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NEWS 48 I implants1_2012 Whilethedentalsectorinsomecountriesmaybefac- inghardtimes,Germandentalprofessionalsandden- tal suppliers can look forward to the future.According to a recent study,about 76,000 jobs will be created in dental offices,dental laboratories and through dental retail sales until 2030.This represents an increase of 19 per cent compared with current figures.The study wasconductedbytheInstituteofGermanDentists(In- stitut der Deutschen Zahnärzte—IDZ) and WifOR Darmstadt,an independent economic research insti- tute,upontheinstructionoftheNationalAssociationof Statutory Health Insurance Dentists (Kassenzahn- ärztlicheBundesvereinigung—KZBV)andtheGerman Dental Association (Bundeszahnärztekammer— BZÄK).“The dental sector must not only be discussed asacostfactor.It’saneconomicfactorandpartofthe health-care job machinery. Already, 400,000 people areworkingintheGermandentalsector,”saidDrJür- gen Fedderwitz, Chairman of the BZÄK Board. Prof Christoph Benz,Vice-President of BZÄK,commented: “Thejobtrainingrateindentalprofessionsistradition- allyhigh.Additionally,demographicdevelopmentswill probablyleadtoafurtheremploymentstimulus.” Bothdentalorganisationspointedoutthatthepositive forecast for the German dental sector depends on healthpolicyrepresentativesbeingwillingtosetstable conditions References:KZBV/DTI Increase until 2030 German dental sector to grow considerably Yeasts that cause mouth infec- tionscanbekilledusingsil- ver nanoparticles in the laboratory, sci- entists in Portugal have found. The researchers hope to test silver nanoparticles in mouthwashanddenturesasapotentialpreventa- tive measure against the infections, which are causedbyCandidaalbicansandCandidaglabrata and target the young, old and immunocompro- mised. The study was conducted by Prof Mariana Hen- riques and her colleagues from the University of MinhoinLargodoPaço,whoinvestigatedtheanti- fungal properties of silver nanoparticles of differ- ent sizes to determine their effect against C. albi- cansand C.glabrata.These two yeasts cause var- ious infections, including oral thrush and dental stomatitis, a painful infection that affects around seven out of ten denture wearers. Infections like these are particularly difficult to treat because the micro-organisms involved form biofilms. The scientists used artificial biofilms in conditions that mimicked those of saliva as closely as possi- ble. They then added different sizes and concen- trations of silver nanoparticles and found that nanoparticles of different sizes were equally ef- fective at killing the yeasts. Owing to the range of sizes of nanoparticles with anti-fungal properties, theresearchershopethiswillenablethenanopar- ticles to be used in many different applications. Some researchers have expressed concerns re- gardingthesafetyofnanoparticleusebutthePor- tuguesescientistsstressedthatthisresearchisat an early stage and extensive safety trials will be carried out before any product reaches the mar- ket. “Withtheemergenceofcandidainfections,which arefrequentlyresistanttothetraditionalanti-fun- gal therapies, there is an increasing need for al- ternative approaches. So, silver nanoparticles appear to be a new potential strategy to combat these infections,” Henriques said. “As the nano- particles are relatively stable in a liquid medium they could be developed into a mouthwash solu- tion in the near future.” Moving forward,Henriques hopes to integrate sil- ver nanoparticles into dentures, which could pre- vent infections from taking hold. The study was published online in the Society for Applied Microbiology’s Letters inApplied Microbi- ology journal. Silver nanoparticles could help Fight against oral infections NobelBiocareannouncedthatFrankMengiswillbe appointed SeniorVice President Global Operations andmemberoftheExecutiveCommittee,effective 1 July 2012. He will replace Ernst Zaengerle, who will be retiring.Frank Mengis has extensive senior management experience in operations and manu- facturinginthelifesciencesfieldincludingtheden- talindustry.Mostrecently,heheldseniormanage- ment positions in Project Management and Devel- opment, Global Manufacturing, Operations and Quality Management at Straumann Institute. Prior to that,Frank Mengis was Head of Pharma Capital Investment Projects at Karl Steiner, Switzerland, afterhavingheldvariousmanagementpositionsat F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Switzerland, in areas in- cluding galenical engineering and pharmaceutical manufacturing.FrankMengisobtainedadegreein Mechanical Engineering from the University of Karlsruhe, and completed the Advanced Manage- ment Program at Harvard Business School. Nobel Biocare would like to thank Ernst Zaengerle for his commitment and contribution to Nobel Biocare, and wishes him all the best for his future. Nobel Biocare appoints New Head of Global Operations