Delta Dental of Tenn. offers free mouthguards for kids

Delta Dental of Tennessee has launched an initiative to encourage young athletes at every age and ability level to wear mouthguards while playing sports. As part of the initiative, Tennessee-based coaches and youth sports league officials can order free boil-and-bite mouthguards online through April 30 for athletes age 10 and under participating in organized sports leagues, Delta Dental said. The mouthguards come in two varieties. One features a strap that

What you need to know about the U.S. No Surprises Act

The U.S. No Surprises Act (NSA), which took effect in January, aims to protect patients from unexpected hospital bills. It also directly affects oral and maxillofacial surgery, according to a perspective published April 9 in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons should better prepare themselves for enforcement of the law and support the spirit of it by taking several steps, including assisting patients in responding

Startup Str8 offering dental aligners across the U.S.

Arkansas-based dental aligner startup Str8 announced that its direct-to-consumer clear aligners are now available throughout the U.S. Prior to the U.S. launch, its clear aligners were only available in Jonesboro, AR, where Str8’s founder Dr. Misee Harris owns and operates a dental office and medical center. At the outset of the consultation process, Str8 covers the cost of an initial dental exam. In addition, the company rewards those who take care

DenMat acquires Den-Shur product line

DenMat announced that it has acquired the Den-Shur product line from Prismatix Decal. The acquisition expands DenMat’s portfolio to include Den-Shur’s denture cups, the company said. The cups, which are available in multiple colors and come in packs of 12, serve as a storage container for dentures. Made in the U.S., the cups can be customized to feature the name of a dental practice or lab.

Can antihypertensive drugs prevent jaw bone loss?

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans show antihypertensive drugs may positively affect the thickness of the jawbone cortex, possibly preventing bone loss. The study was published April 4 in Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology. The study authors believe it is the first study that used CBCT to investigate the effects of drugs to treat high blood pressure on the cortical thickness of the jaw. If further studies

Week in Review: Pulling healthy teeth | Increased oral cancer risk? | Happy dental hygienists week

Dear DrBicuspid Member, If a patient asks you to extract a healthy tooth, would you oblige? Many do pull teeth at the request of patients, according to new survey results published in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA). Our top story of the week explores more about the frequency and ethics of extracting healthy teeth. Loss of sensation after root canal therapy A 27-year-old woman lost sensation in

Root canal sealer found in woman with nerve injury

A 27-year-old woman lost sensation in her chin and lip following root canal treatment on her mandibular molar. Months later, specialists confirmed that extrusion of the root canal sealer caused the patient’s permanent anesthesia, according to a case report published April 1 in Oral Surgery. Imaging showed that root canal sealer was widespread within the marrow spaces where endodontic treatment had occurred. The sealer extended to the mandibular canal and

Oral health probiotic for kids launches in U.S.

ProBioraHealth has launched an oral care probiotic for kids that aims to reduce disease-causing bacteria that cause caries, bad breath, and other oral health conditions. ProBioraKids features ProBiora3, a blend of mouth bacteria that includes Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus uberis, and Streptococcus rattus. When dissolved in the mouth nightly after brushing and flossing, the good bacteria in the probiotic help rebalance the mouth’s oral microbiome, according to the company. ProBioraKids probiotic.

Lidocaine shot may have led to patient’s heart attack

A local injection of lidocaine during dental treatment possibly induced a coronary artery spasm, potentially resulting in a 50-year-old man’s heart attack, according to a case report published April 3 in the American Journal of the Medical Sciences. This is believed to be the first reported case describing lidocaine as the potential direct cause of a coronary artery spasm, which likely led to the man’s acute myocardial infarction, the authors

When patients ask for healthy teeth to be pulled, dentists oblige

A small percentage of patients request the extraction of healthy teeth, and though dentists report reluctance, many pull the teeth anyway, according to a study published on March 30 in the Journal of the American Dental Association. The authors believe their study is the first to investigate healthy tooth extractions at the request of patients for nondental reasons. They advised clinicians not to do these procedures, as performing extractions without

What is the Cost of Root Canal Treatment in Thailand?

If you can take good care of your natural teeth, you can make them last a lifetime. However, accidents happen and even slight neglect can impact the integrity of your teeth. If you have a diseased or critically injured tooth, you can save it with endodontic treatment. If you wish to know the cost of root canal in Thailand, you’ve come to the right page. To help you know why

Week in Review: Apical periodontitis caused by bruxism | Coverage from DSO meeting | New Dental Dose episode

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Dental x-rays revealed that a healthy 28-year-old man developed apical periodontitis in two teeth following an intense phase of bruxism that lasted about a year. Our article on the case report was the top story of the week. It is believed to be the first clinical case of apical periodontitis caused solely by bruxism, according to the authors. The case highlights the importance of taking complete medical