MEDICAL EXPRESS - DENTISTRY

1. Study reveals economic burden of tooth decay is highest in UK's deprived groups

   The economic impact of dental caries (tooth decay) is disproportionately higher in the most deprived groups, with estimated per-person costs of approximately £18,000 in the UK that could be dramatically reduced with targeted preventative measures, found new research.

2. The impact of early childhood exposure to fluoride on cognitive neurodevelopment

   The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) and the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) has announced the publication of a new study in the Journal of Dental Research that examines how cognitive development among young children is affected by early exposure to fluoride.

3. VR-haptics-enhanced training holds potential to transform dental education

   A new comprehensive literature review of the benefits and challenges of integrating haptics-enhanced virtual reality training, or VR-haptics for short, in dental education curricula highlights the transformative potential of VR-haptics in dental education.

4. Japanese researchers test pioneering drug to regrow teeth

   People with missing teeth may be able to grow new ones, say Japanese dentists testing a pioneering drug they hope will offer an alternative to dentures and implants.

5. Innovative toothbrush can improve the quality of life for older people

   After seeing the oral health of many of his older patients deteriorate drastically, dentist Johan Flyborg started looking for a solution. After five years of research in applied health technology at the Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden, he can show that an innovative, intelligent, powered toothbrush can make a big difference in the oral health and quality of life of older people.

6. Fluoride in drinking water is in the spotlight again. Let's not forget how it transformed our oral health

   Fluoride is back in the news, after incoming US "health czar" Robert F. Kennedy Jr called for its removal from drinking water.

7. Potential biomarkers for peri-implantitis discovered

   Peri-implantitis (PI) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects dental implants, posing challenges in management and exhibiting a high rate of recurrence. Current treatment for PI often mirrors that of periodontitis, but underlying differences in the pathogenesis of these conditions remain unknown.

8. Water fluoridation helps prevent tooth decay. How growing opposition threatens a 70-year-old health practice

   Driving through downtown Dallas, you might see a striking banner hanging at the U-turn bridge, near the Walnut Hill exit on Central Expressway (US 75): "Stop Fluoridation!" Below it, other banners demand action and warn of supposed dangers.

9. Surface protein study highlights a potential link between dental caries and renal lesions

   IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is an immune response disease affecting the filtering units of the kidneys. It is an intractable disease with a complex physiological process. Streptococcus mutans, a dental caries-causing bacterial pathogen, has been linked to IgAN disease progression. Now, researchers from the Okayama University, Japan, have uncovered a virulent role of Cnm—a surface collagen-binding protein expressed on S. mutans in IgAN development—highlighting a potential link between dental caries and renal lesions.

10. Battery-free dental brace reveals crucial health data via smartphone

    The human mouth holds a wealth of information about overall health. From body temperature to head and jaw movements during sleep, this data can be essential for understanding health conditions and dental issues. However, collecting such data is often cumbersome and uncomfortable.

11. Photodynamic therapy with annatto colorant found to be effective against bad breath

    A study by researchers working in Brazil shows that antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in which blue light targets annatto colorant is a feasible and effective option for treatment of halitosis in mouth-breathing children.

12. One in three kids will injure their mouth or teeth—here's what to do when it happens

    Every parent has witnessed it: A toddler takes a bad tumble, a youngster flies off their bike, a Little Leaguer has an unfortunate encounter with an errant baseball. Ideally, it's nothing a Band-Aid, some ice, and a big kiss can't make better.

13. Q&A: Dental expert discusses what to know about your temporomandibular joint

    In recognition of National Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Awareness Month, Dr. Seema Kurup, associate professor and division chair of Oral Medicine and Orofacial Pain at the UConn School of Dental Medicine answers the most frequently asked questions about TMJ and temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

14. Multi-quantifying maxillofacial traits via a demographic parity-based AI model

    A study published in BME Frontiers has unveiled a novel artificial intelligence (AI) model capable of multi-quantifying maxillofacial traits with remarkable precision and demographic parity. The research was conducted by a team of experts including Zhuofan Chen, Xinchun Zhang, Zetao Chen, and their colleagues at the Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology.

15. Unclear routines risk the oral health of older adults in nursing homes

    Health care workers at nursing homes face a major challenge when helping older adults to maintain their oral hygiene. This has been shown in a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg, which concludes that unclear procedures can put oral health at risk.

16. Oral diseases cost the world $710 billion annually, study says

    Caries, periodontitis and tooth loss cost billions of dollars worldwide every year. This is the result of a recent study at Heidelberg University Hospital and the Medical Faculty Heidelberg of Heidelberg University. Treatment costs for oral, dental and jaw diseases rank third in the EU, behind cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

17. Gum disease and diabetes: A strong link

    Periodontal (gum) disease and diabetes are locked in a grim partnership aimed at undermining your health, experts warn.

18. Chewing xylitol gum linked to decrease in preterm birth

    Could the incidence of preterm births be lowered by chewing gum? New research suggests yes. Results from a study in Malawi showed that chewing gum containing xylitol, a naturally occurring alcohol sugar, was associated with a 24% reduction in preterm birth. The findings were published Nov. 13 in Med.

19. What would happen if fluoride were removed from the water supply?

    Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that if President-elect Donald Trump appointed him to a health leadership position, the first thing he would work on would be removing fluoride from water.

20. Eliminating fluoride in water would create health problems beyond oral health, experts say

    In the wake of Donald Trump's presidential election win, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the former presidential candidate and Trump ally, said the new Trump administration will make removing fluoride from public water in the U.S. a day one priority.

21. Hormones in flux: The unseen force affecting oral health

    If you've suddenly noticed that your gums feel tender or they bleed a little when you brush your teeth, a shift in hormones might be to blame—especially if you're a woman. As women go through life, a hormonal ebb and flow creates inflammation that reveals itself, in part, via their gums and salivary glands.

22. Dentists are pulling 'healthy' and treatable teeth to profit from implants, experts warn

    Becky Carroll was missing a few teeth, and others were stained or crooked. Ashamed, she smiled with lips pressed closed. Her dentist offered to fix most of her teeth with root canals and crowns, Carroll said, but she was wary of traveling a long road of dental work.

23. Interactive mouthpiece opens new opportunities for health data, assistive technology, hands-free interactions

    When you think about hands-free devices, you might picture Alexa and other voice-activated in-home assistants, Bluetooth earpieces, or asking Siri to make a phone call in your car. You might not imagine using your mouth to communicate with other devices like a computer or a phone remotely.

24. Text message reminders can help improve oral health in teenagers

    Text message reminders can help to improve tooth-brushing habits in teenagers, particularly those from low-income families, a new study has shown.

25. Are dental practices out of control in the United States?

    A series of recently published opinions and letters in JAMA Internal Medicine present varying perspectives on the current state of US dental care all emphasize the need for evidence-based practices and changes in economic models.

26. Artificial mouth mimics human tongue movements to understand the oral processing of soft foods

    Researchers at INRAE have developed an artificial mouth to reproduce and better understand the processing of soft foods. The device is based on anatomical data collected at the Fujita Health University and features a silicone tongue that contracts using compressed air to mimic the movements of the human tongue. The results were published on October 15 in the journal Scientific Reports.

27. Exploring dental health sensing using a sonic toothbrush

    Dental hygiene is an important component to the overall health of a person. Early detection of dental disease is crucial in preventing adverse outcomes. While X-rays are currently the most accurate gold standard for dental disease detection, they are not accessible to many around the world.

28. Smokers have a higher level of harmful oral bacteria, study finds

    A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 8 million people die annually from smoking related complications. Despite efforts by governments and various organizations to create awareness about the dangers, around 1.3 billion people still use some form of tobacco and 80% of them live in low to middle income countries.

29. Water fluoridation found to be less effective now than in past

    The dental health benefits of adding fluoride to drinking water may be smaller now than before fluoride toothpaste was widely available, an updated Cochrane review has found.

30. Immunotherapy for gum disease? Study in mice shows promise

    Targeting the immune system could prevent or treat periodontal disease (PD), a common but serious disease of the gums, according to new research from the University of Pittsburgh.