MEDICAL EXPRESS - DENTISTRY

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Pediatrician explains why children need fluoride

    Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay and makes your child's teeth stronger. Fluoride can be found in drinking water, food and beverages, toothpaste, mouth rinses and dental treatments such as fluoride varnish.

19. Bacteria involved in gum disease linked to increased risk of head and neck cancer

    More than a dozen bacterial species among the hundreds that live in people's mouths have been linked to a collective 50% increased chance of developing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), a new study shows. Some of these microbes had previously been shown to contribute to periodontal disease, serious gum infections that can eat away at the jawbone and the soft tissues that surround teeth.

20. Yes, you do need to clean your tongue. Here's how and why

    Has your doctor asked you to stick out your tongue and say "aaah"? While the GP assesses your throat, they're also checking out your tongue, which can reveal a lot about your health.

21. Reviews shows tooth decay still plagues California kids nearly a decade after Medi-Cal promised change

    Eight years after an independent state watchdog agency harshly criticized the state for failing to provide dental care to low-income children, California has failed to remedy the problem or fully implement the commission's recommendations, according to a follow-up review.

22. Research reveals that intensive treatment for diabetes can reduces gum disease inflammation

    While the link between diabetes and periodontal disease is known, the impact of diabetes treatment on periodontal health is less well understood. Research published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism demonstrates that periodontal inflammation can be positively affected just by receiving intensive diabetes treatment.

23. Engineers' invention improves dental safety

    UIC Distinguished Professor Alexander Yarin and a team of researchers at UIC invented a product that helped the dental industry and made it safer.

24. Government urged to expand sugar tax, ban energy drinks to tackle children's tooth decay crisis

    Banning the sale of energy drinks to under 16s, expanding sugar taxes and rolling out a toothbrushing program are among a series of proposals in a new report urging the government to tackle England's oral health crisis in children.

25. Menopause can bring on dental problems, but you can protect your mouth

    Hot flashes and night sweats are among the most infamous menopause maladies. But you might want to pay attention to your teeth and gums, too.

26. Collaboration leads to culturally safe oral health care

    A new collaborative project has highlighted the importance of accessible and culturally safe health care for First Nations people.

27. Individuals with complications of diabetes are at higher risk of gum disease, Danish study finds

    Gum disease is more common in individuals with microvascular complications of diabetes, new research being presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Madrid, Spain (9-13 September) and published in The Journal of Dental Research has found.

28. Altered blood markers detected in individuals with periodontitis

    Individuals with periodontitis have altered concentrations of various proteins in their blood, according to a new study from Umeå University, Sweden. These findings pave the way for research into biomarkers for periodontitis and the underlying causes of the disease. Severe periodontitis affects about one in 10 Swedes and, in addition to tooth loss, can also be linked to other diseases.

29. Shedding light on how oral bacteria can aggravate rheumatoid arthritis

    Periodontal disease, which affects the gums and tissues that surround the teeth, is one of the most prevalent dental conditions worldwide. Most often caused by the formation and accumulation of bacterial biofilm around the teeth, periodontal disease can ultimately lead to tooth loss if left unattended.

30. First narrow-spectrum antibiotic successfully eliminates Fusobacterium nucleatum, a gum disease pathogen

    In a study published in the Journal of Oral Microbiology, ADA Forsyth scientists found that FP 100 (Hygromycin A), a first-in-class, small molecule, narrow-spectrum antibiotic, successfully eradicates Fusobacterium nucleatum without harming the oral or gut microbiomes.