Social media may up anxiety before 3rd-molar surgery

Viewing social media content about surgical treatments before third-molar surgery may increase patients’ perioperative anxiety, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Stress management strategies should consider the impact of demographic factors, social media types, and content on this anxiety, the authors wrote. “For patients who view social media before surgery, additional methods may be needed to decrease their anxiety,” wrote the authors,

Light therapy may reduce 3rd-molar surgery adverse events

Infrared laser photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy may be a beneficial aid in recovery following lower third-molar extraction, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice. Furthermore, light therapy may help alleviate pain, swelling, and trismus in patients who underwent wisdom tooth extractions, the authors wrote. “The study confirmed the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in reducing adverse effects post-extraction of lower third molars,” wrote the authors, led

Periodontitis may be linked to gestational diabetes

Periodontal disease may increase the risk of gestational diabetes, therefore oral health should be assessed before and during pregnancy. This review study was recently published in Primary Care Diabetes. Oral health programs for women of childbearing age and pregnant women may be needed to improve maternal metabolic control and reduce complications, the authors wrote. “The presence of periodontal disease (PD) can be considered to predispose to the development of gestational

ADHA takes stand on fluoridation

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) has released a statement supporting community water fluoridation. Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed on social media that the Trump administration would remove fluoride, which he called “industrial waste” linked to various health issues, from public water systems. Like the Massachusetts Dental Society and dentist Dr. Jay Grossman, the ADHA strongly supports water fluoridation as a safe, effective, and equitable way to

Gum disease tied to inflammation biomarker

Neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR), a marker of systemic inflammation, may be linked with poor periodontal health, according to a study recently published in the International Dental Journal. High neutrophil counts and low albumin levels may be linked to moderate to severe periodontitis. Tracking these markers could help assess an individual’s periodontitis risk, the authors wrote. “We observed that NPAR was positively associated with periodontitis,” wrote the authors, led by Huan

This is the 1st-line therapy for toothaches

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be the first choice for managing acute dental pain after tooth extractions or temporary toothache relief, according to guidelines recently published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine. Further, opioids should only be used when NSAIDs are ineffective or contraindicated, the authors wrote. “NSAIDs alone or in combination with acetaminophen are the first-line therapy for managing acute dental pain following tooth extraction(s) and temporary management

Wearing dentures may slow cognitive decline

Denture use may protect against cognitive decline among older adults with tooth loss, emphasizing the potential importance of prosthodontic rehabilitation in maintaining brain health. This study was recently published in Aging Medicine. Furthermore, the findings support the connection between oral health and brain aging, the authors wrote. “We found that denture use was associated with better cognitive function at baseline and a slower rate of cognitive decline over time among

Saliva testing may mark periodontitis progression

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine have found that measuring proteins in saliva may offer an easy way to monitor periodontitis progression, according to a press release from the university. Furthermore, tracking inflammation-related proteins in saliva over time may help assess periodontitis risk and treatment effectiveness, with blood levels also aiding in treatment evaluation, according to the release dated January 7. “One can imagine a saliva

Not enough dentists follow guidelines to address caries

Pediatric dentists in the U.S. use pharmacological approaches like silver diamine fluoride to address early caries but rarely adopt other chronic disease management strategies like minimally invasive dentistry despite professional guidance, according to a report. Obstacles to dentists adopting these strategies include resistance to change, a lack of dental coverage for behavioral risk-reduction services, and a lack of nutrition and behavioral science training, according to a study published on January

AI applications on the rise in clear aligner therapy

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in clear aligner therapy is growing, offering opportunities for improved efficiency, accuracy, and predictability in orthodontic planning, reports a review recently published in the Journal of Dentistry. AI technologies appear to excel in tooth segmentation and demonstrated effectiveness in merging imaging data while showing strong results in treatment outcome predictions and promise for remote monitoring, the authors wrote. “The findings of this review may

Clinical tip: What you need to know about platelet-rich fibrin

This week, Dr. Doug Smail returns with another great and timely clinical tip to benefit many dental patients. The CDOCS faculty member is here this week to discuss the benefits of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and how it can be used in the dental practice. How do you create PRF? What’s the difference between this and PRP (platelet-rich plasma)? Dr. Smail dives into that and more in the video below. Video

Is VPR or face scans better for smile design?

There may be notable differences in the trueness and precision of facial scans (FS) compared to virtual patient representations (VPR), according to a study recently published in the Journal of Prosthodontics. Additionally, VPR accuracy may appear lower due to added errors in the alignment process and may not be reliable for more complex prostheses manufacturing purposes, the authors wrote. “Data showed significant differences between the reference and virtual measurements for