A recent survey commissioned by the American Association of Endodontists reveals that more than half of Americans say the COVID-19 pandemic has caused them to put off general dental check-ups, which can lead to serious oral health problems. The survey also showed that the pandemic is takings its toll on those working or studying remotely … Read more
Some NHS dental patients are being asked to pay for private appointments to get treatment while others face two-year waits to be seen, a watchdog has warned. Healthwatch England was contacted by hundreds of people between October and December last year complaining about dentistry issues in the health service, with one patient told their odds of successful … Read more
Cavities in teeth may result from an immune system response, not just bacteria, according to a recent U of T study. This counters decades of established thinking in dental research. In 1970, Dr. John Gabrovsek of the Cleveland Clinic published research in the Journal of Dental Research that found that our immune system may contribute to dental cavities. But … Read more
A new study has found genetic makeup does not predispose people to tooth decay, however, the research did find that children with overweight mothers are more likely to have cavities. The paper, published in the latest edition of Pediatrics, estimates that one in three Australian children have tooth decay by the time they start school. Lead researcher Dr. … Read more
Mouth sores, also known as ulcers, are a common symptom of HIV. Mouth sores can have a profound impact on a person’s quality of life if they do not get treatment. People living with HIV are more likely to develop oral health problems because the virus can weaken the immune system, which makes it harder to fight … Read more
Researchers from The University of Western Australia say more needs to be done to help improve the quality of dental health care for people who are affected by mental health issues. In a study published this week in Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, which coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week (7-13 October), the researchers found many … Read more
Many Texans would agree that healthy teeth and gums are important, however a Guardian survey shows Texans aren’t backing it up with regular visits to the dentist. In fact, 1 out of 5 Texans admit they haven’t seen a dentist in 5 years or more. 57% have seen a dentist in the last year, with only 39% … Read more
When Márta Demoth worked as a dentist in Nunavut, she says she felt more like a firefighter than a dentist. The teeth of many of the roughly 3,000 Nunavut patients she saw between 2014 and 2016 were so bad that often she had no choice but to extract their teeth instead of repair them. Children … Read more
Leslie Arlene Henderson has lost multiple teeth. She can’t remember the last time she had major dental work. And for the last year, she’s been in dire need of a root canal. But with only $1,000 in monthly income, the 62-year-old Parkdale resident is too strapped for cash to pay for anything beyond a basic dental … Read more
When compared with nondrinkers, men and women who had one or more alcoholic drinks per day had an overabundance of oral bacteria linked to gum disease, some cancers, and heart disease. By contrast, drinkers had fewer bacteria known to check the growth of other, harmful germs. These are the main findings of a study published … Read more
A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggests that primary care physicians may feel underequipped to provide adequate oral health counseling to pregnant women. Poor maternal oral health can have significant impacts on a woman’s overall health and the health of her children. Dr. Gentry Byrd and Dr. Rocio Quinonez … Read more
Having a larger family is linked to a heightened tooth loss risk for mums, suggest the results of a large European study published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health The popular saying: ‘gain a child, lose a tooth’ suggests that fertility may be linked to tooth loss, but there are no hard data … Read more
National Dental Hygienists Week™ (NDHW™) takes place from April 8‒14 as part of oral health month in Canada. During that week, which emphasizes “Oral Health for Total Health,” dental hygienists remind us all that taking care of our mouth, teeth, and gums benefits our overall physical and mental well-being. Dental hygienists are primary health care … Read more
Experts from the fields of gum health and diabetes met in Madrid on February 19 and 20 for the Perio-Diabetes Workshop, a pioneering international summit which explored the latest evidence on the links between periodontal diseases and diabetes. The workshop reached a new scientific consensus on how these widespread chronic conditions reinforce each other and … Read more
February is Heart Month in Canada and a perfect opportunity to raise awareness of the risks of cardiovascular (heart) disease and stroke and the importance of making better lifestyle choices for optimal health. Dental hygienists are strong supporters of this public education campaign and remind Canadians not to overlook their oral health when seeking to … Read more
On Saturday, September 3, 2016, a group of strangers from across Ontario gathered at the Toronto airport. Their mission: head down to Negril, Jamaica to provide free dental treatment and education to impoverished Jamaicans. This was the second annual trip organized by Great Shape! Inc., the Sandals Foundation, and DMC LLP.1 The volunteer group included … Read more
Well, it’s more accurate to say that an investigative journalist from Associated Press (AP) looked at the evidence about the effectiveness of flossing, and came to the conclusion that flossing does not help humanity. Since then, every patient and their grandmother is asking if they should floss at all. Then, the hordes of less-than-fully-employed or … Read more
Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is calling on dentists and other oral health professionals to be heroes in their communities by volunteering their time and talent to provide free oral care to children in need as part of the ADA Foundation’s 15th annual Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) program, taking place next year. The American Dental … Read more
Regular medical checkups are recommended for pregnant women, but doctors will tell you oral care is important as well. Periodontal disease can be problematic for both mother and baby. Now, the Colorado Medical-Dental Integration Project (CO MDI) is working to reach mothers-to-be. It is an initiative of the Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation, providing funding … Read more
There may be sparse evidence in the medical literature that flossing helps prevent cavities and gum disease, but the Canadian Dental Association says that, for dentists, the proof is in a patient’s mouth. The Associated Press looked at the most rigorous research over the past decade and found the evidence of flossing having benefit was … Read more