Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels may offer a certain protective effect against tooth decay in children and youth, according to a large U.S. study published on April 2 in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry. The study is believed to be the first to explore the dose-effect relationship between vitamin D levels and dental caries. The results differ from recent studies that showed an inconclusive association between dental caries and
A new drug combination shows promise for treating HPV-negative patients with advanced head and neck cancer (HNC), according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The results are promising for individuals with HNC, noted a team led by Dr. Julie Bauman of the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC. “Our study was conducted in patients with heavily resistant head and neck
California-based Pro-Craft Dental Laboratory is offering a free 30-day trial of Align Technology’s iTero intraoral scanner. The scanner allows dentists to send restorative scans in STL format to Pro-Craft within minutes, allowing restorations to be completed within three working days. Qualifying dental practices will receive scanners within two days. To learn more about the promotion, visit the lab’s website.
Two teens who previously used antibiotic topical acne gels experienced anaphylaxis following administration of IV clindamycin prior to third-molar surgeries, according to a case report published in Oral Surgery. Prior to their surgeries, both patients had only previously been exposed to clindamycin via topical acne gels, which may have primed their immune systems for anaphylaxis when they internally received the antibiotic. These are believed to be the first two reported
An expanded dental workforce could improve the oral health of U.S. children, according to a study published last March in JAMA Health Forum. The findings are good news, especially since tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among U.S. children, according to a news release issued by the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston regarding the study. “[The impact of tooth decay] is felt most acutely in low income,
Any surgery done on your surrounding oral and facial structures such as your jaw, gums, and even teeth can be considered oral surgery. However, most people consider those involving actual surgeons as surgical, as opposed to ordinary tooth extractions. They’re done by an oral surgeon, a periodontist, or a maxillofacial surgeon depending on the specific oral area that requires surgery. They’re specialists who have studied and practiced the most advanced
Providers may expect higher levels of oral disease among patients with adverse mental health conditions, according to a study presented on March 17 at the annual meeting of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) and the Canadian Association for Dental Research in Portland, OR. A group led by Alex Kalaigian of the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry analyzed self-reported data from 30,753 participants
More U.S. patients worry they could experience skin hypersensitivity, including itchiness and a rash, due to an allergic reaction to nickel and other metals used in medical devices, including dental implants, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. Metal, specifically nickel, is one of the most common culprits of allergic contact dermatitis, which can cause intense itching, pain, blisters, hives, and dryness. However, since immune systems react to allergens
The latest draft monograph from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Toxicology Program (NTP) has removed the hazard classification of fluoride. It is the latest development in the agency’s effort to publish its report on fluoride exposure and potential neurodevelopmental effects in humans. On March 15, the NTP released a working draft from September 2022 of its fluoride monograph. The draft includes changes based on two reviews
By: Alexandra Gage, Colorado Orthodontic Foundation In 2020, a very tough year for non-profits, the Metro Denver Dental Society (MDDS) found a way to make one of their annual fundraising events more successful than ever! The 2020 MDDS Shred Event was held in late September—pushed later in the year due to COVID delays and caution— brought in more boxes of materials to be shredded and a record amount of funds
Artemis Khazaie, DDSGeneral DentistArvada, CO What influenced your decision to choose dentistry as a career?From palatal expanders to braces and headgear, I spent a lot of time in the dental chair. The treatment process was always intriguing, and I often wondered what it would be like from the dentist’s perspective. Later, in college, I watched a periodontist place a bone graft. He walked me through the procedure and the final
By: Dr. Joel Small and Dr. Edwin McDonald Many of us are familiar with the concept of cognitive dissonance. Described initially by Leon Festinger in 1957, the theory of cognitive dissonance proposes that humans seek psychological consistency between their current reality and their perceived ideal reality. When a gap exists between the two, psychological tension, or dissonance occurs. The more significance and value one attributes to the perceived ideal state,