Wisdom Teeth

Dentists can help prevent opioid deaths

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An interesting blog post from the California Dental Association titled “Dentists can help prevent fentanyl deaths” News Articles, 2023, Community, Patient Care, Practice Management, Clinical, encouages Californian based dentists to play an active role in community efforts of the opioid/fentanyl crisis and in particular to help toraise awareness and increase access to naloxone. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that is estimated to be 50-100 times more powerful than morphine. Naloxone is a lifesaving medication that helps to reverse opioid overdoses.  Narcan used to be limited for access without a prescription. In July 2023, the U.S. FDA approved two naloxone nasal sprays: Narcan and RiVive, which can now be purchased in over the counter at drug stores, grocery stores, and gas stations. Now the the dental board of California requires dentists to take continuing education courses on opioid prescribing to renew their licenses. In partnership … Read more

Wisdom Teeth: A Clash of Perspectives Between Orthodontists and Oral Surgeons

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Wisdom teeth, or third molars, often erupt in late adolescence or early adulthood. While some erupt smoothly, many become impacted, meaning they fail to fully emerge through the gums. This can lead to various complications, including pain, infection, and damage to adjacent teeth. The management of asymptomatic impacted wisdom teeth is a subject of ongoing debate among dental professionals. While there’s consensus on extracting symptomatic teeth, the decision to remove asymptomatic ones remains contentious. A new study titled Prophylactic third molar removal: are oral surgeons and orthodontists aligned in preventive approaches (written by Ipek Necla Guldiken and et. al, BMC Oral Health, 24, Article number: 1072, 2024) aimed to investigate the perspectives of orthodontists and oral surgeons regarding the indications for prophylactic extraction of asymptomatic wisdom teeth. Methods: A web-based survey was conducted among 127 orthodontists and oral surgeons in Turkey. Participants … Read more

Social Media’s Shadow: How Online Content Can Increase Anxiety Before Wisdom Teeth Surgery

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Wisdom teeth removal is a common surgical procedure, yet many patients experience significant anxiety leading up to the day. While social media can be a valuable resource for information and support, a recent study published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (written by Ufuk Tatli and Tahayasin Kalkan, titled Does Social Media Increase Perioperative Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Impacted Third Molar Surgery?, 2024) suggests that browsing online content related to the surgery can inadvertently increase preoperative anxiety. Researchers at Marquette University School of Dentistry investigated this phenomenon by examining the anxiety levels of 162 patients scheduled for wisdom teeth extraction. They divided participants into two groups: those who actively sought out and viewed social media content related to the surgery and those who avoided such exposure. The study employed standardized anxiety assessments to measure the impact of social media consumption … Read more

Easing the Pain and Swelling After Wisdom Tooth Removal: The Promise of Photobiomodulation Therapy

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Wisdom tooth extraction, while a common oral surgery, often comes with its share of discomfort. Post-operative pain, swelling (edema), and difficulty opening the mouth (trismus) are frequent challenges for patients. These complications can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life and recovery time. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBM) may offer a significant advantage in easing the recovery process.   PBM, a non-invasive therapy, involves the application of low-level lasers or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to specific areas. This therapeutic approach has gained traction in various medical fields due to its potential to:   In a recent double-blind clinical trial, in an article titled “PAIN, OEDEMA AND TRISMUS RESPONSES FOLLOWING PHOTOBIOMODULATION THERAPY IMMEDIATELY AFTER LOWER THIRD MOLAR EXTRACTION: RESULTS OF A RANDOMIZED, DOBLE-BLIND AND SPLIT MOUTH CLINICAL TRIAL,” written by GISELA CRISTINA VIANNA CAMOLESI and et. al. … Read more

Automated Classification of Third Molar Development Stages Using Deep Learning

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Accurate assessment of tooth development is crucial in various fields, including dentistry, orthodontics, and forensic science. Traditional methods, such as the Demirjian system, rely on visual inspection by dental professionals, which can be subjective and prone to inter-observer variability. This study aimed to develop a fully automated system for classifying third molar (wisdom teeth) development stages using deep learning, offering a more objective and efficient approach. The research utilized a large dataset of orthopantomograms (OPGs), which were meticulously labeled by dental experts according to the Demirjian system. The dataset comprised images of both left and right lower jaws, resulting in a substantial collection for model training and evaluation. To enhance the accuracy and robustness of the system, several key techniques were employed: The results demonstrated the superior performance of the EfficientNet model, achieving a classification accuracy of 83.7%. This significant … Read more