The age, country of birth, and marital status of household members better predict the prevalence of dental caries, sealants, and restorations in children than education, according to a new study published in BMC Oral Health on August 27. The goal of the study was to determine whether age, birthplace, and marital status were as dependable predictors as income and education for dental sealants, restorations, and caries in children ages 5
The U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) has awarded a $12.5 million grant to the University of Southern California (USC) to create new research data for the university’s craniofacial research hub. The USC researchers will use the funds to help create FaceBase III, a freely available collection of DNA samples and datasets of genetic information, manuscripts, images, videos, and scans of human faces related
Tooth or jaw pain may be symptoms of a headache, according to new research from the journal Neurology. Up to 10% of people with headaches also experience orofacial pain, and tooth or jaw pain may be the only headache symptom for some people. The study included thousands of people who visited a clinic specifically for headache problems. Facial pain was associated with all types of headaches, but it was much
It is unclear whether receiving dental treatment before cardiac valve surgery improves patient outcomes, according to a systematic review recently published in the Journal of the American Dental Association. The researchers wanted to determine if performing dental procedures before cardiac valve surgery or left ventricular assist device implantation affected postsurgical outcomes. Outcomes included all-cause mortality, rates of infective endocarditis and other infections, and lengths of hospital stay. The review included
Can a violet light-emitting diode (LED) system offer an alternative to teeth-whitening procedures using concentrated peroxides, which can damage dental pulp? Researchers conducted a small case series and found it might be a valid option. Violet LED light was effective, especially in combination with carbamide peroxide, they reported in Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy (August 22, 2019). Teeth whitening is one of the most sought-after treatments by patients. However, some of
The Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners is reviewing whether a Phoenix endodontist violated professional standards and a patient’s privacy by responding to a negative Yelp review, according to an article on AZFamily.com. Gus Khalifa, DDS, of Canyon Ridge Endodontics in Phoenix, is under review by the board for publicly responding to a patient who left a review on August 12, encouraging others to “stay away” from the practice. An
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics on August 19 has reported an association between fluoride exposure during pregnancy and IQ scores of Canadian children. Researchers measured fluoride exposure for 512 Canadian mothers through urine samples collected during each trimester of their pregnancy. About 40% of the mothers lived in fluoridated communities, and the remaining 60% lived in nonfluoridated communities. IQ scores were collected in two areas of intelligence: Verbal IQ
Transgender and gender-nonconforming patients often feel welcome, or at least neutral, when visiting the dental office, according to new study findings in the Journal of the American Dental Association. The same isn’t always true when they receive care in other medical settings. Researchers from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital asked transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) youth about their experiences in oral healthcare settings. Their biggest reported burden to care wasn’t acceptance but insurance,
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
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
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
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