Antibiotic prescriptions vary by season, specialty

Dentists prescribe millions of antibiotics, but prescription trends vary by dental specialty and time of year, according to new research presented at the recent 2018 International Association of Dental Research (IADR ) meeting in London. Researchers looked at dental specialists’ antibiotic prescription data to evaluate long-term prescribing trends. They found that antibiotic prescriptions by pediatric dentists and orthodontists peaked during cold and flu season, which may represent an inappropriate use

ADA Foundation raises funds for special needs patients

The ADA Foundation is raising funds throughout August to benefit patients with physical, medical, developmental, or cognitive disabilities. Donated funds will be used to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that improve oral healthcare access for patients with special needs, including those with autism, Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, and spinal cord injuries. The ADA Foundation hopes to raise at least $125,000 from the dental community during the month. In addition, the

Week in Review: Renewed call for Medicare dental benefits | Nanoparticle biofilm disruption | Caries detection methods

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Multiple health advocacy organizations and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association are calling for the U.S. government to add dental benefits to Medicare. The latest movement started after Oral Health America published a white paper in support of adding dental healthcare to the $700 billion program. Read more about the potential benefits and costs here. In other news, researchers found that an iron-containing nanoparticle successfully disrupted pathogenic biofilms and

Nitrous Oxide & Oral Sedation For Better Dental Treatment

Being anxious during dental visits is common. People often feel this way, and they may find ways to avoid scheduling dental appointments. What they should expect however is, if they continue to disregard dental appointments their conditions may worsen. Neglect of anything that has to do with a person’s health may lead to several conditions. These conditions may even require intensive or extensive treatments to be corrected. At Avalon Dental

Nanoparticle shows promise for biofilm disruption

An iron-containing nanoparticle successfully disrupted pathogenic biofilms and prevented tooth decay without harming surrounding oral tissues or biofilms in a new study. The findings potentially open the door for developing a precise therapeutic approach for caries. Researchers tested ferumoxytol, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment for iron deficiency, and reported success at disrupting the biofilm that leads to caries. Their study was published on July 31 in Nature

China’s $60B tariffs would include dental products

If the U.S. government follows through on a threat to double tariffs on Chinese goods, China will retaliate by imposing tariffs on $60 billion worth of U.S. products, including several dental products, the Chinese government announced on August 3. China is preparing to add duties ranging from 5% to 25% on more than 5,000 U.S. goods. Both professional and personal oral healthcare items from the U.S. are on China’s current tariff

Types of Dental Implants in Thailand

Dental implants are frames or posts that are positioned through surgery right into the jawbone beneath the gums, usually on the tooth socket of a recently pulled tooth. This gives the implant a significant advantage over false teeth in terms of being as close as possible to natural teeth, including their placement into the jawbone itself. After they’ve been put into place, they enable the dentist to mount replacement teeth like

Materials testing stresses fracture resistance

Knowing how likely CAD/CAM materials are to fracture can help direct treatment planning. A new study put seven such materials through a stress test to see how they responded, and the researchers presented their findings at the recent 2018 International Association of Dental Research (IADR) meeting in London. The researchers wanted to see how the materials faired in a fatigue test as a way of predicting the likelihood of fracture.

Caries detection methods aren’t one-size-fits-all

What’s the best way to detect and measure caries? What are the pros and cons of some of the newer methods? To provide some answers, researchers from Brazil put three caries detection methods to the test. They compared results in the same population with the decayed, missing, and filled (DMF) index; the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS); and the Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST). The investigators found

All About Home Teeth Whitening or Bleaching Kits

It’s not surprising that people want only the best and most effective dental products possible for the maintenance and beautification of their teeth. That is why they’ll carefully choose everything – from their toothpaste to their dental floss and to their mouthwash – all in a bid to make sure that their teeth remain white and healthy. While most people are already well-informed about choosing dental products that will keep

What Are Dental Crowns in Sugar Land For, And Are They Worth It?

People will come across multiple dental procedures which can cater to their needs. Some dental issue can be corrected by multiple types of procedures making it hard to choose the best possible option. A solution which can restore a tooth’s appearance, as well as its overall function, would be ideal to most. Nowadays people are self-conscious about how they look and would prefer to restore their teeth by getting a

U.S. government commissions new report on oral health

The U.S. government has commissioned a new surgeon general’s report on oral health. The new report will be the first update since the original, landmark report was published in 2000. Like the original surgeon general’s report on oral health, the new report will help to define key issues affecting oral health in the U.S. and convey a vision for the future. It will also evaluate how recent trends have changed