NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF DENTISTRY
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS uuu
NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF DENTISTRY
CANADA
WHY DO SOME IMPLANTS WORK AND OTHER DO NOT ? � A body of research from McGill University led-teams indicates that in order to raise the odds that dental implants will attach properly , there are clear benefits to taking certain common medications and avoiding others . “ The success of procedures like dental implants depends mainly on how the existing bone accepts the implants to create a connection between the living bone and the surface of the implant ,” says Prof . Faleh Tamimi , who teaches in the McGill Faculty of Dentistry . “ Because some medications affect bone metabolism and the way that bone cells heal and multiply or die , they can have an important effect on the success of implants .”
The McGill research team reviewed data about the integration of dental implants gathered from over 700 patients who were operated on at the East Coast Oral Surgery Clinic in Moncton , New Brunswick between 2007-2015 . They then confirmed the results they saw in human patients through studies in rats . Drugs that aid integration of implants - Beta blockers
Conclusions are based on 1499 dental implants in 728 patients between Jan . 2007 - Sept . 2013 at the East Coast Oral Surgery in Moncton , New Brunswick
• 327 implants were in 142 people who took beta blockers for hypertension
• 1172 implants were in 586 people who didn ’ t take beta blockers
• Failure rates of implants for people using beta blockers was 0.6 %
• Failure rates of implants in people who don ’ t take beta blockers was 4.1 %
More than 640 million patients around the world take beta blockers to control hypertension . “ We carried out this study because we knew that beta blockers have been reported to increase bone formation ,” says Prof . Tamimi . “ So we thought it was possible that they would also decrease the risk of failure of dental implants . However , we didn ’ t expect that there would be such a clear difference in the failure rates for implants between users and non-users of beta blockers ”.
Drugs that impede integration of dental implants - Heartburn treatment
• Conclusions are based on 1773 dental implants in 799 patients between January 2007 -- September 2015 at the East Coast
Oral Surgery in Moncton , New Brunswick
• 133 implants were in 58 people who took heartburn medication
• 1640 implants were in 741 people who don ’ t take heartburn medication
• Failure rates of implants for people using heartburn medication were 6.8 %
• Failure rates of implants for people not taking heartburn medication were 3.2 %
• More than 20 million Americans , about one in 14 people , take heartburn medication .
• Heartburn medication is rapidly becoming the third most prescribed pharmaceutical product worldwide , especially for elderly people , who take it either on an occasional or long-term basis .
“ Scientists already knew that drugs for heartburn reduce calcium absorption in bones and generally increase the risk of bone fractures ,” says Faleh Tamimi . “ That is why we wanted to look at how it affects the integration of implants and bone healing after this type of surgery . But we didn ’ t expect to find that the negative effects of these type of drugs would be as great as they are . Further work will need to be done to find the appropriate dosages and time periods that people should take or avoid these medications .”
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS uuu
� Wesleyan ’ s Chief Executive , Craig Errington ( pictured left ), celebrated reaching 25 years of service with the Society in November . Craig joined Wesleyan in 1991 as a Financial Consultant , based in his home town of Blackpool . After just one year , he was the highest performing sales adviser , which set the scene for his rapid rise through the ranks . Within 12 years he had earned a seat on the Society ’ s Board and became Managing Director in 2005 . Craig has led the Society through a period of rapid change and growth , seeing us double in size . He also led our transition from a mass market provider into the specialist professional markets - serving doctors , dentists , lawyers and teachers . His achievements were recognised in 2011 when he was named the Institute of Directors ( IOD ) UK Director of the Year . In 2015 , he was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University in recognition of his services to the finance sector .
� Dr Pankaj Patel , FGDP ( UK ) Board representative of all the international members , has been honoured with the The Order of The Grand Warrior ( OGW ) on Kenya ’ s Jamhuri ( Independence ) Day . The OGW is awarded by the President of Kenya “ in recognition of outstanding or distinguished services rendered to the nation in various capacities and responsibilities ”, the highest recognition given to a civilian .
� Three people in dentistry received honours in the 2017 New Years Honours : Prof Liz Kay Foundation Dean , Peninsula Dental School and Sarah Murray Hygienist Therapist and Senior Lecturer , Institute of Dentistry , Queen Mary University of London received an MBE . Peter Heasman , Professor of Periodontology at Newcastle Dental School has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year ’ s Honours list for services to research ethics .
� Professor Alastair Sloan ( pictured right ) will take over from Professor Michael Lewis as Dean and Head of School for the School of Dentistry on 1st August 2017 . Upon accepting his new post , Professor Sloan said : “ I am delighted to have been appointed as the next Head of School of Dentistry and I am looking forward to working closely with colleagues within the School , Hospital and College to ensure we achieve excellence in our educational programmes and research and that our staff can realise their potential .” Professor Lewis , who will continue as Director for the Clinical Board for Dentistry , said : “ I am absolutely delighted that Alastair has been appointed to succeed me in August as Dean and Head of the School of Dentistry .”
8 Dental Practice Magazine