Wearing dentures may help protect older adults from cognitive decline, according to a new study published in Aging Medicine on Dec. 23. Researchers from NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing analyzed nearly 10 years of data from 27,708 older adults in China, including those with partial or complete tooth loss. The study found that adults … Read more
As the link between oral and overall health becomes more established and well-known to doctors and patients alike, saliva kits are increasingly showing promise as preventive tools. To fine-tune these kits, scientists are researching saliva itself. Recently, Penn Dental Medicine announced that its researchers have identified nine inflammation proteins indicative of gum disease progression after … Read more
A clinical trial involving more than 1,800 patients found that those given a combination of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) experienced less pain, better sleep, and higher satisfaction compared with those receiving the opioid hydrocodone with acetaminophen, according to a Rutgers Health study. Researchers at Rutgers University conducted a randomized trial on patients undergoing … Read more
Researchers have developed a non-lethal and cost-effective method to study the teeth of fish without harming them. Traditionally, studying dental structures in fish required euthanizing specimens or removing teeth, limiting the ability to track growth and changes over time. Now, scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have adapted human dental techniques … Read more
The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a game-changer for some communities. Thousands of people in Thunder Bay-Superior North “are getting dental care for the first time” in decades thanks to the federal program that started earlier this year, Patty Hajdu, Member of Parliament and federal cabinet minister of Indigenous services since 2021, said in hindsight … Read more
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on Jan. 3 over the direct link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk. The advisory identifies alcohol as the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, behind tobacco and obesity. “Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases … Read more
Some federal retirees have contacted CBC, saying they’re considering dropping their private plan under the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) in favour of the national plan rolled out last year. Frustration is brewing among approximately 325,000 federal retirees since the PDSP’s annual maximum coverage of $1,500 has remained unchanged since 2005. In contrast, the Public … Read more
Injecting an anaesthetic to prepare a sobbing five-year-old patient for a tooth extraction in a pediatric clinic is an anxiety-inducing scenario for many dental students. A French study sought to determine whether dental students’ emotions during training simulations with high-tech mannequins were comparable to those experienced in real-life clinical practice. The study, conducted at the … Read more
The year 2024 has been an important one for dentistry in Canada, marked by groundbreaking studies, technological advancements, and evolving healthcare policies. With oral health increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of overall well-being, developments in the sector drew widespread attention and set the stage for future innovation. Here is a look at the top 10 … Read more
Before exploring the top two trends anticipated for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in dentistry, it’s worth reviewing AI’s significant advancements this year—revolutionizing diagnosis, predictive analysis, and personalized treatment Key advancements include AI-powered tools for implant planning and streamlining Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans, says Dr. Thomas Nguyen, DMD, MSc, Diplomate of ABP, FRCD(C). CBCT technology … Read more
University of Florida has launched a cutting-edge AI-powered simulation program, combining avatars and virtual reality, to train future dentists and nurse practitioners, Main Street Daily News reported. Dr. Michael Bumbach, clinical assistant professor at UF’s College of Nursing, spearheaded the initiative after recalling the challenges of entering the professional world without adequate practice in specialist … Read more
A new study published in The Anatomical Record suggests dolphins may use their teeth as sonar antennae, helping to explain how they hear and echolocate underwater. “Our findings support the hypothesis that dolphins utilize their teeth as part of an advanced sound reception system,” Ryo Kodera at Tsurumi University in Japan told New Scientist. “This … Read more
The year 2024 will be remembered for its transformative milestones in dentistry, from groundbreaking technologies to significant policy shifts and innovations in dental medicine. Here is a concise recap of the top eight events that shaped the dental world this year: 1- First robotic dental procedure In July, U.S.-based company Perceptive announced the first fully … Read more
A finding shows that about 1.7 million people in the U.S. did not have access to dental clinics within a 30-minute drive, and 24.7 million lived in dental care shortage areas. The analysis published on the JAMA Network on Dec. 23 made the finding after a cross-sectional study of 205,762 U.S. dentists. Access to dental … Read more
More than 13,000 members of the British armed forces cannot be deployed because they’re “not medically deployable,” a UK defence minister said Monday. Defence minister Al Carns said in response to a written parliamentary question that 13,522 are not able to be deployed due to medical conditions across the army, navy, and air force, while … Read more
Researchers from the University of Washington and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have examined the atomic composition of enamel samples from two human teeth—one from a 22-year-old and one from a 56-year-old. Their study, published in Communications Materials on− Dec. 19, found that the sample from the older individual contained higher levels of fluoride, particularly … Read more
Health Minister Mark Holland says he’s optimistic about the role artificial intelligence can play in Canada’s health system, but says much of its promise will take time to realize. Holland says he expects AI tools can help ease doctor workload and integrate health records from disparate providers, but that means greater digitization when many doctors … Read more
Farnell Barqué, a researcher at the Meteorological Service of Catalonia in Spain, took an orthodontist friend’s advice: Why not use a CT scanner to reveal the complete internal structure of hailstones? “The first result was impressive,” said Barqué in an interview with New Scientist. “Wow! We can see the interior of the stone without breaking … Read more
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has issued new clinical practice guidelines on the use and timing of antibiotics for dental patients who have undergone or are scheduled for total joint replacement surgeries, such as total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA). The updated guidelines aim to help prevent periprosthetic joint infections … Read more
A study published in Nature on Dec. 17, which examined 269,003 Veteran Affairs Dental patients between January 2015 and December 2019, suggests that prescribing antibiotics before dental extractions may increase complications in non-diabetic patients. Antibiotics were more commonly prescribed for patients undergoing surgical extractions. During 122,810 visits—representing 31.8 per cent of the total 385,880 dental … Read more