Doctors

Less sleep may increase cavities risk

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An interesting article titled “Association between sleep duration and dental caries in a nationally representative U.S. population” written by Abdullah Alawady and et. al. appears in BMC Oral Health (vol. 23, Article number 497, 2023). The article seeks to establish the relationship between sleep duration and dental caries (cavities). The authors used data from the 2017-2018 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to explore 5,205 patients age 16 and older who completed a dental exam and sleep questionnaire. They performed regression analyses to reveal a statistically significant negative relationship between caries and sleep duration. It was found that those who have an average sleep duration of seven or more hours per night were less likely to have caries compared to people who slept less than seven hours (95% confidence interval 0.33 to 0.82; p < 0.05). Specifically 88.9% (4630/5205) of the … Read more

Dentist Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Stealing Fentanyl from Patients

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A former Rochester, Illinois, dentist, Phillip M. Jensen, 64, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on December 18, 2024, for a series of crimes against his patients. Jensen was found guilty of stealing fentanyl, injecting patients with diluted drugs, and performing surgeries without proper pain management. He also faces a $200,000 fine. A Pattern of Abuse: Jensen, who specialized in oral and maxillofacial surgery before his medical license was suspended in 2022, began stealing fentanyl from his patients as early as December 2019. His staff first raised concerns when they noticed patients exhibiting signs of severe pain and distress during surgeries. A Betrayal of Trust: Jensen admitted to stealing at least half of the fentanyl from every vial in his practice. He would remove the safety caps, withdraw the drug, refill the vials with saline, and then reseal them. … Read more

Dental Malpractice: Patient Seeks Damages After Wrong Tooth Pulled

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A patient is suing a dental practice for a up to a million dollars after a serious dental error occurred during a routine procedure. According to the lawsuit in Texas, the dentist allegedly mistakenly extracted the wrong tooth and then attempted to improperly reinsert it. Specifically the lawsuit says after the dentist allegedly pulling the wrong tooth the dentist then tried “stuff the tooth into the socket”. As a result of the dental malpractice, the patient claims to be experiencing severe ongoing pain and mental anguish and requires extensive corrective dental work. The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of the dentist and the dental practice. The lawsuit further asserts the dental practice has negligent hiring practices and creates an unreasonable risk of harm to patients. This case highlights the importance of thorough dental care and patient safety. Dental errors … Read more

Orthodontic patients prefer face-to-face interactions over teledentistry

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Teledentistry use in orthodontics has been growing in recent years. To better understand patient preferences and attitudes among orthodontic patients a study was conducted by Jackson K. Griffeth and et. al. titled “Patient perspectives on teledentistry and face-to-face doctor interaction during orthodontic treatment” appearing in  the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (published November 19, 2022). Teledentistry has been covered before on this site see for example the post Delivering Dentistry and Counseling to Patients using Telemedicine. In the article the authors assessed the perceived value of face-to-face interactions between patients and orthodontists, patients desire for convenience, and attitudes toward teledentistry for orthodontics. In the study the authors had orthodontists email their patients surveys that were completed by those 18 and older and by the parents for those under 18. The authors had eight orthodontists in the study that had … Read more

Can You Straighten Your Teeth at Any Age?

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Despite the common misconception that orthodontic treatments are only for children and teenagers, adults can facilitate it equally and receive multiple benefits. Thanks to the advancement of technology, today everyone can have pearly whites and a beautiful smile. This blog post will explain what to anticipate when thinking about orthodontic treatment, whether you’re an adult weighing your options or a parent thinking about treatment for your child. Discover the various elements that affect a straighter smile and the options available to those at any stage of life. Exploring Age and Orthodontic Care There’s no definite age limit to get orthodontic treatment. Adults are now using orthodontics more frequently, even though childhood and adolescence are the best times for this kind of care because of continuous growth. Understanding how age may affect the type and style of treatment is crucial. Adults … Read more