Dear DrBicuspid Member,
Our top story of the week broke down the case of a 71-year-old man who got dental impression material stuck in his throat.
The man visited a university dental clinic to get impressions for dentures. But when the maxillary tray was removed from the patient's mouth, the operator saw a thin strand of impression material extending from the back of the tray, which looked like it had been separated or torn from the rest of the material.
That wasn't the only big story this week to cover a devastating dental office mishap. DrBicuspid.com readers were also interested in the case of a 51-year-old man in Illinois who died after being administered an inappropriate amount of anesthesia during dental surgery.
Ex-office manager, spouse ordered to pay millions
A former office manager and his husband have been ordered to pay $3.1 million in restitution to a dental practice in Indiana after they pleaded guilty to wire fraud, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The ex-office manager reportedly used company money to cover personal expenses and fund his toothpaste business.
Another million-dollar legal case also just made headlines: Last week, Invisalign maker Align Technology and investors who claim the company misled them about the financial consequences of a discount program asked a California federal judge to approve a $16 million settlement.
What you missed from IADR
The virtual International Association for Dental Research (IADR) General Session wrapped up last weekend, but our coverage of the top-notch research continued into this week.
One notable presentation shared how eating fish may be linked to reduced periodontal disease in men. Men with higher levels of a fish biomarker in the blood had less bleeding on probing and fewer periodontal pockets.
Other highlights you may have missed include the following:
- Researchers develop thermometer for gum tissue
- Self-collecting and mailing saliva could help pandemic
- Adverse events are common in pediatric dental patients
Seeking rising stars in dentistry
Last but not least, we're looking for dentistry's rising stars to participate in an upcoming DrBicuspid.com roundtable. Applicants must be current dental school students or recent graduates with no more than five years of practice experience. For more information, email Associate Editor Melissa Busch at [email protected].
