Gum disease may affect COVID-19 severity

Patients with inflammation caused by periodontitis may experience more severe COVID-19 complications, according to an article published online July 30 in the Journal of the California Dental Association. Good oral hygiene prevents bacteria in the gums from entering the bloodstream and triggering inflammation, which prompts the release of the protein interleukin-6 (IL-6). Since high IL-6 levels can destroy tissue and the linings in blood vessels and lungs and reduce oxygen,

Want Great Dental Insurance? How to Boost Benefits & Save Money

Your family depends on dental insurance. It helps control costs and makes it possible for your family to afford the dental care you need. While dental insurance makes your family’s dental needs manageable and affordable, you likely pay for it — either through your employer or out of pocket through the Health Insurance Marketplace set up by the Affordable Care Act. But here’s the surprising thing — most families don’t

Q&A with Dr. Sam Low on dental aerosols, lasers, and the role of the hygienist after COVID-19

I recently had the opportunity to connect via Zoom with Sam Low, DDS, an associate faculty member of the Pankey Institute for more than 25 years and professor emeritus at the University of Florida’s College of Dentistry. Sam Low, DDS. Dr. Low and I have discussed the world of dentistry at multiple trade shows and dental meetings. With many of his lectures focusing on the periodontal aspect of dentistry, I thought

Candibell launches crowdfunding campaign for Truthbrush

Candibell has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo for a device parents can use to track their children’s toothbrushing habits. Truthbrush also allows dentists to monitor patients’ brushing habits, the company said. The device gathers data about how long the child brushed and areas of the mouth that were missed; dentists can access the data through an online portal and offer patients direction on how to improve brushing habits, according

Dental implant fails twice from growth of rare cystic lining

A patient’s dental implant failed twice due to a cystic lining growing around it, in a rare case that was detected without signs of periapical radiolucency on an x-ray, according to a case report. Initially, a clinical exam and scans mistakenly showed that the failure was due to peri-implantitis-related bone loss. The case highlights the importance of having tissue examined for histopathology, according to the report published online July 3

Case report showcases benefits of oral surgery via diode laser

Diode laser-assisted oral surgery offers many advantages when removing benign, premalignant, or malignant lesions or venous malformations from patients’ oral cavities, according to a case report published on July 20 in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science. Benefits include decreasing the amount of local anesthesia required, improving the speed and precision of procedures, and avoiding the need for stitches, the authors wrote. Their report showcases the use of diode laser-assisted

Align signs with the New Orleans Saints

Align Technology’s Invisalign brand has become the “Official Smile” partner of the New Orleans Saints in the National Football League (NFL). The multiyear partnership will focus on building awareness and generating demand for Invisalign treatment across social and digital platforms to engage consumers and highlight the benefits of the clear aligner treatment, according to Align. The Invisalign brand and the Saints have also teamed up with defensive end Cam Jordan

Invisalign brand now NFL’s official clear aligner sponsor

Align Technology’s Invisalign brand has become the official clear aligner sponsor of the National Football League (NFL). Through the agreement, the NFL will feature the Invisalign brand in multimedia advertising during the NFL season and off-season, including at league events and through the use of in-office marketing. It also allows Align to utilize the extended network of NFL-sponsored channels to connect with dentists and consumers. In addition, patients will be

DEA to raise prescriber fee on October 1

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will raise its prescriber registration fee from $731 to $888 on October 1, according to the California Dental Association (CDA). The fee will apply to renewals and new applications for DEA prescriber registration, which is required for dentists in California who prescribe, administer, or dispense opioids or any controlled substance. The price increase will apply to applications submitted on or after October 1 and

Dementia, mild cognitive decline linked to gum disease

Dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may be linked to periodontal disease, specifically the type of gum damage that results in tooth loss, according to a study published online July 29 in Neurology. Approximately 19% of participants who had varying degrees of gum disease and were followed for 20 years developed dementia, researchers found. “Periodontal disease was modestly associated with incident MCI and dementia in a community-based cohort,” wrote the

Smile design sins: How not to kill your reputation with veneers

Whether it’s porcelain veneers or composite bonding, anterior restorative treatment will make your reputation — or destroy it. With that, our third of the seven deadly sins has nothing to do with tooth-born materials. It’s about the tissue. I’ll explain. Take this image. Always considering our first deadly sin (assumptions and not making them on behalf of our patient’s desires), the average length of a good-looking central incisor falls between

SmileDirectClub unveils program for teens

SmileDirectClub has launched SmileDirectClub Teen, a program aimed at teeth straightening for teenagers. SmileDirectClub Teen uses the company’s characteristic clear aligners but also provides features tailored to teens on its telehealth platform. It is designed to cost significantly less than traditional metal braces, according to Chief Global Brand Officer Josh Chapman. SmileDirectClub is introducing SmileDirectClub Teen. Image courtesy of SmileDirectClub. The program’s unique features for teens include a patented aligner