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CDC: HPV vaccination rate continues to increase

The number of U.S. adolescents who have received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has increased almost three percentage points from 2017 to 2018, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Researchers analyzed data from a 2018 immunization survey for 18,700 adolescents to estimate U.S. adolescent vaccination coverage. During 2017-2018, the percentage of those who received at least one dose of the HPV

ASA survey respondents think marijuana safer than opioids

A majority of U.S. adult survey respondents who expressed interest in using marijuana or cannabinoids for pain relief believe these products are safer or have fewer side effects than opioids, according to the results of a new survey from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). The society reported that the survey results reflect a significant misunderstanding of the current research and laws regarding marijuana and cannabinioids: ul.editorialList li {margin-bottom:6px;} More

Email reminders may minimize daytime clenching, grinding

If you want patients to stop grinding their teeth, maybe you should email them. A new study found that patients who received regular email reminders significantly reduced their daytime nonfunctional tooth contact. The researchers suggested email reminders can help patients to effectively manage temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). They published their findings on August 16 in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation. “Our email-based recording and reminding system not only enables periodical monitoring

Week in Review: Prenatal fluoride exposure | Oral cancer screening issues | Orthodontist indicted

Dear DrBicuspid Member, A controversial study from JAMA Pediatrics found that prenatal fluoride exposure may have neurotoxic effects. Researchers reported that children in six Canadian cities with greater prenatal fluoride exposure had lower IQ scores as preschoolers. What are the implications of the new study? We don’t know, other than more research is needed. But this definitely is an opportunity for supporters of community water fluoridation to educate their patients

Whitening may prevent biofilm buildup on restored teeth

Whitening may prevent biofilm buildup on restored teeth, according to the findings of a new study. Restorations bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide and 15% carbamide peroxide had significantly lower levels of biofilm than those left untreated. Teeth whitening is a common in-office procedure, including for patients with composite restorations. Researchers from Iran studied whether whitening affects biofilm formation and surface roughness of these materials. They published their findings in the

Study finds elite athletes have poor oral health

Oral disease is prevalent in elite athletes despite the fact that they brush their teeth more than other patients, according to the findings of a U.K. survey. Most of the athletes indicated, however, that they would be willing to change their oral hygiene behavior to improve their oral health. Almost half of the elite and professional athletes from the U.K. in the study had caries, and nearly 22% of these

Preventing medicine-related osteonecrosis takes a team

Collaboration among dental professionals and pharmacists can help prevent medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), a rare condition that typically occurs following tooth extractions, according to an article published in the Pharmaceutical Journal on August 20. By working together, dentists and pharmacists can reach more patients and better educate them about the risks and complications of this painful and difficult-to-treat condition. MRONJ can develop while patients are taking medications prescribed

Can SDF reduce restoration bond strength? Yes and no

Can the application of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) affect restoration bond strength? The results are mixed, according to a new systematic review published in the International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry. The findings suggest that previous SDF application may affect resin composite adhesive systems but not glass ionomer cement. Fortunately, any negative effects appear to be mitigated by rinsing SDF before restoration placement. “The present systematic review showed that the prior

Smiles for Everyone launches free implant program

The Smiles for Everyone Foundation is launching a program to provide a free implant for selected low-income, uninsured patients. The Implanting Inspiration program will offer one implant at no cost to selected patients. The patient must be able to receive the treatment during 2019. Support for the program comes from dental service organization Smile Brands, dental manufacturer Implant Direct, and dental laboratory DDS Lab. This program is expected to provide

4 applications of cinematic rendering in maxillofacial CT

A new technique known as cinematic rendering can help create photorealistic images of head CT and cone-beam CT (CBCT) scans. Researchers assessed the potential benefits of integrating these images into the evaluation of maxillofacial anatomy and pathology in a study published in Dentomaxillofacial Radiology. Clinicians are increasingly turning to 3D image reconstruction to facilitate diagnosis and treatment planning for a variety of medical conditions. In the case of maxillofacial lesions,

Restoratives Insider: Whitening may prevent biofilm buildup on restored teeth

Dear Restoratives Insider, Whitening may prevent biofilm buildup on restored teeth, according to the findings of a new study. Restorations bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide and 15% carbamide peroxide had significantly lower levels of biofilm than those left untreated. Read more in our Insider Exclusive. Also in the Restoratives Community, a recent study found that tooth-colored restorations have a 58% five-year survival rate in residents of long-term care facilities. The

ADA responds to water fluoridation study

The ADA has reinforced its support for community water fluoridation in a statement on August 19 following a controversial fluoride study. The ADA noted that community water fluoridation is safe and effective, including at the 0.7-mg/L level currently recommended by the U.S. government. The statement follows the publication of a JADA Pediatrics study that found children with greater prenatal fluoride exposure had lower IQ scores as preschoolers. “The ADA is