Researches proved: professional tooth scaling reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes

Professional tooth scaling was associated with fewer heart attacks and strokes in a study from Taiwan, presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2011.

More than 100,000 people took part in the seven year study. Gender, age, and health conditions were all considered when accepting the participants. One half of them had their teeth professionally scarped and cleaned at least once a year, the other half had no tooth scaling.
None of the participants had a history of heart attack or stroke at the beginning of the study. Weight, smoking, and race were not adjusted in this research as they were not included in the Taiwan National Health insurance data base – the source of the information for the analysis.

The Capsule of Porphyromonas Gingivalis Protects Gum Disease-Causing Bacteria From Immune Response

According to recent research the capsule, Porphyromonas gingivalis, the bacterium that causes gum disease, provides stealth, boosting the bacterium's virulence. You may have also heard it referred to as a sugar coating, as the capsule is made from sugar molecules. These molecules do not ordinarily elicit immunity, despite the fact that it does hide the bacterium's proteins within, preventing immune response.
Gossweiler - Dentists in carmel In.

The study was led by Janina P. Lewis, of Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond. The scientists compared the ability of normal, and mutant bacteria that were missing the capsule.

"The mutant bacteria activated the host to a greater extent, and thus, were more easily killed by eukaryote cells," says Lewis. "Thus, the capsule protects the bacteria and allows them to survive unnoticed in our bodies."

Mushroom Rinse Can Improve Oral Health?

According to a study performed by researchers from Italy's University of Verona, using a mouth rinse made from shiitake mushrooms can reduce plaque and gum inflammation.

The group of researchers conducted the study because an extract from mushrooms has been shown in laboratory experiments to control the growth of oral bacteria.  It turns out that mushroom extracts kill oral bacteria, and make it harder for the bacteria to stick to teeth.

Math Gives Better Attachment For Dental Crowns?

Due to the fact that dental treatment, involving crown replacements runs Swedish people dozens of millions SEK annually, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology are working on the creation of a new method for “determining exactly how to optimally prepare a tooth to place a crown on it.”  They are working to make a new method that is much cheaper and faster; while at the same time improving quality and reliability of the crown replacements.

The researchers at Chalmers, at the initiative of the company Nobel Biocare, are now planning to run clinical tests.

"With current software, you can measure the damaged tooth's dimensions by laser scanning," says Chalmers researcher Evan Shellshear.  "The software then computes the optimal shape of the ground tooth, and the output is a 3-D visualisation of it.  You also get a 3-D animation showing precise suggestions for manoeuvring the cutting tool in order to achieve the final tooth shape safely."

Study Says: Teeth Crowded In Seniors

The fact that the size of our jaws decreases with age is shown in a unique research study performed by the Faculty of Dentistry at Malmö University.  Actually, this study began more than 60 years ago.  Plaster molds were made of the jaws of dental students, who were then in their twenties and the procedure was then repeated every 10 years.  Forty years after the first molds, a final round was performed.

Lars Bondemark, Professor of Orthodontics, who analyzed the material together with his colleague Maria Nilner, Professor of Clinical Bite Physiology, at the College of Dentistry, Malmö University, mentioned that they have "found that over these forty years there was less and less room for teeth in the jaw."

New study says that premature children have smaller teeth

A study from the Faculty of Odontology at Malmö University in Sweden unveiled that the size of teeth in premature children is smaller than those of children who were full term.  In recent years multiple studies of children's dental health have been published by researchers at the Faculty of Odontology in Malmö.  The research involved 80 children born before week 33 of pregnancy.

"We have examined how their teeth are developing and, among other things, we've looked at their bites.  We've also checked their need for orthodontic adjustments and found that it is greater than in the control group, children born at full term," she says.

Rapid Prototyping Comes To Dentistry

Have you ever thought of what would happen if your dentist could quickly scan your jaw and "print" your new teeth using a rapid prototyping machine?  Instead of waiting days or weeks for a cast to be produced and prosthetic dental implants to be made?

Good news!!  Iranian researchers have recently explained “how medical imaging, coupled with computer-aided design could be used to create a perfect-fit blueprint for prosthetic dentistry.”

Low Self-Esteem in Children affects Dental Appearance

According to a recent report from hospital-based orthodontic specialists, one in eight teenagers with irregularly shaped teeth have experienced bullying.  The bullying is said to have caused a negative influence on their self-esteem as well as on their quality of oral health.

The study unveils that the children with certain dental features, such as:

• maxillary overcrowding
• a cleft lip, with or without a cleft palate
• an overjet and a deep overbite

Asthma May Put People at a Higher Risk of Tooth Decay

According to a recent Brazilian research study that included 160 children, ages 3 to 15, some children with Asthma may get more cavities.  Half of the children in the study had asthma, consequently the other half did not.

The Brazilian researchers based the risk for tooth decay on the following factors:

Cedars-Sinai's COACH For Kids: $15,000 Grant to Increase Dental Care in Underserved Communities

A mobile medical program, called Cedars-Sinai's "COACH" for Kids and their Families®, is one of 20 school-based programs that have been selected nationwide to get a grant from the National Assembly on School-based Health Care (NASBHC.)  The program of the Maxine Dunitz Children's Health Center offers free health, and social services on a regular basis to schools, shelters, and neighborhood facilities in under served communities in Los Angeles.

"We're delighted to receive this grant, which enables us to add a vital new component to our oral health services in 14 Los Angeles elementary schools," said Michele Rigsby Pauley, RN, MSN, CPNP, and COACH for Kids and Their Families® program director.  "With this new funding, our clinicians will receive additional training, and we'll add a much needed fluoride varnish treatment to our dental services."  In response to "so many kids in desperate need for dental care, we added oral health education and services to the COACH for Kids program in 2003," said Rigsby Pauley.  "Including a dental hygienist going into classrooms educating young students about proper dental care.  Early damage to children's teeth can cause damage to adult teeth."

Oral Hygiene among British Adults

A recent survey showed that nearly a fifth of British adults go two or more days without brushing their teeth.

According to the poll by the Dental Smile Clinic in Bristol, approximately one quarter of British adults brushes only once a day, despite the fact that it is recommended to brush twice daily; meanwhile two-thirds mentioned that it takes them less than 60 seconds to brush.

It is important to mention that one in 30 men claimed they do not brush their teeth unless their partners tell them to.

Obesity Leads to Poor Oral Health

According to a recent study by the British Dental Health Foundation, "Poor oral health has joined the list of knock-on effects of obesity."

Just a few years ago, 1.5 billion adults (ages 20 and older,) were overweight, of that number, over 200 million men and about 300 million women were obese.  Periodontal pockets are food and plaque traps that irritate and decay teeth to the point that the tooth will finally fall out.

Severe Tooth Infections Connected With Heart Attacks

This study (from Norway) involved more than 1,000 men; nearly half of which had heart attacks.  The men ranged in ages from 48 to 77.

During the study it appeared that men who had a history of heart attack were more likely to have had teeth pulled because of infection (because of gum disease, or a tooth infection.)

"When a tooth is extracted because of an infection, the bacteria get into the bloodstream.  This is called a "bacteremia."  The body's inflammatory response to infections may help lead to increased plaque in arteries near the heart, which can increase risk of heart attack."

Athletes at Risk for Tooth Decay

A group of New Zealand researchers gave questionnaires to professional athletes whom take part in various sports which involve, running, biking and swimming.

Nearly 94% of the professional athletes stated that they ate during training, 84% mentioned the consumption of sports drinks.  Approximately 50% said that during training sessions they drank sports drinks or water by taking "little sips, often, from a bottle."  Just few of them thought however, that the way they eat and drink during training could put them at risk for cavities.  Upon further research, 10 out of 10 athletes who had oral exams were at high risk of developing cavities.

NovaMin Technology Added to Major Toothpaste Line

At the beginning of this year, an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland Dental School, Gary Hack, DDS stated that for the first time, millions of Americans will have a possibility to protect their teeth with "NovaMin," in everyday dental products.

"To know that our invention will now have a positive impact globally on dental pain and help those individuals suffering from sensitive teeth is very rewarding," says Hack.

Not so long ago, consumer health care company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) made an announcement claiming that they had found a dental formulation, which is the first to contain patented NovaMin technology designed to repair sensitive teeth.

Dental Care As Your Child Grows

As children grow up, the American Dental Association (ADA) advises parents to pay close attention to what kinds of products their children are eating and drinking. It's no secret that the nutrition we take in not only affects our general health, but our oral health as well. In addition, the American Dental Association warns that a diet high in sugar may very well be cause for significant damage not only to children's teeth,  but to adults teeth as well.  Sugar-coated teeth become a breeding ground for bacteria; which then produces acid.  It is this acid that eats away at  the enamel on our teeth.

In order to reduce the risks of childhood tooth decay, the ADA gives the following suggestion's:

Your Child's Bright Smile: Precautions

"It's crucial for parents to make good dental health a central component of their children's lives," explains Robert Shechet, D.D.S., Director of Dental Programs for Health Net, Inc. "What many people don't realize," he adds, "is that youngsters who don't receive proper dental care can develop into adults with poor dental health. Poor dental health can lead to heart attacks, strokes, premature or low-weight babies, diabetes complications, and other serious medical issues."

"Good dental health also extends to protecting youngsters' teeth when they're playing sports, and even when they're engaged in recreational activities such as rollerblading or snowboarding," says Health Net's Shechet.

Stress May Contribute To Risk for Tooth Decay

In accordance with a new study in young children, certain social and psychological factors increase the risk of tooth decay. The study was performed by the researchers from the University of British Columbia in Canada, who for two years, had been keeping track of 132 kindergarten children, among whom about a half had tooth decay.





Decay was linked with three factors:

Less Calcium Means Fewer Teeth?

In accordance with a Danish study, low calcium intake is linked with having fewer teeth.

The study which involved 1,602 adults, ages 30 to 60, was made by researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital.

One part of people kept a week record of what they ate, at the time when others were interviewed about their food habits. This info was used for estimation of the amount of calcium each person took in through food and drinks.

It turned out that more than a half of adults did not receive the recommended amount of daily calcium: 45% of women and nearly 55% of men did.

Natural Protein Spurs Periodontal Healing?

A periodontal disease in the most of cases is the reason of tooth loss in adults. The recent research showed that FGF-2 might have a role in treating this condition.

Thanks to the study that was made by researchers from Osaka University Dental School in Japan, which involved 253 adults with periodontal disease, we came to know that a protein involved in wound healing may help to regenerate periodontal tissue. “Each had a type of surgery in which gum tissue was back and bacteria were removed. During the procedure, surgeons used a protein called recombinant human fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2). It was applied to the bone under the gum tissue. Patients were randomly assigned to receive no FGF-2 or one of three concentrations of FGF-2.”