Stress fuels head/neck tumors; P&G challenges Sonicare claims

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Research has shown that stress can affect the immune system and weaken the body's defense against infection and disease. Now researchers have found an association between stress, depression, and tumor growth in head and neck cancer patients.

In fact, stress and depression may shorten the time these patients survive disease-free, according to a study presented at the recent Society of Behavioral Medicine annual meeting. Read more in our latest Oral Cancer & Diagnostics Community feature.

In related news, many patients with head and neck cancer require extensive dental care before they can begin treatment, but they can't always afford it. Click here to read how a cancer clinic in Missouri is helping to address the problem by offering free dental services to patients in need.

Meanwhile, in Hygiene Community news, Philips will discontinue certain advertising claims for its Sonicare FlexCare and FlexCare+ toothbrushes, after Procter & Gamble filed a complaint with the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. Read more.

And over in the Restoratives Community, dentists may want to rethink using 4% concentration anesthetics in the trigeminal area after a data analysis found that high-concentration formulations are the root cause of most neurosensory disturbances, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Dental Association.