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Dental Tribune U.S. Edition

Dental Tribune U.S. Edition | October 2012 A3 Publisher & Chairman Torsten Oemus t.oemus@dental-tribune.com Chief OPerating OffiCer Eric Seid e.seid@dental-tribune.com grOuP editOr Robin Goodman r.goodman@dental-tribune.com editOr in Chief dental tribune Dr. David L. Hoexter feedback@dental-tribune.com managing editOr u.s. and Canada editiOns Robert Selleck r.selleck@dental-tribune.com managing editOr Fred Michmershuizen f.michmershuizen@dental-tribune.com managing editOr Sierra Rendon s.rendon@dental-tribune.com managing editOr shOw dailies Kristine Colker k.colker@dental-tribune.com PrOduCt & aCCOunt manager Mara Zimmerman m.zimmerman@dental-tribune.com marketing direCtOr Anna Kataoka-Wlodarczyk a.wlodarczyk@dental-tribune.com sales & marketing assistant Nirmala Singh n.singh@dental-tribune.com C.e. direCtOr Christiane Ferret c.ferret@dtstudyclub.com PrOJeCts & eVents COOridnatOr Sergio Cardoso s.cardoso@dental-tribune.com Dental Tribune America, LLC 116 West 23rd St., Ste. #500 New York, N.Y. 10011 (212) 244-7181 Published by Dental Tribune America © 2012 Dental Tribune America, LLC All rights reserved. Dental Tribune strives to maintain the utmost accu- racy in its news and clinical reports. If you find a fac- tual error or content that requires clarification, please contact Managing Editor Robert Selleck at r.selleck@ dental-tribune.com. Dental Tribune cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims or for typographical errors. The publisher also does not assume responsibility for product names or statements made by advertisers. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and may not reflect those of Dental Tribune America. editOrial bOard Dr. Joel Berg Dr. L. Stephen Buchanan Dr. Arnaldo Castellucci Dr. Gorden Christensen Dr. Rella Christensen Dr. William Dickerson Hugh Doherty Dr. James Doundoulakis Dr. David Garber Dr. Fay Goldstep Dr. Howard Glazer Dr. Harold Heymann Dr. Karl Leinfelder Dr. Roger Levin Dr. Carl E. Misch Dr. Dan Nathanson Dr. Chester Redhead Dr. Irwin Smigel Dr. Jon Suzuki Dr. Dennis Tartakow Dr. Dan Ward Tell us what you think! Do you have general comments or criti- cism you would like to share? Is there a particular topic you would like to see articles about in Dental Tribune? Let us know by e-mailing feedback@dental- tribune.com. We look forward to hear- ing from you! If you would like to make any change to your subscription (name, address or to opt out) please send us an e-mail at database@dental-tribune.com and be sure to include which publica- tion you are referring to. Also, please note that subscription changes can take up to six weeks to process. DENTAL TRIBUNE The World’s Dental Newspaper · US Edition FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF synchrotron radiation computed mi- crotomography, accelerator mass spec- trometry radiocarbon dating, infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy to separately analyze the tooth, bone and filling material. Based on the radiocarbon analysis, the mandible was dated to an age range of 6,655–6,400 years Before Present and the filling 6,645–6,440 years BP. The researchers listed several pre- viously known examples of ancient dentistry but said there was no known published documentation of the use of “therapeutic palliative substance in prehistoric dentistry.” The research team also referenced documentation on the use of beeswax as a binding agent in antiquity — and explained the substance’s ability to remain pre- served for long periods of time because of its “extreme chemical stability.” The team's conclusion: “In this emerging framework of ancient dental therapeutic practices, the finding of a human partial mandible associated with contemporary beeswax, covering the occlusal surface of a canine, could represent a possible case of therapeutic use of beeswax during the Neolithic.” “ FILLING, page A2 In a note regarding the funding of the research project, the team wrote, “This work is part of the ICTP/Elet- tra EXACT Project (Elemental X-ray Analysis and Computed Tomography) funded by Friuli Venezia Giulia (Ita- ly). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.” The team’s paper is titled, “Beeswax as Dental Filling on a Neolithic Hu- man Tooth.” (Source: Plos One, www.plosone.org, Sept. 19, 2012, Vol. 7, Issue 9 e44904) Alphabet soup Proposed: colorful communications By David L Hoexter, DMD, FACD, FICD, Editor in Chief A dilemma. We now have so many den- tal groups that we have almost run out of letters of the alphabet. As group after group abbreviates its name, we are at a loss to tell one from another without a scorecard. Either we need a new alpha- betical language or more exotic sound- ing dental organizations with as yet, un- used letters. History relates its alphabet beginnings to Mesopotamia, where early transcrib- ers used grooved lines on a bulla, or gourd-like container. These scratches of lines became the beginnings of written communication. Flashing forward to mobile communi- cations of today, where time pressures have abbreviated words, and we have a lingo all of its own: Abbreviating is a modern necessity. To begin with, you cannot tweet — under twittering rules — over a certain number of characters. Also, texting so- phistication requires not only abbreviat- ing, but also doing it creatively, to stump the recipient. Fortunately, having a college-aged daughter has given me a little heads up in this language. For example, CUL means “see you later” and POS means “parent over shoulder.” Everyone is in a rush — but to where? Tired thumbs? And com- munication stands in line behind speed. There is a definite division, albeit, not a sharp one, between the Baby Boomers and the computer generation, sometimes alluded to as “nesters.” Whereas Baby Boomers enjoy direct personal commu- nication, nesters prefer computer com- munication. Abbreviations then become even more important. We are running out of letters to distin- guish the plethora of dental organiza- tions. A rebus should represent a mean- ing, or a riddle perhaps. The ADA, for example, stands for American Dental As- sociation. But, it could also represent the American Dermatological Academy. At least the GNYDM, representing the largest dental meeting in the U.S., has unique letters in its title and will not be confused with any other group. There is also the ERA mini implant, not to conflict with the ERA in baseball. By the way, has anyone ever seen a maxi im- plant? Between the AACD, ASDA, AADE and AAID, one wrong initial and you’re in the wrong state or country and have to pay new dues. The ESC, Eastern Society of Cariology, must not be confused with the ESC, European Society of Cardiology. The idea of written language is to give unique connotation to words. Abbrevi- ating these words with initials not only obviates the communication, but makes it confusing. Abbreviations have become the teratogen of communication. To help ameliorate this confusion I am proposing a Hoexter’s Index (HI), which will not only speed up communication, but will satisfy tweeters and texters alike. I propose that we assign a color to every dental specialty. For example, I suggest burgundy for general practitioner, red for periodontics, green for implants, yel- low for oral surgery (and maxillofacial), orange for ondodontics, blue for esthet- ics, black for pathology, gray for dental materials, pink for orthodontics and pe- dodontics, and brown for prosthetics. This way, each respective group would be required to use that color in its ini- tials. When publicizing an AO meeting, we would recognize that an AO meeting was for the Academy of Osteointegra- tion, an implant group, as compared to an AO meeting, which would be for Al- pha Omega, a dental fraternity group. Also, we would know that AAP represents the American Academy of Periodontics, which would not be confused with the AAP, or the American Association of Prosthodontics. Unfortunately, unless we have a color chart, we will be just as confused, but it will be much more col- orful. This is only a suggestion and any thoughts or other solutions would be re- ceived and considered for publication as well. There is an obvious problem. Let us communicate and help correct it. To conclude, Rodney Dangerfield, the famous comedian, once described his son eating alphabet soup that his wife, a horrible cook, had made. The boy sepa- rated letters to spell “HELP.” Let’s help our profession abbreviate with colorful understanding. OK? Dental Tribune graphic created at www.wordle.net DAvID L. HoExtER, DMD, FACD, FICD, is director of the International Academy for Dental Facial Esthetics, and a clinical professor in periodontics at Temple University, Philadelphia.HeisadiplomateofimplantologyintheInternationalCongressofOral Implantologists as well as the American Society of Osseointegration, and a diplomate of the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry. Hoexter lectures throughouttheworldandhaspublishednationallyandinternationally.Hehasbeen awarded 11 fellowships, including FACD, FICD and Pierre Fauchard. He maintains a practice at 654 Madison Ave., New York City, limited to periodontics, implantology and esthetic surgery. He can be reached at (212) 355-0004 or drdavidlh@gmail.com.