'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.
