Both the dental pulp (loose connective tissue in the dental cavity) and the periodontium (fibers that connect the dental root with the bone of the jaw) can get inflamed. If the infection is not localized only on the inside or the outside but affects both areas, it is much more difficult to completely cure a … Read more
Higher levels of social isolation—but not loneliness—associated with faster tooth loss in older adults in China Older adults who are socially isolated are more likely to have missing teeth—and to lose their teeth more quickly over time—than those with more social interaction, according to a new study of Chinese older adults led by researchers at … Read more
When Michael’s daughter, Sarah, was in preschool, a friend recommended a pediatric dental clinic that had made her family’s visits to the dentist easy. “The dentist told us it would be easier to put her under a general (anesthetic), which he said he used all the time,” he recalled. “Well of course, that would be … Read more
The behavioral and social sciences are central to understanding and addressing dental, oral, and craniofacial health, diseases, and conditions, and are relevant to every discipline in dentistry. The “Consensus Statement on Future Directions for the Behavioral and Social Sciences in Oral Health,” published in the Journal of Dental Research (JDR), highlights the current state of knowledge in … Read more
Pregnant women with gingivitis are significantly more likely to have premature deliveries, according to the findings of a new study. They go through many uncomfortable health issues as the months go by. During this phase, they are also highly susceptible to gingivitis, which can induce poor pregnancy outcomes. Gingivitis is referred to as an inflammation … Read more
COVID-19 has certainly turned our world upside down. Nowhere is this truer than in the dental profession. Dental offices all over our country have had to step up measures to ensure that our patients and staff are safe. In fact, dentistry has been a success story with how well we have all done to prevent … Read more
Dental and medical professionals have historically kept separate practices. Dentists have struggled to integrate into the medical community outside of the hospital setting. Traditionally, limited information is given to parents by pediatricians and family physicians with regards to infant oral health and general pediatric dentistry. Recently, there has been a trend towards multidisciplinary outpatient clinics … Read more
INTRODUCTON As dental practitioners, we are continuously challenged to rely on our knowledge and experience to guide us when making recommendations to our patients. A thorough clinical exam is essential to narrowing in on a diagnosis. Additionally, an appropriately timed radiograph can prevent undesired sequala. The following case illustrates the value of routine orthodontic radiography … Read more
Interproximal incipient caries, white spot lesions, fluorosis, hypo-mineralization. What would you do if it was your child, your friend, yourself? Would you cut into the tooth to place an intra-coronal restoration? Would you look for alternate treatment options? We all know that intra-coronal restorations come with removal of plenty of healthy tooth structure to access … Read more
Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effects of at-home carbonation systems on the pH of water, apple juice, and orange juice as it relates to enamel dissolution at a critical pH. Methods: A 2x3x8 fractional factorial design was employed to determine the effects of at-home carbonation machines on water, apple … Read more
The mass vaccination programs, which have developed in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, have for the most part been a great success with a few complications. However, we report on an “unusual adverse event,” which required dental/oral surgery consultation. Case Report A healthy 36-year-old male presented to the Emergency Room following a post injection … Read more
The “sophisticated art” of making dentures is being lost due to a lack of practice because fewer patients now need false teeth, according to leading dentist Prof Angus Walls. Across the UK as a whole, the number of people over the age of 70 with some natural teeth has increased from 20% to 80% in … Read more
Researchers from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry and their colleagues have discovered details of how proteins produced by oral epithelial cells protect humans against viruses entering the body through the mouth. They also found that oral bacteria can suppress the activity of these cells, increasing vulnerability to infection. A family of proteins known … Read more
Many people were lax about their oral health care in 2021 due, at least in part, to the avoidance of dental care because of the pandemic. Now, Dr. Alan Law, President of the American Association of Endodontists (AAE), said a survey commissioned by his agency showed that 43 percent of Americans say tooth pain caused … Read more
The print version of the Telegraph has reported a new study on the links between gum disease and the risk of chronic health conditions, claiming “gum disease increases the risk of developing mental health problems by more than a third.” The study, led by researchers at the University of Birmingham, found a link between the two, but … Read more
Stress and anxiety connected to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is revealing itself in people’s mouths, say dentists who report increasing cases of patients with cracked, broken and damaged teeth over the past 20 months. Bruce Ward, a Vancouver-area dentist, said he’s noticing the pressures of the pandemic are causing more people to involuntarily clench their … Read more
TikTok users are taping their mouths shut before bed and say the practice, called mouth taping, leads to higher quality sleep and better oral health. Researchers have only studied mouth taping on small groups of people with sleep apnea and asthma. One study showed mouth taping could be beneficial for people with sleep apnea, while another found it ineffective for people … Read more
Tooth decay is a common and unfortunate problem for many of us, but two University of Otago studies show it is also an issue for other primates, as well as our fossil relatives and ancestors. Dr Ian Towle, the former Sir Thomas Sidey Postdoctoral Fellow in Otago’s Faculty of Dentistry, says cavities are often considered to … Read more
We go through life on many roads picking up information and details as we grow, mature and age. The journey of life is a journey of knowledge. How do we gain knowledge? How do we know what we know? The ancient Greeks created a branch of philosophy dedicated to this question called epistemology. A quick … Read more
Dr. Clare Whitney Co-owner of Downtown Dental, Calgary, Alberta How would you define or summarize your practice philosophy? I enjoy doing dentistry, but I really value forming meaningful connections and relationships with my patients. I aim to deliver clinical excellence while caring FOR my patients. I appreciate getting to know people, sharing conversation and a … Read more