Surgery-free way to remove 3rd molars may be coming

In the future, surgery may no longer be needed to manage wisdom teeth. A 3D-guided microwave ablation procedure removed third-molar tooth buds in pigs in minutes, according to a study published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The procedure, which is expected to be tested in human clinical trials later this year, demonstrates a potentially less invasive replacement to traditional wisdom tooth extractions, according to the study. It

Week in Review: Kidney function tied to blood fluoride levels | Dental care before heart surgeries | Mental health issues common for dentists

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Our top story of the week covered a study investigating the relationship between kidney function, blood fluoride levels, and the levels of fluoride in community drinking water. In the study, higher blood fluoride levels in U.S. teens were associated with an increase in water fluoride levels and a decrease in kidney function. While the blood plasma levels were well below the threshold for excessive fluoride exposure, the

Robotic implant surgery prototype shows promise in study

In a first-of-its kind study, an image-guided prototype robotic system for dental implant surgery proved more accurate than a computer-assisted dynamic navigation system for positioning implants in 3D-printed phantom jaws, according to research published June 7 in the Journal of Dentistry. The methodical transformation of virtual plans to surgical sites is crucial for optimal final outcomes of dental implant restorations. To meet this requirement, computer-assisted methods, like static computer-assisted implant

Why Americans Choose Mexico for Dentistry

You heard your friend talk about going to Mexico for that dental implant that they’ve been needing to get for quite a while now. It surprised you how daring that decision might sound – traveling to another country that you may not know anything about just to have dental care done, but why did they lean over to that decision instead of just going to their local dental office? You

Hypertension and tooth loss: Which one is the cause?

The relationship between tooth loss and hypertension may be bidirectional, according to a study published June 2 in the Journal of Dentistry. Because of a lack of unanimity in the literature, researchers conducted the study to examine the association between the two conditions. Previous data analyses have supported a bidirectional relationship between tooth loss and hypertension, but some studies used tooth loss as the exposure characteristic and hypertension as the

What is Cosmetic Dentistry? Best Cosmetic Dentist in Mexico

We’re always looking for ways to improve ourselves – ways to enrich our different points of view in life. Trying to become the best version of oneself is one of the most human reactions and, as such, finding different methods to do so is a natural response. The pursuit of aesthetically-pleasing features has been part of human culture ever since the start of time. Said pursuit adapts to what people

Documentary to be made about historic Baby Tooth Survey

A documentary is being made about the Baby Tooth Survey in St. Louis, a famous study from the 1950s that used donated deciduous teeth to investigate radiation exposure, according to a story published in the Riverfront Times. This summer, Hideaki Ito, an independent Japanese filmmaker who has created other films about nuclear tests, will travel to St. Louis to begin his research on the infamous survey that explored whether above-ground

Kidney function tied to higher blood fluoride in U.S. teens

Fluoride levels were higher in the blood of U.S. adolescents with lower renal function, according to a study published June 7 in Environmental Research. The findings suggest a relationship between kidney function, plasma fluoride levels, and the levels of fluoride in community drinking water. In the study, higher plasma fluoride in children ages 12 to 19 was associated with an increase in water fluoride levels and a decrease in renal

Why dentists should look for numb chin syndrome

Numb chin syndrome (NCS) is a rare sensory neuropathy of the mental nerve. Because oral healthcare professionals are often the first to encounter patients with this condition, they should recognize and understand it, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association. NCS is characterized by an altered perceived sensation, like numbness, near the mental nerve. The condition may manifest with additional symptoms like paresthesia,

The evolutionary significance of a kiss

Have you ever wondered what’s in a kiss? Research suggests that kissing may have broader evolutionary significance than social and romantic implications. The article was published in the June edition of the Journal of the American Dental Association. Since early hominid development, intimacy and physical touch have been important for social and health purposes. Bonobos, prairie dogs, and even the ant species Cardiocondyla elegans engage in kissing. “The discovery of

Technology Focus: Hands-on with Premier’s 4-in-1 oral care system

Technology Focus is a HuangshanDental.com video series that brings you an up-close look at new technologies and tools in dentistry. This episode features the Izzo teeth cleaning kit from Premier Dental. Premier Dental’s 4-in-1 oral care system Izzo takes its inspiration from the dental office while applying aesthetic elements from the luxury beauty industry. The result is a teeth cleaning and gum care kit that feels like a fresh take

How sugar taxes impact low-income communities

Research published June 1 in JAMA Open Network provides compelling evidence that sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes decrease consumption of sugary drinks. Though the evidence is convincing, the study’s authors urge policymakers to consider the larger impact of these taxes on society. Though SSB taxes seem to be effective, there are also reasonable concerns that they may be regressive. Individuals with lower incomes are more likely to be significantly impacted by