One Dental Clinic, Every Service: The Smarter Way to Manage Your Smile in Katy

Life in Katy is busy. Between work, family, and social commitments, scheduling appointments can feel like a juggling act, especially when it comes to your dental care. Regular checkups, cleanings, or specialized treatments often mean bouncing between different offices. But what if there was a way to simplify your smile care and handle everything in one place? That’s where a multi-service dental clinic comes in. Why Choose a Multi-Service Dental

Finding kids’ caries may be a snap for parents

Smartphone photographs of a child’s mouth taken by parents may accurately detect caries during teledentistry appointments, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Dental Association. When parents followed a written photo guide, the frontal, upper, and lower occlusal images they took showed high sensitivity and specificity, the authors wrote. “Parent-obtained smartphone photographs can provide accurate and clinically meaningful detection of frank caries in the primary

Time to wake up about the oral health of adolescents

Dental diseases and oral health disparities continue to affect adolescents and young adults worldwide, with noncarious conditions rising significantly, according to a study recently published in the International Dental Journal. Furthermore, greater focus on oral health may be needed for this population, especially for female patients, older teens, and those living in low- and middle-income countries, the authors wrote. “Despite the decline in prevalence, the burden of oral diseases remains,

Clinical tip: How to help dental patients with a gag reflex

This week’s clinical tip, courtesy of CDOCS, is delivered by Dr. Diwakar Kinra and is focused on helping those dental patients who have a gag reflex. Watch below to learn some of Dr. Kinra’s tips and tricks, including one focused on radiographs. Video transcript “Hi. My name is Diwakar Kinra, and I’m endodontic faculty at CDOCS, and my tip of the day has to do with gagging. “Actually, gagging is

Why every dentist needs a reliable glass ionomer in their toolkit

One of the conclusions that I have come to in 10 years of practice is that a reliable glass ionomer is an essential tool that every dentist needs in their arsenal. Now, admittedly, I have probably used glass ionomer more than most of my colleagues of similar age throughout my career. Dr. Danny Snyder. Two years out of dental school, I took over for an incredible 71-year-old dentist who had

Gum disease may be an independent risk factor for stroke

Periodontal disease may be linked to a higher risk of stroke, but proper dental biofilm control may help. This large systematic review was recently published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice. However, more research is needed to determine the underlying mechanisms by which gum disease raises one’s stroke risk, the authors wrote. “Periodontal disease has been identified as an independent risk factor for stroke,” wrote the authors, led by

Can You Really Heal a Cavity Without a Filling?

Many people are drawn to the idea of avoiding dental procedures and hope that cavities can heal naturally. It’s a topic surrounded by both curiosity and misinformation. The truth is more nuanced. While early stages of tooth decay may be reversible with the right care, an actual cavity — once a hole has formed in the tooth — requires professional treatment. Understanding the difference between these stages is key to

1st reported case of kidney disease drug causing gum overgrowth

In what is believed to be the first reported case of its kind, an immunosuppressive drug prescribed for lupus-induced kidney disease caused gingival enlargement in a 27-year-old woman. The case report was published in Clinical Advances in Periodontics. Within a month of discontinuing the use of voclosporin, a newer calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) used primarily to treat lupus nephritis, the woman experienced reduced gum enlargement and less pain. This report highlights

What’s stopping kids from getting fluoride at well visits?

Primary care clinicians may face barriers to using a topical fluoride varnish (TFV), including time constraints and the assumption that dentists are already administering it, according to a study recently published in JDR Clinical & Translational Research. Some of the methods to meet these challenges may include having TFV supplies readily available in the exam room and having nursing staff deliver patient education, the authors wrote. “Despite recommendations for topical

Clinical tip: Peg laterals and orthodontics

This week’s clinical tip, courtesy of CDOCS, focuses on a common problem that can happen during orthodontic treatment planning. “It’s much easier for them to just close the spaces. So what I find to be much more helpful is to go ahead and build up the laterals. So like in this case, we’re going to go ahead and take the measurement of the central to see if it’s within the

A combination of exercise and omega-3 can reduce the severity of tooth root infections

A study published in the journal Scientific Reports indicates that physical exercise combined with omega-3 supplementation considerably improves the immune response and reduces the severity of chronic apical periodontitis. Inflammation at the apex of the tooth—the tip of the root—and in the surrounding area is primarily caused by caries. If left untreated, the bacteria can reach the root canal and pass through it to the apex, causing apical periodontitis. This

What may make kids more prone to traumatic dental injuries

Preschool-aged children with delayed motor development and obesity may be more susceptible to falls that result in traumatic dental injuries (TDIs), according to a study recently published in Dental Traumatology. Dental professionals can help by identifying early signs of risk factors and working with pediatricians, the authors wrote. “The prevention and early intervention of these conditions can contribute to the adequate development of children for age and avoid health problems,”