Dental Research

Scientists at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York recently examined the facilitators and potential barriers to implementing Oral Rapid HIV testing in the dental setting. The test is very helpful for patients who are unaware of their positive HIV status. The study, "Oral Rapid HIV Testing: Implementation experiences of dental hygiene faculty and students," was published in the Journal...

There is perhaps nothing more unsettling than being diagnosed with cancer. It is often a frightening and stressful time in one's life, but survival rates are increasing. Over the years huge strides have been made in cancer research and medicine has found more effective cancer treatments. Also, cancer screenings have become more successful at detecting cancers in the body...

Several states have made it legal for patients to use cannabis for medical purposes and recreational use. As a result, the rate of cannabis use has risen significantly across the nation. New research suggests that frequent cannabis use can have a negative impact on a person's oral health. The study, which was published in the Journal of Substance Abuse, revealed...

A study titled, "Tongue Microbiota and Oral Health Status in Community-Dwelling Elderly Adults," sheds light on research about geriatric dentistry. The study was published in the American Society for Microbiology and closely examined whether older patients with dental caries were more likely to develop future respiratory issues like pneumonia. A Closer Look at Pneumonia and the Geriatric Population Pneumonia occurs when a virus,...

New research has revealed that postmenopausal women who have experienced tooth loss are more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension by their physician in the future. The study, "Association of Periodontal Disease and Edentulism with Hypertension Risk in Postmenopausal Women," was reported in the January 2019 edition of the American Journal of Hypertension. About Hypertension The heart circulates blood throughout the body...

Scientists have recently engineered a biomaterial that can help preserve a patient's tooth and keep it alive after a root canal procedure. Researchers from the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) created a video and shared their groundbreaking findings with their peers at the 256th National Meeting and Exposition in Boston. The national exposition was hosted by the American Chemical Society which...

A recent study has periodontists, experts in the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of periodontal disease, encouraging patients to maintain gum health in an effort to reduce their Alzheimer’s disease risk. The study, published in the journal Science Advances, uncovered a potential link between P. gingivalis, the bacteria associated with periodontal disease (commonly known as gum disease) and Alzheimer’s. Researchers analyzed...

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine have unearthed evidence that smoking can prevent dental pulp from performing its core function of combatting different diseases. The study, titled "Comparison of IL-1β, TNF-α, hBD-2, and hBD-3 Expression in the Dental Pulp of Smokers Versus Nonsmokers," was published in the Journal of Endodontics. How Dental Pulp Helps Fight Bacteria Dental pulp...

Researchers at the University of Florida in Gainesville have discovered another factor that can cause tooth erosion. According to recent data from their study, dry mouth lozenges may lead to tooth erosion due to their high level of acidity. A Closer Look at Tooth Erosion According to the American Dental Association, dental erosion occurs when excessive acid in the mouth causes tooth enamel...

Infection is one of the biggest risks of any surgical procedure, and no dentist wants his or her patients to suffer from ongoing problems. But according to a study of Minnesota dental patients in five counties, prescribing antibiotics as a "just in case" measure may have repercussions that dentists don't see. The results of the 7-year study, shared with attendees...