Could a Mouthwash Do Away With Dental Visits?

One dental researcher thinks he's found a way to permanently stave off the cavity-causing bacteria that lead to expensive and costly trips to the dentist.

Wenyuan Shi of the University of California, Los Angeles, has led efforts to develop a mouthwash with technology that kills Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria responsible for cavities.

First, Shi and colleagues had to understand how these bacteria interact in biofilms, or the sticky colonies of microorganisms that build up as plaque on the teeth. Bacteria often latch on to the surfaces of teeth, breaking down food debris and nutrients into acids that can eat away at enamel and form caries (another word for cavities). These harmful plaque build-ups can lead to gum disease and even tooth loss.

Full Article at: http://news.discovery.com/human/mouthwash-bacteria-111125.html

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Most People Don't Brush Their Teeth Effectively to Prevent Tooth Decay

A Swedish study found almost all Swedes brush their teeth, but only one in ten brushes teeth in a way that effectively prevents tooth decay. Now researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, are eager to teach Swedes how to brush their teeth more effectively.

Most Swedes regularly brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste. But only few know the best brushing technique, how the toothpaste should be used and how fluoride prevents tooth decay.

Read more: Most People Don't Brush Their Teeth Effectively to Prevent Tooth Decay | MedIndia http://www.medindia.net/news/most-people-dont-brush-their-teeth-effectively-to-prevent-tooth-decay-101347-1.htm#ixzz1v2xWnTUD

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Detecting Early Tooth Decay

“Both low-coherence light and ultrashort laser pulses can be used to measure internal structure in biological systems. An optical signal that is transmitted through or reflected from a biological tissue will contain time-of-flight information, which in turn yields spatial information about tissue microstructure.”

So began Huang et al. 20 years ago in the journal Science to describe their initial efforts to adapt a non-invasive fiberoptic imaging technique called optical coherence tomography, or OCT, to view tissues in the body. In this case, they visualized the retina and coronary artery. Five years later, Colston et al. applied OCT to the periodontal tissues of a pig, showing clearly the physical boundaries of the gingiva from the tooth and the tooth’s enamel from the cementum. This study marked the first time that OCT had imaged a hard biologic tissue successfully.

Since these groundbreaking papers, OCT is often employed with a polarization sensitive (PS) feature, creating the designation PS-OCT. The PS feature eliminates reflection from the tissue surface and monitors changes to the incident polarized light due to structural changes in the tissue.

For the complete article: http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/Research/ResearchResults/ScienceBriefs/Archive/SNIB2011/February/ToothDecay.htm

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Content on this blog are for informational purposes only, is neither intended to and does not establish a standard of care, and is not a substitute for professional judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ACES is not responsible for information on external websites linked to this website.

Study Warns of Killer Bugs in Dentures

A new study has warned that dentures, despite its clean look, could be teeming with killer bugs like MRSA.

Researchers have advised that putting infected false teeth in a microwave oven for three minutes makes them safe.

Dentures are known to get covered with thin layers of bacteria called biofilms, which can lurk until they are breathed into the lungs.

Nearly 20 million people in the U.S. wear full or partial dentures often infected with MRSA or drug-resistant staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

Read more: Study Warns of Killer Bugs in Dentures | MedIndia http://www.medindia.net/news/study-warns-of-killer-bugs-in-dentures-99839-1.htm#ixzz1sE115MTb

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A point pollution source, not only of mercury but also of other amalgam constituents

Shraim A, Alsuhaimi A, Al-Thakafy JT Taibah University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry Department, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia; University of Queensland, National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (EnTox), 39 Kessels Road, Brisbane, QLD 4108, Australia. Current literature suggests that amalgam waste from dental clinics is a point-source of mercury pollution in the environment. However, apart from mercury, other amalgam constituents (e.g. Ag, Sn, Cu, and Zn) in dental clinics' wastewater have not been reported in the literature before. The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of mercury and other metals in the wastewater of some dental clinics and the influent of a wastewater treatment plant in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah (KSA). This renders dental clinics wastewater a hazardous waste which should be properly treated before it is discharged into the environment.

For full article: http://dental.researchtoday.net/archive/8/5/8972.htm

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More Americans seeking dental treatment at the ER

By LINDSEY TANNER AP Medical WriterAssociated Press

CHICAGO—More Americans are turning to the emergency room for routine dental problems—a choice that often costs 10 times more than preventive care and offers far fewer treatment options than a dentist's office, according to an analysis of government data and dental research.

Most of those emergency visits involve trouble such as toothaches that could have been avoided with regular checkups but went untreated, in many cases because of a shortage of dentists, particularly those willing to treat Medicaid patients, the analysis said.

The number of ER visits nationwide for dental problems increased 16 percent from 2006 to 2009, and the report released Tuesday by the Pew Center on the States suggests the trend is continuing.

For full article: http://www.scsun-news.com/ci_20058367

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Unhealthy Gums Increase Risk of Premature Delivery

Gum disease can do more than affecting just your gums. It can increase the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and premature delivery. The following is the conclusion arrived at a conference on periodontal disease, held at New York.

Participants at the conference highlighted the accumulating evidence regarding increased risk of serious illness in association with gum disease. They further reflected the need for a collaborative work between both dentists and medical health professionals.


Read more: Unhealthy Gums Increase Risk Of Premature Delivery | MedIndia http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=8099#ixzz1nbXWqvoX

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Possible link between gum disease and bowel cancer

The bacteria associated with the most common cause of tooth loss in adults could be a pre-curser for the development of bowel cancer, according to a team of scientists.

The link comes as scientists at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute in America found an abnormally large number of Fusobacterium – a bacterium associated with the development of periodontal disease – in nine colorectal tumour samples, pointing to the possibility the two could be associated.

For full article: http://www.dentistry.co.uk/news/4859--Oral-health-Possible-link-between-gum-disease-and-bowel-cancer

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Guidelines on Infant Oral Health

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommended infants 6 to 12 months old for dental visits. More than 40 percent of children have tooth decay by the time they reach kindergarten. In order to help prevent tooth decay, dental experts at Nationwide Children’s Hospital are reminding parents to schedule dental appointments for their toddlers.

Studies have shown that if children experience tooth decay in their baby teeth, they are more likely to develop tooth decay in their permanent teeth. By bringing their child to a dentist at an early age, parents learn about the structure of the child’s mouth, preventative information on infant oral health and introduce their toddlers to the act of brushing their teeth.

Infant oral health is the foundation for preventing future tooth decay,” said Paul Casamassimo, DDS, MS, chief ofDentistry at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “If a child experiences tooth decay at an early age, it is a very difficult process to stop. The purpose of this initial visit is not only to introduce these toddlers to visiting the dentist, but also to provide preventative information to prevent tooth decay.

Read more: Guidelines on Infant Oral Health | MedIndia http://www.medindia.net/news/Guidelines-on-Infant-Oral-Health-95620-1.htm#ixzz1loBcZF00

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Studies Evaluate Health Effects of Dental Amalgam Fillings in Children

Scientists supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), part of the National Institutes of Health, report in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association the results of the first-ever randomized clinical trials to evaluate the safety of placing amalgam fillings, which contain mercury, in the teeth of children.

Both studies—one conducted in Europe, the other in the United States—independently reached the conclusion: Children whose cavities were filled with dental amalgam had no adverse health effects. The findings included no detectable loss of intelligence, memory, coordination, concentration, nerve conduction, or kidney function during the 5-7 years the children were followed. The researchers looked for measurable signs of damage to the brain and kidneys because previous studies with adults indicated these organs might be especially sensitive to mercury.

The authors noted that children in both studies who received amalgam, informally known as “silver fillings,” had slightly elevated levels of mercury in their urine. But after several years of analysis, they determined the mercury levels remained low and did not correlate with any symptoms of mercury poisoning.

For full article: http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/Research/ResearchResults/NewsReleases/ArchivedNewsReleases/NRY2006/PR04182006.htm

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Device Claims to Protect Teeth from Cavities for 5 years

Would you be willing to place a gel filled tray in your mouth and receive six to nine volts from a battery or wall socket to avoid cavities for 5 years? Sorry, not me. This sounds a little too much like a visit to the electric chair.

An Israeli company called Fluorinex actually claims that they have developed such a system. According to an article in Engadget, two models are available. I can only assume that one model plugs into a wall socket and the other one plugs into a battery. Engadget states that, "According to news site Isracast, the five year protective layer is formed by an efficient ion exchange process through an electro-chemical reaction in which fluor ions displace the hydroxide ions at the outer layer of the tooth."

When I was much much younger, I went to a party where a chair had been connected to a car battery. A video camera was placed in front of the chair. The joke was to sit in the chair and be on camera. Yes, I sat on it and I will never forget that feeling in my bum for as long as I live.

For full article: http://dentistry.about.com/od/dentalfactsfaqs/a/device.htm

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Blast of gas that could replace dentist's drill and make fillings stronger

A new ‘gas-firing’ device may offer a pain-free alternative to the dentist’s drill — and could make fillings even more hard-wearing.

The device, which resembles an electric toothbrush, cleans out cavities in rotten teeth in only 30 seconds, according to new research.

It works by generating high-energy gas and liquid particles to kill bacteria and blast out the decayed pulp of the tooth.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2090764/Blast-gas-replace-dentists-drill-make-fillings-stronger.html#ixzz1kOhZxZ8a

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Fluoridated toothpaste fast falling out of favor

FLUORIDE is a naturally occurring element that prevents tooth decay when ingested systemically or applied topically. Researchers believe that there are several mechanisms by which fluoride achieves its anti-carious effect. It reduces the solubility of enamel in acid by converting hydroxyapatite into less soluble fluoroapatie; it may exert an influence directly on dental plaque, reducing the ability of plaque organisms to produce acid; and it promotes the remineralization of tooth enamel in areas that have been decalcified by acids.

Most likely, fluoride works by a combination of these effects. But the remineralization effect of fluoride is of prime importance, because it results in a reversal of the early caries process, and gives rise to enamel more resistant to decay.

In 1914, fluoride was added to toothpaste, but became more widespread when it was recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA) in the 1950s. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has proclaimed community water fluoridation as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th Century. Most States in the USA have fluoride in their drinking water. However, relatively recently, there has been some reconsideration among the scientific community about this material.

For full article: http://www.guyanachronicleonline.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38142:fluoridated-toothpaste-fast-falling-out-of-favour-&catid=20:dentist-speaks&Itemid=19

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Dentists Could Screen 20 Million Americans for Chronic Physical Illnesses

Nearly 20 million Americans annually visit a dentist but not a general healthcare provider, according to an NYU study published in the American Journal of Public Health.

The study, conducted by a nursing-dental research team at NYU, is the first of its kind to determine the proportion of Americans who are seen annually by a dentist but not by a general healthcare provider.

This finding suggests dentists can play a crucial role as health care practitioners in the front-line defense of identifying systemic disease which would otherwise go undetected in a significant portion of the population, say the researchers.

For full article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/239315.php

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How Cavity-Causing Microbes Invade Heart

Scientists have discovered the tool that bacteria normally found in our mouths use to invade heart tissue, causing a dangerous and sometimes lethal infection of the heart known as endocarditis. The work raises the possibility of creating a screening tool -- perhaps a swab of the cheek, or a spit test -- to gauge a dental patient's vulnerability to the condition.

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The identification of the protein that allows Streptococcus mutans to gain a foothold in heart tissue is reported in the June issue of Infection and Immunity by microbiologists at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

S. mutans is a bacterium best known for causing cavities. The bacteria reside in dental plaque -- an architecturally sophisticated goo composed of an elaborate molecular matrix created by S. mutans that allows the bacteria to inhabit and thrive in our oral cavity. There, they churn out acid that erodes our teeth.

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Rochester Medical Center.

For Full article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110627095650.htm

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New Device Set to Combat Fear of the Dentist's Drill

An innovative device which cancels out the noise of the dental drill could spell the end of people's anxiety about trips to the dentist, according to experts at King's College London, Brunel University and London South Bank University, who pioneered the invention.

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It is widely known that the sound of the dental drill is the prime cause of anxiety about dental treatment, and some patients avoid trips to the dentist because of it. This new device could help address people's fears and encourage them to seek the oral healthcare treatment they need.

The prototype device works in a similar way to noise-cancelling headphones but is designed to deal with the very high pitch of the dental drill. Patients would simply unplug their headphones, plug the device into their MP3 player or mobile phone, and then plug the headphones into the device, allowing them to listen to their own music while completely blocking out the unpleasant sound of the drill and suction equipment. The patient can still hear the dentist and other members of the dental team speaking to them but other unwanted sounds are filtered out by the device.

For full article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110110053040.htm

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Male Cigarette Smokers More Likely to Need Root Canals

According to a recent report from the American Dental Association, males that smoke cigarettes are almost twice as likely to need root canals based on news reports about an extensive study listed to appear in the Journal of Dental Research in April 2006. 

For full article: http://dentistry.about.com/od/toothmouthconditions/a/malesmokers.htm

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Blood Thinners and Dental Care

Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Agents and Dental Procedures

An increasing number of dental patients are taking “blood thinner” medications for various medical conditions. These drugs interfere with the body’s normal clotting (stopping blood flow) mechanism. There are two main processes by which the body normally forms a blood clot at the site of tissue injury. The first involves small blood cells called platelets which clump together at the wound to form a mechanical plug. This plug slows the flow of blood through the vessel and forms a matrix for the next phase of coagulation. During coagulation chemicals in the blood interact with each other to fill in the spaces between the platelets, stabilize the clot, and make it more solid until the process stops the bleeding.

Antiplatelet agents such as aspirin, Ticlid (ticlopidine), and Plavix (clopidogrel) target the first phase of clot formation by preventing platelets from sticking together and adhering to blood vessels. These agents do this by creating permanent changes in the platelets which last throughout the lifetime of the platelet (7-10 days). These effects can only be countered as the body produces new platelets that have not been exposed to the drug.

For full article: http://www.aaom.com/patients/blood-thinners-and-dental-care/

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Dried Licorice Root Fights the Bacteria That Cause Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

Scientists are reporting identification of two substances in licorice -- used extensively in Chinese traditional medicine -- that kill the major bacteria responsible for tooth decay and gum disease, the leading causes of tooth loss in children and adults. In a study in ACS' Journal of Natural Products, they say that these substances could have a role in treating and preventing tooth decay and gum disease.

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Stefan Gafner and colleagues explain that the dried root of the licorice plant is a common treatment in Chinese traditional medicine, especially as a way to enhance the activity of other herbal ingredients or as a flavoring. Despite the popularity of licorice candy in the U.S., licorice root has been replaced in domestic candy with anise oil, which has a similar flavor. Traditional medical practitioners use dried licorice root to treat various ailments, such as respiratory and digestive problems, but few modern scientific studies address whether licorice really works. (Consumers should check with their health care provider before taking licorice root because it can have undesirable effects and interactions with prescription drugs.) To test whether the sweet root could combat the bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities, the researchers took a closer look at various substances in licorice.

For full article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120104115106.htm

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Premature Children Have Smaller Teeth

The size of teeth in premature children is smaller than that of children who were full-term, according to a study by the Faculty of Odontology at Malmö University in Sweden.

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Our knowledge about premature children, and their physical and mental development as they grow up, is constantly growing. In recent years several studies of children's dental health have been published by researchers at the Faculty of Odontology in Malmö. Liselotte Paulsson-Björnsson, a specialist in orthodontics, has studied 80 children born before week 33 of pregnancy.

"We have examined how their teeth are developing and, among other things, we've looked at their bites. We've also checked their need for orthodontic adjustments and found that it is greater than in the control group, children born at full term," she says.

For full article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111027082747.htm

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