Root canal therapy (RCT) is a common dental procedure that is performed when the soft tissue inside of the tooth, known as the pulp, becomes infected. The infection can be caused by a number of things, including tooth decay, a cracked tooth, or trauma to the tooth. Root canals are nothing to be afraid of—millions of them are performed every year! In fact, they often save teeth that would otherwise
Remimazolam had a higher success rate in sedating patients undergoing outpatient oral surgery compared to midazolam, according to a study published on September 15 in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Despite its ultrashort half-life, remimazolam required fewer additional doses, the authors wrote. The small study is believed to be the first to evaluate the sedation effects of remimazolam in outpatient oral surgery in relation to midazolam. “It can
A newly developed topical gel that targets a major driver of periodontitis may prevent and treat gum disease, according to a new animal study published on September 20 in Cell Reports. Since no similar treatments exist, the gel could pave the way for noninvasive, at-home gum disease treatment. The new study focuses on the use of succinate, a molecule produced during metabolism, which is thought to treat gum disease by
Diazepam, a medication that is commonly prescribed for patients with anxiety or insomnia, may aid in wound closure following a gingival graft, reports an article published on September 15 in the Journal of Dental Sciences. Providers commonly use sedatives for patients who have dental anxiety in daily practice, but the direct influence of these substances on the healing of periodontal tissues has remained unknown. In this study, researchers analyzed the
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons donated nearly $5 million to political campaign committees in the last decade to help influence U.S. elections, but the top dollars didn’t go to the big parties, according to an abstract published on September 15 in a Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery supplement. Between 2013 and 2022, surgeons gave more money to nonpartisan-affiliated committees than to their Republican and Democratic counterparts. Geography also played a
Dear DrBicuspid Member, Most clinical trials investigating the use of fluoride for caries prevention focus on children and adolescents. But preventive measures that work for other age groups may not apply to older adults. Our top story of the week covered a new review that sought to overcome this knowledge gap. The review discovered that there was not one type of fluoride that was superior to others when it comes
As part of a presentation delivered on September 13 at the 231st Meeting of the National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council, former Harvard School of Dental Medicine dean Dr. R. Bruce Donoff related two examples that stress the importance of a partnership between dentistry and medicine to ensure optimal patient-centered care. Donoff told the stories during his lecture on the consequences of the long separation between medical and dental education
Carestream Dental is giving a preview of its stackable guide solution for use with full-arch implant restorations at the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) annual meeting in New Orleans. It is the latest technology addition to the SMOP implant planning system from Swissmeda, Carestream Dental’s clinical software and services portfolio. The company said the stackable guide can be designed from a single workflow. In addition, the templates
The North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners approved proposed changes to its rules on anesthesia and sedation following the death of a patient during a routine dental procedure in 2020, according to a report by WECT News in Raleigh. The board is proposing requiring capnography during anesthesia, a technology that monitors a patient’s breathing, level of sedation, and airway management, to alert dental providers in real time if a
Henry Schein is displaying a range of its products at this week’s American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) annual conference in New Orleans. New products on display include 3D printers, intraoral scanners, and air purification systems, as well as emergency medication management, patient monitoring, and anesthesia offerings, according to the company. Henry Schein team members will also be performing product demonstrations for the Avante anesthesia portable unit, the
Coding for a coronectomy can confuse dentists and insurance coordinators and lead to claim denials. Though the code for an intentional partial tooth removal has been in the Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature (CDT) code set since about 2011, it often isn’t used correctly to distinguish between intentional versus unintentional removal of tooth structure. D7251: Coronectomy — intentional partial tooth removal Estela Vargas. Code 7251 refers to an intentional
Patients taking prednisolone following a tooth extraction may experience delayed healing of the extraction socket. A study published on September 8 in the Journal of Dental Sciences identified specific dosages of prednisolone and other factors associated with delayed healing of the extraction site. The study included 80 patients who had a tooth extracted under local anesthesia and were taking prednisolone orally. Patients were divided into groups based on their healing,