Healing complications in primary teeth
About a third of all preschool children experience a traumatic dental injury (TDI), making this type of injury very common among this age group. The children who are most likely to be injured are age 2 to 3 years and are not mature enough to cope well with painful and stressful treatments. Because the root of the primary incisor and the permanent tooth are so close, however, TDIs can have long-term complications and damage the developing tooth. Thus the prognosis of injured teeth in these young children as well as the potential future complications must be considered before the decision is made to preserve or extract an in...
Source: Dental Abstracts - May 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Hands On Source Type: research
Charcoal-based dentifrices
The use of charcoal for oral hygiene has a long history, dating back to ancient Greece. In addition, many parts of the world still use charcoal for cleaning the teeth today. Powdered charcoal, soot, or coal ash is applied with fingers, chewing sticks, or cloth and used as a dentifrice alone or in combination with various flavoring agents, botanicals, or inorganic compounds. Because sales of charcoal dentifrices and powders are increasing at online sites (Fig), a review of the literature was done to evaluate the efficacy and safety of charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - May 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
Periodontal status of endodontically treated teeth
Endodontic and periodontal treatments are performed to help patients keep their natural teeth healthy and functional. To enhance the effectiveness of these interventions, dentists should also consider factors that influence the long-term survival of the affected teeth. Among these are nonsurgical root canal treatment (NSRCT) and postendodontic restorations that can influence survival for endodontically treated teeth (ETT). Periodontal disease is a major factor in tooth extraction after NSRCT. The influence of periodontal status of the tooth when NSRCT is done and the role of supportive periodontal treatment (SPT) on the su...
Source: Dental Abstracts - May 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
Correlating age-related oral and overall muscle weakness
With age, individuals suffer decreases in the strength of their muscles as a result of sarcopenia. This includes decreases in the strength of the muscles involved in swallowing function. The result is a delayed swallowing reflex, insufficient opening of the cricopharyngeal muscle, and atrophy or muscle composition changes in the suprahyoid muscle. Orally, sarcopenia decreases the thickness of the tongue muscles and is an independent risk factor for dysphagia. Tongue pressure during swallowing is also diminished, which further affects swallowing. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - May 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
Quality of life improvement with implants
By 2020 an estimated 38 million adults worldwide will require 1 or 2 complete dentures, indicating that tooth loss and edentulousness are widespread problems that will need to be addressed. Tooth loss is associated with esthetic problems, reduced oral health −related quality of life (OHRQoL), impaired masticatory ability, and emotional distress. Tooth loss can also have a negative effect on proper food choices, comfort when eating in public, and the ability to form close relationships. The treatment options for individuals who are missing teeth or ede ntulous to some degree include conventional and implant-supported fixe...
Source: Dental Abstracts - May 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
Optimal number of implants for mandibular overdentures
Edentulous patients can now choose dental implants to retain and/or support their removable prostheses. As a result, many of the functional deficiencies that are seen with conventional dentures have been addressed. The dental community is still lacking guidelines to indicate the optimal number of implants to use to retain or support mandibular implant overdentures (MIODs), with great variation reported in the literature. Most recently, the evidence appears to support the use of single-implant ODs, but a systematic review of the literature was undertaken to assess the impact of single versus 2-implant-retained prostheses on...
Source: Dental Abstracts - May 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
Inaccurate patient medication lists
The medications dental patients use may interfere with oral treatment or create problems that influence oral health. Often patients do not identify all the medications, prescribed or over-the-counter, that they take, which can make for problems in providing dental care. Generally dentists obtain medication lists from patients during the taking of a medical history, then the list is updated at later visits. If the list is inaccurate or incomplete, potential adverse effects or drug interactions may result. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - May 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
Signs of disease in third molars
Although third molars in young adult dental patients have been researched widely, less is known about third molars in nonpatient populations. Some nationwide surveys or studies of smaller subsamples exist, but not all report on the prevalence of third molars or include extraoral and intraoral radiographs. As part of the Health 2000 Survey in Finland, a survey was conducted to gather comprehensive third molar data, including radiographic findings, from the Finnish population age 30 years or older. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - May 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
Vitamin D for bone and muscle health
Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids that increase the intestinal absorption of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphate, and zinc. In the presence of sufficient calcium, vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which aids in making the bones strong and healthy. It facilitates the deposition of minerals in the bony matrix to ensure bone is well constructed and aids in musculoskeletal stability. However, 90% of the people in the United Kingdom are not exposed sufficiently to ultraviolet B (UVB) for the adequate synthesis of vitamin D between October and April. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - May 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
Invisalign adverse effects
With the changes in insurance reimbursement policies, flexible spending accounts, and improved oral health, more patients are seeking orthodontic care. In addition, innovative technologies such as the Invisalign system have shortened the treatment duration and eliminated many of the discomfort traditionally attending orthodontic treatment of malocclusion. Although several studies have examined treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction levels, few have addressed possible systemic adverse events linked to Invisalign use. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - May 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
Fluoride improves caries levels
Surveys done in the United Kingdom since 1985 have gathered robust data about caries levels in children living in various regions of the country. According to these records up to 2008, improved caries levels among 12- and 14-year-olds have continued since fluoride toothpaste was introduced in adult toothpastes, but 5-year-olds maintained their prevalence and severity between 1992 and 2006. The surveys done between 2008 and 2015 have, however, indicated an apparent reduction in the severity and prevalence of caries in 5-year-olds living in England and Wales. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - May 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
Interim therapeutic restorations
Anxious children with extensive dental caries lesions can be managed under general anesthesia (GA), but such treatment carries the risks of hypoxia, infection, and possible mortality, along with a postulated consequence of neurologic compromise. Cohort studies have demonstrated that multiple GAs delivered to young children are related to long-term diminution of linguistic abilities and cognition, as well as regional volumetric alterations in brain structure. Children may also continue to be highly susceptible to developing new caries even after treatment under GA, which will limit its long-term efficacy. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - May 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
Fluoride varnish to protect against early caries
Dental caries occurs in 5% of 2-year-olds and 23% of 3-year-olds in some high-risk areas of Stockholm, Sweden, where children of immigrant background are at particularly high risk. The progression of dental caries in preschool children is twice as fast as is seen in young permanent teeth. To counteract this trend and prevent the development or progression of dental caries in young children, fluoride varnish has been used. Guidelines suggest having 2.24% fluoride varnish professionally applied at least twice a year in children under age 6 years who are at risk for developing dental caries. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - May 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
Stainless steel crowns for primary mandibular first molars
Pediatric dentists (PDs) and general dentists (GDs) tend to differ in the approaches to treating carious lesions in primary mandibular first molars. Even with similar case presentations, GDs tend to prefer Class II restorations, whereas PDs are more likely to place stainless steel crowns (SSCs). The importance of these clinical issues and their cost implications are related to the length of time each treatment will last. No clear guidelines exist to guide practice. The effectiveness of each treatment was evaluated based on its longevity. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - May 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
Remineralization aids
In theory, the remineralization of early caries lesions may avoid invasive dental treatment and reduce the costs to manage this dental disease. Several products and therapies for remineralization have been developed, for professional and home use, to supplement twice-daily tooth brushing with a fluoride-containing toothpaste. Products based on milk proteins, such as casein phosphopeptide (CPP), may be able to stabilize calcium and phosphate at the tooth surface, which would inhibit demineralization and enhance remineralization. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - May 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
