Podcast: How to start talking to patients about the oral-systemic connection

There is no question that there is a direct link between patients’ oral health and overall health. However, many dental professionals have reported that communicating that connection is more difficult than expected. Plus, when topics are difficult, we human beings often push them into the background of our priorities. With those difficulties in mind, we reconnected with dental pharmacology expert Tom Viola, RPh, on the latest episode of the Dental

CDHP changes direction

The Children’s Dental Health Project (CDHP) is turning over control of its online public health policy and advocacy research and analysis to health advocacy organization Community Catalyst. The move comes as CDHP, a Washington, DC-based think tank established in 1997 to provide dental coverage for all children, plans to expand its focus and no longer operate as an independent nonprofit, as of year’s end. Meg Booth, CDHP’s executive director, said

Burning incense linked to changes in oral bacteria

Burning incense is associated with changes to oral bacteria, including those from the Streptococcus family, according to a recent study from an international team of researchers. The findings suggest that even occasional incense use can alter the composition of the oral cavity. A team of 28 researchers analyzed saliva samples from more than 300 residents of the United Arab Emirates, a country where incense use is common for religious ceremonies

ADA, Scholastic offer new tools for Tiny Smiles program

The ADA and publisher Scholastic have invited family physicians to use new tools and resources for their Tiny Smiles dental health program. Available in both English and Spanish, the resources promote the importance of oral health in infants and young children. The free Tiny Smiles PDF kits feature activity sheets for children, tips to share with parents, and a miniposter to display in clinics. Program resources also are available for

The importance of banking natural tooth structure

I’m a progressive dentist. However, when it comes to preserving tooth structure, I’m a conservative guy. With 24 years of practice and thousands of restorations under my belt, I’ve learned that the best dentists bank tooth structure whenever possible. All images courtesy of Dr. David Rice. You see, we can do the following: ul.editorialList li {margin-bottom:12px;} Continue to educate ourselves at places like the Dawson Academy or Spear. Elevate our

Tiger in Germany gets gold-toothed smile

Cara, a Bental tiger in Germany, is ready for her closeup. Donning a shiny new gold canine crown may have earned the 125-lb tiger celebrity status, falling into the not-too-shabby group of entertainers, like Beyonce, Pharrell, and Rhianna, who sport blinged-out smiles. The 6-year-old tiger earned the flashiest smile in the jungle after she broke her canine while chewing on toys. A team of international experts came to repair the

U.K. teeth condition worse now than in 17th century

Modern-day British people have more tooth loss and decay than British people from as far back as the 17th century, according to a study covered by the U.K. newspaper Daily Mail. The researchers from Queen Mary University in London examined the teeth of 224 adult skulls from the 17th century and compared them to the teeth of 2,013 current Londoners. On average, the 17th century skulls had nine missing or

Dental stem cells may help restore breast tissue

Stem cells of the teeth can develop into milk-producing cells when placed into mammary glands of mice, according to a study published on October 22 in the journal Cells. The potential of dental epithelial stem cells to facilitate tooth repair has drawn considerable interest from the dental community in recent years. However, the ability of these stem cells to promote cell growth in nondental tissues is less understood. In the

Want to play? The game may include unwanted dental work

Anyone interested in experiencing their own personal nightmares can make a reservation to visit the McKamey Manor haunted house in Chattanooga, TN, which promises an extreme experience that may include unwanted dental work, getting pierced, slapped, and repeatedly submerged into water. The tour, which lasts about 10 hours, promises an experience unlike any other and a prize of thousands of dollars to anyone who completes it. No one ever has.

The Causes and Treatments of Pyorrhea

Pyorrhea, more popularly known as periodontitis, is one of the most widespread dental conditions for humans. This type of dental sickness occurs when the periodontium tissues that surround and support your teeth become compromised. When left untreated, pyorrhea can lead to you lose teeth or outright ending up losing teeth when push comes to shove. Tooth loss happens because you start losing the alveolar bone surrounding the teeth as your

How to Maintain Healthy Oral Hygiene

Dental care habits can literally make or break your teeth. The quality of your smile, the strength of your bite, and your capacity to chew all depend on how well you take care of your pearly whites. That’s why it’s essential for you to practice good habits such as brushing your teeth, flossing the gaps between your teeth, and gargling mouthwash. All of these help eradicate nasty bacteria that feed

Week in Review: Dental practices and the law | Nomination time | Podcasts and more

We are officially into November and the last two months of 2019. It’s going to be a quick finish to the year and the decade as well, thanks in part to all the holiday happenings that will be occurring between now and when we welcome in 2020 with renewed hopes and expectations. This is a good time to be planning how you’re going to survive the December schedule with patients