DrBicuspid.com Hygiene Insider

Dear Hygiene Insider,

Many studies have reported that smoking can cause increased gingival pigmentation. But what about the effects in those who don't smoke but are exposed to it?

Individuals who come in regular contact with secondhand smoke -- so-called "passive smokers" -- may be at risk, too, according to a new study in the Journal of Periodontology that reports a correlation between environmental tobacco smoke and gingival pigmentation.

Read more in this issue's Insider Exclusive, which you have access to before the rest of our members.

In other Hygiene Community news, recent reports have ranked "dental hygienist" among the top 10 growing professions in the U.S. But the reality is that hygienists are having a hard time finding work in many parts of the country. Are new opportunities on the horizon, or is the dental hygienist market saturated? Click here to read more.

On the clinical front, another study in the Journal of Periodontology found that patients visiting hospital emergency departments in the U.S. because of periodontal conditions were charged more than $33 million by the hospitals in 2006 for their emergency treatment. Read more.

Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center have identified the protein that allows Streptococcus mutans to travel from the oral cavity and settle in heart tissue, where it can often lead to deadly endocarditis.

In business news, Oral Cancer Prevention International (OCPI) has filed a multimillion dollar lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, claiming the medical products giant interfered in a contract between OCPI and OraPharma regarding distribution of the Oral CDx oral cancer brush test. Read more.

And inconsistent probing pressure has prompted a U.K. company to design a new periodontal tool that it claims can alleviate the difficulty of achieving consistent measurements during periodontal tissue probing.

Also, do you spend more time contemplating restaurant menus than choosing the right gloves for your practice? Finding a glove that fits well, reduces hand fatigue, and ensures a good grip can be a challenge. Click here to read Dr. Moe Anderson's tips for making sure you get the most bang for your buck.

Finally, the American Academy of Periodontology has issued an updated position statement about the scope and objective of periodontal therapy and the procedures that are used in it, emphasizing that the goals of periodontal therapy are to preserve, improve, and maintain the natural dentition, dental implants, periodontium, and peri-implant tissues.