We just covered a story about the reemergence of cosmetic placement of jewelry on the teeth. Conversely, there is another new fashion trend emerging: jewelry made with human teeth.

Many designers have begun using extracted teeth as the focal point of their wares. Some people are touting these pieces as eco-friendly, which I assume refers to the fact that we personally expend the energy to create our own teeth. Others are playing into the current vampire trend and featuring modified canines. The designer of this piece will actually use a tooth that you submit to craft your item.

I don’t think I’d wear this type of jewelry, but what do you think about these dental baubles?

-Katherine

1. Go to www.google.com.
2. Type “the first toothbrush” into the search box.
3. Look at the left-side navigation option and choose “timeline.”
4. Enjoy the history of the toothbrush!

Have you ever known a mom that didn’t want what’s best for their kids? Mommy bloggers are a tight knit community who share information about the best products, the latest tips and the newest advice. The constant flow of information even covers oral health.

Lately, you’ll find a slew of posts on mom blogs regarding oral health products and dental experiences. For example, Tampa Mama gave a great review of pediatric dentist Dr. Lesley, Susannah gave her opinion in a review of Crest Pro Health Complete Rinse, and Jolly Mom posted her thoughts on Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry Toothpaste. The conversation between moms has moved from the kitchen table and into the blogosphere.

These blogs feature real moms with real-life experiences who are giving their honest opinions. A lot of these blogging moms have legions of followers who rely on these reviews when making important decisions regarding their children. As a result, the authors write what their followers are interested in, and they are very interested in any information that helps them maintain good oral health for themselves and their families!

Here’s a subject that comes up from time to time: Is it necessary to have dental insurance? I spoke to a good number of people and this is what I found… the majority of individuals I talked to said they were not covered by dental insurance; they’d rather deal with problems as they arise instead of paying a monthly rate for coverage they may never need or use. The rest of the people said dental insurance is just that, insurance in case of an emergency, and they feel it’s worth having for peace of mind.

But isn’t there a third point of view? Shouldn’t we be using dental insurance as a preventive measure? Keeping up with your dental hygiene and visiting your dentist for checkups has been proven to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Isn’t that reason enough to participate in a dental insurance plan? Insurance carriers typically pay a higher percentage to the dentist for cleanings and x-rays, with little or no out-of-pocket cost for the patient. By contrast, when problems are detected, insurance carriers usually pay only about 50-60% of the bill, and the patient is responsible for the balance. For some procedures, this can turn into quite a bit of money, so the percentage paid by insurance is not as helpful.

In summary, if dental hygiene is maintained throughout the year, most tooth and gum catastrophes can be avoided, proving that dental insurance is money spent wisely. Right?

Greetings, Geeks. I was out in Chicago on business and the topic came up about a California dentist who is suing an implant manufacturer:

http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/21804

I read what I could on the case – I think all Dental Geeks should read it, too. Would love to hear your feedback.

Situation:

Dentist places lots of implants over a two-year period.

In the two years, he has 12 patients with failure.

He “repairs” mishaps free of charge.

Dentist sues implant manufacturer.

Case pending.

I am so jaded that my first thought was, “It’s not the product, it’s the ability. I mean, the Egyptians were putting seashells in people’s mouths as teeth thousands of years ago…”

Another exercise —

Google the following: Dental Lawsuit

Page after page after page of current lawsuits/cases: Patient suing dentist, dentist suing manufacturer, specialty law firms that focus on dental malpractice.

Geesh – it’s making my head spin.