Items of Interest

Genes for Deciduous Tooth Development Discovered .
Scientists at the Imperial College London, the University of Bristol, and the University of Oulu in Finland have identified the genes that are responsible for early tooth development. Researchers examined data from the genetic code of 6,000 people from Finland and the UK who participated in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort (NFBC1966) and the Avon Longitudinal Study on Parents and Children (ALSPAC), UK.

GlaxoSmithKline Advisory .
Please be advised that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has issued a consumer advisory warning consumers of the potential health risk from long-term excessive use of the GSK zinc containing denture adhesive.

Proposal to the Australian Government on the Regulation Impact Statement on TGA and NICNAS Proposed Regulation of Disinfectants .
In response to recommendation 4.61 contained in the Report of the Commonwealth Government's Taskforce on Reducing the Regulatory Burden on Business (the Banks Report), released in April 2006, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) have released a consultation regulatory impact statement, for public comment.

Dental Health of Australia's Teenagers and Pre-teen Children: The Child Dental Health Survey, Australia 2003-04 .
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released a new report, Dental health of Australia's teenagers and pre-teen children: The Child Dental Health Survey, Australia 2003-04. The Child Dental Health Survey provides national information on the dental health of children attending school dental services in Australia.

The Australian Newspaper Opinion Piece - 16 January 2010 .
As part of the ADA’s education campaign as to how the ADA believes the Commonwealth Government should improve the delivery of dental care to the community, the following article at was published in The Australian on Saturday.

Teen Dental Plan Benefits Increased .
The Federal Government has indexed the benefit for the Medicare Teen Dental Plan by revoking the Dental Benefits Rules 2008. The new rules - Dental Benefits Rules 2009 -indexes the benefit for the preventative check (item 88000) from $153.45 to $157.00. The new rules start on 1 January 2010.

Dental Care Needs the Right Treatment - ADA’s ‘DentalAccess’ is the Best Solution to Improve Australia’s Oral Health .
The Australian Dental Association (ADA Inc) has responded to the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission’s Denticare Australia with a counter proposal and a better solution - DentalAccess.

Keep Mind Full, By Gum .
Researchers from Columbia University in New York are saying that cleaning your teeth could help your mind stay sharp into old age.

New Consultation Paper on Registration Standards and Related Matters .
The Dental Board of Australia, under the authority of Dr John Lockwood, Chair, has released a consultation paper on registration standards and related matters.

Have you Relocated from Overseas into Australia for Work? .
Griffith University researchers are trying to understand what helps relocating couples adjust to life and work after arriving in Australia. If you are interested in participating in the Couples Coping with International Job Relocations research project click to read more.

Swine Flu .
Important Notice to all Patients. Please tell staff immediately if you have flu symptoms.

Health Groups Slam Coca-Cola for Misleading Consumers .
Soft-drink giant Coca-Cola will be required to set the record straight and correct any potentially misleading impressions given by their “Myth Busting” campaign.

FDI joins global campaign to make the United Nations a smokefree place .
The FDI World Dental Federation announced today that it has joined a campaign to make the United Nations (UN) a smokefree place.

Psychological Factors Affect Mouth Concludes Review .
According to a literature review, stress may play a role in the development of periodontal diseases.

Research Summary - Comment .
As in other procedural specialities in health, good eyesight is essential in the practise of dentistry. As part of maintaining eyesight, dentists should ensure that they present for periodic eye examination to screen for any abnormality in visual acuity, accommodation, yellow hue discrimination, or intraocular eye pressure.

Banning amalgam could increase US dental costs by $8 billion a year .
A study in the current issue of the journal Public Health Reports examines the potential economic impact in the US of a ban or restriction on the use of dental amalgam, a material commonly used to fill cavities.

Consumer Price Index – June Quarter 2007 and Dental Services .
The Australian Dental Association notes the latest Consumer Price Index data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

New UK study - Early tooth loss linked to heart disease .
A new study in the UK suggests that young adults who lose their teeth to cavities or gum disease may have an increased risk of dying from heart disease later in life.

New study reveals keeping your teeth clean could help prevent a heart attack .
A team of doctors in Marseille have released new study findings that reveal brushing and flossing your teeth could save you from a heart attack.

Submission to the Australian Communications and Media Authority on the Children’s Television Standards Review .
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) has a commitment to the delivery of oral health care for children. The focus of this submission will be on the impact to children of television advertising in so far as it will concern children’s dental health.

Dentists in rural areas are too thinly spread .
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) calls on the Federal Government to address the maldistribution of the current dental workforce which is negatively impacting on the delivery of services in areas of need such as in rural, regional and remote parts of Australia.

Graphic ‘ice’ ads are shocking but necessary .
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) has put its support behind the Government launch of the graphic ‘ice’ advertisements on TV.

Increase in the EPC Scheme welcomed .
Following Minister Abbott’s announcement today, the Australian Dental Association (ADA) welcomes the Federal Government’s recognition of the role they must play in the improvement of oral health delivery to needy Australians.

Support for piercings bill .
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) supports a plan to come before the Victorian Parliament which would ban people under the age of 18 from having any part of their body pierced without the written consent of their parents or guardian.

Lifestyle: Fitness and Nutrition .
ADA federal president, Dr John Matthews, discusses teeth whitening, electric toothbrushes, and bad breath with Hilary Harper on ABC 774 Melbourne's Lifestyle: Fitness and Nutrition program.

The dangers of not wearing a mouthguard .
After seeing a recent report that an Australian rugby league player’s tooth was found embedded in his opponent’s head, the Australian Dental Association (ADA) stresses the importance of wearing a mouthguard for anyone who participates in a sport that carries a risk of a knock to the face.

Research funding to fight childhood tooth decay .
The Australian Dental Association welcomes the recent announcement by the Queensland Government that Brisbane paediatric dentist, Dr Kerrod Hallett has received research funding to trial a unique test and mouth rinse to prevent childhood dental caries.

Baby boomer retirement and the future of dentistry .
The dental workforce, like the Australian population, is ageing. As the large baby boomer cohort retires dental shortages will likely increase.

Antibacterial Activity of Red and White Wine against Oral Streptococci .
Several studies suggest that moderate wine consumption has beneficial effects on human health.

Proper dental care needed for indigenous children in the NT .
A recent study found that the average number of decayed, missing and filled teeth is higher for Aboriginal compared to non-Aboriginal children.

THERAPEUTIC GUIDELINES: ORAL AND DENTAL .
Reports received have indicated that the publication “Therapeutic Guidelines: Oral and Dental” 2007 Version 1 has been very well received.

TONGUE CANCER - LINK TO PERIODONTITIS .
A report in the archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery adds tongue cancer to list of conditions associated with chronic periodontitis.

Australia Talks - Dr John Matthews .
ADA federal president, Dr John Matthews, discusses the new national survey of oral health care with Paul Barclay on Australia Talks, Radio National's daily talkback program. It's a forum for the discussion of a specific topic with the involvement of expert guests, Radio National specialists and listeners.

Pregnancy and your teeth-what to watch. .
Dr Derek Lewis, Chairman of the Australian Dental Asssociation's Oral Health Committee was recently interviewed about issues regarding pregnancy and oral hygiene. This interview is produced here for your information.

ADA Response to "Staight Talk" Segment of 60 Minutes .
In response to the segment, Straight Talk , which was screened on the current affairs program 60 Minutes on Sunday, 3 Aug 2003, the Australian Dental Association issued the following statement: