Abusive childhood may be linked to TMD development

Maltreatment that patients experience during childhood can cause psychological deterioration that may lead to the development of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), according to a research article. The study was published on October 13 in the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The study highlights the importance of screening and detecting possible childhood trauma, including physical abuse and emotional neglect, in patients with TMDs. “Therefore, patients who suffer from TMD should

Orthodontist, former NBA player dies

Dr. Terry Dischinger, a longtime orthodontist in Oregon and a former National Basketball Association (NBA) player who always gave to others, died at the age of 82 on October 10, according to a press release from the NBA. Before becoming an orthodontist, Dischinger was a forward in the NBA for almost a decade and played his last season with the Portland Trail Blazers during the 1972-1973 season. Despite his 6-ft

RevBio gets $2M to develop bone graft with pain drug

RevBio has received a $2 million grant to fund the preclinical development of a bone graft that will release locally acting nonopioid pain medication. Its bone graft candidate, Tetranite, would be used to fill extraction sites and mitigate postoperative pain following wisdom teeth removal. Also, the material will occlude the socket and reduce the potential for dry socket. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded the grant via its

Dentsply Sirona launches clear aligner simulator

Dentsply Sirona has launched SureSmile Simulator1, an application that shows patients their expected outcomes after completing clear aligner therapy. The 3D visualization of a patient’s possible new smile includes automated modeling and tooth segmentation, which is driven by artificial intelligence. The simulator aims to provide treatment estimation and case complexity level for a scan in less than five minutes.

What dentists are saying about managing pediatric pain

Dentists reported that pediatric pain management practices need to improve, because controlling pain, as well as anxiety or fear, in kids is a problem. The study was published on October 25 in the Journal of the American Dental Association. Furthermore, dentists reported high use of evidence-based pain management (EBPM) strategies, low use of validated pain-assessment tools, and were very interested professional development opportunities focused on nonpharmacologic pain management, the authors

Tooth was a real pain for U.S. Grand Prix driver

Scuderia Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was experiencing pain from a tooth infection, which he suspected was coming from a wisdom tooth, when he competed at the U.S. Grand Prix on October 21 and 22, according to news reports. The Monaco resident took painkillers to get through the races, which led him to finish 12th in a sprint race on October 21 and then sixth in the main race on October

The wild tale behind a denture made of deer teeth

If you’re ready for an odd story about ingenuity and dentures, let me introduce you to the tale of Francis Wharton, a Canadian who is immortalized through one of the strangest dental-related stories you will ever hear. Wharton, whom you can read more about here, as well as see his photo, was a man who lived off the land and earned the nickname of “The Backwoods Wizard.” He did what he

Dread in the dental chair: DrBicuspid’s 8 scariest case reports

Burned-out employees, difficult patients, and running a dental practice may be overwhelming — even frightening — but may pale in comparison to what may be seen in the dental chair. In the spirit of Halloween, DrBicuspid reviews 2023’s most hair-raising case reports. Our top story involves a toddler who had a seizure following a toothbrush injury. The child was left with life-altering complications. Other terrifying reports include the migration of

Halloween candy that can be a nightmare for teeth

More than one-third of people in the U.S. experience candy-related dental problems, including damaged crowns, according to survey results. As people dig into Halloween treats today, they may want to shun treats most likely to torture teeth like Jawbreakers. Jawbreakers, Jolly Ranchers, and Bit-O-Honey may be the most dangerous candy for teeth, but they aren’t the only varieties, according to a survey of 1,002 adults in U.S. conducted in late-August

This killer combination takes a bite out of caries

The combination of ferumoxytol, an iron replacement, and stannous fluoride may eliminate dental caries in high-risk patients, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania. Ferumoxytol stabilizes stannous fluoride and together they form a protective film on tooth enamel, which may shield against further demineralization. Furthermore, the combination didn’t disrupt the oral microbiota and had no side effects on surrounding tissues, according to an animal

Dentists to get childhood trauma training to curb opioid crisis

The University of Missouri (MU) has received a grant to train healthcare workers, including dentists, virtually to work with patients who experienced adverse childhood events (ACEs) in a move to address the opioid epidemic and suicides. Research has shown that childhood trauma plays a role in predisposing individuals to substance abuse disorders, overdoses, and suicide. Also, children in rural areas face an increased risk of adverse childhood events, including abuse,

DMG launches new nanohybrid composite

DMG America’s new Ecosite Elements nanohybrid universal composite shade system for restorations is now available for purchase. Ecosite Elements composite. Image courtesy of DMG America. Features of the new composite include the following: A range of shades across three modules of pure, layer, and highlight Ergonomically packaged dispensers Nonclustering technology designed to improve polishability Demonstrations and complimentary samples of Ecosite Elements will be available at DMG America’s booth ( No.