What’s the best anesthetic technique for pulp therapy in kids?

Buccal infiltration with 4% articaine may achieve a comparable anesthetic effect to inferior alveolar nerve block with 2% lidocaine when performing pulp therapy in kids’ lower jaw molars, reports a review published on October 22 in the Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice. Administering an inferior alveolar nerve block with lidocaine traditionally is recommended when clinicians are performing dental treatment on primary mandibular molars due to its low allergenic characteristics and

How to deal with the Halloween candy rush

Evidence shows that excessive sugar consumption can lead to a variety of negative health outcomes, including tooth decay and diabetes. But most children can withstand a short-term binge in candy consumption without concern, a pediatric dietician told The Philadelphia Inquirer. Candy offers minimal, if any, nutritional value. U.S. dietary guidelines recommend that children under the age of 2 not consume food containing added sugars. Older children should get less than

SprintRay launches new hybrid ceramic resin

SprintRay has launched OnX Tough, a hybrid ceramic resin designed for the 3D printing of dental prosthetics. The resin is made using NanoFusion technology, which gives the material a novel composition and forms dense polymer chains to deliver dental prostheses with fracture toughness that is five times that of first-generation technology, according to SprintRay. OnX Tough is fully integrated with the SprintRay 3D printing workflow. SprintRay’s new ceramic resin OnX

Common TMD may be linked to calcium, vitamin D

Patients with a common type of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) had lower calcium and vitamin D levels, indicating that calcium metabolism may be linked to these jaw conditions. The results were published on October 21 in the Journal of Stomatology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Those with temporomandibular joint disk displacement with reduction (DDWR) had deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D compared to patients who didn’t have TMDs, the authors wrote. Severe

Are primary care providers addressing kids’ dental health?

Primary care providers may think they talk with parents about children’s oral health more than they actually do, according to a study examining provider- and patient-reported knowledge of pediatric oral and dental health needs that was published on October 26 in the Journal of Pediatric Health Care. The study’s authors developed a retrospective chart review and two surveys to gather data from providers and parents on their oral and overall

Researchers developing probe to rapidly detect gum disease

Researchers from the University of Birmingham in the U.K. are developing a dental probe, which is believed to be the first of its kind, that can quickly identify periodontal disease and its severity from a saliva sample. The device allows for quick and easy detection of gum disease in point-of-care settings, such as pharmacies. Its development may lead to opportunities for improved monitoring and early intervention in patients with comorbidities,

How much do ads affect the idea of an ideal smile?

Evidence shows that people are judged on their appearance, whether we like it or not. But how much do advertisements influence what we think of as an ideal smile? Researchers analyzed the effects of priming on social judgments in a study published on October 22 in the Journal of Dentistry. In past studies, people deemed to be attractive are often appraised as more popular, sociable, friendly, happy, and extroverted than

#DIYdentist is trending on TikTok

A new hashtag going viral on social media platform TikTok is showing users new ways to care for their teeth without visiting the dentist. The “tricks” include teeth filling, drilling, repairing, and applying tooth gems, which is drawing warnings against these at-home practices from dental professionals. The hashtag #DIYdentist has more than 2.6 million views on TikTok, according to USA Today. It features a variety of videos in which users perform

Facing osteosarcoma in the age of Instagram

Like many 30-something-year-old women, Jen Taylor chronicles her life on the social media platform Instagram. In Taylor’s case, her profile also serves as an outlet for documenting her life after she was diagnosed with cancer in her maxilla in her late 20s. “Today I became a statistic,” Taylor wrote on August 7 of this year as she recounted the day that changed everything. “A pretty important one. It’s been exactly

Trending: Botox for bruxism

Many people are familiar with Botox to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles. But studies published in Neurology and Pain Research Management show that the muscle-relaxing properties of Botox have promising results for jaw clenching and teeth grinding. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, dentists have been noting significant increases in jaw-related injuries due to stress. In March 2021, during the first year of the pandemic, the ADA reported that 71%

3M Oral Care debuts new matrix system

Minnesota-based manufacturer 3M Oral Care has introduced a new custom matrix system that aims to make composite placement less stressful and more predictable. When using 3M Filtek Matrix, a restorative procedure begins with a custom digital restoration design. Since Filtek relies on additive composite techniques, it requires little to no tooth reduction. In a clinical evaluation, dentists reported that using the matrix increased their confidence, delivered predictable and aesthetic results,

Week in Review: New AAOMS guidance | Systemic complications after dental care | What patients will do to avoid a root canal

Dear DrBicuspid Member, The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) has updated its guidance on treating medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). Our top story of the week covered what you need to know about the new position paper. The guidance prioritizes preventing MRONJ, a rare yet serious condition that can affect cancer patients who are taking antiresorptive medications. It also addresses continuing cancer treatment and maximizing the