Is it time to screen patients with IBD for gum disease?

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may have a higher risk of developing periodontitis, highlighting the importance of regular screenings. This review was recently published in BMC Oral Health. Furthermore, patients with IBD may be more prone to developing gum disease due to shared genetic and immune-related factors, the authors wrote. “Considering the various oral manifestations and poor quality of life associated with IBD, it is important to be aware

Bottle-feeding may be linked to dental decay

Bottle-feeding toddlers to sleep may contribute to early childhood tooth decay, emphasizing the importance of phasing out this type of feeding when appropriate, according to a study recently published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. Children who were bottle-fed at sleep time at age 3 had nearly twice as many teeth affected by tooth decay in early childhood, the authors wrote. “Early interventions addressing bottle feeding

Clinical tip: Chromic and PTFE suturing

This week’s clinical tip, courtesy of CDOCS, is designed to help elevate your knowledge and skills around suturing. Check out the video below from Dr. Doug Smail. You can also visit CDOCS to learn more, and learn more about CDOCS’ hands-on workshops. Video transcript “Hi. It’s Dr. Doug Smail with CDOCS. Today’s tip of the day video is on suturing with chromic gut suture and cytoplast PTFE suture. Now the reason I chose

Brasseler names new endodontic sales team

Brasseler USA has launched its endodontist specialty sales consultant team to provide expert support and tailored solutions for endodontists. The team will offer guidance on treatment protocols and access to Brasseler’s full product portfolio, according to the company.

The surprising way aligners may give oral health a boost

Orthodontic treatments, particularly clear aligners (CAs), may improve oral health by stabilizing the oral microbiota and minimizing plaque buildup. This study was recently published in the International Dental Journal. Additionally, aligners may enhance oral health markers, including reducing enamel demineralization, increasing microbiome alpha diversity, and creating greater microbial heterogeneity, the authors wrote. “This study offers a comprehensive look at how orthodontic treatments and oral health conditions affect microbial communities and

These anesthetics may be linked to serious adverse reactions

Patients given ester-based local anesthetics may be at greater risk of having serious complications when they are administered numbing agents, according to a study published on March 31 in the International Dental Journal. A lower risk of severe negative outcomes may be linked to amide-based anesthetics like lidocaine and articaine, the authors wrote. “These findings underscore the importance of combining pharmacovigilance data with clinical practice insights to enhance patient safety

New details emerge in death of 9-year-old dental patient

The San Diego County Department of the Medical Examiner has provided new information about the 9-year-old girl in California who died hours after she was administered anesthesia and underwent dental surgery. Silvanna Moreno, who was pronounced dead at a children’s hospital in San Diego on March 18, was not asleep when she was discharged after her procedure at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, CA. The girl fell asleep in the car

Full-Mouth Dental Implants vs. Dentures: Which is the Better Option?

Do you have missing teeth and you’re searching for a solution to get back your youthful smile and lost confidence? In such a case, you have at least two viable solutions—full-mouth dental implants or permanent dentures. Both options have their respective pros and cons which we’ll discuss at length here. To pick one over the other, you as a patient should know the differences between the two. This will allow

The Link Between Oral Health and Heart Disease: What You Need to Know

Did you know that there’s more risk involved in dental and oral hygiene neglect than mere halitosis? You could have a heart attack or worse! It’s true. On top of risking losing your teeth or getting a yellow, starchy smile, you could end up with something life-threatening. After all, poor oral health in general and gum disease (from gingivitis to periodontitis) in particular can increase your risk of heart disease

Clinical tip: When to do and not to do flapless dental implant surgery

For this week’s video clinical tip, courtesy of CDOCS, Dr. Farhad Boltchi takes readers through an in-depth look at flapless dental implant surgery so you know when to incorporate this procedure and when to avoid it. “Now in our CDOCS implant workshops, we get a lot of questions regarding when to do flapless implant surgery, because that is obviously something very attractive and very easy, both for the implant surgeon

1st reported case of small intestine tumor spreading to the TMJ

A small intestine neuroendocrine carcinoma (SI-NEC) metastasized to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in a man. The case report, which is believed the first reported case of its kind, was published on March 11 in the Journal of the American Dental Association. This case shines a light on how vital it is to consider metastasis in the differential diagnosis of TMJ pain in patients with neuroendocrine carcinoma, the authors wrote. “To

ERs felt the pinch of pandemic dental office closures

Dental practice closures during COVID-19 led to a rise in emergency room (ER) visits for dental problems in children, according to researchers from the New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry. Even after New York dental offices reopened in May 2020, ER visits for dental problems remained elevated among Medicaid-enrolled children. Families with young children struggled to access dental care, adding strain to overwhelmed hospitals, according to a press release