Selenium dental sealants may aid caries prevention

Dental sealants that contain selenium may stop caries-causing bacteria from forming on and below a sealed tooth, possibly paving a new way to help prevent tooth decay, according to a study recently published in Dental Materials. In the in vitro study, an organo-selenium dental sealant prevented biofilm formation under the sealant, while a control sealant did not stop bacterial growth. Also, the bacterial-killing ability of the sealant with selenium was

Tongue device improves sleep apnea in kids with Down syndrome

A surgically implanted device that moves a person’s tongue forward during sleep reduces sleep apnea severity in children with Down syndrome, according to a study published April 21 in JAMA Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery. The pacemakerlike device, called an upper airway hypoglossal stimulator, sends an electrical pulse to the tongue, causing it to contract when a person tries to take a breath. It has been used to effectively

The keys to coding crown lengthening and crown exposure

Did you perform crown lengthening (D4249) or crown exposure (D4212) on a tooth? Often, there is confusion about which of these procedures is correct when it comes to coding treatment, and mixing them up could cost you and your practice. Insurance plan payers often deny coverage for crown lengthening because the clinical data submitted does not match the standard descriptor and nomenclature provided in the Code on Dental Procedures and

Restoratives & Cosmetics Insider: Selenium dental sealants may aid caries prevention

Dear Restoratives & Cosmetics Insider, Dental sealants that contain the element selenium may prevent caries-causing bacteria from forming on and below sealed teeth, possibly paving a new way to halt tooth decay, according to a study published in Dental Materials. Read more in our Insider Exclusive. Also in the Restoratives & Cosmetics Community, a 51-year-old man unintentionally swallowed a dental crown, resulting in an unusual case of appendicitis caused by

A Case Of Success – Surgical Guides

Thanks to how far technology in dentistry has come, recreating and improving a smile, as well as giving the gift of smiling back to a patient who is not able to do so anymore, is now possible. Dental implant surgery is a procedure that thousands of people opt to get every year due to the loss of a single tooth or multiple teeth. There are different types of dental implant

Gut bacteria trigger loss of tooth-supporting bone in mice

Our mouths are home to billions of microbes, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms. These tiny tenants, collectively called the oral microbiota, are vital to our oral health, which depends on a delicate balance between harmful and helpful microbes. Disruption of this balance can lead to inflammation-related oral infections, such as periodontal disease, which can cause loss of alveolar bone that supports and anchors the teeth. But the microbes

Surgery for drooling leads to life-threatening outcome

A 6-year-old boy with autism experienced life-threatening throat swelling and airway compromise following a submandibular gland ligation procedure to control his drooling, according to a short communication published April 18 in Advances in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The boy was hospitalized for weeks and had to undergo an emergency tracheostomy secondary to infection in his remnant left submandibular duct. While submandibular gland ligation is promoted as a simple procedure with

Dentist misrepresented herself as a patient to get oxycodone

A New York dentist has admitted to misrepresenting herself as one of her patients to fraudulently obtain oxycodone for her own use, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York. Dr. Vivian Letizia, 63, of Stone Ridge, NY, pleaded guilty on April 13 to acquiring and obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, or subterfuge, according to the release. In her

Is it time to change antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines?

A group of dentists and physicians called for the ADA and the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) to reevaluate the use of antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with prosthetic joints in a commentary published in the Journal of the American Dental Association. The call to action comes on the heels of a notable new study published in JAMA Network Open that showed no significant relationship between invasive dental procedures and

No Surprises Act | How to not lose millions | Dental crown causes appendicitis

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Did you miss our webinar sponsored by Glidewell on investing in the digital future of your practice? It’s not too late to watch it! You can still register and watch the presentation, which includes fun popular culture references and key digital dentistry learnings. Register now. Top story of the week The U.S. No Surprises Act took effect in January and aims to protect patients from unexpected hospital

Dental Dose: The new AHA infective endocarditis guidelines

Dental Dose is a twice-monthly video series featuring pharmacologist Tom Viola, RPh. In each episode, Viola shares bite-sized pieces of dental pharmacology news, facts, and myths. Last spring, the American Heart Association (AHA) changed its guidance regarding the use of antibiotic agents to help prevent infective endocarditis following dental procedures. Tom Viola shares what you need to know on the latest episode of Dental Dose. The first-line agent of prevention

Swallowed dental crown caused man to develop appendicitis

A 51-year-old man unintentionally swallowed a dental crown, resulting in an unusual case of appendicitis caused by ingestion of a foreign body, according to a case report published April 12 in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science. Imaging, specifically an x-ray and a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan, played a vital role in identifying the foreign object and helping clinicians with treatment planning. Though the man made a complete recovery