Dental Research

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...

Gum disease runs the range of being mildly uncomfortable to downright painful. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control estimate that nearly half -- 47.2 percent -- of adults over age 30 have some form of periodontal disease. Caused by harmful oral bacteria that proliferate in our mouths, periodontal disease symptoms range from sensitive or bleeding gums to gums pulling...

Grand Rapids, Michigan made national headlines when they became the first city to add fluoride to their community's water in 1945. Since this landmark decision, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 42 out of 50 cities in the United States have decided to help fight tooth decay by adding fluoride to its drinking water. A new study published in the Journal...

Dental implants are an exciting alternative to bridges and dentures, eliminating many of the aesthetic and practical issues associated with removable dentures. The innovation doesn't stop there, however, as researchers devote resources to important studies, striving to make dental implants even easier to maintain and clean. Recently, researchers conducted a study on cavitating jets and their efficacy in cleaning...

According to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, with someone in America developing the disease every 65 seconds. Periodontal disease attacks approximately half of United States adults over age 30, with prevalence rates rising to around 70% in adults 65 and older. When we look at the stats on Alzheimer's and...

Dental anxiety may be dismissed by some individuals as inconsequential, but the reality is that dental anxiety can be crippling for those affected. Because of dental anxiety, individuals don't always receive the level of care needed to prevent and/or treat dental problems. As a result, minor concerns can become worse due to neglect, and major problems can linger and...

The composite resin materials that are used in fillings and other dental restorations are durable and easy to match to the tooth's enamel color, but they don't do anything special to repel the bacteria that led to decay in the first place. Further, they don't help eradicate harmful bacteria from forming on and around the new filling. Now, researchers...

According to research presented at the EuroPerio9 conference, coronary artery disease and periodontal disease share a mutual epidemiological relationship. The conference, which ran from June 20-23 in Amsterdam, was held by the European Federation of Periodontology. The non-profit organization focuses on sharing and promoting research related to periodontal health. Thirty individual national scientific societies of periodontology make up the European Federation of Periodontology. The lead researcher,...

Emerging research into the diagnostic phase of endodontics has exciting implications for emergency care, structural restoration, function, aesthetics, and most importantly--interdisciplinary care. Multidisciplinary dentistry has become essential for optimizing the patient outcome as well as the comfort and confidence of the clinician. The advances in technology afforded by thoughtful research allow for enhanced endodontic predictability. Learning endodontics techniques is an important method for...

Vaping e-cigarettes are fast becoming a popular alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes. A recent study titled, "Cariogenic Potential of Sweet Flavors in Electronic-Cigarette Liquids," examined how the different e-cigarette flavors may affect a patient's oral health. The Rise of Vaping E-cigarettes E-cigarettes have various nicknames, including "e-cigs," "vapes" and "vape pens." E-cigarette devices come in many shapes and colors. Consumers can easily buy...