Ouch! There may not be enough oral pain specialists

The U.S. appears to have a shortage of orofacial pain (OFP) providers compared to other types of dental professionals, possibly leading to less effective pain management. The study was recently published in the Journal of the American Dental Association. Some areas, especially rural communities, have no access to OFP providers and may have greater treatment needs, the authors wrote. “The shortage of OFP providers is likely affecting access to OFP

This whitening method may preserve enamel

Potassium sodium tartrate, which whitens teeth from an electrical charge generated by brushing, may be an enamel-safe alternative to peroxide-based whitening agents, according to a study recently published in BDJ Open. Additionally, a potassium sodium tartrate formula containing fluoride appeared to demonstrate a similar level of shade improvement compared to peroxide-fluoride treatments, the authors wrote. “In vitro results indicate potassium sodium tartrate could provide an effective and enamel-safe alternative to

5 essential clinical tips from CDOCS

CDOCS is an invaluable resource for dental professionals seeking to refine their surgical techniques. Among the platform’s extensive library of educational content, five clinical tips shared with HuangshanDental.com readers this year resonated with readers. Each tip offers practical insights that can immediately improve patient outcomes. Here’s what makes these techniques essential viewing for any practitioner focused on oral surgery and implant dentistry. Sectioning teeth for oral surgery Dr. Darin O’Bryan

There may be a new reason to undergo orthodontics

Patients with underbites may face a higher risk of losing their teeth, highlighting the importance of orthodontic care in helping preserve natural teeth. The study was recently published in Clinical Oral Investigations. Furthermore, an anterior crossbite may be linked to posterior tooth loss, while an open bite may be associated with a lower rate of tooth loss, the authors wrote. “Identification of anterior malocclusion types, particularly anterior crossbite, may help

Are bulk-fill resins effective for dental restorations?

Bulk-fill composite resins appear to be effective options for direct restorations compared with the conventional incremental layering technique, according to a review recently published in the Journal of Dentistry. However, the long-term success of restorations may depend more on the adhesive procedure than the material itself, the authors wrote. “Bulk-fill composite resins are predictable and effective materials for direct restorations, providing a simplified and reliable alternative to the traditional incremental

Why women excel at identifying celebrity smiles: What the science says

A curious pattern has emerged from facial recognition research: Women consistently are more accurate than men in correctly identifying celebrities based solely on their smiles. This discovery may offer valuable insights for dental professionals and shed light on how different patients approach cosmetic smile design. Research teams have conducted experiments in which participants viewed photographs cropped to show only the mouth and teeth of well-known figures. Across these studies, female

Is fluoride varnish worth it?

The cost-effectiveness of fluoride varnish applications from the standpoint of dental providers and payers may remain uncertain, casting a possible shadow over its value. The review was recently published in the Journal of Dentistry. More research may be needed to aid decision-making, especially with low- and upper-middle-income populations, to gain a more complete picture, the authors wrote. “The synthesized results from existing studies indicate that the cost-effectiveness of fluoride varnish

Doing this may affect gum disease treatment outcomes

Taking antibiotics may provide clinical benefits beyond those normally achieved with just scaling and root planing (SRP), but there may be even more to it, according to a study published recently in the Journal of Periodontology. The timing of the course of antibiotics — taking them sooner versus later — may be what really makes the difference, the authors wrote. “Starting antibiotics at the beginning of treatment may help to

Does dentistry need to change its methods for bite analysis?

Most dental bite problems are not caused by difficult patients or complex cases. They happen because the bite is rarely measured. Dr. Robert Kerstein. In this episode of the Dental Assistant Nation podcast, in conjunction with HuangshanDental.com, we explore how accurate bite measurement can completely change patient outcomes and day-to-day efficiency in the dental practice. DrBicuspid’s Editor-in-Chief Kevin Henry spoke with prosthodontist Dr. Robert Kerstein, who explained why traditional bite

This may be the new way to arrest tooth decay

Silver complex fluoride (SCF) may be an effective treatment for preventing caries while avoiding the staining associated with silver diamine fluoride (SDF), according to a study recently published in the Journal of Dentistry. Due to SCF’s antimicrobial effects, it may treat caries by limiting the growth of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) biofilm and decreasing dentin demineralization, the authors wrote. “We recently developed a novel SCF formulation designed to preserve the

Sonendo to host 2nd Women in Endodontics summit

Sonendo, developer of the GentleWave root canal disinfection system, will host the second Women in Endodontics summit September 14-16. The summit will bring speakers and industry experts together to share experiences and ideas for practice growth, leadership within the specialty, and more. It will feature a diverse range of workshops, roundtable discussions, and development activities, all of which are tailored to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by women

Neoss launches new multiunit abutment

Dental implant firm Neoss Group has launched a new multiunit abutment for its Neoss4+ treatment system for full-arch restorations. The abutment comes with features that make it possible for a 10-degree option with lower vertical height. The screw is fixed within the abutment to prevent it from being lost during placement, according to Neoss Group.