dentistry

New research demonstrates that silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is as effective as dental sealants in preventing tooth decay among over 4,000 elementary school students, offering a less expensive and quicker application process. This alternative treatment not only prevents cavities but also represents a significant cost-saving measure that can increase access to dental care, particularly in school-based cavity prevention programs.Silver diamine fluoride prevents cavities and keeps existing ones from worsening in school-based…

The novocaine made the lower part of my face feel like a sack of wet cement. A faint tinny sound of muzak leaked into the room from somewhere above. A blue surgical drape rested over my face; the small white spot from the dentist’s headlamp danced over it then finally zeroed in on my mouth. I heard Dr. Mohamed Ali exchange some numbers—they sounded like fine coordinates—with an assistant bent over a laptop nearby. Then I heard the robot draw near and  knew it was almost ready to begin its careful journey through my gum…

On top an X-ray examination, and X-ray image which reveals carious lesions on posterior molars. In the middle, a row of teeth showing diligent use of toothpicks, and filed front teeth. On the bottom a filed hole from the crown of the tooth into the pulp – a procedure that reduces toothache and infection. Credit: Carolina Bertilsson and Henrik LundExtensive tooth decay and pain, alongside evidence of dental procedures and the filing of front teeth, reveal the Viking Age inhabitants of Varnhem had access to surprisingly…

Research on 10,000-year-old birch tar samples from Mesolithic Scandinavia indicates that hunter-gatherers likely had poor oral health, with a high probability of gum disease and tooth decay, and reveals insights into their diet and lifestyle. Credit: SciTechDaily.comMesolithic Scandinavians likely faced oral health issues, with studies on ancient birch tar revealing signs of gum disease, tooth decay, and diverse dietary habits.Members of a hunter-gatherer group that lived in south-western Scandinavia during the Mesolithic…

Formlabs has rolled up to CES 2024 in Las Vegas with its customary bundle of announcements for its class-leading 3D printers. The company unveiled several new tools and materials at this year's show, but the most interesting has to be its Premium Teeth Resin, yet another foray into the dentistry world. It’s intended to be used to create 3D-printed dentures as well as for temporary restorations that sit on implants like All-On-X. The company says it’s already been registered with the FDA as a Class II biocompatible…

A new analysis of Viking-era teeth – dating back around a thousand years – has given us some interesting insight into the dentistry of the time, which looks to have been more advanced than previously thought.Researchers from the University of Gothenburg and the Västergötlands Museum in Sweden looked at a total of 3,293 teeth from 171 of the Nordic marauders, including both kids and adults.Modern-day dentistry assessments were carried out on the teeth, including the use of X-ray scans and dental probes, and it turns out…

A study from Tokyo Medical and Dental University reveals that the oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis can hinder heart muscle repair after a heart attack, suggesting that treating oral infections may help prevent fatal heart attacks. Scientists at Tokyo Medical and Dental University have discovered that the gum disease-causing bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis can disrupt the merging of autophagosomes and lysosomes. This interference aggravates heart tissue restructuring and increases the risk of heart rupture…

A Rutgers study has found that CBD, a non-addictive marijuana derivative, significantly reduces dental pain, presenting a safer alternative to opioids. The research, which involved monitoring pain reduction in participants, suggests CBD’s potential in dental pain management, with further research and a phase III trial planned. Rutgers researchers report that CBD effectively reduces dental pain, offering a potential alternative to opioids. Further research is planned to confirm these findings and explore CBD’s…

Image: Shutterstock (Shutterstock)A healthy mouth may just help keep the brain healthy as well, new research out this week suggests. The study, a broad review of the existing evidence, found that poor dental health was linked to a later higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia. This increased risk was especially apparent for those missing some or all of their teeth.Many studies have indicated that the health of our teeth and gums can influence the body elsewhere, including the brain. But other studies have been less…

Broad new data on wages earned by college graduates who received federal student aid showed a pay gap emerging between men and women soon after they joined the workforce, even among those receiving the same degree from the same school.The data, which cover about 1.7 million graduates, showed that median pay for men exceeded that for women three years after graduation in nearly 75% of roughly 11,300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs at some 2,000 universities. In almost half of the programs, male graduates’ median…