2008 Archives

December 2008

Northeastern University Biologist Finds Link Between "Bloodless" Icefish of Antarctica and Anemia and Osteoporosis - Dr. Pamela Yelick will share a $2/5 million NIH grant to investigate mineralization of the icefish skeleton as a model for osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Professor Carole Palmer - Oral Health - Professor Palmer is the in-studio guest for "Your Health Matters", a daily health talk show broadcast on a Concord, NH-based am radio station. The topic is nutrition and oral health relating to dry mouth, pregnancy, etc.

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November 2008

Mission to Limatambo - This past spring, Aidee N. Herman, a clinical associate professor of periodontology at Tufts Dental School, led a group of 22 dentists, students and other volunteers on a humanitarian trip to Limatambo, Peru, about two hours outside of Cuzco.

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October 2008

Braces now must-have for many adults - "...Are adults' teeth harder to straighten because they're more settled into the jawbone? No. The attachment of teeth to bone is the same, no matter the age.

Ira D. Cheifetz, DMD, Voted 2008-2009 President-Elect of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons - "...Dr. Cheifetz earned his dental degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts. He completed a general practice residency in Flushing, New York, and his OMS residency at Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He and his partners Sean Bradley, DMD, and Jonathon Sasportas, DMD, maintain a private practice with offices in Mercerville, East Windsor and Princeton, NJ..."

Health Mailbox - "...Noshir Mehta of the Craniofacial Pain Center at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, says some mouth guards are so thick that they crowd space for the tongue, or are restricting your airway..."

The Daily Grind: When Stress Sets Your Teeth on Edge - "...Women have more TMJ problems than men -- possibly because the jaw muscle bulks up in men, whereas it becomes dysfunctional in women, says Dr. Mehta. He notes that people taking antidepressants are also more prone to bruxing, for reasons not well understood...Once TMJ problems have set in, anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants can be helpful. Studies at Tufts have shown that magnesium citrate -- 250 to 400 milligrams daily -- can also help relieve muscle tension..."

Skip dentist, pay big later - Article regarding patients who are putting off dental visits for financial reasons. Mentions Tufts dental clinics.

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September 2008

Al Dente: When mouth pain is not dental pain - "...Dentists are aware that jaw pain, a dull unrelenting ache, especially in the lower left side of the mouth is a possible sign of heart pain from a heart attack. Of course, it makes perfect sense to see a dentist for this kind of jaw pain. It is important for the dentist to rapidly rule out a dental cause, and suggest the correct diagnosis..."

Walk the Rock - News brief notes that TUSDM students will perform free oral cancer screenings at Walk the Rock for oral cancer awareness event in Plymouth on Sunday, September 21

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August 2008

Does chewing ice harm teeth? - "...And once you have a cracked tooth, whether because of chewing ice or something else, you may have to have a root canal or even need a crown or lose the tooth, said Dr. Jamie Wong, an assistant clinical professor of prosthodontics and operative dentistry at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine..."

Erling Johansen; improved dental research, education at Tufts - "...'He had a vision of elevating academic standards and integrating research back into our mission,' said Dr. Lonnie H. Norris, who succeeded Dr. Johansen as dean. 'He also made it possible through his mentoring of younger people to get them involved in research efforts.'..."

Dental benefits widen, waiting lines grow - "...Of that 17 percent, one in five have already closed their doors to new subsidized patients, said Dr. Catherine Hayes, a professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine...'We need dentists to understand there have been significant improvements in the program,' said Hayes, who is also a court-appointed monitor of the state's dental program for children'..."

Tongue-lashing: Dental School expert warns against the health risks of oral piercing - "...Dentists are seeing more and more and patients with piercings in the tongue, lips or face. These patients present special problems that oral health care providers may need to address, from systemic disease to excess wear on the teeth and gums."

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July 2008

Oral cancer test's value unproven - "...But, a second look for lesions is never a bad thing, said Dr. Michael Kahn, chairman of the oral pathology department at Tufts University's dental school. 'Whether the light helps you see it or not, you're taking a second look,' said Kahn, who practiced general dentistry before becoming an oral pathologist. 'The bottom line is we found it, and we found it earlier than we would have otherwise.'..."

A Life in Service-Erling Johansen, D49, was Tufts' longest-serving dental dean - Erling Johansen was teaching high school in his native Overhalla, Norway, in 1945 when Tufts invited 22 Norwegian students to enroll at the School of Dental Medicine. The Nazis had closed universities in Norway during World War II, and the Tufts gesture was part of an effort to help the beleaguered Scandinavian country. Johansen was one of the lucky ones chosen, and graduated cum laude from Tufts in 1949. Exactly 50 years later, he retired as the longest-serving dean of the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine after 16 1/2 years at the helm.

Please Note:

A memorial service for Dr. Erling Johansen, D49, will be held on September 26 from 3:00-4:00pm at the School of Dental Medicine, One Kneeland St., Merritt Auditorium, 7th Flr. A reception will follow.

For further information please contact Anita Yen, Office of Alumni Relations and Development at (617) 636-6721 or anita.yen@tufts.edu.

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Dentists sinking their teeth into sports equipment industry - "...In the 1980s, Dr. Harold Gelb, founder of the Craniomandibular Pain Center at Tufts University in Boston, developed a device called the MORA - a mouthpiece, of sorts, that members of the Olympic luge team wore during competitions. The MORA, or Mandibular Orthopedic Repositioning Appliance, essentially performed the same function as the Edge, without the computerized sophistication..."

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June 2008

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine to Add Five Floors - Tufts University School of Dental Medicine will add an additional five floors to its existing building on Kneeland Street in Boston. The $66.5 million vertical expansion of the now 10-story building will create 95,000 square feet of classroom and clinical space, giving students and staff more elbow room. Construction will take place over the next 18 months."

Dental Education column - The Dental Education column includes three entries about TUSDM: Nancy Arbree's appointment to president of the Greater NY Academcy of Prosthodontics; Winna Goldman's receiving the 2007 President's Award for Excellence in Dental Research from the American Association for Dental Research National Student Research Group (AADR NSRG) for her work directed by Jonathan Garlick ; and Paul Levi being named a 2007 recipient of the Fellowship Award from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP).

Dentists Warn Against Over Brushing - "...'Anytime somebody wants to get their teeth white they'll do some pretty crazy things -- including over-brushing,' said Dr. Gerald Kugel of the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He said that can cause gums to recede, which can be trouble. 'The problem with receding gums is the root surface isn't like enamel...it's more prone to cavities.'..."

White Coat Notes - Samantha Jordan is the only dental student out of 42 to be awarded an HHMI-NIH Research Scholar grant, which brings top medical students to the National Institutes of Health campus to participate in hands-on biomedical research. A Tufts School of Medicine student, Cedar Fowler, also received an award.

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May 2008

Al Dente: When physicians and dentists talk - "...Physicians and dentists have plenty to talk about. Physicians organizations and insurance companies distribute brochures to patients, white papers to physicians, and informational packets to dentists enumerating the many ways dental health influences physical health. Blue Cross Blue Shield's Dental Blue insurance even offers the 'Enhanced Dental Benefit' program for people with diabetes, and heart disease, and for pregnant women..."

Dental Calamities That Can Truly Hurt - "...Dr. Michael Kahn, a professor of oral pathology at Tufts University, compares oral cancer with the 11,000 cases of cervical cancer that are detected by the 60 million pap smears administered every year. 'A person dies every hour around the clock from oral cancer,' he said, 'yet it's a struggle to get insurance to cover any of the new screening tests."

Dentistry's classic problem - "...The rate of untreated decay among children six to eleven from families with income below the federal poverty line is three times the rate of children of families with higher incomes. Decay begins as small, soft spots on teeth. The spots may have dark stains, or they may be yellow, or orange. The surface of the teeth may appear chalky white. When the decay becomes large enough, the tooth may break or become painful...Three factors control the prevalence of decay: the presence of bacterial plaque, the presence of sugar and the individual's resistance to decay. Improve just one of these factors, and dental caries becomes less likely..."

Tufts Scientists Develop New Model of Stem Cell Behavior - Tissue engineers at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine have identified a critical tissue component in the regulation of early tissue organization in human skin. This discovery advances the study of cutaneous stem cell behavior by providing a new model that more closely resembles living human skin.

Tufts dental school adding 5 floors"...The Tufts University School of Dental Medicine stages a 'sky-breaking' ceremony today on a five-story addition to its Kneeland Street structure.The $66.5 million vertical expansion of the now 10-story building will create 95,000 square feet of classroom and clinical space, giving students and staff more elbow room...The school will try to minimize disruptions during construction. 'We have this detailed out room by room, week by week,'[Executive Associate Dean Joseph]Castellana said..."

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April 2008

Healing in Haiti - In a country where 60 percent of people have never been to a dentist, Marjorie Brisard finds her calling. Dilshan Gunawardena, D08, remembers the small shock he felt when the little girl in his dental chair opened her mouth to reveal widespread decay. "There were dark spots from canine to canine. There must have been 15 surfaces to repair," he recalls. "But she looked beautiful afterward."Gunawardena was among the 12 Tufts students, faculty and staff who traveled to Haiti last summer on an oral health mission organized by Marjorie Brisard, D08. Over a period of two weeks, the Tufts team provided care at three sites in the Caribbean nation.

A Simple Formula for Whitening Your Teeth (text version).
Audio version also available. - "Dentist Gerry Kugel of Tufts University says this one study was by no means the final word on light-activated bleaching. He says a lot of patients do seem to like the procedure: When they leave the dentist's chair after an hour-long session, many can see the difference- and they may assume it's all from the light. 'You've got to remember that they're getting peroxide on their teeth,' says Kugel... 'My argument is that it's so minimal that I don't see it being worth what people are being charged for it,' says Kugel. Costs vary regionally, but the average fee is about $500..."

5 Home Remedy No-No's - "...'First of all, children shouldn't be consuming alcohol,' says Stanley Alexander, DMD, chairman of the department of pediatric dentistry at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. 'Second, whiskey has no real numbing effect on the gums as the teeth are coming up.'...'The best thing you can possibly do is to chill a teething toy in the freezer and give it to the child,' says Alexander. 'The cooling effect on the gum will both soothe and numb it.'..."

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March 2008

A holistic approach to teeth and gums - [Dr.] Satloff, who has studied alternative practices in China, as well as acupuncture and quantum healing, spent two years in the Peace Corps after graduating from Tufts University in 1981. He was the first dentist in the country in 1990 to become board certified in pain management....His practice, in fact, focuses on craniofacial pain, craniofacial orthopedics, facial aesthetics and cosmetic dentistry. Satloff recently attended a two-day session at the Cranio-Facial Aesthetics Institute at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine...."

Morning sickness and dental health - "How does morning sickness effect oral health? Simple. Morning sickness often results in emesis. The content of the stomach is highly acidic. Acid eats into tooth enamel. Brushing immediately after emesis will cause the enamel to wear away slightly. Instead, it is better to rinse with a solution of one teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of water."

An Ounce of Prevention : The importance of screening for oral cancer can't be emphasized enough, says a survivor - "By the time Eva Grayzel got an accurate diagnosis of oral cancer, she had a 15 percent chance of survival. Over the course of two years, a general dentist, two oral surgeons and an ear specialist all failed to recognize the painful, recurring lesion on Grayzel's tongue as a deadly cancer. Following harrowing surgeries and radiation therapy that sapped her will to live, Grayzel overcame the disease and has been cancer-free for 10 years."

Booster Shots: Dental students give their first injections of local anesthetic--to each other - "No one likes a shot in the mouth, but can it be harder to give than to receive? Each January, second-year students at the School of Dental Medicine take a gentle stab at injecting their first local anesthetic, facing what Professor Morton Rosenberg calls the "most fearful procedure in dentistry." The upside? They practice these injections on the most empathetic guinea pigs--each other."

Tooth or consequences: The costs of poor dental fitness - "...There aren't enough dentists in this country. We really do need primary care physicians jumping on board," said Catherine Hayes, DMD, DMSc, chair of the Dept. of Public Health and Community Service in the School of Dental Medicine at Tufts University in Boston, who is investigating the impact of poor oral health on children's growth..."

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February 2008

The Wisdom on Wisdom Teeth - "...Because wisdom teeth don't form until around age 5, Anthony Silvestri, director of dental anatomy and occlusion at Tufts University's dental school, foresees a day when lasers will be used to prevent that from happening. He and colleagues have had success in animals. 'It doesn't make sense,' he says, 'that everyone should be having surgery for a useless tooth.'..."

Al Dente: Be healthier with dental insurance - "Today, everyone is more aware of the close relationship between dental health and medical health. It is common for physicians to refer their patients to a dentist before a major procedure to ensure that dental health is optimal. Poor dental health may affect the heart. Uncontrolled gum disease may make it difficult for diabetics to control their blood sugar level. It has even been suggested that there is a link between gum disease and low birth weight. Dental insurance companies recognize this relationship, and are working to improve their clients' overall health while supporting improving dental health. A year ago, Dental Blue of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts rolled out Enhanced Dental Benefits...."

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January 2008

Oral Osteoporosis Meds Appear to Reduce the Risk of Jaw Degradation - "...After analyzing the medical claims of 714,217 people, Zavras, along with Vassiliki Cartsos at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and Shao Zhu of Ingenix--i3 Drug Safety (the company that provided medical claims data), have concluded that oral osteoporosis meds seem to reduce the risk of jaw degradation. Clinical studies are needed to replicate and clarify the results, which appear in the January issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association..."

New Year, New You: 16 Top Health Tips - "...More than 40% of Americans avoid the dentist at all costs," says Michael Kahn, DDS, chair of the department of oral and maxillofacial pathology at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston. The cost could be your teeth...."Check your mouth once a month for bright white or red patches. If the spots won't rub off and they are still there after about a week, see your doctor right away."

Smaller implants meet skepticism - "...The jury is still out, says Robert Chapman, D.D.S., M.A., chair of prosthodontics and operative dentistry at Tufts University. 'There's anecdotal information that they may be helpful. But the ones smaller than 3.0 millimeters have no good data I was able to find.' As for length, he says, 'anything under 8 millimeters appeared to have a lower success rate.'...

Fighting Oral Cancer With Early Detection - "...Awareness of signs and symptoms of oral cancer is essential, because if caught early, there is a much greater likelihood of survival," says Michael Kahn, DDS, professor of oral pathology at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston.

Wanna Be Sedated? Is sedation dentistry the next big thing - or just the next big promotion? - "...The American Dental Association approves of sedation if its guidelines are followed. At Tufts University's Center for Sedation and Anesthesia, Dr. Morton Rosenberg said sedation 'can be appropriate for some patients' and is safe and effective if properly administered by trained dentists. Rosenberg, who is also an anesthesiologist at Tufts New England Medical Center, sedates a large number of his phobic dental patients. He estimates that as many as 60 percent of all dentists on occasion use something beyond a shot of local anesthetic to calm a patient - typically a nitrous oxide/oxygen mix or a single oral dose of Valium..."