The dental industry is constantly evolving, integrating new technologies and methodologies to advance preventive care. For dental professionals, keeping pace with these developments is essential, not only to improve patient outcomes but also to remain competitive in the health care sector. Below, we’ll explore ten emerging trends in preventive dental care and the impact they’re … Read more
During the last two-and-a-half years, we have lived a huge sociological experiment that will be studied for decades to come. The impact of the COVID measures will be discussed and dissected ad nauseum, with no clear consensus likely as the outcome. What we do know is what we missed the most – the joy of … Read more
Introduction: Old Job, New Tool Since the 1950s, when x-ray photography came into widespread use in dentistry, the radiograph has been a dentist’s primary diagnostic tool.1 It is easy to see why: Only a tiny fraction of what a radiograph shows can be seen by the unaided eye. In other branches of medicine, radiology is … Read more
Introduction When thinking about managing dental caries as a disease, and not just the outcomes, one might look to a health network, to see how they characterize the management of that disease, as they would with other health conditions. If you were to look at the Mayo Clinic as a source, you would find this … Read more
Amazing Technology The medical management of gangrene during the American Civil War was to amputate a limb above the infection site to prevent ongoing bacterial proliferation into the surrounding tissues. (Fig. 1) Fig. 1 During a lecture in 2000, Dr Graham Mount, a pioneer in the clinical use of glass ionomer cement, described dentistry as … Read more
When we complete a resin restoration, we hope that it will last, be attractive, wear well, retain its polish, maintain shade, reject extrinsic stain, and not fracture (Figs. 2 & 3) Resins today number in the hundreds. While most are clearly superior to the handful available at the beginning of the adhesive era, we remain … Read more
Host-associated bacteria exist on a continuum, from commensals with low virulence and beneficial properties to disease-causing pathogens whose colonization can be deadly.1 As microbiomes evolve, their metabolites, interspecies interactions, and the host immune compartment can cause changes to the bacterial niche that facilitate the outgrowth of microorganisms associated with a dysbiotic state; this, in turn, … Read more
Introduction These are unprecedented times. The opioid crises strain our communities. The challenge for dental practitioners mirrors the need for new pathways. Being successful with patient treatment is imperative for all practicing dentists. Treatment success is determined by the outcome for the patient. Patients care primarily for levels of morbidity and only then for esthetics, … Read more
The fundamental principles of preventive dentistry are the preservation of tooth structure and the repair of lesions to minimize the risk of progression of oral disease. The management of the dynamic equilibrium of demineralization/remineralization of tooth enamel is key to this process. Acidic attack on dental tissue is most often caused by bacterial sugar conversion … Read more
What a crazy and upside-down world we live in! But if you slow down and pay attention, things may start to come together… About a year ago I decided to make the theme of this issue of Oral Health – oral inflammation and systemic health concerns. Having read much and written a little on the … Read more
Graft materials are used to restore the physiological and anatomical function of diseased or damaged bone tissues via repair and/or regeneration.1-4 There are various graft options available for maxillofacial bone grafting which are divided into natural tissue transplants (autografts from the same individual, allografts from cadavers of same species and xenografts which are from animal … Read more
In recent years, the public’s acceptance of oral implants has been dramatically positive. People are living longer and desire an enhanced quality of life. Being able to eat all the foods they enjoy due to improved mastication, not requiring the full dentures of their grandparents, comfortably eating and speaking at the dinner table not only … Read more
It would be beneficial if there was evidence on how to maintain implants that is measurable and predictable. Much of the information is empirical and based on the assumption that traditional oral hygiene for natural teeth will be the same for implants. In some cases this may be true, but for many it is misguided. … Read more
Periodontitis has now been established as a major chronic inflammatory disease. There exist significant links to systemic health conditions under the umbrella of the “oral systemic link”. Recent epidemiologic research has linked periodontal pathogens to several systemic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and preterm birth, possibly mediated through markers of systemic infection and inflammation. … Read more
Abstract Collagen repair and regeneration is a continual process. With chronic inflammation, however, collagen and tissue repair are compromised. Not only is the periodontium severely impacted, but systemic health is placed at risk. What causes excessive collagen breakdown and how does this impact oral health? Collagen supplementation (with questionable science) has become a fast-growing trend, … Read more
Introduction Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a potentially debilitating and deadly disease, particularly when diagnosed at an advanced stage.1 Early detection drastically improves prognostic outcomes, making diagnosis a race against time.2 Most cases of OSCC begin as a precursor lesion or condition, classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an “oral potentially malignant … Read more
INTRODUCTION As the COVID-19 pandemic moves across the world, research shows confirmed human to human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 with its symptoms ranging from mild flu-like to severe life-threatening pneumonia.1 At this point, there is no specific treatment available in combating COVID-19. Healthcare professionals use multidisciplinary approaches, including multi-drug treatment and intensified therapeutic measures, that can … Read more
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report at the end of 2019 that has been overshadowed by COVID-19. Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States 2019 is a wake-up call to health care providers. In the introduction, the CDC Director implores us to “Stop referring to a coming post-antibiotic era – … Read more
After 2020 threw so many elements of life and work into chaos, how can your practice focus on the fundamentals for success in 2021? Year-in-review articles are staple in the public and professional media. Columnists offer their takes on lessons learned and predictions for the future. I’ve written many of these myself over the years. … Read more
“Environment” is a real buzzword in the news today. Pollution, climate, sustainable, maintainable, crisis, emergency. Do we have control or not? One area where we as dental professionals have some control is the oral environment! We are the custodians of our patients’ oral environment. Of course, things can spiral out of control when our patients … Read more