Surprising factors that may cause more caries in kids

Factors including sex, unhealthy lifestyles, and problematic internet use (PIU) may significantly increase the risk of caries in pediatric patients, according to research recently published in BMC Oral Health. Furthermore, making small changes, including encouraging kids not to skip breakfast, having appropriate bedtimes, and reducing screen time, may help prevent cavities in children, the authors wrote. “Being a girl, having an undesirable lifestyle, and PIU were significantly associated with multiple

5 dentists give their take on fluoride’s future and its impact on dentistry

Editor’s note: With Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it is possible that the rumblings from November of fluoride being removed from public water systems, could come true. Using that as a potential backdrop, we asked five dentists for their opinions on the move and how it could impact dentistry. Here’s what they said. Over the last century, communities

How obesity can negatively affect orthodontics

A higher body mass index (BMI) may affect orthodontic treatment (OT) by altering craniofacial development and periodontal response. This review study was recently published in Seminars in Orthodontics. Additionally, obesity may be linked to increased oral proinflammatory biomarkers and may affect pain perception during orthodontic tooth movement (OTM), the authors wrote. “Orthodontists and dentists should incorporate BMI evaluation in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning and educate patients regarding the negative

What the tooth fairy is shelling out for lost teeth

Money appears to be tight for the tooth fairy. For the second consecutive year, the average value of a single lost tooth in the U.S. in 2025 plummeted by 14%, according to results from the Delta Dental Plans Association “2025 Original Tooth Fairy Poll.” The average value of a lost tooth fell 83¢ from $5.84 to $5.01, which marks one of the most dramatic year-over-year declines in tooth fairy giving

Advancements in periodontal and peri-implant disease classification: Insights from Dr. Gustavo Avila-Ortiz

Dr. Gustavo Avila-Ortiz, a distinguished figure in periodontics, has an extensive educational and professional background. He obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and completed a PhD training program at the University of Granada in Spain. He furthered his education with an Master of Science degree and certification in periodontics from the University of Michigan. Dr. Gustavo Avila-Ortiz. Dr. Avila-Ortiz is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and

Dental Duets: 25 years of dental technology — hits, misses, and future winners

Dr. John Flucke was one of the first key opinion leaders I met when I entered the dental industry more than 20 years ago. He quickly became one of my go-to guys when it came to understanding the latest advances in dental technology. There’s a reason why he’s widely known as dentistry’s “technology evangelist.” For decades, he was the chief dental editor and technology editor for Dental Products Report. He’s

Poor oral health may hurt more than teeth

Poor oral health (OH) may contribute to higher pain levels in patients with bodily pain, highlighting a possible link between the oral microbiome and the nervous system. This study was published in Frontiers in Pain Research. Furthermore, certain oral pathogenic species may have a significant association with body pain and migraine headaches in women, the study’s authors wrote. “We report lower OH scores and higher abundance of a range of

What mouth rinses may do to some restorations

Extended use of certain mouth rinses may cause discoloration of CAD-CAM resin-based restorations, with the extent potentially affected by material and rinse type. This study was published recently in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. For example, CAD-CAM resin-based materials, especially resin nanoceramics (BRC), may show significant color change when exposed to alcohol-containing mouth rinses (LIS), the authors wrote. “When selecting mouth rinses for patients with these restorations, both the formulation

The future of noninvasive orthodontics may rely on this

The protein ATF6 may be a promising target for developing noninvasive orthodontic treatments by playing a role in triggering the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha, or TNFα, in immune cells called macrophages, according to a news release. Furthermore, this process may hasten bone remodeling, potentially making orthodontic treatment more efficient, according to the story dated April 15. “This protein not only accelerates tooth movement by influencing inflammation but also

Sensei, DentalMonitoring partner

Carestream Dental’s practice management brand Sensei has integrated with DentalMonitoring with the goal of enhancing digital orthodontic care. The partnership aims to bring real-time artificial intelligence-powered monitoring and 3D visualization into Sensei Cloud Ortho for orthodontists.

Want to improve root canals? Maybe use a microscope

Using a microscope during root canal treatment may improve outcomes and aid in handling complex cases with a more favorable prognosis, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Dentistry. Furthermore, microscope-assisted root canal treatment (RCTx) may significantly improve preoperative pain, reduce apical lesions, and increase the rate of successful patient outcomes, the authors wrote. “We uncovered that microscope-assisted RCTx may contribute to complete apical healing and tooth

These factors may complicate jaw fractures

Certain factors, including tobacco use and substance abuse, may increase the risk of complications in mandible fracture treatment. This study was published recently in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Furthermore, smoking and illicit drug use may be linked to higher rates of wound infections, incorrect bone alignments or deformities, and refractures, the authors wrote. “Refrainment from substance use in general was associated with fewer complications,” wrote the authors,