UPI (8/26, Feller) reported in continuing coverage that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved Kovanaze, “a nasal spray anesthetic” for use during a restorative procedure “after it was shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials.”

McDonald’s pulled "Step It!" fitness trackers from Happy Meals on Wednesday after reports that children experienced "skin irritations" from the toy's wristband, the company said in a statement.

The “Step It! Activity Band” came in six colors and strapped on like a watch. It was part of a promotional campaign to get kids moving again. The device counted steps and blinked according to how quickly or slowly the person wearing the device is moving.

In the earliest days of medical education, the primary teaching model for those who wished to pursue medicine was the mentorship model. Young men were to study medicine from a “good teacher,” one "whose precepts are sound, whose practical skill is widely approved, who is clever, dexterous, upright, and blameless; one who knows also how to use his hands, has the requisite instruments and all his senses about him, is confident with simple cases and sure of his treatment in those which are difficult; of genuine learning, unaffected, not morose but passionate, and who is likewise patient and kind to his pupils".  The principalsthat originated in ancient medicine are still present in today’s dental education in the fact that today we all still take, some variation, of the Hippocratic Oath.  A portion of the original oath reads: “To hold my teacher in this art equal to my own parents; to make him partner in my livelihood”.  

There has been quite a bit of buzz in the news regarding a article published by the Associated Pressquestioning the benefits of flossing. The American Dental Association has released a statement on the benefits of using interdental cleaners after the AP questioned the oral health benefits of flossing. “To maintain good oral health, the American Dental Association recommends brushing for two minutes, twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between teeth once a day with an interdental cleaner and regular dental visits advised by your dentist,” the ADA said in the statement, adding that interdental cleaners, including floss, “are an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums.”
 

US News & World Report  reveals that adults are increasingly “getting braces to straighten their teeth, fix their bites and improve their smiles.” The article reports that “adults made up a record high of nearly 1.5 million orthodontics patients in the U.S. and Canada,” according to a 2014 survey from the American Association of Orthodontists. According to the article, “This rising popularity” is due in part to “orthodontic options that make braces inconspicuous.”

Even though Yuri Gagarin from what was then the U.S.S.R. became the first man in outer space, the lead he gave the Soviets in the space race in 1961 was overcome by the United States eight years later. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first men to step on the moon’s surface, a defining moment in human history.
 

Like most of you, I have health insurance. Like most of you, my health insurance says it covers dental work. As with most of you, this is basically a fiction. Insurance companies are famously stingy at the dentist.

With age comes wisdom. Specifically, wisdom teeth.

Your mouth goes through many changes in your lifetime. One major dental milestone that usually takes place between the ages of 17 and 21 is the appearance of your third molars. Historically, these teeth have been called wisdom teeth because they come through at a more mature age.

The next time you offer your children a healthy smoothie instead of a soda, you may want to remember that it could contain as much as 13 g/100 ml, equivalent to around 2.5 tsps in a 3.5-oz serving, or approximately two thirds to a half of a child's recommended daily sugar intake.