give your teeth a rest from grinding - Dr. Mehta is one of two experts quoted in an article on bruxism. Little is known about the causes but the pressure can be devastating to teeth and a nightguard is often the solution. NOTE: Article originally appears in the Bradenton Herald (FL) on 03-10-09 and also appears in The Stamford Times (CT), The Hour (CT) and the Wilton Villager (CT).

Don't be so sensitive - Dr. Leader's monthly column in the Malden Observer focuses on tooth sensitivity.

Seniors and Dental Health - "...Morton B. Rosenberg, DMD, co-author of Medical Emergencies in Dentistry and a professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, says, 'We know that medical emergencies happen in dental practice and there's a feeling out there that these could increase, mainly due to the aging of the population. Elderly people take more medications than younger people and drug interactions may be more likely and more serious.'..."

Stress, other causes contribute to bruxism

But during bruxing, that pressure can increase to 250 pounds per square inch, says Dr. Noshir Mehta, professor and chairman of general dentistry and director of the Craniofacial Pain Center at Tufts University Dental School in Boston.That pressure can be devastating to teeth, Mehta says."More often than not, the average person ends up flattening the teeth, wearing the teeth down or creating problems with tooth movement or loosening of the teeth," he says.

ADEA Leadership Institute Class of 2010 Selected - Dr. Maria Papageorge is one of 21 fellows selected to participate in the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Leadership Institute class for 2010. The ADEA Leadership Institute is a program to "develop the nation's most promising dental educators to become leaders in dental and higher education."

February 2009

State honors local dentist - Dr. Pearlman was honored this month on Beacon Hill as an 'Oral Health Hero' for his work as director of Tufts' Wrentham dental facility for people with special needs. '...'I have always considered myself truly fortunate to be able to spend time and work with the special needs individuals, their families and caregivers,' Dr. Pearlman said. 'They appreciate the care they receive and they have always been an inspiration for me.'..."

Character Breakfast to support the CCP USA - Article regarding a program that brings children whose health was affected by their parents' exposure to radiation following the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986, notes past participants in the program have received extensive treatment at the TUSDM.

Volunteers In Medicine: Helping one uninsured at a time - "...A typical month in the dental clinic sees about 100 appointments. Procedures are typical for any general dental office: dentures, a crown or two a month, checkups and fillings (or as dentists say, 'single visit restorations').

Clinic gets dental residency program - Article about a northern Maine community health center that has won approval to establish a dental residency program. The other dental residency program in Maine, Togus VA Medical Center, brings in residents from Tufts among other dental schools around the country.

Dentists recommend certain foods to help prevent cavities - "...'Cheese's protective effect is probably a combination of factors,' explained Carole Palmer, a professor at Tufts School of Dental Medicine, 'including that you have to chew it, which involves production of saliva, that there's a lot of calcium and phosphorous in it, and that the fat may coat the tooth and prevent sugar from getting in.'..."

January 2009

People who suffer from tension headaches do not have to live with that pain - Noshir Mehta is the featured expert in a segment on tension headaches that identifies and highlights the expertise of the Craniofacial Pain Center at Tufts. The CNN Accent Health service delivers video to the waiting rooms of physicians nationwide.

Al Dente column: Just a checkup -- or is it? - Dentists and dental hygienists are very serious about regular dental examinations. It may be the most important service we provide. Unfortunately, many of our patients do not value dental examinations. Maybe it is because dentists and hygienists do not explain what we are doing or why we do it.

Airway management course earns thumbs up in test run with dentists - Dr. Morton Rosenberg comments on a pilot program for dentists who frequently use sedation and anesthesia. The pilot program is a proof of concept course that addresses airway management.

Save some cash with cut-rate massages, meals and more: A study in savings - Consumers can save money by using student labor, reports this Herald Helper column. "...The School of Dental Medicine at Tufts University also has clinics with reduced-rate services including anything from simple cleanings and X-rays to 'comprehensive patient care,' said Jim Hanley, associate dean for clinical services.

Don't let stress be such a grind - Dr. Noshir Mehta, director of the Craniofacial Pain Center at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, pointed out that when someone grinds his or her teeth during sleep, there is an average force of 250 pounds of pressure on the teeth. "It's like having a football player stand on your teeth," Mehta said.

Designed by ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge, Five-Story Vertical Addition at Boston Building Reaches Mid-Point Construction - "...'This is a significant milestone for both the project and for Tufts Dental School,' said Joe Castellana, Executive Associate Dean at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. 'When the glass facade installation is completed next month, we will really start to see the realization of this expansion. We're thrilled that our project is moving full steam ahead and that we're getting closer to completion.'..."

Drilling into mystery - Local pediatric dentist Joseph O'Donnell has dedicated his career to brightening children's smiles and keeping their teeth healthy, but in December, he officially branched out into a new, more sinister area of interest. ...He has maintained a dental office in Winchester since 1974, and has been an associate clinical professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine for more than 35 years. Last month, O'Donnell, now 63 years old, saw the publication of first novel, titled "Fatal Gamble." A sequel, "Deadly Codes: A Gallagher Novel" is on the way, due out in early February.