The Evidence Base for Third Molar (Wisdom Teeth) Decisions

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An excellent editorial appears in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in the August 2012 edition titled “Those Who Ignore the Evidence Are Doomed to Misuse It” by Dr. Thomas B. Dodson (70, pages 1765-1767). Dr. Dodson explains how the debate regarding whether or not to either 1) remove asymptomatic, disease-free third molars, or 2) retain asymptomatic, disease-free third molars has become highly controversial. He argues that there are an assortment of viewpoints that play a role here. A) Payer-based clinical decision making: “The payer is the invisible hand in the operatory, influencing the treatment plan with a bold line that determines whether a service is covered or not. With PBCD, there is little regard or sympathy for what the OMS perceives about the individual patients and their circumstances. Thus, PBCD risks moral hazard by pre-empting services that the … Read more

Gum Disease More Common With Old Age

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A recent study which appeared in Nature Immunology shows that the deterioration in gum health which occurs with increasing age is associated with a drop in the level of a chemical called Del-1. Periodontitis is a disease of the gums which causes bleeding and bone loss which can, over time, lead to loss of teeth. Periodontitis  is caused by an over-active immune response to bacteria that grow in the mouth. As people age they are more likely to suffer from inflammatory diseases, including gum disease. The new research investigated gum disease in young and old mice and found that an increase in gum disease in the older animals was accompanied by a drop in the level of Del-1. Del-1 is known to restrain the immune system by stopping white blood cells from sticking to and attacking mouth tissue. In mice that had … Read more

Fish Oil to Help Periodontal Disease

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I have previously discussed in this post https://blog.teethremoval.com/omega-3-fatty-acids-inversely-proportional-to-periodontitis/ that you should be taking omega 3 fatty acids such as fish oil regularly. This is because omega 3 fatty acids have been found to be inversely associated with periodontitis which is inflammation of the tissue surrounding the teeth. Recently researchers in Australia reviewed evidence from eight unique studies that involved humans to evaluate whether fish oil supplementation could be an adjunct therapy for periodontitis. Their review of these studies showed that improvements in clinical measures were common in all studies, but were scientifically significant in two that used a combination of fish oil and aspirin. Although not conclusive, intake of fish oil is recommended for health benefits which extend beyond just your teeth. Dr. Alison Coates from the University of South Australia says: “I would recommend that people ensure they have a … Read more

Migraines – Cause and Effect

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Roughly 30 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches and women are affected 3 times more often than men. Hormonal changes are part of the reason why females have such a higher incidence. Migraine headaches typically last between 4 and up to 72 hours with some experiencing them several times a month. Several risk factors have been identified that increase a person’s chance of having migraines: Family history: If one has 1 or more first-degree relatives with migraine headaches, the likelihood rises substantially. Age: Most people are between 15 and 55 who have migraine headaches. Gender: Women are much more likely to suffer from migraines than men. Certain medical conditions: epilepsy, anxiety, stroke, depression, and high blood pressure are all associated with migraines. Hormonal changes: Women with migraines often have them just before or shortly after menstruation. The exact cause of … Read more

Daily Preventative Therapies Can Reduce Migraine

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The American Academy of Neurology/American Headache Society Guidelines released earlier in April 2012, provide evidence-based and effective treatments that can prevent migraine attacks and lessen their severity. They state 38% of migraine sufferers require preventive therapy, but just 3%  to 13% currently use any preventatives. Some patients are taking preventatives that have never been shown to work. The guidelines show that prevention of migraines requires daily medication. Mark Green, MD, director of the Headache Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York says “If these guidelines are used widely, we will be able to up the odds of reducing headaches by 50 percent…Evidence is building to suggest that if we allow migraines to progress, the frequency of attacks may increase, and they may also become harder to treat.” The guidelines panel found the following: • The anti-seizure medications … Read more