The AFternoon Drill: April 17, 2012

Good Tuesday afternoon!

On to today's dentistry headlines:

Federal judge dismisses California fluoridation lawsuit

federal judge has ruled that a Southern California water district can legally add hydrofluosilicic acid to public drinking water even though it has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of disease or dental caries.

In a ruling issued April 10, Janis Sammartino of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California granted the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California's motion to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to stop the water district from adding non-FDA-approved drugs to public drinking water.

The 2011 lawsuit, filed by four Southern California residents "on behalf of themselves and the general public," alleged that MWD was engaging in "the unlawful and unconstitutional medication" of the plaintiffs.

ADA releases statement on dental X-rays study

A study published online April 10 associating dental radiographs with brain tumors has stirred media attention and questions from experts on the study’s methodology.

The study published in Cancer, an American Cancer Society peer-reviewed journal, found that people with meningiomas (typically, benign brain tumors) are more likely to report that they’ve had certain dental X-ray examinations in their lifetimes.

In a press statement following publication of the study online by Cancer, the ADA referred to their recommendations for prescribing radiographs, which help dentists determine how to keep radiation exposure as low as reasonably achievable.

“The ADA has reviewed the study and notes that the results rely on the individuals’ memories of having dental X-rays taken years earlier,” says the April 10 statement. “Studies have shown that the ability to recall information is often imperfect. Therefore, the results of studies that use this design can be unreliable because they are affected by what scientists call ‘recall bias.’ ”

The ADA released its statement in tandem with the lifting of the press embargo on the study. U.S. News and World Report and MSNBC interviewed Dr. Matthew Messina, a practicing dentist in Ohio and ADA media spokesperson. Several other media outlets cited the ADA’s recommendations on dental X-rays.

Eco-Dentistry Association To Host 2012 Earth Day Tweetchat : “Ask a Green Dentist”

This Earth Day, the Eco-Dentistry Association will host its first tweetchat for dental industry professionals and consumers worldwide to discuss the essentials of a high-tech, wellness based, and successful green dental practice. The tweetchat will provide an opportunity for the EDA’s GreenDOC™ Certified offices to share advice and expertise related to creating and operating eco-friendly dental offices. Everyone interested in the green transformation of dentistry is invited to participate in the discussion, which will take place on Friday, April 20, 2012 from 10-11:00 AM PST and which will use the hashtag “#ecodentistry” to facilitate the conversation.

The tweetchat will be moderated by the EDA team and hosted by the EDA’s GreenDOC™ Certified offices; the GreenDOC™ program allows practices to earn points for the green initiatives they have implemented in the areas listed below, and based upon the number of points garnered, awards either Gold, Silver or Bronze certification:


• Sustainable Location
• Waste Reduction
• Pollution Prevention
• Energy Conservation
• Water Conservation
• Patient Care, Workplace Policies & Community Contribution
• Leadership
• Innovation

The Trouble with Teething:

Enjoy your afternoon!