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
A new study has confirmed that regular smokers have a significantly increased risk of tooth loss. Male smokers are up to 3.6 times more likely to lose their teeth than non-smokers, whereas female smokers were found to be 2.5 times more likely. The research, published in the Journal of Dental Research, is the output of … Read more
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
The eyes may be the window to the soul but the mouth reveals much about the rest of your body. Canker sores, dry mouth, swollen gums and sores that don’t heal — these could be important symptoms of medical issues you shouldn’t ignore. In our health system, there are doctors who deal with the mind … Read more
For the sixth consecutive year, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program (WOHP) have partnered together for National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM) to promote oral health awareness and celebrate the impact dental hygienists have in improving the public’s oral and overall health. Please click on this press release that outlines … Read more
As many as 1 in 4 older Canadians are diabetic, or in danger of this chronic disease. Likewise, more than 1 in 4 older Canadians have high blood pressure. The overlap of these conditions is common and makes for a lot of high risk adults sitting in the dental waiting room. A new study reports … Read more
National survey reveals there’s room for improvement to educate Americans on gum disease, which affects one in every two adults over age 30 As part of its national “Love the Gums You’re With” campaign, the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) released a new national survey that reveals more than a quarter (27 percent) of U.S. … Read more
The ADHA agrees that the outcomes found in a newly released NCHS report underscore the need to increase and improve preventive measures to reduce incidence of dental caries. A recently released National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) data brief details the results of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2012. The NHANES survey … Read more
This month, Crosstex International donated $20,000 in proceeds from its Pink with a Purpose campaign to New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Each year from October through December, Crosstex offers pink versions of popular everyday products from its catalogue. When customers purchase these items, a percentage of the proceeds are donated to Sloan Kettering … Read more
In the weeks leading up to World Oral Health Day on 20 March, the FDI is calling for a focus on prevention to help achieve a healthy ‘Smile for life’. Governments, national dental associations, schools, communities, and families all have an important role to play in effective prevention strategies, in particular by raising awareness of … Read more
We all love puzzles — jigsaws, crosswords, cryptograms, word searches, Sudoku, and other brain bashers and teasers. They are fun and they keep us sharp and engaged. We are wired to take great pleasure in pattern-finding. Neuroscientists have found that a large part of the human cortex is primed to spot patterns. Once we spot … Read more
ABSTRACT: Dental clinicians perform few procedures without acquiring diagnostic radiographs. Much of the structures of the teeth and the oral cavity are hidden from the treating dentist, and diagnostic radiographs aid in revealing hidden etiologies. Interpretation of the radiographs brings about fears of missing lesional characteristics. The most prevalent error is not missing the lesion … Read more
With the modern philosophy of caries management, the use of preventive therapies and remineralization as well as the scientific progress in dental adhesives and restorative materials, dental professionals have options to deliver conservative minimally invasive, functional esthetic treatments to patients. In order to provide patients with state-of-the-art caries management, the dentist needs to gain deeper … Read more
Enabling patients to achieve optimal periodontal health is a fundamental goal of the oral care provider. Periodontal disease is a complex multifactorial process with a bacterial etiology and an inflammatory progression. A large part of periodontal disease is the result of the host response causing breakdown of surrounding structures. Pathogenic bacteria initiate the inflammatory response … Read more
Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth, which is caused by specific microorganisms or groups of microorganisms living in a biofilm, on and around the teeth. Microorganisms initiate an immune response, and in some cases the result is progressive destruction of gingival tissues, the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. … Read more
INTRODUCTION TO THE HUMAN MICROBIOMEHave you ever thought of yourself as a microbial safe-haven? According to new-age science, you should. Indeed, recent endeavors into defining the human microbiome have demonstrated that we play host to seemingly infinite number of microscopic tenants. It is this inter-kingdom relationship that has led to a reformation of what it is … Read more
Have you been watching how American drugstore chains like CVS and Walgreens are redefining themselves? They all want to be part of a healthcare network first rather than a convenient general store dispensing prescription medications. In Walgreens’ case, it is now offering to diagnose and treat chronic conditions. Diabetics are responding – they visit their … Read more
Dentist puts the squeeze on toothpaste hype New York, NY – When you go to your local drugstore, there is a dizzying array of options to choose from when it comes to selecting the right toothpaste. Whether it’s Crest, Colgate or one of the new, dentist-designed toothpastes, such as BriteSmile or GoSmile, the myriad of … Read more
The National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council Annual Status Report was released July 1. The report highlights advancement in implementing the National Prevention Strategy (NPS) and reaching its goal of increasing the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life.2 The NPS pictures a prevention-oriented society where all segments recognize … Read more
A few months ago, I spoke with an advisor to the Sjogren’s Society of Canada about Prevora and the remarkable results from our 2 randomized, double blinded, placebo controlled, multi-centred trials which were conducted with FDA protocols. This advisor said she thought green tea was the answer to controlling caries in a Sjogren’s patient. So, … Read more