DrBicuspid.com Cosmetic Dentistry Insider

Dear Cosmetic Dentistry Insider,

Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in dentistry today. But a recent study has found that although it has a positive impact on patients' quality of life -- for instance, they smile more without embarrassment -- it also has downsides, such as difficulty in brushing teeth and pain resulting from treatment.

Click here to read about the potential impact of  bleaching treatment on oral health-related quality of life.

In other Cosmetics Community news, the ADA is supporting efforts of the North Carolina dental board in a dispute over the Federal Trade Commission's ruling that the board's actions against nondentists who offer teeth-whitening products and services violated U.S. antitrust laws.

In some more clinical news, every dentist has patients who gag or believe they will gag during the taking of impressions and other procedures. This is unpleasant both for patients and dental professionals, and can prevent some patients from seeking oral healthcare. An Italian study suggests there may be a relatively simple solution: acupuncture. Read more.

And adolescents are often teased and bullied if they have missing, misshaped, or discolored teeth, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. The study, which was conducted among sixth-grade students in Amman, Jordan, found a significant prevalence of bullying in school was due to the children's dental or facial appearance.

Meanwhile, orthodontic technology manufacturer Ormco has unveiled plans for the development of digital orthodontic technology. Since 2010, Ormco has invested more than $50 million in digital orthodontics research and plans to increase investments this year.

And finally, OrthoAccel Technologies has completed an equity financing round of $5 million and has also started a clinical trial to evaluate tooth movement with AcceleDent.