Matcha from Green Tea Mouthwash Shows Promise in Fighting Gum Disease

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Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is an infection that damages the soft tissue and bone supporting teeth. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis )is one of the main culprits behind gum disease. If left untreated gum diesease can lead to tooth loss. The main cause of gum disease is poor oral hygiene, which allows plaque and bacteria to build up on teeth and under the gumline. Brushing teeth twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting the dentist regularly for cleanings all help to prevent gum disease. If you’re experiencing gum inflammation or discomfort, a simple saltwater rinse can offer relief. Mixing a half-teaspoon of table salt into warm water creates a soothing solution. Swishing with this rinse can help reduce inflammation and ease any pain you might be experiencing. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are known culprits in worsening gum disease. … Read more

Missing Front Teeth? Wisdom Teeth to the Rescue: A Case for Autotransplantation

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Losing a front tooth can send shivers down your spine. But what if there was a way to replace a missing tooth using your own wisdom tooth? That’s the power of wisdom tooth autotransplantation, a procedure gaining traction in dental surgery. A very interesting case study published in Cureus, titled Wisdom Tooth Autotransplantation for the Missing Maxillary Central Incisors Using a 3D-Printed Replica: A Case Report written by Haneda Y, Murayama T, Nikawa H, et al. (May 29, 2024, vol. 16, no. 5) describes how a 19-year-old man received a wisdom tooth transplant to replace his two missing front teeth. Traditional Solutions and a Patient’s Preference When a tooth goes missing, especially a prominent front tooth, replacing it becomes a priority. Traditional options include dental implants and fixed partial dentures. Implants are artificial tooth roots surgically placed in the jawbone, … Read more

New Hope for Faster Jaw Healing After Tooth Extractions: Ozone Therapy Shows Promise

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Getting a tooth pulled is never fun, and for some people, it carries the risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). This is when the jawbone doesn’t heal properly after an extraction. MRONJ is primarily associated with the use of bone-modifying agents with antiresorptive and/or antiangiogenic activities, which are administered to cancer and osteometabolic patients  Researchers are looking for ways to improve healing and reduce MRONJ risk. A new study published in Oral Diseases titled “Reduction of MRONJ risk after exodontia by virtue of ozone infiltration: A randomized clinical trial” written by Olga Di Fede and published on May 29, 2024, explores a promising approach: using a gaseous oxygen-ozone mixture after a tooth extraction. Study shows ozone therapy speeds up healing The study involved 117 patients (27 male and 90 female) at risk of MRONJ. Half received standard care … Read more

Sweeten dental injections to reduce pain for kids

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A new article titled “Efficacy of administering a sugar-free flavor before dental injections on pain perception in children: A split-mouth randomized crossover clinical trial” appears in International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry written by Ola B. Al-Batayneh and et. al. (April 16, 2024). Getting a shot at the dentist can be scary for kids, but a this study suggests a simple trick might help: sugar-free flavoring. Researchers compared giving kids a sugar-free flavor before a dental injection to giving them plain water. The study included 84 children ages 4 to 9 who needed injections on both sides of their mouths. One side received injections after a sugar-free flavor was applied, and the other side received water. Image by Jenny Friedrichs from Pixabay The kids had their heart rates measured as an objective indicator of pain using a fingertip pulse oximeter. Further … Read more

Green Glasses for Less Scary Wisdom Teeth Surgery

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Getting your wisdom teeth pulled can provoke fear and anxiety for many. A new study titled “Effectiveness of wearing glasses with green lenses on dental anxiety for third-molar surgery” written by Gokhan Gurses and et. al. appearing in March 21, 2024, appearing in the Journal of the American Dental Association suggests a simple trick might help: wearing green glasses. Wearing green lenses for just 10 minutes before wisdom teeth surgery can significantly reduce anxiety and heart rate in patients. The benefits may even extend to the surgery itself, with patients reporting lower pain levels when wearing green glasses throughout the procedure. Why Green? The calming effect of green isn’t exactly new. Studies have shown that exposure to green spaces, like forests, can reduce anxiety and depression. Green light has also been linked to pain reduction and improved quality of life … Read more