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.