Dental extractions and surgeries can lead to endocarditis

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An interesting study titled “Antibiotic Prophylaxis Against Infective Endocarditis Before Invasive Dental Procedures,” written by Martin H. Thornill and et. al. appears in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (published online August 17, 2022). The article investigates the association between invasive dental procedures and infective endocarditis, and the effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis in reducing this. In the study the authors performed a case-crossover analysis and cohort study using data from 7,951,972 million patients in the U.S. from the Commercial/Medicare Supplemental prescription and dental databases and the IBM MarketScan databases. A total of 3,744 patients in the study were hospitalized with infective endocarditis. From the patients hospitalized, 1,651 (44%) were at low or unknown risk for heart infection, 831 (22%) were at moderate risk of heart infection, and 1,292 (34%) were at high infective endocarditis risk. The overall adjusted infective endocarditis incidence within … Read more

Brushing Regularly can Help Heart Health

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An interesting article titled “Porphyromonas gingivalis, a periodontal pathogen, impairs post-infarcted myocardium by inhibiting autophagosome–lysosome fusion” written by Yuka Shiheido-Watanabe and et. al. appears in the International Journal of Oral Science. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the adverse effects of P.g. infection on post-MI myocardial remodeling. P.g. infection impaired autophagosome–lysosome fusion, a step in the autophagy process. The study showed that the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis can exacerbate heart damage after a heart attack. The researchers found that the bacterium can accumulate at the site of injury and contribute to tissue damage. The mechanisms for which this occurs is stil under investigation. In an effort to understand how Porphyromonas gingivalis contributes to heart damage, the researchers developed a modified version of the bacterium that lacks a key protein called gingipain. This protein is known to protect cells from … 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

Using Rifamycin for Reducing Complications After Wisdom Teeth Surgery

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An interesting article titled “Evaluation of the efficacy of topical rifamycin application on postoperative complications after lower impacted wisdom teeth surgery” appears in the Journal of Stomatology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery written by Levent Cigerim and et. al. (online 11 May 2023, 101501). The article explores the efficacy of a single-dose of topical rifamycin application to reduce complications after wisdom teeth surgery. Rifamycin has been shown to be effective in the inflammatory phase of wound healing by inhibiting prostaglandins, TNF-α and IL-8. In the study the authors included 35 patients with bilaterally impacted lower wisdom teeth that were removed for orthodontic reasons. The patients were split into two groups where the extraction sockets were irrigated with 3 ml/250 mg of rifamycin or with saline. The patients had their pain intensity measured daily for 7 days using a visual analog scale. Mouth … Read more

Exploration of Postoperative Abscess Formation after Wisdom Tooth Removal

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An interesting article titled “A Retrospective Analysis of Postoperative Abscess Formation Following Wisdom Tooth Removal and Their Clinical Condition and Localization,” written by Jakob Fehlhofer and et. al. appears in the Journal of Contemporay Dental Practice (vol. 23, n. 11, pp. 1079-1084, 2022). The article conducts a study on deep tissue abscesses after wisdom teeth removal to determine potential associated factors. Specifically the authors conduct a study with 88 patients who had wisdom teeth removed that resulted in a postoperative abscess formation who were treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the FAU in Germany from October 2012 to February 2017. There were 44 male and 38 female patients, who were split into two groups Group A (removal of asymptomatic wisdom teeth) that had 14 male and 19 female patients and Group B (removal of symptomatic wisdom … Read more