Dental Research

Chronic periodontitis is a chronic inflammation of the gum tissues, caused by an excess of dental plaque and the body's immune response to the harmful bacteria. Over time, it causes loss of bone and soft tissues, and evidence exists that links chronic periodontitis with an increased risk of certain cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, and even Alzheimer's Disease. Periodontitis is a common health problem, affecting nearly half...

Aloe vera gel has shown remarkable promise in treating a variety of oral health conditions, as demonstrated in study after study. Recently, a small study examined the effects of aloe vera gel in conjunction with SRP to treat chronic periodontitis. Patients were given standard SRP in one quadrant, with SRP and local aloe vera gel in another quadrant. Upon reexamination on the...

In a study released January 16, 2018, from the Health Sciences Campus at Tufts University, researchers are reporting a noticeable connection between gum disease and incidents of cancer. Connecting the Dots This study came about through the collaborative efforts between two epidemiologists, Dominique Michaud (Tufts University School of Medicine) and Elizabeth Platz (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Kimmel Cancer Center)....

A recent thesis out of Sahlgrenska Academy (of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden) is convincingly positing the importance of proper dental hygiene education in battling rising obesity levels among children. Studying the Diets of Children Specifically, one of the sub-studies presented in the paper "Diets of European Children, With Focus on BMI, Well-being, and Families" looked into eating behaviors in addition...

The 2018 flu season has been one of the worst in 15 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in the final week of January 2018, 7.1% of all outpatient visits were for flu-like symptoms, an increase of .5% from the week before. This season has already led to the tragic deaths of 53 children from influenza, and it may only be...

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...

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...

It was simply a matter of time before smart technology met up with dentistry. In what can become a game changer in the dental industry, researchers are discovering a methodology for reducing the incidence of recurrent dental caries. Restorations: An Ideal Bacteria Building Chamber In what is likely a classic conundrum, for years dentists have struggled with recurrent caries. Recurrent caries...

Substance abuse is on the rise across America with an estimated 3 million new users every year. This population has unique needs and identifying and understanding the consequences of substance abuse on dental health is crucial. A new review published in the journal, Addiction, shows a link between substance abuse and poorer dental health. Patients with a substance-abuse disorder have greater amounts...

A recent study published by the British Dental Journal points to the deleterious effects that eating and drinking habits may cause in relation to tooth erosion. Lead researcher, Dr. Saoirse O'Toole (from the Department of Tissue Engineering and Biophotonics at the King's College London Dental Institute), and her team worked to determine which foods and drinks proved to be most devastating in causing...