Today's RDH
Today's RDH is for curious and passionate dental hygienists. We deliver the latest dental hygiene news, research, and entertainment on your phone, tablet, and computer.
Topical Steroid Treatment for Oral Lichen Planus: Does It Cause Candidiasis?
Oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects mucous membranes. Patients with oral lichen planus may be at risk for oral cancer in affected areas. Lesions are most often seen on the buccal mucosa, tongue, gingiva, and palate.
Lichen planus can appear as lacey white raised patches, red swollen patches, or ulcers. White lacey patches may not cause...
Bariatric Surgery: Research Shows Surgeons Lack Basic Knowledge of Dental Erosion
Obesity-related surgeries are becoming more and more popular and widespread every year worldwide. These surgeries' side effects and complications are usually presented to the patients repeatedly, both before and after surgery. When a patient chooses to undergo this type of surgery, their entire life must change, and it's a life-changing and life-saving opportunity that one must be prepared for...
Research Looks at Oral Health of Children with Down’s Syndrome
A high number of individuals with cognitive disabilities and physical limitations have a difficult time maintaining a healthy dental hygiene routine. The level of help that an individual needs is based upon the type of disability they have and where they happen to land on that particular spectrum. Children with Down's Syndrome are unique, and our approach to their...
Marijuana Use Increases Periodontitis Sooner Than Expected in Young Adults
Note: The study's objective in this summary is on marijuana and the possible adverse effects. We realize that CBD has potential beneficial uses in dentistry and beyond; however, the benefits are not the objective of this research piece.
As more and more states in the U.S. legalize marijuana, either medically or recreationally, people feel more comfortable sharing information about...
Using Artificial Intelligence to Detect Bone Loss in Dental Implant Patients
Dental implants help our patients to smile with confidence and chew their food properly, thus improving their quality of life. But unfortunately, dental implants can lead to bone loss if not properly taken care of. This may happen for a variety of reasons, like from infection and inflammation due to peri-implantitis or even from the type of implant itself....
Periodontitis May Affect Conception: Further Study Is Necessary
Periodontitis is chronic, degenerative, and, unfortunately, a common disease that affects a large population. It's the cause of most of the common and serious dental problems that we have to address every day as dental hygienists and has been exhaustively studied without end. We know how to prevent it, and we can treat it to an extent, but we...
Curion, formerly Bisco Canada, Unveils Exciting New Look and Leadership Team
Dental industry leader Bisco Canada’s empowering new name and look are built on decades-long knowledge and partnership building.
Today Bisco Canada announced it has rebranded as Curion. The new name and identity, stemming from the word “cura” meaning “to care”, are born out of a desire to reflect their breakout growth as curators of expert-driven dental solutions in Canada, built...
A Cross-sectional Study on Hemodialysis Patients and Periodontal Disease
Healthy kidneys filter out metabolic wastes from our blood, which then pass through the urine, but renal failure patients may need the help of medical procedures, like hemodialysis, to remove this toxic buildup. Unfortunately, hemodialysis is also linked to higher rates of periodontal disease. A recent study from Egypt looked at the periodontal health of end-stage renal failure patients on hemodialysis...
Losing Teeth: Social Isolation Associated with Tooth Loss Among Older Adults
Several studies link social isolation and loneliness to various health conditions, including high blood pressure, anxiety, mental health disorders, heart disease, depression, cognitive decline, and early death. With the rise of the COVID-19 global pandemic, these issues might be more salient, especially among the geriatric population.
People who have no meaningful interaction and connection with those around them are at...
The Effects of Menopause on Oral Health: Xerostomia Risk Is High
As women age, their chances of developing an oral mucosal disorder or xerostomia increase, especially with the onset of menopause. Statistical differences caused several researchers to study what other effects menopause will have on your oral health.
The Assessment of Effect of Menopause on Saliva and Oral Health Status studies the dental health of 80 women, broken up into two groups of...
Tooth Banking: Stem Cell Collection Via Teeth for Potential Future Cures
Regenerative medicine is a group of biomedical approaches to clinical therapies that might involve the use of stems cells. It looks at the process of replacing or regenerating human cells or tissues to regain normal function. Stem cells from umbilical cords, marrow, blood, fetal material, and teeth have been researched and tested for various cures for serious problems such...
Research Looks at How COVID-19 Changed Dental Students’ Career Paths
Everyone is sick and tired of the coronavirus, and that's a simple fact. Its existence has transformed the world and devastated more people than we can count. As dental professionals, our protocols have changed in dealing with the crisis.
Dental students had to take a break with the rest of us, and when we went back to work and learned...
Desquamative Gingivitis: Maintenance through Proper Oral Care In Lieu of Medication
Desquamative gingivitis, or DG, is a periodontal disease caused by an excessive overgrowth of flesh-eating bacteria on any tissue determined to be gingival. The presence of DG means that our patients most likely suffer from blisters, inflammation, redness, flaking skin, tooth erosion, and the appearance of blisters. DG, and the general signs of DG, can all be caused by...
Specialized Visual Pedagogy Most Effective for Our Patients on the Spectrum
It can be a challenge to treat kids with autism in the dental office. They are sensitive to lights, smells, sounds, and textures, and some of these patients don't respond well to verbal advice and directives. For example, many parents of autistic children find it difficult to get their kids to brush, as the intrusion of the toothbrush and...
A Clinical Trial of Topical Erythropoietin Use During Gingival Graft Surgery
Patients suffering from periodontitis may experience various symptoms, like receding gingiva, halitosis, alveolar bone loss, and edentulism in severe cases. Periodontal treatments like non-surgical periodontal therapy may help, but in some cases, surgical interventions like gingival grafts are necessary. In a recent randomized controlled clinical trial, researchers looked at the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) effects on wound healing after gingival graft...
Can Heartburn Drugs Reduce the Severity of Periodontal Disease?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 47.2% of adults aged 30 years and above suffer from some form of periodontal disease. The condition worsens with age, with 70.1% of adults aged 65 years and above suffering from periodontitis.
Recent research published in Clinical and Experimental Dental Research has revealed a link between heartburn medications (specifically proton pump inhibitors) and the...