RI dental association sues DOH; more praise for xylitol

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

The Rhode Island Dental Association has filed a lawsuit against the state Department of Health (DOH) alleging that the agency is conducting illegal raids on dental offices and violating patient privacy laws in the process.

The complaint was prompted by a recent incident in which an oral and maxillofacial surgery practice was shut down for a week over allegations of improper handling of controlled substances. But the association disputes the claims and says a lack of definable standards has led to illegal searches and seizures. Read more.

Meanwhile, in Hygiene Community news, while there has been much enthusiasm for the caries-prevention potential of xylitol, not everyone in the dental community is convinced of its role in improving overall oral health. Now a new analysis of a previously published three-year trial evaluating the effectiveness of xylitol lozenges compared to a placebo has found statistically significant results supporting xylitol's effectiveness. Read more.

And patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma maintain a high quality of life a year after having transoral robotic surgery, according to a new study in JAMA Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery.

But those treated with adjuvant treatments such as external-beam radiation therapy and chemoradiation therapy do not fare as well, according to the study authors. Click here to read why in this latest Oral Cancer & Diagnostics Community feature.