Pet Dental Health Awareness Need to be Raised

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 06 February 2013 16:25



Most people don’t realize they are neglecting an important aspect of their pet’s health. But more needs to be done to make sure a pet receives the dental care it requires.

That’s why veterinarians and animal dentists are trying to spread the importance of this in February, which is Pet Dental Health month. Some animal dentists may even offer discounted pet checkups this month.

The American Animal Hospital Association states that about 85 percent of cats and dogs age 3 and older suffer from some kind of gum disease. Animals, like humans, need to visit the dentist on somewhat of a regular basis, at the very least. Neglecting dental visits may lead to gingivitis, tooth pain, infection or even tooth loss.

The problem for these pets is that most pet owners are unaware their pet is at risk for these problems.

Some studies indicate that only 1 percent of pet owners brush their animal’s teeth and provide them with the chance to use chews and special toys to maintain solid oral health.

If more people become aware of the importance of a pet’s oral health, fewer pets will encounter dental issues.

Being Overweight May Have Connection to Gum Disease Risk

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 07 February 2013 12:26



Obesity may have some unforeseen effects.

An article that appears in the January/February issue of General Dentistryindicates that obesity may be a risk factor for gum disease.

The correlation stems from the fact that obese people produce a higher level of cytokines, which are proteins with inflammatory properties. These cytokines then injure the gum tissues or lower blood flow to the gum tissues, making way for gum disease.

Half of all Americans 30 and older are impacted by gum disease. Gum disease also produces a high level of cytokines, resulting in a larger amount of inflammatory proteins in the bloodstream. Gum disease eventually initiates other inflammatory diseases throughout the body.

Visiting the dentist a regular basis is the best way to detect gum disease or to determine whether or not a person is at a higher risk for gum disease. Removing plaque and brushing regularly will also aid in this process.

More research is necessary to fully understand the relationship between obesity and gum disease.

Minnesota Bill May Increase Dental Reimbursement Rates

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 11 February 2013 16:31



Minnesota may enact sweeping changes to dental reimbursement rates.

The Minnesota Dental Association is in favor of new legislation that would update the Minnesota Medical Assistance base reimbursement rate to 75 percent of the 2011 median dental fee schedule.

If this update were to occur, it would be the first time the reimbursement rate would be updated in almost 15 years.

“The proposed legislation would bring dental fee reimbursement rates in line with current dental fee schedules,” Michael Flynn, president of the MDA, said in a press release. “The current rate of reimbursement for MA providers is based on the 1989 fee schedule, which is woefully inadequate for providers striving to meet the needs of Minnesota’s public program patients.”

This legislation was created to fix the current system in place because many new medical assistance patients are going to enter the system based on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

There’s no timetable on when the new legislation would come into effect.

Remineralizing Agents Have Minor Impact After Whitening

Remineralizing Agents Have Minor Impact After Whitening

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 28 March 2013 14:48

Using remineralizing agents doesn’t necessarily help teeth recoup their enamel after whitening procedures.

A new study indicates that following in-office teeth whitening with 35 to 38 percent hydrogen peroxide, the teeth generally don’t regain their enamel.

There are several studies that show bleaching with large quantities of hydrogen peroxide can change the makeup of the enamel.

This information appears in Acta Odontologica Scandinvica.

To compile the data, the research team bleached 60 bovine incisors with hydrogen peroxide containing 35 percent calcium or calcium-free 35 percent hydrogen peroxide. The teeth were later exposed to artificial saliva, sodium fluoride gel or a nanohydroxyapatite-based agent.

The makeup of the enamel was then studied after 24 hours and 14 days after treatment. People that were exposed to the nanohydroxyapatite-based agent showed the highest microhardness after 24 hours. The microhardness level, however, was not the same after 14 days. Also, the morphology for all of the samples after 14 days showed many abnormalities.

Cells May be Capable of Growing Human Bone

Cells May be Capable of Growing Human Bone

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 03 April 2013 10:16

Plans are being made for an innovative study.

The first known human trial using embyronic-like stem cells from adult cells to grow bone cells will be happening soon. The cell technology, referred to as VSEL stem cells, come from adult cells, not fetuses. The distinction is important because it absolves the study from any possible ethical dilemmas.

The research will be conducted by the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and NeoStem, a New York-based company.

The research team believes that these stem cells have the ability to create a minimally invasive method to speed up painful bone regeneration for dental patients and other people that have experienced bone trauma.

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s role will be in the area of patient care, while NeoStem will be provide the cells.

Before the teeth are extracted, the researchers house the cells before NeoStem makes sure the samples aren’t tainted in any way. The VSEL stem cells are then separated from the person’s other cells. This ensures that the purest samples are used for the study.

The people in the control group for the study receive their own cells instead of the VSEL stem cells. After the new bone grows, the research takes out a portion of it for studying.

The University of Michigan has taken the necessary steps to file patent protection for the VSEL stem cells.

If this study is successful, it will provide many benefits, including disease treatment, based on the embryonic-like stem cells that will be produced for each patient.

Oklahoma May Expand Tests if Dentist Spread Disease

Oklahoma May Expand Tests if Dentist Spread Disease

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 08 April 2013 09:17

Oklahoma health officials are looking at many options after an oral surgeon’s unsanitary conditions.

Medical tests will be considered for W. Scott Harrington’s patients’ spouses and sex partners if the lab results reveal the spread of hepatitis or AIDS.

It’s not common for these infections to be spread through a dental practice. Nevertheless, Tulsa and Oklahoma health departments are recommending blood tests for signs of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV for all of the patients. Around 1,500 had done so as of last Wednesday.

The Tulsa Health Department stated the many spouses and significant others were seeking medical testing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recorded just three instances when infectious diseases spread in a dental office.

The Oklahoma Board of Dentistry filed a complaint with 17 counts against Harrington. The board said his clinics in Tulsa and Owasso disregarded basic safety practices mandatory by law.

For more information about the initial story, view last week's Wednesday Watch.

Based on information from the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry, Harrington’s practice included patients with infectious diseases.

Despite the regular appearance of Harrington’s office, his employees used rusty instruments on patients known to have infections, reused drug vials without changing needles and unlicensed assistants sedated patients. Drugs in the office were also outdated and there was uncertified sterilization equipment that was at least 6 years old.

Health officials looked through Harrington’s office after investigating the case for one of his patients. This patient had a hepatitis C infection.

The board wanted to stress how rare this case is and how well the dental profession manages infection control overall.

Rainforest Substance May Sooth Toothache

Rainforest Substance May Sooth Toothache

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 29 April 2013 15:15

An ancient Incan remedy may have some practical value today.

The rainforest remedy has made it through the first two stages of clinical trials on its way to being utilized to thwart dental pain.

An anthropologist from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom spent time with the Keshwa Lamas people in the Peruvian rainforest. After spending time there, Dr. Francoise Barbira-Freedman pushed for the substance to undergo clinical trials.

The remedy comes from the Acmella Oleracea plant and has fared well thus far. The plant source is transformed into gel form for medical usage and the goal will be to reduce some anesthetic usage in the future.

The treatment has been put through some trials for five years. As of now, there are no side effects that have been identified. The drug is now in the third stage of the trials and could be ready for usage some time in 2014.

Freedman first thought this remedy could be used as early as 1975, when it was first used on her after her wisdom teeth were causing here some pain.

If everything checks out fine, this remedy could be a revolutionary treatment in dentistry. It may limit the number of injections people have to have—or maybe end them entirely. More research on this remedy is necessary to get a full understanding of its impact.

Success Rate of Tooth Implants Rises

Success Rate of Tooth Implants Rises

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 01 May 2013 08:51

People with a bone deficiency may be in luck.

Researchers at the Universitat Jaume I in Castellon, Spain have created an implant coating with biodegradable material. This will serve to increase the success rate of implants. At the same time, the total time of osseointegration will be lowered.

The goal of this new material is to enable some people to go about their normal lives faster than they can now. For some people, the implant could take months to be anchored to the jawbone.

This material works by releasing silicon compounds during degradation, serving to promote bone generation.

Some of the testing included in vitro testing with cell cultures of various biomaterials and, eventually, live animal evaluation. This was done until the desired results were feasible. The next part included clinical evaluation to create sanitary products that can be marketed within a few years.

This research is necessary because not replacing a tooth creates other problems, like altering one’s bite line. Periodontal diseases like gingivitis or periodontitis also may be an issue. As a result, it’s essential to replace the tooth as quickly and effectively as possible.

New Information Reaffirms Fluoride’s Benefits

New Information Reaffirms Fluoride’s Benefits

Written by Dentistry TodayFriday, 03 May 2013 15:07

New research backs up what many already knew: fluoride is beneficial in fighting tooth decay.

The report shows that fluoride works by making an impact on the adhesion force of bacteria that get caked on teeth and generate cavity-causing acid. The new information was determined after experiments concluded that fluoride lowers the ability of the bacteria to stick to the teeth. The bacteria can be washed away through brushing, saliva or other methods.

The information appears in the journal Langumir.

The controversy regarding fluoride’s positive or negative impact has raged on for years. Still, many previous studies have indicated that fluoride strengthens the enamel coating that protects teeth from acid. Fluoride has also been shown to harden a thin layer of enamel.

More studies on fluoride and its impact on teeth will continue to be conducted.

How Effective is Mouthwash?

How Effective is Mouthwash?

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 18 June 2013 14:50

Mouthwash may not work as well as many studies claim.

A recent clinical study in the Journal of Clinical Dentistry analyzed this issue. It showed that mouthwash did slightly reduce the risk of gum disease.

To compile the data, 139 participants were divided into two groups. The first group was told to use mouthwash while the other group was given a placebo to gargle with. The results concluded that the group using mouthwash had better oral health than the group that used the placebo.

Research, however, has shown that mouthwash can aid in lowering the risk of oral disease and bad breath but only by a marginal amount. The most important thing regarding oral health is to brush twice each day for at least 2 minutes.

Issues arise when people think they can use mouthwash in lieu of brushing.

For those people who brush on a regular basis and visit the dentist frequently, there may be no tangible oral health benefit for utilizing mouthwash.

Link May Exist Involving Tooth Loss, Memory Loss

Link May Exist Involving Tooth Loss, Memory Loss

Written by Dentistry TodayFriday, 21 June 2013 12:14

If you have trouble remembering things, there may be a reason.

New research shows that tooth loss may cause people to have memory issues. The researchers determined that people with fewer natural teeth don’t have the same ability to recall events as people with a higher number of natural teeth.

The information appears in the online publication the European Journal of Oral Sciences and was conducted by research teams in Norway and Sweden.

These problems stem from fewer signals being sent to the hippocampus section of the brain, the part responsible for memory. The impulses are supposed to be stimulated by movement of the jaw and teeth, but aren’t in these cases of memory loss.

The logic of this theory makes sense because with fewer teeth, the teeth and jaw are not moving as often.

Based on the research from the study, there’s a direct correlation between the number of teeth and the performance on memory tests. The way this was determined was from people recalling memories, certain information and facts.

The study included 273 people between the ages of 55 and 80. The average number of teeth per person was 22—10 fewer than the full amount.

People with most of their own teeth were 4 percent likelier to have a better memory than their counterparts. This number was determined based on numerous factors.

New Blood Test May Revolutionize HPV Diagnosis

New Blood Test May Revolutionize HPV Diagnosis

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 25 June 2013 14:10

A new blood test may prove pivotal in oral cancer diagnosis.

This new test looks for antibodies in the human papilloma virus. These antibodies are associated with throat and mouth cancer and may eventually be used to pinpoint if the virus is present or not years before oral cancer would develop, according to the World Health Organization.

The WHO researchers proposed the idea that the blood test may give doctors the ability to screen for HPV, which would obviously lower the risk of developing oral cancer in the future.

The study appears in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Based on previous information, it was unclear whether or not antibodies were present in the bloodstream before cancer cells could be detected.

If the information from the study proves to be true, doctors and dentists would have the ability to pinpoint the patients most at risk. It would also be possible for screening devices to be developed to enable doctors and dentists to make an oral cancer diagnosis before the patient reaches the later stages of the disease.

Many previous studies have determined that HPV is a major risk factor for oral cancer and may be the reason why more young people are developing the disease. Smoking and drinking are some of the other risk factors. Throughout the world the amount of cases of oral cancer has risen drastically during the last several years.

Gingival stem cells offer potential for use in tissue regeneration

Main Category: Dentistry
Also Included In: Stem Cell Research
Article Date: 23 Jul 2013 - 0:00 PDT

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Gingival stem cells offer potential for use in tissue regeneration

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The International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) have published a paper titled "Gingivae Contain Neural-crest- and Mesoderm-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells." The paper, written by lead author Songtao Shi, Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA, is published in the Online First portion of the IADR/AADR Journal of Dental Research.

Gingivae represent a unique soft tissue that serves as a biological barrier to cover the oral cavity side of the maxilla and mandible. Recently, the gingivae were identified as containing mesenchymal stem cells(GMSCs). However, it is unknown whether the GMSCs are derived from cranial neural crest cells (CNCC) or the mesoderm.

In this study, Shi and his team of researchers demonstrated that around 90 percent of GMSCs are derived from CNCC and 10 percent from the mesoderm. In comparison with mesoderm MSCs (M-GMSCs), CNCC-derived GMSCs (N-GMSCs) show an elevated capacity to differentiate into neural cells and chondrocytes as well as to modulate immune cells. When transplanted into mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis, N-GMSCs showed superior effects in ameliorating inflammatory-related disease phenotype in comparison with the M-GMSC treatment group.

Further research is required to understand the interaction between the neural crest cell derived and mesoderm derived gingivae mesenchymal stem cells (N-GMSCs and M-GMSCs) in terms of their functional roles in gingival immune defense and wound healing.

"The tooth and surrounding tissues are a rich source of stem cells, and this JDR manuscript demonstrates that gingivae contain highly proliferative stem cells from two different embryonic origins and that these cells exhibit distinct behaviors," said JDR Associate Editor Jacques Nör. "These results suggest that gingivae, an easily accessible tissue, are an attractive source for stem cells that can be used in tissue regeneration."

Think before you drink: Erosion of tooth enamel from soda pop is permanent

Main Category: Dentistry
Article Date: 24 Jul 2013 - 2:00 PDT

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Think before you drink: Erosion of tooth enamel from soda pop is permanent

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You may be saving calories by drinking diet soda, but when it comes to enamel erosion of your teeth, it's no better than regular soda.

In the last 25 years, Kim McFarland, D.D.S., associate professor in the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Lincoln, has seen an increase in the number of dental patients with erosion of the tooth enamel - the protective layer of the tooth. Once erosion occurs, it can't be reversed and affects people their whole life.

"I'd see erosion once in a while 25 years ago but I see much more prevalence nowadays," Dr. McFarland said. "A lot of young people drink massive quantities of soda. It's no surprise we're seeing more sensitivity."

Triggers like hot and cold drinks - and even cold air - reach the tooth's nerve and cause pain. Depending on the frequency and amount of soda consumed, the erosion process can be extreme.

She said according to the National Soft Drink Association, it's estimated the average American drinks 44 gallons of soda pop a year. Phosphoric and citric acid, which are common ingredients in many popular sodas and diet sodas, alters the pH balance in the mouth and can cause tooth erosion over time.

"It can be more harmful than cavities because the damage causes tooth sensitivity," Dr. McFarland said. "If a tooth is decayed a dentist can fix it by placing a filling, but if a tooth is sensitive there is really nothing a dentist can do.

"Tooth sensitivity can become a lifetime problem, limiting things we like to drink and even food choices. You could crown all your teeth but that is costly and a rather extreme solution," Dr. McFarland said.

"It hurts to consume cold and hot foods and beverages. Some of my patients tell me when they go outside in the winter they don't open their mouth or the cold air causes pain."

In addition, a significant number of scientific studies show a relationship between the consumption of soda and enamel erosion and cavities.

Dr. McFarland said it's best not to drink soda at all, but she offers tips for those who continue to drink it.

• Limit consumption of soda to meal time
• Don't drink soda throughout the day
• Brush your teeth afterwards -- toothpaste re-mineralizes or strengthens areas where acid weakened the teeth
• If tooth brushing is not possible, at least rinse out your mouth with water
• Chew sugar free gum or better yet, gum containing Xylitol.

Modern dentistry may benefit from discovery of an evolutionary compromise for long tooth preservation

Main Category: Dentistry
Article Date: 27 Jul 2013 - 0:00 PDT

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Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, and the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, have conducted stress analyses on gorilla teeth of differing wear stages. Their findings show that different features of the occlusal surface antagonize tensile stresses in the tooth to tooth contact during the chewing process. They further show that tooth wear with its loss of dental tissue and the reduction of the occlusal relief decreases tensile stresses in the tooth. The result, however, is that food processing becomes less effective. Thus, when the condition of the occlusal surface changes during an individual's lifetime due to tooth wear, the biomechanical requirements on the existing dental material change as well - an evolutionary compromise for longer tooth preservation.

First, the researchers created 3D digital models of three gorilla lower second molars differing in wear stages. In a second step they applied a Software tool (Occlusal Fingerprint Analyser) developed in the Senckenberg Research Institute to precisely determine tooth to tooth contacts. They then used an engineering approach, finite element analysis (FEA), to evaluate whether some dental traits usually found in hominin and extant great ape molars have important biomechanical implications.

The results show that in unworn and slightly worn molars (with a well-formed occlusal relief that is most effective for processing food) tensile stresses concentrate in the grooves of the occlusal surface. In such a condition, the different crests of a molar carry out important biomechanical functions, for example, by reinforcing the crown against stresses that occur during the chewing process. Due to a loss of tooth tissue and a reduction of the occlusal relief the functionality of these crests diminishes during an individual's lifetime. However, this reduced functionality of the crests in worn teeth is counterbalanced by an increase in contact areas during tooth to tooth contacts, which ultimately contributes to a dispersion of the forces that affect the occlusal surface.

This suggests that the wear process might have a crucial influence in the evolution and structural adaptation of molars enabling to endure bite forces and to reduce tooth failure throughout the lifetime of an individual. "It seems that we observe an evolutionary compromise for long tooth preservation. Even though worn teeth are not as efficient they still fulfill their task. This would not be the case if they were lost prematurely", says Stefano Benazzi of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. He adds: "Tooth evolution and dental biomechanics can only be understood, if we further investigate tooth function in respect to the dynamic changes of tooth structures during the lifespan of individuals".

"The results have strong implications for understanding the functional biomechanics of dental traits, for deciphering the evolutionary trend of our masticatory apparatus and might have important implications in modern dentistry for improving dental treatments", says Jean-Jacques Hublin, director of the Department of Human Evolution at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.