Music and aromatherapy can help anxious pediatric patients

Music therapy combined with aromatherapy can effectively manage fear of dental care and associated anxiety in school-aged children, according to a study published on June 30 in the Journal of Dental Sciences. Childhood dental anxiety and fear are associated with a high prevalence of tooth decay, toothache, and extraction. Dental pain worsens the quality of life for patients and has more serious implications if left untreated. This is a reinforcement

5 ways to make your practice more LGBTQ+ friendly

Healthcare utilization is lower among the LGBTQ+ community, but there are simple steps dental practices can take to make their practices welcoming for all patients, according to diversity and inclusion advocates Drs. Marita Inglehart and Scott Schwartz. Inglehart, a professor at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, and Schwartz, an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital Medical Center, conduct research on and lecture about health disparities

Apical periodontitis causes brain abscesses in 7-year-old

A 7-year-old boy with congenital heart disease developed multiple brain abscesses caused by an infection from apical periodontitis in his baby teeth, according to a case report published on June 28 in BMC Oral Health. The abscesses immediately became smaller, and his neurological symptoms disappeared after the extractions. This case highlights the importance of knowing that many diseases originating from dental infections can be treated with appropriate therapies, the authors

Pediatric dentists may need to improve their image interpretation

Some pediatric dentists didn’t perform very well when they tried to identify and detect traumatic dental injuries and problems on patients’ images, according to a small explorative study published June 20 in BMC Oral Health. The performance of clinicians appeared to be affected irrespective of their levels of experience with these types of cases or whether they used 2D or 3D images, the authors wrote. “The overall poor performance in

Week in Review: Risky TikTok trend for teeth | Project to regenerate tooth pulp | Strategies to get paid

Dear DrBicuspid Member, A video touting the combination of balsamic vinegar and flavored sparkling water as a healthier alternative to soda has gone viral on social media platform TikTok. Our top story of the week shares why the recipe could be a disaster for tooth enamel. While drinking balsamic vinegar doesn’t sound appetizing to me, the video has received more than 6 million views. A spokesperson for the ADA expressed concern

Affordable Dentures & Implants opens new Mich. practice

Affordable Dentures & Implants recently opened a new practice in Woodhaven, MI, focusing on tooth replacement services such as extractions, implants, and dentures. The practice, led by Dr. Jihaad Abdul-Majid, is part of a provider network supported by Affordable Care. The practice is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday.

3 factors that influence dentist opioid prescriptions

A prescription for antibiotics, the use of sedation, and even whether a dental student was involved in the procedure are just some of the factors that influence whether a prescription for opioids was given after a tooth extraction, reports a study published on June 9 in the Journal of the American Dental Association. A prescription from a dentist is often a patient’s first exposure to opioids. Although nonopioid analgesics are

A twist of fate? Believers in luck more prone to gum disease

People who believe that luck decides their fate may face a greater risk of developing severe gum disease compared to those who think their actions change their destiny. The research was presented on June 16 at the European Federation of Periodontology’s EuroPerio10 conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. Researchers studied two types of people: those who had an external locus of control, meaning they believe their actions have little influence over what

Septodont launches new version of Biodentine

Septodont has introduced an updated version of its dentin restoration system Biodentine. Biodentine XP aims to ensure a consistent mix due to its proprietary mixer and easy delivery with its applicator gun. It is available in XP 200 and XP 500 cartridges. The Biodentine XP starter pack contains a mixer, applicator gun, and packages of XP 200 and XP500 cartridges. Also, it is available in boxes of 10 refill cartridges.

Oral lesions after vaccination may be tied to immune response

Following a surge of reports of oral lesions developing following COVID-19 vaccination, researchers are trying to identify the association and are highlighting the underlying immune mechanisms involved. Their research on the oral side effects of COVID-19 vaccines was published on June 19 in Infectious Medicine. Healthcare providers should be able to identify oral lesions following administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the authors. Their study assessed the oral side

How to code 3/4 crowns

Code what you do is the rule. But first, you must know whether what you think you are coding is actually what was performed on the patient, particularly when it comes to inlays, onlays, and three-quarter crowns. Many insurance coordinators will see a code for a procedure on a treatment plan but little documentation that supports the clinical choice. If it isn’t in the notes, it didn’t happen. Estela Vargas.

Winners of 1st EFP Innovation award named at EuroPerio10

On June 20, the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) announced the winners of the first EFP Innovation Award for Digital Solutions for Gum Health at its EuroPerio10 congress in Copenhagen. Supported by GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) independent consumer healthcare firm GSK Consumer Healthcare, the award will be given annually to three digital innovation projects that aim to improve gum health worldwide. The first-place prize of 10,000 euros ($10,532 U.S.) was awarded to