Mouthwash use to prevent COVID-19 may change composites

To prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, patients are sometimes asked to rinse with a disinfectant mouthwash during a dental visit. But a new study published on October 20 in the International Dental Journal suggests that these mouthwashes may change resin composites. The in vitro study analyzed the effect of three disinfectant mouthwashes given to patients before dental procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic: 0.2% povidone iodine, 1%

Sonendo launches updated GentleWave system

Digital technology company Sonendo has released an updated version of the GentleWave G4 system. The technology uses broad-spectrum acoustic energy and advanced fluid dynamics to deliver advanced disinfection during root canal treatment. It has an intuitive, user-friendly interface that provides step-by-step guidance for practitioners, as well as auditory cues. Its battery backup and high-capacity fluid reservoirs aim to decrease downtime between treatments and allow up to six procedures before refilling

Prosthetic knee outcomes worse for patients with implants

Patients who had dental caries or implant placement one year before total knee arthroplasty have more complications, including heart attacks, according to a study published recently in the Journal of Arthroplasty. To the researchers’ knowledge, this is one of the largest studies to analyze the link between dental caries or implants within one year of patients receiving prosthetic knee joints. It analyzed the relationship to postprocedural outcomes among patients in

Incarceration accelerates poor oral health

Pregnant women who are incarcerated or whose partner is incarcerated experienced worse oral health outcomes, according to a study published on October 19 in Social Science and Medicine. Previous studies have confirmed an association between incarceration and poor oral health. Similarly, recent scholarship has shown that women exposed to incarceration during pregnancy incur worse health outcomes. However, until now, no previous research has assessed the link between incarceration exposure and

AAOMS publishes updated MRONJ guidance

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) has updated its guidance on treating medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), a rare yet serious condition that can affect cancer patients taking antiresorptive medications. To help healthcare providers treat this often painful condition in patients, the association released guidance that contains revisions to the diagnosis of MRONJ and management strategies, as well as highlighting the status of current research. The

How to appeal claim denials for crowns and cracked teeth

All dental plans, regardless of their type, have limitations on the benefits and policy provisions that, at times, will result in a denial of coverage for verified covered benefits. One of the most common denials from insurance plans is for crowns. The most accepted justification for a full-coverage crown is a missing tooth structure of 50% or more. The remaining tooth structure cannot support a direct restoration such as amalgam

Dental therapists may be key to serving more patients

Dental therapists contributed to delivering dental care to patients in Alaska, according to a study in the Journal of the American Dental Association. The number of diagnostic, preventive, and restorative services in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta rose since the introduction of dental therapy. Tribal areas in Alaska were the first in the U.S. to authorize these midlevel providers. Diagnostic and preventive services delivery increased for therapists while they remained stable or

Obesity tied to tooth loss in 1st-of-its kind study

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers analyzed the impact of obesity on the number and position of residual teeth by age groups in a study published in PLOS One. An increase in body mass index (BMI) was tied to tooth loss. Researchers used an online database that combined data from health insurance claims and health check-ups to gather data on 234,000 participants ranging in age from 20 to 74. They examined

What people would do to avoid a root canal

Patients report they would go to surprising lengths to avoid a root canal procedure, including temporarily giving up social media or letting clinicians get a look at their large intestines, according to a survey conducted by dental technology company Sonendo. More than 67% of survey respondents strongly agree or agree with the statement “I am terrified of getting a root canal procedure.” If they needed the procedure, more than 80%

Oral surgeons should track some patients at risk of endocarditis

Update on October 21 — The following story is based on an article that has since been withdrawn from the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The journal article this story is based on has been withdrawn. Elsevier, the publisher behind the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, states article withdrawal is reserved for journal articles that have not yet been formally published and sometimes contain errors. In the new

Patients turn to online videos for oral health information

As the number of peri-implantitis cases increases, so, too, does the number of videos that patients can find about the condition on social media. A study published on October 12 in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery examined the quality of peri-implantitis information patients can find online. Researchers conducted a systematic search of online videos with content on peri-implantitis. The source of videos, video type, duration, number of days

Week in Review: Tooth loss and mortality risk | New dental assistant laws | The latest from SmileCon

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Oral health is tied to everything from Alzheimer’s disease to arthritis, and new research is showing that the mouth is also linked to mortality. Our top story of the week covered what you need to know about a new study of nearly 5,000 older adults. In the study, mortality rates were significantly higher for edentulous people as opposed to those with teeth. However, wearing dentures cut the