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."

Fighting Tooth Decay with Probiotics

According to recent research by Indian scientists, a daily dose of "good" bacteria might help kids fight tooth decay.

The study involved 150 children, between the ages of seven and fourteen.  All of the children were randomly assigned to one of three groups.  Each participant of the study received a powder that had to be taken once a day for two weeks.

The powder given to one of the groups (the control group) did not contain any active ingredients.  The second group's powder contained two species of pro-biotics, (Lactobacillus rhamnosus, a commercially available probiotic, and Bifidobacterium, a probiotic used in the food industry) that can potentially promote good health.  The third group was given a Bacillus coagulans containing powder, which is also used as a pro-biotic.

Study Says Lollipops Reduce Tooth Decay

Just a couple of days ago we informed you about a new study claiming that sugar-free lollipops containing licorice root extract reduce tooth decay causing bacteria.  Bacterias such as streptococcus mutans (or S. mutans,) which is considered to be the primary culprit in tooth decay.

We now have a bit more information to add, Martin Curzon, Editor in Chief, European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, said that "The use of the licorice root lollipops is an ideal approach as it will stop the transfer and implantation of the bacteria that cause dental decay from mothers to their infants and toddlers.  It also has the merit of being a low cost, high impact public dental health measure."

Skipping Brushing Teeth At Bedtime?

"Good oral health cannot be maintained by brushing once a day as each brushing session has a specific purpose.  Brushing first thing in the morning coats the tooth's enamel with fluoride to strengthen and protect the tooth surface against acid attacks throughout the day,” Dr Nigel Carter.

According to recent research, approximately a half of the population (a bit more than 47%) mentioned regularly skipping brushing their teeth at bedtime.

"Brushing last thing at night removes the deposits which have built up from eating and drinking during the day, in addition to removing plaque; the cause of gum disease.  The last brush of the day also coats the teeth with fluoride, which is not washed away through eating and drinking, it continues to protect the tooth's surface during sleep," advised Dr Carter.

Lollipops Reduce Tooth Decay?

According to a recent study, sugar-free lollipops containing licorice root extract, reduce the bacteria that causes tooth decay.  Specifically in preschool aged children with a high-risk of tooth decay.

The study was published by the European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, funded by the Research and Data Institute of the affiliated companies of Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, New Mexico and North Carolina.

The researchers analyzed 66 preschool students ages 2 - 5 who were given a lollipop for 10 minutes twice daily for three weeks.  The results showed a significant reduction in Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans.)

Caries Among Indigenous Children

A recent research study in the United States and Canada showed that early childhood tooth decay is one of the most common infectious diseases amongst indigenous children.

In a new policy statement, "Early Childhood Caries in Indigenous Communities," were provided recommendations for the prevention of dental disease in young children and pregnant women; as early childhood tooth decay also results in additional adverse health effects.

Despite the fact that proper oral health for mothers and their babies is promoted starting from the prenatal period, and continues as children enter school, as unlikely as it may seem, in some Canadian indigenous communities, over than 90% of children have tooth decay.

Tooth Decay Among Indigenous Children of U.S. and Canada

Not long ago we told you that one of the most common infectious diseases among indigenous children of the United States and Canada is early childhood tooth decay.  The James Irvine's statement claiming that "The influence of early childhood caries on overall childhood health and well being goes well beyond the mouth, and many of our indigenous children have not benefited fully from the many advances to improve oral health in North American children," stresses the need for indigenous children to have access to early oral health care.

"Many physicians continue to view early childhood caries as a dental problem to be treated by dentists," noted Steve Holve, MD, FAAP, another co-author.

New Dental Device Can See 'Invisible' Tooth Decay and Plaque

A team of scientists from the University of Liverpool are working on a device that will be able to identify early tooth decay, and plaque before it is visible to the human eye.

The innovation will include "a clinical digital camera which incorporates Qualitative Light Induced Fluorescence (QLF) technology, to take images of the mouth using blue light and special filters which can show cavities and plaque."  After the images are taken, they can be easily transferred via wireless technology to a PC, laptop, iPad or smart phone, so a dental care professional can give an immediate assessment and evaluation.

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.

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:

Steps To Help Ensure Your Child's Bright Smile

In accordance with the U.S. Surgeon General, tooth decay is considered to be the most common, chronic childhood disease; taking into account the fact that more than 40% of American youngsters experience tooth decay before they are 5 years old. In order to avoid this outcome, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) encourages parents "to bring [their] offspring to a pediatric dentist by the time their baby's first tooth appears." In addition, the AAPD claims that the dental costs for children who have their first dental visit by the time the child is five years old, are nearly 40% less expenisve and evidently more effective than for those children who are older.

For parents of infants, the Academy makes the following recommendations:

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:

Dental Anxiety Exaggerates Memories

A recent study shows that people with high dental fear have excessive memories of the pain mixed with fear which they feel during treatment.

The study was made by the researchers at the University of West Virginia. At the oral surgery clinic dentists surveyed 79 people who needed an emergency tooth extraction. Everyone in the study were asked about their fear and pain before, during and 2 weeks after the extraction.

Sealants Protect Teens' Teeth

“Dental sealants are plastic coatings that protect teeth from decay. In children and young adults who live in places with fluoride in the water, almost all tooth decay is found on the chewing surfaces. In non-fluoridated areas, more cavities are found in between the teeth. In Greece, the water is not fluoridated.” Greek research claims that dental sealants reduce the risk of tooth decay in teens.

During the research were involved nearly 2,500 children, considering the fact that approximately half were age 12 and the others were age 15. The main aim of the study was to know whether sealants do help to reduce tooth decay in these age groups as well as due to the results to decide whether Greece should establish a national dental sealant program for youth.

New Suspect in Early Tooth Decay

INTELIHEALTH - Boston-area researchers may have found a new culprit in early tooth decay.

We all know that cause of tooth decay is evidently a species of bacteria called Streptococcus mutans, which eats sugars and releases acid, leading to the tooth enamel dissolving that in result leads to a cavity. You might have heard about a couple of other species of bacteria associated with cavity formation, as well.

But a new study claims that even when Streptococcus mutans is not present, the risk of cavities still exists, as another species named Scardovia wiggsiae can lead to its formation.

Dental Implants - Protein More Effective than Bone-Grafting?

A recent research showed that when it comes to dental implants, a bone-creating protein is more effective than bone-grafting.

Despite the fact that the implants screws that anchor permanent prosthetic teeth, they do not work like the bone, as the bone is too thin, which is a consequence to tooth loss. Taking into account that nowadays the favored way is to supplement the area with bone grafts, this technique is a little bit problematic, as “primarily because it involves additional surgeries to harvest the bone,” said Dr. Ulf M.E. Wikesjw, Interim Associate Dean for Research and Enterprise in the College of Dental Medicine, Georgia Health Sciences University. During the studies they came to the following conclusion: “We found that BMP induced superior bone quality over that following bone grafts, which improves the chances for successful implants.” Wikesjw added that “BMP is phenomenal, because it’s a true, off-the-shelf product with ease of use that can produce real results, and it could be the new gold standard for this procedure.”

Dental Care - Understanding Toothaches

As we know, pain that comes from the toothache is one of the most horrible and excruciating. It effects your ability to work, to eat, to sleep, so you will stop at nothing to relieve the pain.

Generally toothaches can be appear as the result of infections or abscesses in the teeth or gums, dental cavities, harms of the face, teeth or jaw. In the initial stage pain shows itself in the form of agonizing throbbing.

Teenagers and Dental Care

It goes without saying that the most fun and exiting period in our life is while being teenagers. However, besides fun there are some responsibilities as well, and the dental care is one among the most essential of them.

Nowadays the majority of teenagers drink just giant volumes of soda, not considering that these carbonated beverages contain high concentrations of sugar and flavors (which are acidic in nature), which in future can lead to tooth decay, as these additives eat in to the tooth's enamel, at the same time giving more chances for cavities.