Research Developed to Increase Cancer Knowledge

Written by Dentistry TodayFriday, 13 January 2012 12:34



New information will help scientists better understand cancer.

A research team can now learn more about oral cancer thanks to a 3-dimensional model of lab-made tissue that represents the oral cavity. Using this model, researchers discovered that the tissue can trigger something in the cell adhesion protein involved with the development of cancer.

The study was published in the January issue of Epigenetics.

This information indicates that drugs being tested for the purpose of treating cancer need to undergo more rigorous standards before being placed on the market. These new tissue-like systems can tell the researchers more than petri dish-type models.

The reason why this model is successful is because of the way the system triggers mechanisms that determine whether or not genes involved with cancer will be activated or not. The researchers were able to see the interaction between cells because of the tissue structure.

Invasion and metastasis happen when the cells break off from the main cancer site. Finding ways to treat cancers to bring back the protein E-cadherin is a vital method to limit the progression of cancer.

The research team included Teresa DesRochers, PhD, a graduate of the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts, and currently in the department of biomedical engineering at Tufts University School of Engineering; Jonathan Garlick, DDS, PhD, a professor in the oral and maxillofacial pathology department at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine; Laurie Jackson-Grusby, PhD, associate in pathology at Children's Hospital, Boston, and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School; Yulia Shamis, MSc, a PhD student at the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences; Addy Alt-Holland, MSc, PhD, an assistant professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine; Yasusei Kudo, DDS, PhD, and Takashi Takata, DDS, PhD, both of the department of oral and maxillofacial pathobiology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Japan; and Guangwen Wang, PhD, previously a fellow at Children's Hospital Boston, now a senior scientist at Stemgent.

Licorice Battles Bacteria That Causes Tooth Decay

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 18 January 2012 15:35



There are two substances in licorice that may be extremely beneficial to dentistry.

The substances, which happen to be used in Chinese medicine, kill the bacteria associated with tooth decay and gum disease. A study from theJournal of Natural Products states that they could successfully treat dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease.

The dried root that comes from the licorice is what does the trick, according to the studies. It will be great for people in China since it's a common substance in many forms of medicine. In the United States, however, the dried licorice root has been replaced by anise oil, something that is said to have to a similar taste.

In the past, dried licorice has been used to treat many health issues, such as respiratory and digestive problems. According to some modern science, however, it's unclear if the licorice actually works, and it may clash with other prescriptions or cause unwanted side effects.

Researchers wanted to analyze all aspects of the substances in the dried licorice to determine what factor is capable of killing bacteria.

There are two licorice compounds, known as licoricidin and licorisoflavan A, that were the most effective in eliminating bacteria. The substances killed bacteria associated with cavities and gum disease. The evidence was overwhelming that these substances were effective in treating oral issues.

Smoothies Can Cause Dental Problems

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 19 January 2012 14:49



Parents should stay away from allowing their children to drink smoothies.

The high acidity level in the smoothies is capable of resulting in dental problems. Even smoothies that claim to have a health value are actually causing a type of acid erosion.

Half of children around age 5 in some countries have shown signs of tooth wear, and the cause is the multitude fruit-based acidic drinks. The acid loosens up the enamel, making way for tooth erosion. The teeth are then more susceptible to damage and decay.

The problems stem from the fact that children aren’t drinking enough water. With so much access to fruit drinks, children are opting for those instead.

According to some dentists, children understand that consuming too many sweets is terrible for their teeth. The children, however, don’t understand the idea that fruit juices can have a similar type of negative impact.

The problem with fruit juice and smoothies stems from the fact that the pH level is in the range between 2 and 3. Any substance with a pH lower than 5 will attack the teeth.

This problem is pervading all groups of people, regardless of their economic means. To combat the issue, it’s essential for manufacturers of these types of drinks to show information about the possible effects of the products.

Consuming these drinks through a straw can limit the impact of the acidity, but that doesn’t completely nullify the impact of it.

Drug Could Lower Risk for Oral Cancer

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 02 April 2012 15:01



Metformin, a drug commonly used to treat diabetes, could lower the risk of oral cancer.

A new study in Cancer Prevention Research, which is a publication for the American Association for Cancer, came to this conclusion.

J. Silvio Gutkind, chief of the Oral Pharyngeal Cancer Branch of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research at the National Institutes of Health, and some of his colleagues conducted extensive research involving premalignant lesions in laboratory mice and the impact metformin had on them. One of the reasons for the drug’s success was based on mTORC1, which is something that results in oral cancer.

Metformin may be the most commonly used treatment for type 2 diabetes. At the same time, people who take the drug have seen lower a risk for cancer. Specifically, metformin lowered the size and the number of carcinogen-induced oral tumoral lesions in mice. It also reduced the development of squamous cell carcinomas by about 70 to 90 percent.

The metformin was found to stop the spontaneous development of oral premalignancies into the head and neck squamous cell.

More research is necessary to determine whether or not this information will be applicable to humans during an extended period of time.

Free Clinic Enables Some Californians to Receive Dental Care

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 04 April 2012 07:56



Thousands of people benefitted from a free medical clinic in Sacramento, Calif. last weekend.

During the four-day clinic, more than 3,000 people paid a visit for some kind of treatment. The clinic, which was organized by Remote Area Medical, included dental treatment, health checks, and vision checks. There were 400 medical professionals who volunteered for the event and 600 volunteers total.

There were some dentists who saw in the area of 200 to 300 patients, a figure that could take more than a week at a dentist’s regular office.

Some of the dental treatment included basic cleaning, while some of the more involved treatment included tooth extractions. There were even a few cases in which people had to have all of their teeth removed.

The goal of the clinic was to provide the unemployed and people without government assistance the kind of dental and medical treatment they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.

The total medical coverage at the clinic would have cost $1.3 million, according to FOX40 in Sacramento.

Dental Tattoo Could Be Innovative Addition to Dentistry

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 05 April 2012 09:35



Scientists are working on a tooth tattoo that could aid dentists in a significant way.

This new tooth tattoo would have the ability to detect early signs of tooth decay.

This tooth tattoo is made up of a chemical sensor, which would be able to notice the early signs of decay. It would then alert a dentist about this information through a type of wireless technology.

The tattoo is currently being worked on by a research team at Princeton University. The technology involved in the tattoo is similar to the technology used in electronic key cards.

This information comes from a research paper, which was recently published in the journal Nature Communications.

The researchers believe this would be an extremely beneficial way to monitor tooth decay. More research is necessary on specific aspects of the tattoo, like whether or not the device could hold up against the brushing. More tests will be conducted to learn about this issue and others that arise before the tattoo would be available.

Bad Brushing Techniques Could Result in Sensitive Teeth

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 31 May 2012 15:13



Brushing in the correct manner is just as important as brushing enough.

Many people brush their teeth too hard, and long-term problems could result. When brushing too hard, the gums can start to recede and make teeth more sensitive.

Teeth sensitivity from brushing too hard, among other reasons, is a common problem. Sugary drinks and teeth bleaching can also wear down enamel, leaving open the possibility of tooth sensitivity.

When people complain about sensitive teeth, their brushing technique is often called into question. Using a softer brush is the first step toward curbing the issue. Applying less pressure can be better then brushing one’s teeth firmly in many cases.

Informing people about the correct way to brush their teeth is the best step to prevent tooth sensitivity stemming from brushing too hard. After experiencing the initial sensitivity, seeing the dentist is the best option. If someone is encountering sensitivity to hot/cold drinks or food, the issue could be resulting from something other than poor brushing technique.

Dentists Attempt to Cut Down Patient Anxiety

Written by Dentistry TodayFriday, 01 June 2012 14:36



Dentists in Canada are trying to get more people to visit the dentist regularly. They figure limiting patient anxiety is a good way to make it happen.

Many people delay dental visits because they fear the possible treatment or the needles and drills that they may see. The result is obviously increased oral diseases and dental problems.

One Canadian dentist has even set up a Hate Dentists blog where people can express their fear of visiting the dentist and tell their stories. The goal is help people realize discussing these issues can help with their phobia of going for dental treatment.

Years ago, dentists weren’t as in tune with the fears that people encounter when facing dental visits. Based on the advances in dentistry, combined with the fact that dentists are more aware of dental fears, people don’t need to be as afraid as they were in the past.

The demeanor and attitude of the dentist can also be beneficial in allaying dental fears. That’s why the amount of people that fear dental visits isn’t as high as it was years ago.

Medicaid Fraud Busters Look to Prevent Repeat Occurrences

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 04 June 2012 15:17



Texas will try to make sure some dentists and orthodontists don’t try to pull any more Medicaid fraud.

The state hired a managed care firm to overlook all dental services provided in the state. Orthodontists now receive a flat payment for the work performed. The Texas Medicaid program now requires full dental molds to process a claim. The claims processing contractor also replaced the previous dental director. More orthodontists and staff have been added to cover all bases.

These sweeping changes were precipitated by the Medicaid payments Texas made two years ago. There was $185 million in reported Medicaid payments that year. The problem was that figure was more than the total the other 49 states combined spent on Medicaid.

This information led to an investigation in which it was discovered that people in Texas collectively don’t actually have teeth in that poor condition. Instead, some orthodontists were putting braces on children who didn’t them to drive up the cost of their Medicaid reimbursement payments—and making adjustments on the braces while keeping them on for an extended period of time.

Unfortunately for Texas, the figure in which the state has lost to fraudulent orthodontics is only a small portion of the total money Texas Medicaid loses. Nationwide, about $22 billion was lost last year due to improper Medicaid payments, according to some studies.

This national amount lost due to these fraudulent payments has declined in recent years, however. The percentage of Medicaid income lost due to fraud, abuse or other reasons was at 11 percent in 2008. In 2011, the figure was down to 8 percent. With more safeguards in place, widespread Medicaid fraud will likely continue to decrease.

Dental Care Necessary for Pets

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 10 July 2012 15:27



The most common problem for pets is something the average pet owner would not suspect. But dental problems impact about three quarters of pets by the time they’re 4 years old.

The problems that develop can be considered similar to the problems that humans develop after leaving their teeth untreated.

When a pet’s breath smells poorly, it’s not just something that comes with the territory for pet owners. It generally signals some of kind of dental problem for your cat or dog. A smaller appetite, discolored teeth and the possibility of bleeding gums likely signify a dental problem as well.

Professional teeth cleanings by a veterinarian are the best way to prevent these problems from occurring.

There are also several ways for the pet owner to maintain their pet’s oral health at an acceptable level. Brushing your pet’s teeth is a key and can be done by using a soft-bristle brush and designated pet toothpaste. Rawhide chews and rubber chew toys serve as a method to remove plaque from dogs’ teeth. There are also specific foods and treats designed with your pet’s oral health in mind.

Molecule Thwarts Tooth Decay-Causing Bacteria

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 11 July 2012 15:52



A molecule has been discovered that destroys the bacteria associated with tooth decay in just a matter of seconds.

The molecule eliminates streptococcus mutans within 60 seconds, stopping any possible development of cavities and tooth decay. Two entrepreneurs—one has a PhD in molecular biology from Yale (Jose Cordoba) and the other graduated from the University of Chile (Erich Astudillo)—have made the discovery.

Because of the natural presence of bacteria in the mouth, streptococcus mutans is often present. It doesn't develop into a potential problem until there is a buildup of plaque. The bacterial colonies then have the ability grow and wreak havoc on the mouth.

That's why it's so important to maintain solid oral health. That way, cavities and tooth decay won't be a problem. But this new molecule has the ability to pinpoint streptococcus mutans and prevent the lactic acid release, dental enamel erosion and the eventual cavity formation.

Before this molecule gets put into practice, safety regulations must first be passed. If all goes well, the product may be readily available by the end of 2013 in products that prevent tooth decay, like gum, toothpaste, mouthwashes, etc.

Dental Gum Recommended to Improve Oral Health

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 12 July 2012 15:30



Dental health gum could be used to prevent infection-causing oral bacteria from impacting your teeth.

Dental health gum, such as Lotte Xylitol, contains natural sugar called xylitol and calcium phosphates. When these substances are combined, they battle tooth decay and gum disease, while also serving to strengthen enamel.

The dental gum also serves as a way of stimulating saliva flow, while exercising facial muscles at the same time—both positive things for your oral health.

Dental patients can learn more about this gum by asking their dentists.

Chewing this type of gum, in addition to practicing the other basic steps to maintaining oral health, are the best to not worry about developing a dental problem.

Sugary McDonald’s Drink Declared Healthy in United Kingdom

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 13 September 2012 15:16



A health committee in the United Kingdom may want to re-explore a recent decision.

The Advertising Standards Authority claimed the McDonald’s drink Fruitizz can be part of the five-a-day portions of fruit and vegetables. The five-a-day portions of fruits and vegetables is a program that encourages healthy and drinking for children.

This ruling comes in spite of the fact that the drink contains six teaspoons of sugar.

The drink comprises fruit juice concentrate, fizzy water, natural flavorings and potassium sorbate.

A serving size of 250 mL has roughly 100 calories and 25 g of sugar. These levels of sugar stem from the amount of fruit juice content. Still, these levels did not nullify its ability to be considered healthy, according to the authority that makes these rulings.

This issue was examined after a British commercial mentioned the drink’s health benefits.

The ruling calls into question the standards used to determine a food or beverage’s health value.

Based on various studies, sugary drinks have been determined to cause tooth decay and erosion. There are also various other problems that can result from sugary drinks.

Still, based on the health standards for the five-a-day guidance in the United Kingdom, this drink manages to meet the requirements.

Nearly Half of American Adults have Gum Disease

Written by Dentistry TodayFriday, 14 September 2012 15:34



More adults in the United States have gum disease than one would think.

A new study shows that about 50 percent of American adults age 30 and older have gum disease. The study appears in a recent issue of the Journal of Dental Research.

Periodontitis is a major problem and leads to tooth loss in many cases.

To compile the data for this study, a research team looked through data from a previous study involving 3,700 adults age 30 and older. There were 47 percent of the people who had periodontitis—9 percent had mild gum disease, 30 percent suffered from moderate gum disease and 8.5 percent had severe gum disease. According to this information, roughly 65 million American adults have gum disease.

The research also concluded that 64 percent of adults age 65 and older had some type of periodontitis that could at least be considered moderate. This estimation is much larger than previous studies have indicated, according to the lead author Paul Eke.

The study also showed that the gum disease rates were highest for males, Mexican Americans, adults with less than a high school education, adults whose income would be considered below the poverty line and people that currently smoke.

There are several warning signs for gum disease, including swollen, tender, or bleeding gums. Chronic bad breath is another sign of gum disease.

Tooth Provides Dental History

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 20 September 2012 15:49



A recent discovery may provide the first tangible proof of dentistry.

A 6,500-year-old tooth was found and it contained traces of beeswax filling, according to the journal PLOS ONE.

The research team from the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Italy determined that the beeswax was placed inside the person’s mouth right around the time the person died. If the beeswax was placed while the person was still alive, the goal was most likely to lower pain and sensitivity in the tooth. The pain likely stemmed from a vertical crack in the enamel and dentin.

The tooth was in poor shape, likely resulting from activities the tooth was involved in other than eating.

There is little proof in recorded history to show when the first usage of dentistry occurred. This specimen, which was was found in Slovenia, could provide an answer to this question.

This could be considered one of the most ancient examples of dentistry in Europe and it is likely the first instance in which there was some kind of treatment to alleviate pain from a “filling.”

New Jersey Dental Group Defrauds Medicaid

New Jersey Dental Group Defrauds Medicaid

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 20 November 2012 16:40

A New Jersey dental company allegedly defrauded Medicaid out of more than $181,000.

The state Comptroller’s Office filed the claim against an East Orange dental group. The claims state that Anicia Cruz-Sledge took over the Gentle Dental Group in 2007 because her husband suffered from a medical condition prohibiting him from working in his dental practice.

Cruz-Sledge then proceeded to make Medicaid charges using her husband Edward's name. She even hired someone—Carl McGloster—who had been disbarred from participate in Medicaid in an attempt for him to take the place of her husband.

McGloster issued 290 prescriptions and 63 were for controlled dangerous substances, according to the reports. The prescription came from the prescription pad of Edward Cruz-Sledge.

Anicia Cruz-Sledge also admitted to posing as a dental assistant and hygienist without being licensed to do so. In addition, she hired two other dentists who weren’t approved to provide services to patients.

New Jersey stopped the Medicaid payments to Gentle Dental earlier this year and looks to recoup $1.3 million. The state is also seeking $510,000 from McGloster for the improper Medicaid claims. McGloster allegedly wrote 427 prescriptions to Medicaid patients, even though he wasn’t allowed to partake in the program.

Lack of Knowledge May Result in More Mouth Cancer Cases

Lack of Knowledge May Result in More Mouth Cancer Cases

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 27 November 2012 11:04

Not being educated about mouth cancer could lead to a major problem.

The number of people impacted by mouth cancer has risen drastically in recent years. A recent survey indicated that a lack of knowledge about the causes and risk factors for oral cancer may be why the amount of cases has gone up so much as of late.

The survey was conducted by the British Dental Health Foundation.

About two out of three people said they would alter their lifestyle and change their diet if the changes would lower the risk of developing mouth cancer. One out of three people said they would make changes to their life if they were more educated about mouth cancer. And about 90 percent of the people surveyed said they did not think they were at any risk for mouth cancer.

The reason for many of the responses in the survey is simple: people just don’t know enough information about mouth cancer. It’s unfortunate because mouth cancer kills more people than cervical and testicular cancer combined.

To avoid the risk of oral cancer, it’s best to visit the dentist on a regular basis. That way, any irregularities in the mouth will be noticed before it’s too late.

New Book States Flossing Serves No Purpose

New Book States Flossing Serves No Purpose

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 27 November 2012 12:35

Utilizing dental floss may be a waste of time, according to a new book.

Ellie Phillips, author of Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye, claims that flossing provides no benefit with regards to preventing tooth decay. Phillips, who was one of the first female dentists to train at Guy’s Hospital London, proposes certain types of mouthwash for the function that she claims flossing doesn’t accomplish.

She suggests using a certain mouthwash to eat away at the bacteria, then another mouthwash after brushing and a third mouthwash to protect and strengthen teeth. Phillips also recommends chewing gum containing xylitol, which has proven to lower the risk of decay.

Phillips’s book likely will create controversy based on the recommendations of many other dentists, who for years have been saying that people should floss regularly. In Phillips’s favor, however, there isn’t an overwhelming amount of research to suggest flossing is 100 percent effective in eliminating tooth decay.

Other dentists would argue that in instances when dental floss doesn’t work, it may be an issue with the person utilizing the floss. The person may not be doing so correctly, making the flossing process useless.

While flossing benefits may be up for debate, there isn’t much debating about the controversy this book is sure to cause.