Endodontics Insider: Regenerative endo treatments show promise in trial

Dear Endodontics Insider, Root canal treatment is the hallmark of endodontic practice, but a small, randomized trial out of Egypt showed that regenerative procedures could be a viable alternative in some cases. In the 20-patient trial, two types of regenerative procedures demonstrated success for mature necrotic anterior teeth with large periapical lesions. Learn more about the types of endodontic procedures and the promising patient outcomes in this edition’s Insider Exclusive.

Rare vascular lesions detected on dental x-rays

Rare and noncancerous but aggressive vascular maxillofacial lesions, which can damage bones and nerves if untreated, were detected as incidental findings on two patients’ dental x-rays. The cases were published on February 12 in the Australian Dental Journal. Asymptomatic juvenile angiofibroma was detected on the radiographs of a 15-year-old boy and 26-year-old man who underwent imaging in preparation for orthodontic treatment. Identifying the lesions facilitated early diagnosis and treatment, the

Jacksonville University adds implantology certificate program

Jacksonville University has introduced a three-year Master of Science in Dentistry program with a certificate in comprehensive oral implantology. The program, which will launch this summer, is supported by the Comprehensive Oral Implantology Residency Foundation (COIRF) and will use the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) postgraduate core curriculum. Once they complete the program, residents will be ready to sit for the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry (ABOI/ID) written

Ultradent launches new root canal sealer

Dental material manufacturer Ultradent Products has launched MTApex, a bioceramic root canal sealer. The sealer can be used with any endodontic obturation method. It has a smooth consistency that is designed to be delivered through Ultradent’s 29-gauge single sideport NaviTip. The proprietary gel and tricalcium silicate powder mixture can fill about 20 canals, according to the company. MTApex bioceramic root canal seal. Image courtesy of Ultradent.

Cinematic, volume rendering offer value in facial skeleton CT

Although clinicians may prefer the photorealistic presentation of cinematic rendering, volume rendering also has discernible benefits in computed tomography (CT) scans of the facial skeleton, according to research published online February 9 in Annals of Anatomy. A team from the University of Zurich in Switzerland, led by Tobias Steffen, had 10 dentists view 10 cases of CT or cone-beam CT exams reconstructed with cinematic rendering or volume rendering. After reviewing

Can kids breathe away their dental fear?

Children with dental anxiety may experience benefits such as improved mood and less self-reported pain by using a simple breathing technique during treatment, according to a study published on February 13 in the International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry. The study explored the benefits of diaphragmatic breathing, which is when one consciously engages the diaphragm to take deeper breaths. This type of breathing could decrease visit times for children with dental

Cuspies winners highlight link between oral, overall health

HuangshanDental.com is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 Cuspies awards. Many of the people, products, and events that took home a trophy address the relationship between oral and overall health — a connection that is looking increasingly important over time. The winning educators focus their lectures on the oral-systemic connection, speaking to the side effects of pharmaceutical agents, how to collaborate with medical colleagues, and tips for patient

Oral bacteria may influence diabetes kidney complications

In a recent study of patients with chronic periodontitis, oral bacteria significantly differed in patients who also had diabetic nephropathy, a common diabetes-related kidney complication. One oral bacteria species in particular may be able to signal patients with renal involvement. Researchers looked at the saliva samples of 30 patients with diabetes and chronic periodontitis. They used a database to analyze and compare oral microbiomes between 15 patients with diabetic nephropathy

ADA celebrates 20th anniversary of Give Kids A Smile

The ADA is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Give Kids A Smile program, which has provided free oral healthcare education and services to more than 7 million underserved children in the U.S. Approximately $20 million in oral care products has also been donated by supplier partners, the ADA said. Nearly 1,000 program events are scheduled to take place throughout the U.S. this year, and about 300,000 underserved children will receive

What you need to know about bruxism and vitamin D

The severity of tooth clenching and grinding that patients experience may be associated with their vitamin D levels, according to a study published February 6 in Clinical and Experimental Dental Research. Blood tests revealed that individuals with low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]), the metabolized form of vitamin D that is used to assess deficiency, reported having moderate and severe bruxism, the authors wrote. “It appears that there is a

Yellow teeth deemed unattractive, unhealthy in new survey

A majority of people said yellow teeth are unattractive in a recent survey conducted by market research platform DentaVox. The results belie a prejudice that people with yellow teeth are unhealthy. In the survey of 4,906 people, 80% of respondents said yellow teeth are less attractive than white teeth. Additionally, 38% of respondents described their teeth as yellow, and of this group, 33% cited poor oral health as the main

Periodontal disease and COVID-19: Is there a correlation?

The SARS-CoV-2 virus causing COVID-19 has plunged the world into a major crisis. The disease is characterized by strong infectivity, high morbidity, and high mortality. Recently, periodontal disease has been identified as a potential risk factor for COVID-19 infections. From gut to mouth to COVID-19 Dr. Alvin Danenberg. The spread of inflammation from the gut to other organ systems is like the spokes of a bicycle tire spreading out from