A recent study by researchers from the University of Exeter suggests that harmful oral bacteria may damage the brain, increasing the risk of dementia in individuals aged 50 and over. The study, published in PNAS Nexus, analyzed data from 110 participants over the age of 50. It found that elevated levels of the harmful bacteria … Read more
It is astonishing that as early as 1914, Dr. Charles Mayo, of Mayo Clinic fame, wrote an article titled “Mouth Infection as a Source of Systemic Disease.” He is also known to have said, “The next movement in preventive medicine must come from the members of the dental profession.” Wow! This was over one hundred … Read more
Although dental care typically aims to keep teeth and gums healthy, current research continues to show a deep connection between oral health and overall wellness. This link is significant, indicating that oral health issues can often hint at systemic problems such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory infections, and more. The dental professionals at McLean Dentistry found it is … Read more
“You think you’re stressed? I’ll tell you about stress…” It almost seems like a competition these days, as if the amount of stress we can endure is a badge of honor. Every one of us experiences stress. Stress can come from all sorts of circumstances we perceive to be frightening, dangerous, or threatening in some … Read more
The first questions we should ask are always how, when, and why. This discussion is about the how, when, and why of chronic systemic disease and, until only recently, the truth hiding in “plain sight.” The association of oral health to systemic health has a very long history, starting at least 3200 years ago with … Read more
The Cannabis plant, commonly known as marijuana, is the most commonly used illicit drug worldwide, with roughly 35 million people using marijuana each month in the United States. 1 Other than alcohol, cannabis is the most commonly used drug in the United States. Data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 2012-2013 National … Read more
Indiana University School of Dentistry and IU School of Nursing students at IUPUI are learning clinical skills together through a newly developed experiential interprofessional education and practice program. Under the program, fourth-year dental students and final-year family and pediatric nurse practitioner students come together to learn assessments of the oral cavity and analysis of blood … Read more
Dental professionals are being held responsible for recognizing their patients’ areas of poor health, especially outside their mouths. In a recent survey conducted by Oral Health Group*, 85 per cent of dentists said they perform some form of health assessment on their patients as part of their regular exam. When asked about the types of … Read more
A recent national consumer survey revealed that among U.S. adults, the majority knows very little or nothing at all about oral cancer (58 percent) and only 37 percent reported being screened for oral cancer at their last dental check-up, according to a survey released today by Vigilant Biosciences, Inc., a leading innovator and developer of solutions … Read more
New Study Shows Dental Treatment during Pregnancy is Safe It’s safe for pregnant women to undergo dental treatment with local anesthetics, according to a new study published in the August issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA). “Our study identified no evidence to show that dental treatment with anesthetics is harmful during … Read more
Andres Pinto, an orofacial pain and oral medicine specialist at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, often feels like the doctor in the television series House, who solves medical mysteries each week.Pinto is among about 700 facial pain and oral medicine specialists nationally who patients often turn to when their own doctors are … Read more
In celebration of Heart Month and Valentine’s Day, Registered dental hygienists across Canada are opening their doors and their hearts on Saturday, February 7, to provide no-cost preventive dental hygiene services, including oral cancer screenings, as part of a national campaign. For the seventh consecutive year, the “Gift from the Heart” event gives dental hygienists … Read more
While most other cancers are declining, oral cancer continues to rise, affecting over 43,000 Americans in 2014 alone. Due to late stage discovery, oral cancer kills one American every hour. Increased awareness and more advanced screening technologies enable early detection of oral cancer, thus increasing survival rate of those diagnosed. This year, the Academy of … Read more
As part of its ongoing efforts to support the education of dental hygiene professionals, Colgate-Palmolive has established anannual academic admission scholarship, administered in partnership with the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA), to assist students enrolled in dental hygiene programs. The following students have each received a $500 scholarship under this year’s program: School Name APLUS … Read more
During National Non-Smoking Week (January 18–24), one of Canada’s longest running health promotion initiatives, dental hygienists will remind all Canadians of the need to eliminate tobacco use for better oral and overall health. While most people know that tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in Canada, few may be aware that the … Read more
The province’s ban on smoking on bar and restaurant patios, playgrounds and public sports fields has received a thumbs up from the Ontario Dental Association. The ban, announced Friday, takes effect on Jan. 1, 2015. “As the experts in oral health care, dentists see the damage tobacco does to the mouth and teeth every day,” … Read more
FDI World Dental Federation is today launching the World Oral Health Day 2015 (WOHD 2015) ‘Smile for life’ campaign to remind people everywhere about the importance of looking after their teeth and gums. World Oral Health Day is celebrated throughout the world on 20th March each year with a wide range of awareness-raising activities organized … Read more
UofL School of Dentistry professor addresses implication of Image Gently campaign Children need smaller portions – this is true when it comes to eating meals, and when addressing topics such as imaging. It is under this premise that the profession of dentistry is joining the Image Gently campaign to raise awareness about special considerations needed … Read more
Dental researchers at the University of Adelaide are warning parents of the dangers of soft drinks, fruit juice, sports drinks and other drinks high in acidity, which form part of a “triple-threat” of permanent damage to young people’s teeth. For the first time, researchers have been able to demonstrate that lifelong damage is caused by … Read more
We were all teenagers at one time: stubborn, dramatic, self-absorbed, “all-knowing,” etc. Teenage patients in a dental practice can be some of the hardest to work with. They typically have poor oral hygiene, may be in full orthodontics, and can be generally resistant to being told what to do. Though each teenager and situation is … Read more