American Board of Orofacial Pain recognized as certifying board

The National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards recently recognized the American Board of Orofacial Pain as the national certifying board for orofacial pain, according to a March 30 report by ADA News. The report states the board will administer the board certification examination that certifies qualified dentists as diplomates in orofacial pain. The board examines and certifies dentists who complete an accredited advanced education program in

Dental Dose: Take precautions for patients with asthma

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. Dental Dose addresses two facets of dental pharmacology: medications used in dentistry with systemic effects and medications used for nondental conditions that impact dentistry. Treating patients with asthma tackles both sides of dental pharmacology, explained Tom Viola in the latest episode. Short- and long-acting

Dental appearance may lead young teens to self-harm

Nearly half of teens who self-harm say they engage in self-injurious behavior due to the way their teeth look, according to a survey of more than 600 eighth-grade students. The findings were published March 26 in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Tooth color and shape and missing teeth were some of the most common dental features that contributed to self-harm, the authors wrote. In addition, one-fifth of

Benco Dental begins selling Zyris products

Dental distributor Benco Dental has added products from Zyris to its portfolio. Benco is now demonstrating and selling the complete Zyris product line, which include all-in-one systems for dental isolation, illumination, and suction, according to the vendor.

Tramadol-dexketoprofen combo effective for 3rd-molar extraction

A combination of the opioid class drug tramadol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) dexketoprofen proved more effective than ibuprofen alone for managing pain after third-molar extraction, according to a report published in the Journal of Evidence Based Dental Practice. Researchers from Spain monitored 72 patients who were prescribed either ibuprofen or tramadol-dexketoprofen to understand how well each worked after third-molar surgery. Their randomized clinical trial studied pain intensity and swelling,

Ormco: A smile is the basis of first impressions

Ormco is touting results from a survey that suggests that 76% of people base their first impressions of others on their smiles. The company makes the Spark Aligner System, which consists of proprietary TruGen material that reduces staining and increases the force of its clear aligners. The survey included 2,000 Americans and was conducted by OnePoll. It showed that people with straight teeth are considered more “trustworthy, confident, and approachable.”

Ultradent updates Valo Grand curing lights

Dental material manufacturer Ultradent Products has released six new lenses that can be used with its Valo Grand curing lights. The lenses allow clinicians to use Valo Grand in new ways, the company said. Valo Grand curing lights use a multiwavelength light-emitting diode that emits light at 385 nm to 515 nm through a collimated beam, the company said. The lights can cure porcelain and underlying resin cements, according to

X-rays reveal man’s bruxism-caused apical periodontitis

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, according to a case report published March 24 in BMC Oral Health. This is believed to be the first clinical case of apical periodontitis caused solely by bruxism, the authors wrote. Additionally, this case highlights the importance of taking complete medical histories and routine x-rays

Is ECC associated with poor maternal oral health?

Associations between poor maternal oral health and the risk of early childhood caries (ECC) were discussed during a presentation March 26 at the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) 2022 annual meeting. Freida Blostein, MPH, of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor gave an online presentation in which she discussed a study involving 99 children with white spots or lesions (diagnosed before the age of 6)

Bacterium linked to periodontitis resistant to some antibiotic strains

Prescribing antibiotics with clindamycin strains without performing antibiotic susceptibility testing should be avoided for patients with periodontitis, according to research presented March 25 at the American Association of Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research annual meeting. The meeting is being held in conjunction with the 46th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research. In a virtual presentation, Dr. Thomas Rams, PhD, from Temple University in Philadelphia discussed a study he

Week in Review: Girl diagnosed with rare, life-threatening lesion | Sugar substitutes linked to cancer | Dentistry responds to the crisis in Ukraine

Dear DrBicuspid Member, A healthy 17-year-old girl developed a rare, life-threatening vascular lesion after routine third-molar extractions. Our write-up of the new case report was our top story of the week. A few days after the extractions, the girl developed mouth pain and uncontrollable bleeding. She was later admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with a pseudoaneurysm, a type of perivascular hematoma that is considered a vascular emergency due to

Oral surgeon charged with murder of patient turned girlfriend

An oral surgeon in Maryland was arrested for his alleged involvement in the overdose death of a 25-year-old former patient who later became his employee and girlfriend, according to a press release from the Montgomery County Department of Police. Dr. James Ryan, 48, was arrested on March 22 at his practice, Evolution Oral Surgery, in Germantown, MD, and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the overdose death of Sarah Harris,