It’s something that is tackled in so many dental practices every week. A patient walks into the practice having seen a perfectly white Hollywood smile wanting to have that kind of smile. However, that patient has periodontal disease and is much more concerned about whiter teeth than bloody gums. Dr. Jossen Gastelum. So how do a dentist and the dental team approach this discussion? That’s the topic I discussed with
A combination of ibuprofen-arginine (Ib-Ar) and dexamethasone (DX) may provide better pain relief in patients following lower third-molar surgery. This study was recently published in Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology. Although the combination didn’t show clear benefits for quality of life or pain catastrophizing, patients using placebos had the worst outcomes, the authors wrote. “The combination of ibuprofen-arginine 770mg (ibuprofen 400mg + L-arginine 370mg) with dexamethasone
Once again this week, a member of the CDOCS faculty is back to provide you with a clinical tip that can help your dental patients and practice. In the latest clinical tip, courtesy of CDOCS, Dr. Diwakar Kinra is back, this time with a focus on the endodontics portion of your practice and how to determine thermal sensitivity through a full coverage crown or even a calcified tooth. Here’s what
We live in a powerful information age. No matter what side of any issue you are on, your opinion can be “validated” by finding like-minded support on the internet and in the media. Human nature gravitates toward information supporting our opinion because we want to be right and we connect being right to our self-worth. An attack on our opinion feels like an attack on our very existence, so it
Mandible reconstruction goes far beyond the mere removal of a tumor; it’s about restoring a patient’s quality of life and their ability to interact with the world. Historically, the focus has been on tumor excision, often with less emphasis on the long-term functional and sensory outcomes. However, as surgical techniques and cancer treatments advance, patients are living longer, making their quality of life after surgery increasingly important. The mandible is
An antibiotic may eliminate an oral cavity germ known to trigger the onset of periodontitis, indicating a potential breakthrough in preventing the progression of other serious systemic diseases. The study was published recently in the Journal of Oral Microbiology. Furthermore, the narrow-spectrum antibiotic FP-100 (hygromycin A) eradicates Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) in a mouse model and in vitro without negatively affecting the oral or gut microbiomes. This study is believed to
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) supports community water fluoridation as a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay. This stance is in response to the National Toxicology Program’s (NTP) August 2024 report on fluoride and its impact on brain development. The U.S. Public Health Service advises a fluoride concentration of 0.7 mg/L in drinking water, which has been proven to reduce tooth decay by 25% in both children
After being treated with temporary endodontic material containing polyethylene glycol (PEG), two patients experienced anaphylaxis, one of whom died, according to a case report published on September 13 in the Journal of Endodontics. The case report not only sheds light on the possible harm that PEG can cause to some patients but that an allergy to this chemical should be explored in cases of anaphylaxis related to endodontic treatment, the
This week, Dr. Meena Barsoum returns with another clinical tip that is sure to help your dental practice grow. This time, Dr. Barsoum is focusing on the CAD/CAM side of your practice, especially the CEREC Primemill. You can watch the video below, as well as read the transcript, for Barsoum’s tips. Additionally, learn more about CDOCS’ memberships and CDOCS’ hands-on workshops. Video transcript “Today, I’d like to focus on milling strategies. We’re going
Dr. Meena Barsoum is back this week with another tip that can help the digital side of your dental practice. Check out Dr. Barsoum’s thoughts on printing dental splints using inLab software below. You can also learn more about CDOCS’ memberships and CDOCS’ hands-on workshops. Video transcript “Today, I want to show you a nice technique that I utilize when I’m going to print my 3D design splints in the
Multimodal interventions, including physical activity, may improve pain and other outcomes for patients with orofacial pain (OFP) caused by temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The systematic review was published on September 23 in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation. Aerobic exercise (AE), manual therapy (MT), and jaw and neck exercises may provide the most favorable results for patients with TMD and OFP associated with headaches, the authors wrote. “Aerobic exercise plus MT and
Now that people in the U.S. use toothpaste and mouthwashes that contain cavity-fighting fluoride, drinking fluoridated water may not be so important, according to a review published October 4 in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. However, starting or stopping community water fluoridation requires further consideration, the authors wrote. “The benefits of fluoride in water supplies may be smaller than they were before the widespread addition of fluoride to toothpaste,” wrote
