Clinical tip: Ditch the flipper and wow your patients with a one-wing Maryland bridge

For clinicians restoring anterior implants, finding an ideal temporary solution can be challenging. Traditional options like flippers, Essix retainers, or stay plates often disappoint patients with compromised aesthetics, stability, comfort, and burdensome oral hygiene maintenance. What if there were a way to provide your patients with a permanent-looking bonded provisional that looks, feels, and functions just like the final prosthetic? In the latest “Weekly Bytes” video from Dr. Dan Butterman,

Is this the easy way to get patients to improve gum health?

Personalized instructional videos plus using antigingivitis toothpaste and an interdental brush may improve gum health better than using that same toothpaste and following standard oral hygiene advice. The study was published in the Journal of Dentistry. Videos with tailored oral hygiene advice (OHA) enhance adherence to oral hygiene (OH) practices and offer visual cues and the option of replaying the advice, which may lead to better comprehension and reinforcement, the

Severe tooth pain leads to rare cancer discovery

What began as “extreme pain” for Brian Hooks eventually turned into a head-shaking and life-changing discovery. Hooks, a veteran of the U.S. Army, went to his local dentist trying to figure out what was causing the pain. After multiple visits to his dentist as well as an endodontist, oral surgeon, and ear, nose and throat specialist, the pain was still there. “I’ve been grinding my teeth since I was a

The real cause of jaw pain imitating TMD revealed

A man was diagnosed and treated for a rare infection that caused a mass in the lateral pterygoid muscle after temporomandibular disorder (TMD) treatment failed to ease his persistent jaw pain. The case report was published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science. Ultimately, the man was diagnosed with cysticercosis, an infection caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm. This case emphasizes the importance of clinicians considering various diagnoses and

Man sues, claiming device left him with permanent dental injuries

A man in California has filed a lawsuit against the designers of a device that was marketed to correct dental and facial abnormalities, claiming it is dangerous and left him with pain, jaw problems, tooth damage, and permanent injuries. Joseph Dimola filed on July 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Terre Haute Division, a product liability lawsuit against the makers of the Anterior Growth

CBT may improve pain relief, well-being in TMD patients

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may effectively improve pain and quality of life in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), according to a systematic review published in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation. Patients experienced significant pain reduction, improved jaw function, and better psychological well-being when receiving CBT alone, combined with conventional treatments, or paired with hypnotic therapy, the authors wrote. “This systematic review highlights the potential benefits of CBT in managing TMDs, suggesting

Probiotics may reduce this oral bacterium but little else in kids

In children, probiotics may reduce the presence of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), a germ commonly linked to caries, but they do not significantly affect other dental issues. The meta-analysis was recently published in the International Dental Journal. Furthermore, probiotics showed no significant impact on dental caries, the Lactobacillus count, the bacterial plaque index, the gingival index, or salivary pH, the authors wrote. “Probiotics were likely to decrease the amount of S.

Most don’t know about the periodontitis-chronic disease link

About 75% of patients are unaware of the connection between periodontitis and other diseases regardless of their socioeconomic status, periodontal health, or access to care. This large study was recently published in the Journal of Periodontal Research. Despite the well-documented associations between these conditions and periodontitis, this lack of awareness persists even among those with periodontitis, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes, the authors wrote. “The present findings highlight the urgent

Woman dies after swallowing dental plate

In what appears to be a tragic medical oversight at Cork University Hospital (CUH) in Ireland, a 33-year-old woman from Kanturk died following complications after swallowing her dental plate. Despite an initial x-ray, which did not detect the foreign object, Beata Kunicka was subsequently discharged by CUH staff and later died. According to an article in the The Irish Times, the High Court heard that CUH has apologized to the

Penn Dental repairs nerves with gum tissue stem cells

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine are transforming stem cells from gum tissue into cells that support nerve regeneration, according to a press release dated July 18 from the university. They have successfully transformed gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) into Schwannlike cells, which aid nerve regeneration by producing growth factors and myelin, the protective coating around nerves, according to the release. “We wanted to create a

What to know about the pineapple juice-related dental trend on TikTok

TikTok is one of the various social media platforms that the public is continuously watching. Research shows that TikTok users check the site frequently throughout the day, spending about an hour each day on the platform. Furthermore, TikTok users typically range from teenagers to young adults, but its main users are those age 35 and younger. Anyone can post a video about any subject for their audience on TikTok. Videos

These dental surgeries may put you at risk for litigation

The rapid adoption of technology without careful review may have led to unproven surgeries, specifically for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), opening clinicians to legal repercussions. The article was published in the Journal of the American Dental Association. In addition to moving away from outdated mechanical beliefs and the fast adoption of innovations like 3D imaging, orthodontists should integrate TMD research into clinical practice to improve outcomes, protect patients, and sidestep legal