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  • KFF’s Kaiser Health News and CBS News Team Up to Investigate a Dental Device That Allegedly Has Left a Trail of Mangled Mouths and Devastated Patients

    KFF’s Kaiser Health News and CBS News Team Up to Investigate a Dental Device That Allegedly Has Left a Trail of Mangled Mouths and Devastated Patients

    In a months-long challenge, KFF’s Kaiser Health and fitness Information correspondent Brett Kelman joined forces with CBS News Countrywide Purchaser Investigative Correspondent Anna Werner to look into an unregulated dental system that is at the coronary heart of many accounts of suffering and disfigurement.

    At the very least 10,000 dental sufferers have been fitted with the set Anterior Growth Direction Equipment (“AGGA”), which expenses about $7,000. The gadget resembles a retainer, is usually worn for many months, and uses springs to implement force to the entrance enamel and higher palate, according to the patent application filed by the inventor of the product.

    In videos of the inventor coaching dentists, he says the force can grow a patient’s jaw, which he cites as the critical to creating folks additional stunning and curing frequent conditions like rest apnea and TMJ. But dental specialists interviewed by KHN and CBS News mentioned that based on their ordeals with former AGGA patients the machine pushed enamel out of situation and from time to time still left them free and weak.

    At minimum 20 individuals have filed lawsuits in the previous three a long time declaring the machine — which has not been reviewed by the Meals and Drug Administration — left them with flared tooth, broken gums, uncovered roots, or erosion of the bone that holds tooth in position. The inventor and other defendants have denied legal responsibility in all the lawsuits.

    The joint KHN-CBS News investigation aired on “CBS Mornings” in two installments, on March 1 and March 2. A digital version of the story, which incorporates embedded online video of the Television set segments, appears on khn.org and cbsnews.com. This is the very first investigative job stemming from a broader editorial partnership concerning CBS Information and KFF.

    “A hallmark of KHN’s investigative journalism is that we illuminate systemic flaws in American health care,” explained KHN Publisher David Rousseau, the government director of journalism and technological innovation at KFF. “This investigation demonstrates no a single was looking at.”

    “This is a excellent example of reporters teaming up to expose a trouble that can impact the wellbeing and funds of everyday People,” reported Shawna Thomas, Executive Producer of CBS Mornings. “By partnering with Kaiser Well being Information, we’re capable to grow the depth of our health treatment and customer coverage.”

    The editorial partnership also features frequent appearances by Dr. Céline Gounder, KHN’s senior fellow and editor-at-significant for community wellness, on all of CBS News’ platforms, as nicely as tales, segments, and specials drawing upon reporting from across KHN’s newsroom and bureaus. It incorporates the preferred “Bill of the Month” sequence, in which KHN Editor-in-Chief Elisabeth Rosenthal appears regularly on “CBS Mornings” to discuss stunning clinical expenses and what they inform us about the wellbeing treatment method. (“Bill of the Month” is a collaborative investigative challenge of KHN and NPR.) And it now incorporates the KHN Wellbeing Moment, a weekly aspect for CBS News Radio stations that will support hundreds of thousands of listeners recognize how  developments in health and fitness treatment delivery and coverage have an impact on them.

    For the dental device story, KHN and CBS Information journalists interviewed 11 dental patients who claimed they ended up harmed by the AGGA gadget — 8 of whom have lively lawsuits concerning the device — plus attorneys who represent or have represented at minimum 23 some others.

    In each individual case, the individuals explained they mistakenly assumed the gadget would not be for sale unless of course it was established safe and sound and effective. Dental specialists mentioned, centered on their knowledge with former AGGA sufferers, that sufferers can suffer tens of 1000’s of pounds in destruction to their mouths.

    According to a KHN and CBS Information review of the FDA’s unit database, the AGGA does not appear to be on the radar of the agency, which is accountable for regulating healthcare and dental products in the United States. A manufacturer is meant to register gadgets with the Food and drug administration, and individuals that pose even a reasonable risk to a affected individual can be needed to go by a pre-sector assessment to verify if they are harmless and successful. The maker of the AGGA stated in a courtroom document it has no history of speaking with the Fda about the system before commencing to make or offer it, and claimed that the system is exempt from premarket assessment less than an exemption for dental labs.

    About KFF and KHN

    KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a nationwide newsroom that makes in-depth journalism about health challenges. With each other with Plan Investigation, Polling and Survey Investigation and Social Effect Media, KHN is one of the four main operating programs at KFF. KFF is an endowed nonprofit firm supplying data on health troubles to the nation.

    About CBS News and Stations

    CBS Information and Stations brings collectively the ability of CBS Information, 28 owned tv stations in 17 big U.S. marketplaces, the CBS Information Streaming Network, CBS Information Streaming area platforms, community websites and cbsnews.com, below a single umbrella. CBS News and Stations is home to the nation’s #1 news application 60 MINUTES, the CBS Information Streaming Network, the initially 24/7 digital streaming news community, the award-profitable broadcasts CBS MORNINGS, CBS SATURDAY Early morning, the CBS Night Information WITH NORAH O’DONNELL, CBS SUNDAY Early morning, CBS WEEKEND Information, 48 Hours and Deal with THE Country WITH MARGARET BRENNAN. CBS News and Stations offers news and facts for the CBS Tv Network, CBSNews.com, CBS News Radio and podcasts, Paramount+, all electronic platforms, and the CBS News Streaming Community, the premier 24/7 anchored streaming information services that is readily available free of charge to everyone with entry to the web. The CBS News Streaming Network is the place for breaking news, dwell situations, initial reporting and storytelling, and systems from CBS Information and Stations’ major anchors and correspondents working regionally, nationally, and about the world. CBS News’ streaming expert services, throughout national and neighborhood, amassed just about 1 billion streams in 2022. Launched in November 2014 as CBSN, the CBS Information Streaming Community is out there on 30 digital platforms and applications, as nicely as CBSNews.com and Paramount+. The service is accessible dwell in 91 nations around the world. CBS News and Stations is devoted to delivering the maximum-excellent journalism below benchmarks it pioneered and proceeds to set in today’s electronic age. CBS News earns extra prestigious journalism awards than any other broadcast news division.

  • Oral hygiene for kids: Tips to keep your child’s dental health in check

    Oral hygiene for kids: Tips to keep your child’s dental health in check

    Instructing young children the significance of dental cleanliness is just one of the most important issues moms and dads and guardians can do to make certain their children’s long-term well being. Excellent oral hygiene habits can help avert cavities, gum condition, and other dental complications. However, several youngsters lack the information and competencies essential to develop a healthier dental cleanliness regime. To assist youngsters make great dental hygiene behavior, mom and dad must train them on the value of right brushing tactics, flossing consistently, consuming nutritious foodstuff, and viewing their dentist frequently.

    Dental hygiene is an vital element of a child’s general well-remaining and should not be ignored. It is important to guarantee that young children study the relevance of dental hygiene from an early age and realize the repercussions of very poor oral treatment. As parents, it is our responsibility to assistance young children develop fantastic dental hygiene habits that will very last them a lifetime.

    Guidelines to construct oral cleanliness regime for children

    1. Make brushing enjoyment

    Make brushing tooth enjoyment for your youngsters by taking part in songs or using toothpaste with their favorite flavour.

    Make brushing teeth an everyday habit
    Make brushing tooth an everyday behavior. Impression courtesy: Shutterstock

    2. Describe the value of oral hygiene

    Reveal why it is critical to brush tooth two times a working day and how it can reduce cavities and gum disorder.

    3. Set a regime

    Set up a day by day program for your children so that they know when they need to brush their enamel as part of their every day routines.

    4. Guide by case in point

    Clearly show your young children how you brush your tooth appropriately by allowing them view you do it.

    Also go through: 4 errors to keep away from for the sake of your child’s dental health and fitness

    Part of eating plan in dental cleanliness for little ones

    Ingesting the proper foods and consuming wellness-pleasant beverages can go a long way in aiding oral cleanliness for kids. Here are some meals and drink suggestions to preserve children away from dental problems.

    * Youngsters who consume excessive sweet meals and drinks also have a greater prospect of developing cavities. Pick out wholesome meals and limit their intake of sugar.
    * Restrict the total of soda, fruit juice and other sugary drinks your kid consumes.
    * Stay away from usage of anything sweet among meals.
    * Make confident your little one brushes teeth instantly as they consume everything sweet.
    * It is also good to rinse the mouth with h2o right after having foodstuff as this will assistance distinct out the food items particles, so staying away from the formation of cavity.

    Also examine: Having these 7 foodstuff can damage your child’s dental well being

    Keep your dental health happy
    Retain your dental wellbeing joyful! Image courtesy: Shutterstock

    Is chewing gum risk-free for oral hygiene in youngsters?

    Gum chewing is safe for older young children. It may well have strengths these types of as boosting jaw strength, aiding saliva production, eliminating food items particles with saliva, creating acid harmony that can prevent tooth decay and bettering breath. Nonetheless, sugar-stuffed gum might outcome in cavities. You need to possibly restrict your child’s usage of sugar-filed gum or only give them sugar-absolutely free gum.

    The final term

    It is crucial to instruct children the value of suitable dental hygiene as early as doable to make certain they have healthy enamel and gums all over their lifestyle. Educating young children about dental hygiene can be challenging but it does not have to be. With a number of uncomplicated recommendations, mom and dad can assistance their young children understand how to take care of their teeth and continue to keep them balanced for years to occur. From standard brushing and flossing habits, to deciding on the ideal food items and beverages, these suggestions will aid children build fantastic dental hygiene behaviors.

  • Five ‘dental health tips’ that could actually ruin your teeth, says top dentist

    Five ‘dental health tips’ that could actually ruin your teeth, says top dentist

    From charcoal toothpaste to lemon water, the internet is awash with advice on how best to keep your pearly whites looking their best – but if you follow some of this guidance you could end up damaging them instead

    A smiling woman
    To keep your teeth healthy it’s sensible to follow no-nonsense advice from dental professionals

    We all know social media loves peddling health and wellness advice – but some dental guidance out there is so worryingly wide of the mark that following it could do more harm than good.

    Thankfully, one expert is keen to debunk such unhelpful internet myths, advising people to steer well clear of them if they want to keep their teeth healthy.

    Dr Khaled Kasem, chief orthodontist at orthodontic chain Impress, said it can be difficult separating fantasy from fiction when so many suspicious theories are often presented as fact.

    Here are his top five worst bits of advice he has recently seen on the web:

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    Charcoal toothpaste is not everything it’s cracked up to be, says a leading dentist
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    Shared Content Unit)

    Charcoal toothpaste

    You’ve probably seen charcoal toothpaste heralded as the ultimate tooth-whitener, but don’t be fooled, Dr Kasem told The Sun.

    “Charcoal toothpaste does lift a light surface of staining, giving your teeth a temporary glow, however it can be abrasive and damage the enamel on your teeth.

    “If the particles become embedded in the cracks of your enamel, it can cause your teeth to crack and may result in an expensive trip to the dentist – not ideal when you’re searching for that Hollywood smile.”

    As a simple alternative, he recommended treating your gnashers to a standard whitening toothpaste.

    “If you’re hoping to achieve a permanently brighter, white smile, it’s best to consult a dental professional as not only will it be much more effective, but it will also be safer, too,” he said.







    Drinking copious amounts of lemon water is bad for your teeth, it has been warned
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    Togs – Andrea Simpson)

    Lemon water

    Who hasn’t seen those TikTok videos extolling the virtues of drinking humble lemon water?

    Yes it can indeed help to hydrate, is a good source of vitamin C and aid digestion and support skin health – but at what cost?

    Dr Kasem said that drinking too much could actually damage your teeth.

    “Lemon juice is very acidic and can erode enamel, making your teeth susceptible to gum disease and decay over time,” he said.

    “Therefore, if it is one of your daily rituals, it’s best to drink it through a straw to help protect your teeth. If you’re showing any signs of mouth sores, steer clear of it all together, as the acidity can cause irritation and inflammation,” he added.

    Apple cider vinegar

    Some influencers are forever perpetuating that apple cider vinegar is great for detoxing and weight-loss, but consuming a lot of it can upset your stomach and throat, not to mention wrecking your teeth, says Dr Kasem.

    Just like lemon water, the high acidity can erode tooth enamel.

    “Without this protective layer, your teeth are open to the dangers of decay and permanent staining.

    “Before trying apple cider vinegar, consider whether it’s worth jeopardising the colour, and overall health, of your teeth,” he added.







    ‘Juice cleanses’ – a diet that involves consuming only juices from vegetables and fruits – comes with its own risks to our teeth
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    PA)

    Eating s maller meals, more often

    Many of us have taken to eating smaller meals more often, but have we ever considered this could be unkind to our teeth?

    Dr Kasem says these smaller gaps between eating gives your mouth less time to break down the foods you’ve just eaten.

    This then paves the way for bacteria and acid to build-up on your teeth and gums.

    “We’d always recommend eating three meals a day where possible, brushing once after breakfast and once after your evening meal, because eating little and often without a substantial break and clean, increases your chances of developing tooth decay and even gum disease,” he added.

    Juice cleanses

    ‘Eating clean’ is something of a buzz phrase at the moment, with ‘juice cleanses’ – a diet that involves consuming only juices from vegetables and fruits – often touted as being highly beneficial to us.

    While Dr Kasem says such a regime is, of course, helpful to getting your five-a-day, it could also be harming your mouth.

    “Drinking juice directly allows sugar to build up and get stuck in the crevices of your teeth.

    “Overexposure to juicing can lead to complications such as cavities, crumbling molars, and even tooth decay, so if you’re wanting to try juicing, make sure to do it as part of a balanced diet between solids and liquids,” he said.

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  • A widow’s mission to change NC dental sedation rules

    A widow’s mission to change NC dental sedation rules


    By Anne Blythe

    When Shital Patel accompanied her husband Henry to a dental appointment in Leland on July 30, 2020, she was told it would not be long before he returned to the lobby of Mark Austin’s oral surgery practice.

    Hemant “Henry” Patel, a cardiologist with ties to the New Hanover Regional Medical Center, had gone to Austin Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for a tooth implant procedure.

    “They told me, it’s going to be 20 minutes ma’am, he’ll be in and out, no problem,” Patel recounted to the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners at a meeting in February. “Twenty, 30 minutes go by, I ask, ‘Hey, can you update me?’ They said, ‘Oh we got a late start,’ which I completely understand being married to a physician. Wait another 15, 20, 30 minutes, and I ask again. They say, ‘We already told you, we got a late start.’”

    Patel’s anxiety grew.

    “The next time I asked, I demanded ‘I want to see my husband,’” Patel told the board at its Feb. 3 meeting. “That’s the point they stepped out and they started ushering everyone else out of the lobby except me, and that’s when I started rushing through the door. And as soon as I got past that, there were more people to stop me, and all I ask is: ‘Is he breathing? Is he breathing?’ … They’re like ‘ma’am, we’re on it. We have a crash cart. We called 911.’”

    Henry Patel, 53 years old at the time, died5 from anoxic brain injury four days later on Aug. 3, 2020 in New Hanover Regional Medical Center, leaving a wide swath of mourners in the hospital, in the Wilmington area and around the world.

    His death also sparked an investigation that led to Austin’s permanent surrender of his dental license and a push for changes to sedation rules that have been contentious among some in the oral health profession.

    State Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Wilmington, put the wheels in motion in May last year after learning about Patel’s death and the sedation procedures in place at Austin’s practice.

    ‘No pulse’

    Austin was licensed to practice dentistry in North Carolina on July 17, 2001, according to the dental board order in which he consented to surrender his license. He was issued a permit on April 7, 2014 to administer general anesthesia.

    Austin administered anesthesia to Patel on July 30 before and during the implant procedure. Toward the end of the procedure, Patel’s oxygen saturation levels and his heart rate dropped to dangerously low levels, according to the order, and remained in that life threatening stage for at least 20 minutes.

    During that time, Austin tried unsuccessfully to insert an endotracheal tube to open Patel’s airway before calling 911, but according to the order, he didn’t attempt CPR or take any actions to restore his heart rate.

    By the time paramedics arrived, Patel did not have a pulse, the dental board’s investigation found. With their specialized equipment, the emergency workers were able to open an airway and do CPR, getting enough of a pulse going again to transport Patel to New Hanover Regional Health Center.

    He survived there for only four days.

    Call for new rules

    Lee, the senator from New Hanover County, informed the board last year that if its sedation rules were not amended through a process that requires review by legislative staff, public comment periods, hearings and a rules commission review, he would put forward a bill in the General Assembly to develop different standards of care.

    The board formed committees and considered and put forward a proposed rule change that among other things requires oral surgeons to have a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) or an anesthesiologist in the room any time a patient is put under deep sedation.

    Rob Harper, a cardiologist in Wilmington and a friend of Patel’s, joined his fellow cardiologist’s widow at the dental board meeting in February at which the public could comment on the proposed rule changes.

    Many oral surgeons came out to protest the requirement that a CRNA or anesthesiologist be present whenever deep sedation is administered. They described what happened to Patel as a rare occurrence and the oral surgeon who surrendered his license as an outlier. The consent order also noted that Austin had failed to keep track of the narcotics in his office, had improperly prescribed them to his staff, and had used them himself. As part of the consent order, Austin agreed to participate in a program for health care professionals with substance use problems.

    There have been six sedation-related deaths in North Carolina dental offices since 2014, according to Bobby White, the board’s chief executive officer. In each case, dentists were found to be in violation of the rules in place at the time.

    Oral surgeons and others described the controversial part of the proposed rule change as an overreaction to an anomaly.

    “No one should ever die in a dentist’s office from sedation-related complications,” Harper said.

    Sedatives such as ketamine and propofol should not be administered in an office setting, Harper contended. The drugs are used to reduce a person’s level of consciousness, to lower levels of nervousness, agitation and irritation, and are used together in emergency rooms.

    “Henry’s death has cast new light on what I believe to be a dangerous practice,” he said. “But let me be clear. This is not just about the case of Henry Patel. This is about the use of potent anesthetic agents in the office setting and the ability of dentists to recognize and rescue patients from emergency situations.”

    Insurmountable hardships?

    Wes Parker, an oral surgeon who works in Bermuda Run, Clemmons, Elkin, Statesville and Winston-Salem, provides care to children, elderly residents and people with special needs in the western part of the state who qualify for Medicaid. He also tends to the oral surgery needs of people with private insurance.

    Having a separate CRNA or anesthesiologist on-site, he said, would be cost-prohibitive for many of his patients. There are no outpatient surgery facilities in Davie County, where the Bermuda Run office is based. If he had to go to Novant, where he has privileges, it could take up to four weeks to schedule elective surgeries.

    “It will pose an undue hardship on patients,” Parker told the board.

    Maya Martin and Chris Martin, a husband-wife team at Village Dental Family and Sedation Care, encouraged the board to add another profession to the list that oral surgeons could choose from when administering deep sedation.

    Their practice uses EMTs, who are trained in emergency airway management. They provide care to a lot of people who show up at a dentist’s office with fear and anxiety. Providing sedation, they say, can be the difference between easing those patients into care or scaring them off with heightened fears and anxieties after an uncomfortable experience.

    “Further regulations, in my opinion, will hurt the weakest among us,” Chris Martin said. “Further regulations on anything …it’s not going to hurt us, it’s going to hurt the weakest among us.”

    On a mission

    If the proposed rule change continues on a path toward adoption without any bumps on the road ahead, the new sedation rules would go into effect no earlier than May. Rulemaking in North Carolina is anything but a linear process. State law requires that a rule-making body file any proposed rule to the state Rules Review Commission. If the commission adopts the rule and 10 or more people object to the rule in writing, requesting legislative review, the rule could bounce to the General Assembly where it can again be derailed.

    Patel plans to continue to advocate for the changes.

    “When tragedy hits us, we do not sit back, we do not let others tell us they’re doing a great job, although there’s got to be so much change here,” Patel said. 

    Though North Carolina would be the only state in the country to require a CRNA or anesthesiologist to be present for deep sedation procedures, Patel disputes the notion that her husband’s death was an outlier.

    “It’s not just outliers,” Patel said. “It’s something that needs to be changed on a national level, and I know a lot of you say none of the states are doing it. Well, you know what, North Carolina will be our first. We can make a difference right here and we should.”

    Henry Patel was described in obituaries as a passionate man who cared about his patients long after they no longer were in his care. His family described him as being full of life, a man of many interests and friends. As a child, he traveled between India and the United States. His interest in medicine was kindled when he was in the ninth grade.

    “Even though my husband was a physician, he never once considered, I better ask about anesthesia when I go to my dentist,” Patel said. “I never expected to walk out of there being a widow at age 47.”

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