Acidifying oceans are damaging shark teeth, researchers report. The findings offer a stark reminder of how acidic environments can weaken tooth structure — even in nature’s most formidable predators.
Integrating oral health into primary care has long been a professional goal for Harvard alumna and physician-dentist Lisa Simon. That goal is now taking on a broader scope following Simon’s recent appointment as director of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) Initiative to Integrate Oral Health and Medicine, a program focused on bridging the … Read more
Could tartar one day help detect diabetes? A new BMC Oral Health study found elevated potassium levels in dental calculus from patients with diabetes, raising questions about whether routine scaling could support earlier screening—pending larger studies.
A natural antioxidant called lycopene, found in red and pink fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, watermelon and grapefruit, has been associated with a reduced risk of severe periodontitis in older adults, according to a new observational study published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory gum disease that … Read more
American Dental Association (ADA) says new data from its Health Policy Institute (HPI) show U.S. dental practices remain under sustained financial pressure, driven by softening demand for care and rising operating costs. The Q4 2025 analysis combines dentist survey data with federal economic indicators to track confidence, patient demand, staffing trends, reimbursement and investment intentions … Read more
Researchers testing a naturally occurring amino acid found in saliva say it could help make dental plaque less damaging — and potentially reduce the risk of cavities before they start. In a small human clinical trial, scientists from Aarhus University found that arginine, an amino acid already present in the mouth, can alter dental plaque … Read more
Kiki is the first Tooth Fairy built for today’s world: a fully animated, movie-quality tooth fairy with warmth, humour, and an entire universe built around her.
Publications have documented supernumerary bicuspids arising up to 11 years after completion of development of normal teeth. This paper reports a case of late development of supernumerary fourth and fifth molars in the maxilla.
This case report describes a rare instance of a five-year-old pediatric patient who exhibited extreme refusal to eat or drink for approximately 1 week following anesthesia for full-mouth dental restorations.
Acute dental pain in children can stem from various conditions, such as extractions, pulpitis, or apical abscesses. Managing this pain effectively is crucial for improving the child’s comfort and reducing distress for both the patient and their caregivers.
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered that the Atlantic wolffish’s teeth contain a rare internal material that contracts in every direction when compressed — a mechanical behaviour almost never seen in natural mineralized tissues. The study, led by Prof. Ron Shahar of the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine at Hebrew University, found that … Read more
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) or Baby Bottle Syndrome (BBS) is a rampant form of tooth decay that destroys the newly erupted primary teeth very quickly. The tooth decay progresses at an astonishingly quick rate and will occur even before the tooth fully erupts.
With great care, orthodontic retainers would serve for a long time without any major issues. However, in some cases, the failure to notice the clinical problems early on results in functional issues that would require a comprehensive orthodontic treatment to correct it.
Oral health professionals, dentists and hygienists, are in a unique position to recognize and report signs of abuse and neglect during their dental exams and procedures as it is estimated over 50% of injuries from child abuse occur on the head and neck.
An artificial saliva developed from a sugarcane protein could help protect teeth in patients treated for head and neck cancer, a group at high risk of severe oral complications following radiotherapy. Researchers at the University of São Paulo’s Bauru School of Dentistry have developed a saliva substitute containing CANECPI-5, a protein extracted from sugarcane and … Read more
NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO — Representatives for the region’s municipalities are throwing their support behind new provincial rules they say can help fill needed labour gaps. The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, or NOMA, is backing new “as-of-right” rules the Ford government said went into effect at the beginning of the new year. They aim to speed up … Read more
Nine U.S. universities are collaborating on a five-year, $17-million research initiative aimed at improving the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), following a major grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The multi-institution project, funded through the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), brings together researchers across dentistry, medicine, neuroscience, … Read more
A study published in Archives of Oral Biology suggests that tooth loss — rather than reduced protein intake — plays a central role in driving cognitive decline in aging male mice, underscoring a growing link between oral function and brain health. Low protein intake has long been linked to frailty, muscle loss and cognitive impairment … Read more
A Hiroshima University study has found that higher levels of the periodontal bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum in the mouth were associated with greater disability in people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), though the researchers caution the findings do not establish cause and effect. The cross-sectional observational study, published in Scientific Reports, analyzed tongue-coating samples collected from … Read more
The year 2025 may be remembered as the moment oral health moved beyond the mouth — and into the centre of systemic disease prevention. As Dr. Thomas Van Dyke noted at SmileCon in October, dentistry and medicine have historically evolved on parallel tracks. But in 2025, a growing body of research brought those worlds closer … Read more