Teeth News and Research

Latest Teeth News and Research

Nearly all older Americans support including dental coverage in Medicare

Nearly all older Americans support adding a dental benefit to the Medicare program that covers most people over age 65, according to a new national poll that also reveals how often costs get in the way of oral health for older adults.

24 Mar 2020

Commonly used mouthwash increases lactate-producing bacteria that lower saliva pH

The first study looking at the effect of chlorhexidine mouthwash on the entire oral microbiome has found its use significantly increases the abundance of lactate-producing bacteria that lower saliva pH, and may increase the risk of tooth damage.

24 Mar 2020

Stem cells establish contacts with nerves in tissue regeneration and cancer progression

Researchers at the University of Zurich show that different stem cell populations are innervated in distinct ways.

23 Mar 2020

Are opioids necessary after tooth extraction?

A new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open in March 2020 shows that dentists can eliminate opioid analgesia from their armory of pain reliever after a tooth extraction, or at least dramatically reduce its use.

15 Mar 2020

Tooth-enamel protein discovered in the eyes of people with dry AMD

A protein that normally deposits mineralized calcium in tooth enamel may also be responsible for calcium deposits in the back of the eye in people with dry age-related macular degeneration, according to a study from researchers at the National Eye Institute.

13 Mar 2020

Patients prescribed opioids after dental extraction report higher levels of pain

The use of opioids to soothe the pain of a pulled tooth could be drastically reduced or eliminated altogether from dentistry, say University of Michigan researchers.

13 Mar 2020

Dental shock: Six pulled teeth and one unexpected bill

The ache in three of Kathy McCracken's teeth started almost four years ago. It was hard for her to chew and swallow. She was sensitive to both hot and cold food.

10 Mar 2020

Cultural transition to agriculture linked with emergence of human-adapted pathogens

Using Salmonella enterica genomes recovered from human skeletons as old as 6,500 years, an international team of researchers illustrates the evolution of a human pathogen and provides the first ancient DNA evidence in support of the hypothesis that the cultural transition from foraging to farming facilitated the emergence of human-adapted pathogens that persist until today.

25 Feb 2020

Researchers explore whether plaque identifying toothpaste could prevent heart attack, stroke

For decades, researchers have suggested a link between oral health and inflammatory diseases affecting the entire body -- in particular, heart attacks and strokes.

24 Feb 2020

'Stranger Things' increased public awareness of cleidocranial dysplasia

A new study published in February 2020 in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery shows that using mainstream media to depict rare diseases in a realistic manner can prompt greater public awareness and support for such conditions.

20 Feb 2020

Study reveals how overexposure to fluoride causes defects in tooth enamel

Exposing teeth to excessive fluoride alters calcium signaling, mitochondrial function, and gene expression in the cells forming tooth enamel- a novel explanation for how dental fluorosis, a condition caused by overexposure to fluoride during childhood, arises.

18 Feb 2020

Gum disease linked to stroke

A pair of new studies has revealed that gum diseases could be associated with a heightened risk of strokes and atherosclerosis of hardening of the arterial walls. The results of this new research are to be presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2020 between 19th and 21st of February 2020 in Los Angeles.

12 Feb 2020

PFAS associated with greater tooth decay in children

Children with higher concentrations of a certain chemical in their blood are more likely to get cavities, according to a new study by West Virginia University School of Dentistry researchers.

6 Feb 2020

Sugary diet can promote periodontal diseases

Sweet soft drinks and lots of sugar increase the risk of both dental cavities and inflammation of the gums - known as periodontal diseases - and if this is the case, then healthy eating habits should be prioritised even more. This is the conclusion of a research result from Aarhus University.

30 Jan 2020

Vitamin D in pregnancy reduces risk of enamel defects in offspring

An important randomized trial shows that when vitamin D is supplemented at high doses in the last three months of pregnancy, there is a fall in the occurrence of enamel defects in the deciduous (milk) and permanent teeth of the offspring by half, over the next 6 years, compared to a low dose supplementation. However, the incidence of caries was not affected.

27 Jan 2020

Medi-Cal benefits eliminated a decade ago, such as foot care and eyeglasses, are back

San Diego podiatrist Dr. John Chisholm recalls the jolt some of his patients felt in 2009 when Medi-Cal, the government-funded health insurance in California for low-income people, eliminated coverage for podiatry care and several other benefits for adults due to a massive budget shortfall engendered by the Great Recession.

27 Jan 2020

New algorithms will lead to better prosthetics for upper limb amputees

Reaching for something on the top shelf in the grocery store or brushing one's teeth before bed are tasks many people can do without thinking. But doing these same tasks as an upper limb amputee, while using a prosthetic device, can require more mental effort.

22 Jan 2020

Bioactive peptide helps prevent new cavities, heal existing ones

Cavities, or dental caries, are the most widespread non-communicable disease globally, according to the World Health Organization. Having a cavity drilled and filled at the dentist's office can be painful, but untreated caries could lead to worse pain, tooth loss, infection, and even illness or death.

22 Jan 2020

Fat cells can sense light, not getting enough raises risk of metabolic diseases

All life forms need sunlight to survive and not getting enough may impact health and well-being. There is a growing body of evidence that getting enough sunlight can promote optimum health. A new study supports this claim as scientists found that fat cells deep in the skin can detect sunlight and not getting enough can increase the risk of metabolic disruption.

21 Jan 2020