Consent, risk, and standard of care issues
Dentists have an obligation to promote what is best for patients and avoid harm wherever possible. Part of this is an obligation to fully inform the patient of all viable treatment options and their attending complications so that he or she can grant informed consent for treatment. To explain these options to the patient, the clinician must be fully informed about them and recognize what the best treatment is based on complete information. When patients are aware of a more conservative approach, they are more likely to accept it rather than the restorative cycle, which leads to repeated restorations. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - March 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Minimally Invasive Dentistry Source Type: research
Preparing for delivering oral care to the elderly
In view of the worldwide increase in elderly persons, the dental profession must prepare to manage the oral health of older adults who have retained natural teeth but have the complications of chronic diseases, a longer life expectancy, and more complex medical needs. Both their filled and their unfilled teeth are at risk for coronal caries and root surface caries. Oral health management will involve consideration of the functional, behavioral, and situational factors that affect these older adults. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - March 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Minimally Invasive Dentistry Source Type: research
Business adaptations for minimally invasive dentistry
When a dental practice decides to adopt the minimum intervention dentistry (MID) approach to oral health care, a change in the structure and processes of the office is also likely to be needed. Careful management and planning is needed in financial and business areas to support this new model of oral health care delivery. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - March 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Minimally Invasive Dentistry Source Type: research
Linking marijuana to oral health concerns
Cannabis, or marijuana, is a Schedule I drug that can be inhaled through smoking, ingested as plant extracts, or applied topically as extracted oil. Smoking marijuana is the most common route selected based on ease of use and rapid effects. The status of cannabis use and its implications for oral health were discussed. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - March 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Hands On Source Type: research
Tooth wear and dentin hypersensitivity in aging patients
Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is defined as a brief, sharp pain arising from exposed dentin in response to stimuli and is not attributable to any other dental defect or disease. DH can significantly affect patients' quality of life. The condition is becoming increasingly common, with recent studies indicating a prevalence of 42% in Europe and 55% in the United Kingdom. This increase in cases is likely the result of changes in lifestyle and an increase in risk factors related to DH. A review of the current understanding of the etiology and mechanisms of action, diagnosis, and management of DH was offered. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - March 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Hands On Source Type: research
Minimally invasive endodontics solutions for pulpitis
Usually when mature teeth are diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis or apical periodontitis, the therapy of choice is root canal treatment, with the goal of saving the tooth. However, this choice results in a loss of dental hard tissue, which weakens the tooth and makes it more prone to fracture. Recent research has shown that about 40% of root-filled teeth are associated with an apical radiolucency on 2-dimensional dental radiographs, indicating the procedure has failed. Endodontically treated teeth without visible radiographic signs of apical periodontitis can remain infected, which means the actual failure rate of standa...
Source: Dental Abstracts - March 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Hands On Source Type: research
Evidence-based root canal treatments
Research has identified specific factors that positively influence root canal treatment (RTC) outcomes, such as apical preparation size, termination of the obturation material in relation to the radiographic apex, cuspal coverage restorations, and use of a rubber dam. Based on this research, the Air Force (AF) Dental Service has established evidence-based treatment standards for endodontics that are designed to provide high-quality safe dental care. A program of monthly peer reviews evaluates adherence to these standards. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - March 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Hands On Source Type: research
Errors in impressions
In fixed prosthodontics, dentists are responsible for the transfer of accurate records to dental laboratories so that prostheses can be accurately fabricated. Dentists should be able to identify and analyze the quality of these impressions, which will determine the success of the restoration. With the improvements in handling and accuracy of modern impression materials, it would be expected that impressions should be better, but the quality of impressions sent to laboratories appears to declining instead. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - March 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Hands On Source Type: research
Managing major neurocognitive disorder
Older patients with major neurocognitive disorders, previously called dementia, can have difficulty accepting dental treatment. Midazolam is a benzodiazepam that is used as premedication in pediatric patients, for oral surgery, and in persons suffering from dental fear. Its usefulness in other groups, such as those with major neurocognitive disorders, is relatively unknown. A population of older dental patients was evaluated for acceptance of treatment after midazolam administration. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - March 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Hands On Source Type: research
Managing immunocompromised patients with oral candidiasis
Immunosuppressed patients, especially elderly persons having cancer treatment, can develop opportunistic infections of the oral cavity. Nystatin and chlorhexidine are highly effective antimicrobial mouth rinses, with nystatin notably effective for Candida spp and chlorhexidine effective against a wide spectrum of bacteria as well. These compounds are often used to prevent and control infections in patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Because some reports have indicated that chlorhexidine plus other substances (such as fluoride and sodium lauryl sulfate) found in dentifrices and nystatin are a...
Source: Dental Abstracts - March 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Hands On Source Type: research
Fluoride refusal
Although topical fluoride use has become the cornerstone of prevention in dentistry and fluoride is both safe and effective, data indicate that a certain proportion of parents are refusing fluoride treatments for their children during preventive dental or medical visits. Even more parents are fluoride hesitant, which is defined as accepting fluoride for their children but having unresolved concerns. Because fluoride is one of the only preventive treatments available for caries prevention, fluoride refusal, which includes fluoride hesitancy, has implications for how clinicians communicate with parents about fluoride so that...
Source: Dental Abstracts - March 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Hands On Source Type: research
Breast-feeding and malocclusions
Some research seems to indicate that breast-feeding can decrease the risk that a child will develop a malocclusion. This is added to the list of positive effects related to optimal breast-feeding, which is defined as exclusive for the first 6 months of life, then continued with complementary feeding up to age 2 years or beyond. However, there is a wide spectrum of malocclusions, from mild to severe, and a strong genetic inheritance factor involved. It can be difficult to assess whether environmental factors are involved and which are at work. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - March 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Hands On Source Type: research
Delivering oral care to pregnant women
Pregnancy is the ideal time to talk with a woman regarding the primary prevention of oral diseases in her children. Mothers-to-be are interested in the link between their health and that of their children. It's important that they understand that maternal untreated caries and a high level of salivary cariogenic bacteria can increase the odds that their children will develop childhood caries. In addition, what children eat and how they practice dental hygiene will be dictated by their parents' or other caregivers' actions and beliefs. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - March 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Hands On Source Type: research
Ghost artifacts on panoramic radiographs
Dental panoramic radiographs (DPTs) are used to diagnose caries, periodontal disease, trauma, pathologic conditions in the jaws, supernumerary teeth, and orthodontic needs. Digital imaging has been an improvement in terms of exposing patients to less radiation. Panoramic radiographs use an intensifying screen that is removed for digital panoramic radiographs. Panoramic radiographs involve a moving x-ray source and detector plate that will ideally display only the objects in the focal trough. However, they suffer from ghost artifacts that can limit their effectiveness and complicate interpretation. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - March 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Hands On Source Type: research
Pulp exposure during carious tissue removal in adults
Among the complications that accompany the management of deep carious lesions are pulp exposure and postoperative pulpal complications, especially when hard dentin is nonselectively removed in the complete carious tissue removal (CCR) approach. CCR often leads to pulp exposure, forcing general dental practitioners (GDPs) to determine whether a pulpectomy followed by root canal treatment (RCT) is needed or if vital pulp therapy (VPT) via direct pulp capping (DPC) or partial pulpotomy (PP) is a better choice. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - March 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
