The percentages of oral health and dentist visits are about the same in the U.S. and England, but what about the rates of opioid prescriptions? Researchers conducted an international study to find out. Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study of opioid prescriptions by dentists in the U.S. and England over a year. They reported that the proportion of prescriptions written by U.S. dentists was 37 times greater than those written by
Dental Tourism in Mexico has become very popular among Americans and Europeans. Although it’s become a popular practice, usually there are still concerns about visiting another country just for the purpose of receiving dental treatment. Due to the wide variety of high-quality dental procedures for an accessible price, Mexico is one of the top destinations when considering Dental Tourism. While there are many cities with great dental clinics, we know
Most parents seem to view their children’s dental health as a waiting game: Fix the cavities and then wait to see how everything straightens out — or doesn’t straighten out, in which case move directly to orthodontics. Martin Gorman, DDS. No doubt, orthodontic devices can assist adolescents and adults in achieving optimal dental health, but the opportunity to maximize corrective dental procedures comes only once in life during the active
Dear Restoratives Insider, New technologies and materials have made it easier to create and repair restorations, but do these CAD/CAM materials hold up as well as more-established materials? Researchers put four of them through their paces to find out. Read our Insider Exclusive. When a patient claims to brush and floss, but the decay keeps coming back, you probably ask yourself why. Dr. Jean Creasey spoke about caries risk factors, including
The ongoing opioid epidemic has responsible dental practitioners seeking effective means of pain relief for their patients. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are an option many practitioners recommend to their patients. These drugs (such as ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, and ketorolac) can reduce pain and inflammation. They also have the advantage of being able to be taken before and after oral surgery. In addition, NSAIDs can be combined with acetaminophen to have
Dennis Abbott, DDS, lives in the future. It’s not unusual for the general dentist to review blood work, salivary DNA analysis, and bacterial profiles before recommending patient treatment. He regularly talks with physicians, nurses, and psychologists, ensuring the whole medical team is on the same page for each patient’s care. Perhaps most importantly, he has a seat at the decision-making table. His colleagues on the medical side of the healthcare
It’s time for the dental office to be proactive about heart health, according to Karen Davis, RDH. Davis spoke about how dental teams can promote cardiovascular wellness at the 2019 California Dental Association’s CDA Presents meeting in Anaheim, CA. Karen Davis, RDH. Scientists already know oral and cardiovascular health are inextricably linked, and new research has suggested periodontal disease may even contribute to hardening of the arteries. By helping patients
The Dental Board of California is investigating the death of a 4-year-old boy who died after being sedated for a dental procedure at a practice in Oakland. Officials with the state dental board confirmed that they are looking into the case of Dũng Lý, who died after a procedure at an Oakland practice identified in news reports as Youthful Tooth. Lý was undergoing an extraction under sedation at the practice
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontal disease are both inflammatory, chronic, and progressive, but is there a link between the two? Researchers surveyed hundreds of patients with RA to find out. Previous research has noted that patients with RA have an increased frequency of periodontal disease when compared with healthy patients. The authors of the current study reported that their survey found that a significant portion of patients with RA also
A patient claims to brush and floss, but the decay keeps coming back. What gives? Jean Creasey, DDS, spoke about caries risk factors, including not-so-obvious ones, at the 2019 California Dental Association’s CDA Presents meeting in Anaheim, CA. Dr. Creasey, a private practice dentist, emphasized the importance of looking for clinical and behavioral caries risk factors during an oral exam. This includes nonobvious clues, such as poor salivary flow or not
A U.S. district judge has ruled that invisible-aligner manufacturer SmileDirectClub’s digital scans constitute the practice of dentistry. This ruling came as part of a decision in a case involving the company and the Georgia Board of Dentistry. SmileDirectClub filed a lawsuit against the dental board in May 2018. The company was contesting a Georgia rule that requires “digital scans for fabrication [of] orthodontic appliances” to be performed by an expanded
Insurer Delta Dental has released results from a survey showing that many U.S. adults are not familiar with key dental terms, such as sealant and periodontal disease. Delta Dental surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. adults and reported that, while 92% of respondents were familiar with plaque, more than 75% of adults were not familiar with terms such as caries and bruxism. A third of respondents reported they were not familiar