U.S. perio disease rates greatly underreported; JADA retracts hygiene study

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Some 50% of Americans age 30 or older have periodontal disease, according to new research published August 30 in the Journal of Dental Research -- a much higher percentage than previously thought.

Using data from the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and a more accurate approach to assessing periodontal disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that previous data -- based on partial rather than full-mouth exams -- severely underestimated the prevalence of periodontal disease in U.S. adults. Read more.

Meanwhile, a series of studies in the Journal of Dental Education used a theoretical model to estimate the cost and impact of dental therapists in various clinical settings. Click here to read where the study authors believe dental therapists would have the most positive impact, and where they would fall short.

In other news, a study measuring the long-term effect of six spray disinfectants on nine common types of dental office surfaces that appeared in the May issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association is being retracted after the editors discovered some critical information was not disclosed prior to publication.

And are the ADA library's days numbered? Citing financial pressures, the ADA Board of Trustees is calling for the elimination of walk-in services at the library, including loaning books and materials -- a proposal that has several ADA members up in arms. Read more.

Finally, in Restoratives Community news, a commercially available continuous ultrasonic irrigation device outperformed conventional needle irrigation in a new Journal of Endodontics study comparing the ability of the methods to remove root canal debris.