Wisdom Teeth

Propofol-Remifentanil Versus Propofol-Ketamine for Third Molar Surgery

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A study titled “Comparison of Propofol-Remifentanil Versus Propofol-Ketamine Deep Sedation for Third Molar Surgery” appears in the 2012 Anesthesia Progress journal. The authors of the study set out to better determine what anesthetic to provide during third molar (aka wisdom teeth) surgery. In the study, two drug combinations for use as deep sedation during oral surgery were evaluated. Patients in a control group received a continuous intravenous infusion of propofol-remifentanil,  and patients in an experimental group received a continuous intravenous infusion of propofol-ketamine. This study was double blind in that neither patients nor surgeons were aware of which treatment was given. In this study, 37 patients  were monitored while sedated for respiratory, heart rate, and blood pressure stability. Emergence from the effects of anesthesia and total recovery time were recorded. In addition, patients and surgeons were both asked to rate … Read more

Sports and Energy Drinks Can Cause Permanent Tooth Damage

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I have previously written about how sports and energy drinks can cause tooth erosion see http://blog.teethremoval.com/energy-drinks-cause-tooth-erosion/. Studies have shown that 30% to 50% of U.S. teens are consuming energy drinks, and up to 62% are consuming at least one sports drink per day. A study published in the May/June 2012 issue of General Dentistry, the journal of the Academy of General Dentistry, found that an alarming increase in the consumption of sports and energy drinks, especially among adolescents, is causing irreversible damage to teeth — specifically, the high acidity levels in the drinks erode tooth enamel, the glossy outer layer of the tooth. Poonam Jain, BDS, MS, MPH, lead author of the study says “Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels and that they are ‘better’ for them than soda. Most … Read more

Coconut Oil May Help with Tooth Decay

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Coconut oil may be able to attack the bacteria that causes tooth decay. A team from the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland tested the antibacterial action of coconut oil in its natural state and coconut oil that had been treated with enzymes. The oils were tested against strains of Streptococcus bacteria which are common inhabitants of the mouth. They found that enzyme-modified coconut oil strongly inhibited the growth of most strains of Streptococcus bacteria including Streptococcus mutans — an acid-producing bacterium that is know to be a major cause of tooth decay. In the future the researchers plan to examine how coconut oil interacts with Streptococcus bacteria at the molecular level and which other strains of harmful bacteria and yeasts it is active against. The team also showed that the enzyme-modified coconut oil was harmful to the yeast Candida … Read more

Some New Wisdom Teeth and Dental Information Websites

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Recently I have come across a few new websites in the dental space and wisdom teeth space on the internet. Update as of June 2019 both of these websites are dead and no longer exist. 1) One of these websites is http://www.teethcenter.com. This site says  “TeethCenter is an organization committed to providing consumers and dentists with an online resource for dental related and news and information. There are many “health” sites on the web, but, not a prominent site dedicated to dental news and information.” The website looks quite nice but it’s articles in terms of quality are the typical. For example, on the page “Should I Have my Wisdom Teeth Pulled,” discussion is made of some reasons for and against wisdom teeth removal but not statistics/data to help aid the reader is presented.  I have provided a lot of … Read more

Wisdom Teeth Removal can Lead to Permanent Numbness and More

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A recent story in the Grimbsy Telegraph titled “£15,000 payout after dental op leaves Grimsby woman with permanent numbness,” describes how a 39 year old woman who had 2 wisdom teeth extracted was left with nerves in her lower jaw severed. The article was written on October, 6, 2012 and is located at http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/15-000-payout-dental-op-leaves-Grimsby-woman/story-17045539-detail/story.html. The woman says her lip turns completely blue in the cold and, at times, she bites her lip without realising until it starts to bleed. She also says “I can be having a drink or eating food and without realising I am dribbling…It is embarrassing when my children have to tell me to wipe my chin as I have food on it, or they tell me to speak properly because my speech is affected.” The woman was awarded £15,000 in an out of court settlement which is … Read more