'DENTAL NEWS
The September issue of the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology reported the results from a recent study which found that using a mouth rinse made from shiitake mushrooms significantly reduced plaque and gum inflammation in test subjects.
Researchers from Italy's University of Verona did the study because previous laboratory experiments using this type of mushroom extract suggested that it controled the growth of oral bacteria. Mushroom extracts also appear to kill oral bacteria and make it more difficult for the bacteria to stick to teeth, even though the researchers did not find that the mushroom rinse destroyed bacteria that commonly occur in dental plaque. However, researchers did find evidence that the mushroom rinse did slow the growth of some bacteria responsible for the progression of gum disease to periodontal disease.
The study involved 90 volunteers who were asked not to brush your teeth for 18 days but instead thoroughly rinse their mouths out twice daily with either the shiitake mushroom mouthwash, a water-based mouth rinse containing no active ingredients and regular Listerine mouthwash. Researchers found that after only 12 days, the subjects rinsing with the mushroom rinse had significantly less plaque than those in the water-based rinse group did, and significantly less gum inflammation than people in both the Listerine or the water-based rinse groups.
'DENTAL NEWS
The Journal of Oral Implantology is reporting a new alternative treatment to dentures that can be put in the same day of surgery. Called the "All-on-Four", this new type of treatment for teeth removal uses four implants attached using four screws that support a fixed prosthesis.
The success of the All-on-Four treatment over dentures is judged not only by its comfort and usability for the patient, but also by its longevity. To that point, the Journal of Oral Implantology cited the results of a 29-month study that used the All-on-Four implant design which found that it had a higher survival rate (92% to 99.6%) then regular implants did.
The need for a denture alternative is driven by clinical studies which have found that patients with dentures have reported only a marginal improvement in the quality of their life as they routinely complain of discomfort, poor stability and difficulty eating. Dental professionals have long seen the need to offer their patients a long-term replacement option for natural teeth that allows for a higher quality of life then dentures have traditionally offered.
With the ever-increasing number of senior citizens in the United States, it is projected that 37 million Americans will need dentures by the year 2020, which is why this latest advancement in dental implants may prove to be an important alternative to traditional denture therapy.
'DENTAL NEWS
With the tough economic timeswe live in, people are increasingly practicing dentistry on themselves -- a.k.a. do-it-yourself dental -- and end up doing more damage to their teeth than doing nothing would've done. All too often this results in these do-it-yourselfers spending far more money as they're forced to seek treatment from a real dentist to correct problems resulting from their "do-it-yourself dental care" attempts.
"Self dental care is on the rise" says Jenny Englerth, executive director of Family First Health clinics in the southern part of Pennsylvania. "People go online and try to find out how to do their own dental work. Unfortunately, people (are looking) to save money and decline to pay for optional dental coverage through their employers' health insurance", said Englerth.
During economic hard times, dental care is one of the first things cut from family budgets and the Family First Health dentists have seen a marked increase in patients who required corrective dental work because they tried repairing chipped teeth or filling cavities on their own to save money, reported Englerth. Similarly, many patients are waiting until infections in their mouths cause intolerable pain or their rotted teeth have to be immediately pulled.
"Our dentists are certainly seeing more people going without dental care and needed restoration work after many years (of neglecting their teeth)," said Englerth.
Last year, Family First clinics offered discounted dental services to nearly 6,000 uninsured patients, said Englerth. The clinics had nearly 19,000 combined dental office visits last year. In 2011, however, Family First Health has experienced a 30% increase in uninsured people seeking dental treatment at their clinics.
'DENTAL NEWS
Residents who live in the southern part of the US and was likely to visit the dentist according to a recent Gallup poll. In fact, 9 of the bottom 10 states for dental visits were in the South with an average of less than 56% of its residents visiting the dentist in the past 12 months compared to the national average of 65%, the latter which hasn't changed in the past few years.
Poor dental health has been linked to variety of serious medical problems including heart disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and even preterm (i.e. premature) births.
Massachusetts and Connecticut led all US states in dental visits with 75% of residents in both states reporting that they visited the dentist in the last 12 months while Mississippi (51.9%) and Louisiana (54.8%) were at the bottom of the list. This disparity is likely the result of poverty as more than 72% of residents of the top 10 states for dental visits have health insurance compared to an average insurance rate of 56% for the bottom 10 states as lack of health insurance is frequently an indicator of poverty.
Despite the hard economic times facing the nation, many Americans who haven't seen the dentist in a while are now returning, not because they're in any better position to afford it but because their teeth hurt too much. According to The St. Petersburg Times, this has resulted in these patients paying more for dental care because dentists have to perform more complex procedures after years of neglect.
'DENTAL NEWS
Dental x-rays are perhaps the most valuable tool a dentist has in their battle to keep your teeth and gums healthy. But no matter how good one's dental insurance coverage is, no one can afford to get x-rays every week to say nothing of the inconvenience such a regiment would incur.
So exactly how often should X-rays be done on your teeth? The answer depends on your dental history as some people, like those with chronic dental problems, may need X-rays every six months while others who visit the dentist regularly and have excellent oral health may need X-rays only every three years or so.
To see if you or your family members should get regular dental X-rays (i.e. every 6-12 months), follow these guidelines as they are based on information from both the American Dental Association and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Those who need frequent X-rays are;
* Children & Teenagers - Children and teens at high risk of decay and those who have a history of many cavities, may need X-rays every six months or every year, depending on age. X-rays also help to keep track of tooth development.
* Adults With Many Fillings, Crowns, Bridges or Other Restorations - X-rays help the dentist find decay beneath your fillings and crowns or in new locations.
* People With Periodontal (Gum) Disease - X-rays can reveal signs of bone loss. If this has happened, then periodontal or gum surgery may be needed.
* People With Dry Mouth (Xerostomia) - Saliva helps keep your mouth and teeth healthy by regulating the acid levels (pH) in the mouth. In a dry mouth, the pH decreases. This causes the minerals in the teeth to break down, resulting in more cavities. Many medicines can cause dry mouth. It also can be a result of cancer treatment or a long-term disease.
* Smokers - Smoking increases the risk of periodontal disease (as well as many, many other of health-related problems)
If you or a loved one falls into any of the five above categories, just remember that catching a dental problem while it's small and still in the early stages can prevent major (and costly) dental problems later on.
'Dental News
The European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry has reported that a study done in India found that probiotics might help combat tooth decay in children.
However, the authors of the Indian study say that additional research is necessary to determine if probiotics are definitively beneficial in reducing the amount of cavities in children as previous studies examining whether probiotics prevent tooth decay have had mixed results.
The Indian researchers studied 150 children between the ages of 7 and 14 who did not have any tooth decay. The tested children were asked to mix a powder with water and swish around their mouth before swallowing for two weeks. The children were then tested for levels of Streptococcus mutans (the species of bacteria that causes cavities) and were found to have significantly less amounts of S. mutans compared with those children that received a non-probiotic powder.
'Dental News
Dr. Preet Sahota, DDS -- a dentist in Fremont, CA -- has launched a unique mentoring program to encourage children to study science, health and dentistry. Called emPOWER One, the program sponsors monthly learning and motivational study sessions and is available to patients of Dr. Preet's family practice and other young people in the Bay area who have an interest in science and/or dentistry.
Children Using Dental Instruments?
The program allows young dental patients, from four years through teens, to use dental instruments and includes hands-on activities and talks that are intended to be fun and interesting, not just dry lectures about science and dentistry. While it may sound unusual for a young child to be using a dental instrument, that is a big part of the program. "Generally," says Dr. Sahota, "with every well check routine visit, each kid or young adult is engaged in dialogue and is allowed to try out our instruments under supervision. Lasers, CAD cams, impression doughs and plaster are very stimulating."
Playing Dental Assistant
Older children in the program also get the opportunity to be a dental assistant, whether they intend to become a dental professional or not. "We would like for dentistry to be on the list of things our patients would 'love' to do. We hope that our passion for it will be infectious! Work and play should have no distinction" Dr. Sahota explained.
For more information on the emPOWER one mentoring program, contact Smile Matters at (510) 744-1414.
'Dental News
The European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry just published a study that strongly suggests sugar-free lollipops containing a licorice root extract significantly reduced the bacteria that causes tooth decay, especially in pre-school children with a higher than normal risk of tooth decay.
The study analyzed 66 preschool students ages 2-5 who were enrolled in the Head Start Program in Lansing, Michigan and gave each student a sugar-free lollipop for 10 minutes twice daily for three weeks.
"This study is important not only for dental caries prevention research, but also demonstrates the feasibility of a classroom protocol using a unique delivery system suitable for young children," said Jacqueline Tallman, R.D.H., B.S., M.P.A., principal investigator of the study. "Early prevention is key for lifetime oral health and effective innovative protocols are needed."
The study was 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.
'Dental News
The Journal of Psychosomatic Research recently published a study which found that homeless people with tooth decay or missing teeth are more prone to depression than those with healthy teeth. Roughly 850 homeless people were surveyed by Scottish researchers to see if bad dental health was an early indicator of depression.
The researchers suggest that providing dental care to homeless individuals can improve their mental and physical functioning and help them to become more self-competent and improve their ability to integrate into society. In addition, homeless people with decayed and missing teeth also tended to have lower quality of life and more dental anxiety. Both of these could lead to depression, said the authors of the study.
To date, only one other research paper has been published on dental health in the homeless. That study, done in northern Ireland in 2007, found that nearly half of homeless men were self-conscious or ashamed about the way their teeth looked. That study also found that 1 in 3 homeless men had mental health issues, including depression but the Scottish study is the first to link poor oral health with risk of depression.
FYI, the Journal of Psychosomatic Research is the official journal of the European Association for Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatics and affiliated with the external link International College of Psychosomatic Medicine.
'Dental News
The more Medicaid pays dentists, the more at-risk children visit a dentist says a study appearing in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study looked at nationwide data for the years 2000 through 2008. Researchers focused on Medicaid payment levels to dentists. They also looked at whether children had visited a dentist in the last 6 months. For each $10 increase in Medicaid payments, children on Medicaid were about 4% more likely to have a recent dental visit.
Nevertheless, children on Medicaid are less likely than those with private insurance to have regular dental visits. Only about 55% of children on Medicaid see a dentist regularly. This compares with 68% of children who have private insurance. Medicaid appears better than no insurance, however, as only 27% of uninsured children saw a dentist regularly. Among children ages 2 to 8, about 25% have untreated tooth decay.
Medicaid covers about 1 in 4 U.S children. Dentists and physicians do not have to accept Medicaid. About 73% of pediatric dentists participate in the Medicaid program. Nearly all pediatricians (93%) participate. Low payment for services provided is often cited as the principal reason for the lower level of dentist participation. Other studies have linked higher payments with increased dentist participation.
Although Medicaid is a federal program, it also receives state funding. So Medicaid payments to dentists vary by state. In 2008, payments to dentists for a child preventive visit ranged from less than $20 to about $60. The average payment, all states combined, was about $30 per child visit.
'Dental News
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued a warning to parents about sports and energy drink consumption being bad for children because ingredients in these flavored drinks that can contribute to tooth decay and lead to a variety of other health problems.
The AAP findings, published in the June issue of Pediatrics, stated that dental erosion from sports and energy drinks are 'of concern' in children and adolescents, and pointed to a common ingredient 'citric acid' that is 'highly erosive' because it continues to eat away at tooth enamel even after a drink containing citric acid has been consumed.
The high carbohydrate content of these drinks can also hasten tooth decay, which affects five times more children than asthma and has been called a 'silent epidemic' by the U.S. Surgeon General. Tooth decay is twice as prevalent among children from low-income families than among their more affluent peers, raising concerns that the increase in sports drink consumption will disproportionately affect at-risk children.
"Many of the children we treat are suffering from rampant tooth decay," said Dr. Anupama Rao Tate, a CSHM Advisory Board Member and Director of Oral Health Advocacy at Children’s National Medical Center. "Soda and sugary juice are already major obstacles in the fight for dental health in our communities. We must raise awareness among parents that certain sports and energy drinks have the potential to become another barrier between their children and they healthy smiles they deserve."
Chief among the AAP’s recommendations was that water, not sports or energy drinks, should be aggressively promoted as the principal source of hydration for children and adolescents.
'Dental News
To say it's difficult to find human volunteers willing to be worked on by first-year dental students just might be the understatement of the year. Just imagine nervous, unsteady hands using needle-sharp probes and drills working on an area in your mouth that's been causing you excruciating pain? No thanks.
Thankfully, robotic scientists at Japan's Showa University say they have developed the perfect dental patient; a life-like dental training robot that blinks and flinches just like a human dental patient would. Named "Showa Hanako 2", this robotic entity is slated to go on sale in Japan in late 2011 for an as yet unspecified amount of money.
But Showa Hanako 2's worth goes beyond the dental chair. After the check-up is finished the robot is not only capable of storing and analyzing each student's performance, but able to provide feedback through a computer link.
First developed 10 years ago by a research team, this eerily life-like robot is capable of sneezing, head shaking, coughing, mimicking gagging and snapping a mouth shut like a real patient's involuntary reflex. This dentist "trainee tool" can even hold down simple conversations as it is equipped with voice recognition technology.
But perhaps the most convincing element of the robot's appearence is the skin, made of silicone. Designers consulted with Japan's top sex doll manufacturer, Orient Industry, to help make Showa Hanako 2's skin, tongue and mouth.
'Dental News
In a recent study carried out on 70 male subjects showed a correlation between gum disease and the ability to achieve an erection. The data indicates that as the severity of erectile dysfunction increased, so did the prevalence of chronic periodontitis (gum disease). Overall, more than four out of five men (81.8 per cent) with severe erectile dysfunction had gum disease. In comparison, in cases of mild erectile dysfunction, the incidence of gum disease was less than two in five men.
Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter, believes the stigma attached to the subject could be forcing men up and down the country to turn a blind eye on their oral health. "To associate gum disease, the major preventable cause of tooth loss in adults, with such a taboo subject amongst males is not something that should be taken lightly" said Dr. Carter. "It is a well-known fact that gum disease has been linked to many conditions in the past that can have a detrimental effect on your general health such as heart disease and diabetes."
The best way to combat oral health problems is to think prevention and develop a good routine to keep your teeth and gums healthy at home. By brushing for two minutes twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste, reducing the frequency of how often you have sugary foods and drinks and by visiting your dentist regularly, you stand a far greater chance of having good oral health.
'Dental News
According to a recent study published in the online edition of the American Journal of Public Health, black Americans receive poorer dental care than white Americans, even when they have some dental insurance coverage.
Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the College of Dental Medicine, surveyed 118 black American adults living in New York City who had recent oral health symptoms and found that despite 75% of of them having at least some type of dental insurance coverage, this was largely limited to Medicaid (50%) rather than private coverage (21%) or other types of dental insurance (4%).
In addition, the study found that those surveyed indicated several insurance-related dental care problems such as insufficient coverage for needed treatments, inability to find a dentist who accepts their insurance, and having to wait usually long for their coverage to take effect.
Dr. Eric Schrimshaw, assistant professor of Sociomedical Sciences at the Mailman School, described it this way; "For the 25% of respondents who reported having no dental insurance coverage, the costs of dental care and the lack of insurance coverage were consistently noted as critical barriers to obtaining quality dental treatment of their dental symptoms. Even among those who had some dental insurance - such as Medicaid - it was often not enough to eliminate the obstacles to obtaining needed dental treatment."
The authors also report that even when participants were able to see a dentist with the limited insurance they had or while uninsured, many believed that because of their lack of private insurance they received a poorer quality of care than did others.
'Dental News
Researchers at the University of Louisville announced this past week that they are one step closer to helping millions of people who suffer from dry mouth because their salivary glands no longer work or because of disease. The salivary glands are essential for lubrication, defense and beginning digestion in the mouth.
The scientific discovery could form the basis for advanced therapies for patients whose salivary glands are damaged or no longer function due to radiation therapy, prescription drugs or Sjogren's Syndrome - a disorder often defined by its two most common symptoms - dry eyes and a dry mouth.
The scientific finding of Douglas Darling, PhD, professor, Department of Oral Health and Rehabilitation, UofL School of Dentistry, and his team identified a protein sorting mechanism used by the salivary gland. The National Institutes of Health supported study published on-line first this past week in the Journal of Dental Research.
'Dental News
In an effort to better combat the condition known as Dental Phobia (a.k.a. the fear of being treated by a dentist), the International Organization for Dental Phobia Treatment (IODPT) has developed a special website for both patients and dental professionals alike that provides information on ways to improve the treatment of this condition.
In a nutshell, IODPT has identified five key areas dentists should be aware of so as to better empathize with and treat their patients who suffer from this condition. These areas are:
(1) Explanation Of All Procedures
If you have a question about a procedure, your dentist should answer it. By asking questions, you can empower yourself with knowledge to alleviate fear of the unknown.
(2) Comfortable & Friendly Environment
Your dentist should do everything to ensure that you are greeted by a smiling, friendly staff in a quiet, orderly environment.
(3) Assurance Of Minimal Or No Pain
You won't have to worry about feeling pain or discomfort during treatment. Newer techniques and better anesthetics make this possible.
(4) Sense Of Control
A simple signaling system, such as raising your left hand can be used to stop your dentist for any reason.
(5) Relaxation Techniques
A relaxed body promotes a clear and relaxed mind. The dental environment, in and of itself, can often induce phobias. Your dentist should design his or her office to calm you, and can also have specific well-established techniques to help you relax during your visit. These can include deep breathing, distractions like television, iPods, virtual reality glasses, and aromatherapy.
'Dental News
Some people treat their vacations as if they're leaving their teeth at home by forgetting that maintaining good oral health habits during their trip will lead to cleaner and whiter teeth, giving them more confidence when being in vacation-related videos and photographs.
No matter whether you have all your original teeth or used dentures, below is a list of oral health tips from DentureLiving.com to make it easier to maintain your good smile during your next vacation.
1. When making the preparations for your trip, venture down the travel aisle at your local convenience store to pick up some travel-sized toothpaste, floss and mouthwash containers. It might also be a good idea to buy a toothbrush you can dedicate specifically to travel, along with a travel container to avoid making a mess in your luggage.
2. Be sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist before your vacation if you haven't made it to your regular checkup or have a toothache that's been causing you trouble. The last thing you want is to have your vacation sidelined due to an emergency visit to the dentist.
3. You may find yourself eating more candy or drinking more soda than usual, especially if you are on a road trip spending lots of time in your car. If possible, consume in moderation. Take extra care to brush and floss thoroughly and regularly if you do consume a lot of sugary foods and beverages.
If you're a denture user, there are also several things you can take to help prevent problems that could knock you off your your vacation itinerary:
1. Always pack backup dentures in case your primary dentures break or get lost. That way, you can deal with any replacements or repairs when you get home.
2. Be sure to pack the appropriate denture-care products for your trip. Pack a cleanser like Fixodent Denture Cleanser Plus Scope to maintain fresh breath throughout your vacation or one with whitening abilities like Fixodent Denture Cleanser Advanced Whitening to maintain your bright smile while you're meeting new people. Many cleansers and adhesives also come in travel-sized containers.
3. Bring a container that you can fill with warm water to clean your dentures. This can help eliminate hassles if the hotel where you are staying doesn't have the appropriate-sized container.
'Dental News
The American Dental Association (ADA) has launched it's "ADA Seal of Acceptance Web area" webpage it claims is designed to allow consumers and dental professionals to easily review detailed information on all ADA Accepted products.
The new Web area lets visitors look at product photos and read a question-and-answer section on how products earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance and what it means. The new Web area also allows consumers to easily print individual product information sheets and product comparison pages for reference when purchasing oral care products.
"The ADA designed the new ADA Seal of Acceptance Web area to provide information that will be helpful to the public in selecting dental products and to dentists when discussing products with their patients," said Dr. Ada Cooper, an ADA Consumer Advisor spokesperson and a practicing dentist in New York City.
The new ADA Web area includes product photos and read-a-question-and-answer section on how products earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance and what it means. The new Web area also allows consumers to easily print individual product information sheets and product comparison pages for reference when purchasing oral care products.
'Dental News
New research published in the April 2011 edition of Journal of Periodontology says that women are far better at maintaining healthy teeth and gums because they are more proactive than men are. The study included over 800 participants between the ages of 18 and 19. Participants were given an oral examination as well as asked to complete a questionnaire concerning lifestyle, dental knowledge, dental attitude and oral health behaviors which found the following;
* Women are 26% more likely to floss on a daily basis than men are
* 74% of women would be embarrassed by a missing tooth compared to only 57% of men
* Women are almost twice as likely to have received a regular dental check-up in the past year
* Women are almost twice as likely to notice missing teeth on another person than men
Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gum tissue and other structures supporting the teeth. Left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth loss and has been linked to chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
"Never has it been more important to ensure the health of your teeth and gums. You cannot be healthy unless you are periodontally healthy," says Donald S. Clem, DDS, a periodontist in private practice in Fullerton, California and President of the American Academy of Periodontology.
'Dental News
Even though every dental professionals (practically) in existence says that good oral health care means brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing regularly, a recent article in USA Today suggests that these dental care habits alone probably aren't sufficient to combat halitosis (i.e. bad breath).
While the American Dental Association (ADA) says that people with persistent bad breath where nothing they do seems to work should see the dentist as their chronic bad breath may lead to serious health threats (i.e. respiratory tract infections or diabetes), the most people only need to practice a few simple techniques to ensure that their breath will not 'stink to high heaven'.
(1) Drink Plenty Of Water. Halitosis-producing oral bacteria thrive in dry environments but consuming non-caffeinated beverages frequently throughout the day washes this bacteria away as well as stimulates the production of saliva, which in turn maintains a moist environment in your mouth.
(2) Brush Your Tongue. A little known fact is that brushing your time while you clean your teeth activates your body's natural halitosis-fighting defenses. Many people ignore brushing their tongue, which allows food residue and bacteria to build up on its surface.
(3) Avoid Using Mouthwash. Many commercially available mouthwashes actually cause more halitosis-producing bacteria then they kill us they does alcohol than that which tends to dry out the mouth. While some mouthwashes do help kill stench-causing bacteria, those who experience chronic bad breath should seriously consider consulting with their dentist on which mouthwash and they should use... or even if they should use mouthwash at all.
Two Types of Halitosis
There are actually two types of halitosis; physiological and pathological. Physiological halitosis can be caused by what you eat (i.e. onions or garlic) as the result of chemical processes generated by anaerobic bacteria in the mouth or throat. Pathological halitosis is more serious as it's the result of some type of functional disorder or disease and therefore can pose a serious risk to your health.
'Dental News
A study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association (April 2011) has found there are some differences in treatment a patient receives depending upon whether the dentist is male or female as well as if the dentist has been in practice for awhile or a recent graduate of dental school. However, the differences are small and probably won't impact the quality dental care someone receives all that much.
The study included 393 male and 73 female dentists in four different countries (United States, Norway, Sweden and Denmark) were surveyed on several aspects of the care they provided. While the study found the both male and female dentists were the same when he came to assessing risk for tooth decay and spent equal amounts of time on fillings and root canals, there were some differences;
* Male dentists were more likely to do in-office fluoride treatments for children while female dentists were more likely to recommend at-home fluoride treatments for children
* Female dentists were more likely than males to offer any type of fluoride treatment to adults, although female dentists who had been practicing dentistry the longest were the least likely to offer fluoride to adults
* Male dentists tended to recommend filling a tooth in response to tooth decay while female dentists were a bit more conservative than male dentist by instead recommending preventive treatment
* Female dentists tended to treat more children than male dentists
In addition to differences based on gender, researchers found there were differences based on the experience of the dentist as well as recent dental school graduates were less likely to recommend fillings for early decay on chewing surfaces of teethcommentary regardless of whether a dentist was male or female.
'Dental News
Remember when you got a postcard in the mail to remind you of your next dental appointment? Well, those days are fast disappearing as technology is making it faster, easier and less expensive for dental offices to remind patients of the appointment.
The only question left to resolve is whether voice messages or text messages work better, and that debate might have been partially answered by a recent study done at the University of Washington, Seattle which found that voice messages are twice as effective as dental appointment reminders when it comes to getting children to show up at their nextt dental appointment.
Them study, which appeared in the April issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association, involved 318 parents of children who were patients at the university's dental clinic and found that 18% of parents who received text messages had missed their kid's appointments but only 18% of parents who received text messages missed their kid's appointment.
The study also found for that in both the text message and the voice message groups, younger parents were more likely to have their kids miss their dental appointments than older parents were.
'Dental News
Ever felt pressured by your dentist (or dental specialist) into having expensive dental work done? It turns out you may have been right as a lawsuit recently brought by Pennsylvania's Attorney General office against Allcare Dental & Dentures (a now defunct chain of dental offices spanning 13 states) suggests that this type of deceptive sales tactic was routinely used and even encouraged by corporate higher-ups.
The lawsuit alleges that Allcare used high-pressure sales tactics to get consumers to buy expensive dental procedures, only to not provide those services. The lawsuit also alleges that the dental chain forced customers to pay in advance for their dental work. Allcare then acted as a credit-services organization, applying for credit on their behalf to pay for the services but failed to safeguard or escrow the money as required by state law.
In addition, Allcare is also accused of engaging in unfair and deceptive business practices, as well as violating a March 2009 settlement with the Attorney General's Office over complaints about --among other things-- its corporate practices of encouraging expensive dental work when less costly procedures would be routinely performed by other dentists.
'Dental News
It has long been known that regularly flossing your teeth is one of the best ways to prevent gum disease, but now it appears that it also helps to prevent lung problems such as pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Emerging research is showing that bacteria from gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis can easily slip into your airways when you inhale. Once this bacteria has entered the bloodstream, warm and moist conditions in your lungs act as a breeding ground for bacteria which leads to inflammation; inflammation can obstruct blood flow, which prevents oxygen from traveling to the brain and this can result in a heart attack or stroke.
Even though the most effective way to remove this type of bacteria from your mouth is to brush twice a day, daily flossing is also required due to the fact that brushing can not always reach all areas of your mouth, resulting in plaque development along the gum line.
