Study links frequent recreational cannabis use to increased risk of dental issues, including severe tooth loss

cannabis tooth loss

A study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association has found that frequent recreational cannabis (FRC) use is associated with a higher likelihood of dental problems. The research analyzed data from 5,656 U.S. adults aged 18 to 59, collected between 2015 and 2018 through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). According … Read more

Neutrophils: Potential Culprits in Tooth Decay

proactive dentistry

The World Health Organization estimates that nearly all adults have dental caries at some point in time.1 Resin composite is the most used restorative material in dentistry;2 most resin composite restorations are placed due to secondary caries or recurrent caries that cause restoration failure at a cost of $30 billion a year in North America.3 … Read more

Teeth Displaced: Teeth at the Time of Surgery

Abstract Inadvertent displacement of teeth or fragments of teeth beyond the tooth socket during extraction is an uncommon occurrence. In this paper, we present two cases of displacement of impacted third molars, one maxillary and one mandibular. We outline our removal technique as well as some general management considerations, should this situation arise. Most importantly … Read more

The persistence of high dental spending

More studies are showing that a small segment of the community needs medical care on an ongoing basis.  This pattern is called persistent care and it seems to be associated to those with more than one chronic condition. It may well apply to the chronic diseases in the mouth too. Our surveys report that 1 in … Read more

Crohn’s, Colitis, Cavities and Crowns

As the population ages and science marches on, we are seeing significant connections between chronic diseases. One big one is diabetes and dental decay — diabetes increases the risk of having oral health problems two-fold. And another is chronic inflammatory bowel disease and dental decay. A new study which tracked Swedish adults for several years … Read more

1 in 4 American adults have untreated cavities

This (shocking) statistic was recently released by the US CDC. How does this level of under-treatment compare to untreated diabetes or hypertension, 2 other prevalent chronic conditions in America? A study published in 2011 found that 2.4% of American diabetics were untreated. A study published in Hypertension in 1995 reported that about 30% of American … Read more

Blaming the victim versus looking in the mirror

A new report on early childhood caries in the UK shows how serious this disease really is: •Tooth extraction, mainly under General Anaesthesia (GA), is the main reason for hospital admissions of 5–9 year old children in the UK •Repeat treatments are frequent (20%-25% of cases). So, the report interviewed 18 family dentists in the … Read more

Sugar, sweeteners and dental decay

Sugar = dental decay. Or so, that is a common public and professional perception. But sugar is now being replaced by all sorts of sweeteners, both natural and artificial. So what effect do these sweeteners have on promoting cavities? Two recent studies indicate: – stevia, sucralose, saccharin and aspartame are better than sugar in reducing … Read more

Ancient tooth plaque shows surprising use for common weed

Scientists examining dental plaques from prehistoric Sudanese skeletons say that purple nutsedge, today considered one of world’s worst weed, was not always a pest. By:Kate AllenScience and Technology reporter, Published on Wed Jul 16 2014. Donatella Usai / Centro Studi Sudanesi and Sub-Sahariani Scientists uncover a skeleton at a prehistoric gravesite in Sudan. Researchers say … Read more

The role of oral health in cognitive decline (and vice versa)

A recent study in the Journal of the American Dental Association linked a significant decline in word fluency and concentration to loss of teeth. This is not the first study to do so, but we aare not yet sure if there is a bidirectional association between number of teeth and cognitive function.  In other words, … Read more

New device saves loose teeth, jaws damaged by cancer

Periodontitis is a troublesome infection of the gums. When the infection causes the bone adjacent to teeth to break down, the teeth come loose. Mandibular bone can also be damaged by cancer, infections and accidents. With the aid of artificial, foam-rubber-shaped scaffolding, the body can be helped to repair the damage by itself. A new … Read more

Tooth decay may prohibit growth in children

Tooth decay may be even worse than originally thought.Sadly, dental caries (cavities) in young children is commonly untreated. In addition to causing damage and loss of teeth, a new study has found that it can stunt a child’s growth. The study was published online on February 17 in the journal Pediatrics by researchers at King … Read more

12 Genius Uses for Toothpaste

 Here’s a cheap product everybody owns (or should own!) that has a bunch of clever uses around the house: toothpaste. It contains mild abrasives and detergents suspended in a creamy gel that keep your teeth clean and bright. Those same ingredients can help you MacGyver a number of messes without resorting to expensive specialized products … Read more

Receding Gums: A Major Issue Affecting Oral Health

MISSION, KS – (Family Features) Affecting nearly half of the U.S. population, gum recession is an oral health issue in which the gums have worn away, exposing teeth to damaging, disease-causing bacteria. While traditional treatments exist, they come with a painful surgery with a long recovery time. A new treatment option, however, offers better, nearly … Read more

Responding To A Silent Epidemic

The #1 Chronic Childhood Disease Pediatric dental disease, more commonly known as severe tooth decay, can lead to malnourishment, anemia, required emergency surgery and life-threatening secondary infections. Severe childhood tooth decay is a multi-faceted epidemic that stems from access-to-care issues, a growing number of families without dental insurance coverage, and individual contributing factors such as … Read more

Formulated with Edible Clay, New Advanced Gum Healing Mineral Toothpaste Introduced

From Cosmetic Dentistry News It goes without saying that some enterprising marketer will put this material in Play-Doh and plastercine (do they still manufacture plactercine?)… Zion Health, a San Francisco-based company specializing in natural clay minerals cosmetic and hygienic products has announced ClayBrite toothpaste will now be available for purchase at Noah’s Natural Health Food … Read more

Cochrane Issues Study on Fluoride Supplements

From Dental IQ December 22, 2011 According to the Cochrane Oral Health Group, fluoride supplements failed to reduce tooth decay in primary teeth, permanent teeth cavity-reduction is dubious and health risks are little studied. “When fluoride supplements were compared with topical fluorides or with other preventive measures, there was no differential effect on permanent or … Read more

There is a god; we made the New York Times Sunday Review

IT’S become commonplace to criticize the “Occupy” movement for failing to offer an alternative vision. But the thousands of activists in the streets of New York and London aren’t the only ones lacking perspective: economists, to whom we might expect to turn for such vision, have long since given up thinking in terms of economic … Read more