Wisdom Teeth

Dentist Drill Use Dwindling in The Future

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A new technology that spots tooth decay almost as soon as it’s begun promises to reduce the need for drilling and filling. Drilling is one of the top dental phobias causing many to not to go to the dentist. The new technology may be available five years from now, is based on Raman spectroscopy most commonly used to distinguish between different chemicals by identifying each molecule’s unique fingerprint. It detects decay simply and painlessly by pointing a tiny optical fibre at the tooth to check on its health. A preliminary study at King’s College London, where the technique is being developed, found that chemical changes in the tooth could be detected by analysing how light is scattered when a laser is fired at the tooth. Researchers were able to tell healthy teeth from carious teeth because bacteria, responsible for the … Read more

Silent Enamel-Eating Syndrome, Are You at Risk?

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Your teeth could be in more trouble than you know because of a silent and destructive phenomenon called dental erosion. The incidence of dental erosion, which is the steady loss of the teeth’s protective enamel, is on the rise in the United States. Bennett T. Amaechi, M.S., Ph.D., associate professor of community dentistry at the UT Health Science Center, and colleagues discovered a 30 percent prevalence rate of dental erosion among 10- to 14-year-olds in the United States. Dr. Amaechi led the San Antonio portion of the nation’s first population-based, multi-center study of dental erosion. The study, involving 900 middle school students, was conducted in 2004 and 2005 at Indiana University, the University of California at San Francisco and the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. Dental erosion has not been widely analyzed in the United States. “This study is … Read more

Abandoned Dentist Chair

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I found this great photo of an abandoned dentist chair while searching through photos on Flickr. I think this image captures the fear many people feel when visiting the dentist. You may be feeling that something is going to go terribly wrong and that your life may be changed forever. Or you may feel really uncomfortable and want to be doing some other activity. The original URL is http://www.flickr.com/photos/22793898@N04/2191423773/

Brushing Teeth May Promote Healthy Heart

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Each year, cardiovascular disease kills more Americans than cancer. Just brushing and flossing your teeth each day, you might also be avoiding this potentially lethal condition. This is similar study as the one posted yesterday. A new article suggests that periodontal patients whose bodies show evidence of a reaction to the bacteria associated with periodontitis may have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. “Although there have been many studies associating gum disease with heart disease, what we have not known is exactly why this happens and under what circumstances,” said JOP editor Kenneth Kornman, DDS, PhD. “The findings of this new analysis of previously published studies suggest that the long-term effect of chronic periodontitis, such as extended bacterial exposure, may be what ultimately leads to cardiovascular disease.” Researchers at Howard University identified 11 studies that had previously examined clinically-diagnosed … Read more

Energy Drinks cause Tooth Erosion

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For more than 10 years, energy drinks in the United States have been on the rise, promising consumers more “oomph” in their day. In fact, it is estimated that the energy drink market will hit $10 billion by 2010. While that may be great news for energy drink companies, it could mean a different story for the oral health of consumers. Previous scientific research findings have helped to warn consumers that the pH levels in beverages such as soda could lead to tooth erosion, the breakdown of tooth structure caused by the effect of acid on the teeth that leads to decay. The studies revealed that, whether diet or regular, ice tea or root beer, the acidity level in popular beverages that consumers drink every day contributes to the erosion of enamel. A recent study examined the acidity levels of … Read more