Week in Review: Failed root canal treatment | Long COVID | Dental disruption highlighted at DTA

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Our top story of the week summarized a dissertation that raised concerns about potential complications of root canal treatment performed by general dental practitioners. In her doctoral thesis, Dr. Emma Wigsten, a Swedish dentist and researcher, found 30% of patients at public dental clinics failed to complete root canal treatment, often because the tooth needed to be extracted instead. The findings made Wigsten question whether more root canal

Aspen Dental shares numbers for Day of Service for veterans

Aspen Dental provided care to nearly 3,000 military veterans and their spouses for the seventh annual Day of Service on November 6, resulting in more than $1.9 million in free dental services. Aspen dentists across the U.S. volunteered their time to help relieve oral pain in veterans and provide everything from fillings and extractions to hygiene and basic denture repairs. U.S. veterans are ineligible for dental benefits through the Veterans

How Do Permanent Dentures Work?

We use our teeth every day; we use them to chew our food, we expose them to different chemicals by having different types of drinks, and we put them to everyday hassles; we often make the mistake of thinking that our teeth are permanent dentures. Our teeth are powerful and could be considered to be useful tools, but they cannot take everything that we make them go through for very

Mouthguards may improve athletes’ physical performance

Wearing mouthguards may do more than protect athletes’ teeth. Athletes who wear mandible-controlled mouthguards may experience enhanced physical performance, according to a new study published November 5 in the journal Injury. Athletes who wear controlled-mandible-position mouthguards may experience increases in peak force and acceleration while performing ballistic bench press throws. The mouthguard places the jaw in centric relation (CR), defined as a position in which the head of the condyle

Trial to explore fluoridated bottled water for caries prevention

Can the addition of fluoride to bottled water prevent tooth decay? That question will be studied by researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry in a multiyear clinical trial. Funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), the waterBest study will be conducted on infants in Lenoir County, where many young children have tooth decay. Most tap water in the county, which

All-On-4 Vs. All-On-6

You’ve probably heard about All-On-4 dental implants before; however, to understand what they are, you’d have to know what a dental implant is. Dental implants are a screw-like pole that is set into your jawbone used to replace the missing root part of your tooth. After the implant is secured into place and there’s bone surrounding it, a crown is put onto it. Dental implants can be made out of

Dental Dose: The hidden risk of opioids with acetaminophen

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. Acetaminophen is one of the safest drugs in dentistry. Opioids are among the riskiest. Put them together, and you have an effective pain reliever that comes with one side effect you may not think about. Viola shared what you need to know in the

Will automation, rising costs make dental labs obsolete?

When was the last time you thought about your dental lab partners? Without their contribution and expertise, you wouldn’t be able to treat patients as effectively. Dental labs deliver a custom-made product every single time, on demand and almost always on schedule — and at a reasonable price. Not many businesses can operate under such rigor. You may have more in common with your lab than you think. Do you

The military is the heart of this oral surgeon’s family

Serving in the military is a family affair for the Tan brood. Dr. Peter M. Tan, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, spent 36 years in the U.S. Army before retiring as a colonel. His father was a veteran, his mother was a military nurse, and his sons currently serve. In remembrance of Veterans Day, Tan reflected on how the military has shaped his entire family. Dr. Peter M. Tan, colonel, U.S.

U.S. Oral Surgery Management strengthens ties in Minn.

U.S. Oral Surgery Management (USOSM) has inked a deal with Southeastern Minnesota Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, its fourth partnership in the state. Southeastern Minnesota Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery has four locations and four doctors treating patients in Austin, Mankato, Owatonna, and Rochester. The group’s specialists provide a full scope of expertise ranging from dental implant surgery and wisdom tooth removal to corrective jaw surgery, as well the diagnosis and treatment

Dissertation raises concerns about gen practitioners doing endo

A dissertation by a Swedish dentist and researcher raised concerns about potential complications of root canal treatment performed by general dental practitioners. The research involved five studies with hundreds of dental patients at Swedish public dental clinics. A total of 30% of patients failed to complete root canal treatment, often because the tooth needed to be extracted instead. What’s worse, half of patients who completed treatment reported pain or discomfort

Eat Too Much Halloween Candy? You May Need A Dental Exam.

Perhaps the most enticing thing about Halloween is the free candy. If you’re a parent, chances are you’ve rifled through your children’s trick-or-treating haul or gained control of it in its entirety. We can’t forget the beloved reject pile. All the candy your child dislikes instantly becomes yours. There’s just something so satisfying knowing that your kid doesn’t appreciate the joy of biting into a peanut butter cup. Despite the