FDA warns about dental problems from buprenorphine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety concern regarding the medication buprenorphine which is a medication used to treat opioid use disorder, acute pain, and chronic pain. Buprenorphine is often used to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms and the desire to use opioids, without causing the cycle of highs and lows associated with abusing opioid. The FDA warning issued on January 12, 2022, states that dental problems have occured when patients take medicines containing buprenorphine that are dissolved in the mouth. In the warning, the FDA said that the dental problems can include those of tooth decay, cavities, loss of teeth, and oral infections, and can occur in those without prior dental issues. As a result of this warning, the risk of dental problems occuring will be added to the prescribing information and the patient Medication Guide … Read more

Should you Delay a Tooth Extraction if you recently had COVID-19 (Coronavirus)?

An interesting article titled “Cavernous sinus thrombosis and blindness in a recovered (COVID-19) patient post simple tooth extraction: A case report,” is scheduled to appear in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and currently available in pre-proof form, written by Mohamed Abdelmoiz, Ahmed Nagi Alghandour, and Amr Gibaly (2022). The article discusses a case report the authors document where a man lost vision in one eye after having a tooth extracted after he had recently recovered from COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Based on this article the authors feel that patients who had recently had COVID-19 and also have diabetes should delay having tooth extractions performed for a period of time after recovering from COVID-19. In the article, the authors describe a 69 year old man with well managed diabetes who was admitted to a hospital due having hypoxia and fever. He was … Read more

Billie Eilish and Kaia Gerber have Wisdom Teeth Removed

Over the years various celebrities who have had wisdom teeth extracted have been discussed in various posts on this site. See for example the posts Brad Pitt, Cara Delevingne, and Russell Wilson Latest Celebrities to have Wisdom Teeth Removed in 2021 and Celebrities who have had Wisdom Teeth Extracted. Two other celebrities yet to be shared on this site who have had wisdom teeth extracted in recent years include Billie Eilish and Kaia Gerber. Billie Eilish Billie Eilish is a famous American musician. She had her wisdom teeth extracted in 2017. She has shared some clips of herself after the surgery where she appears out of it. These clips of herself recovering from the procedure while very out of it have of course generated many views. In December 2020, she shared a new clip in which she sits in the … Read more

Relatable Reasons Why Adults Should Consider Braces

There are ample reasons for adults to get braces. Although people usually get braces during adolescent years, with changing times, many adults are opting for braces to straighten their teeth. Oral health may change unexpectedly, leading to teeth moving and causing dental issues. An adult may be uncomfortable with their smile or have trouble with oral hygiene because of the placement of your teeth. To put things in perspective, below are a few reasons adults may opt for braces: Affordable Treatment Options:Braces are one solution to numerous dental issues, including overbite, underbite, misalignment & even hypodontia. The best part about considering braces as an adult is that they are affordable. You may choose from traditional braces, ceramic braces, lingual braces, or Invisalign according to your budget. These days, most dental practices offer flexible payment options that you can use to … Read more

Wisdom Teeth Removal Leads to Persistent Headache and Viral Encephalitis

A person in Scotland had wisdom teeth removed that resulted in an infection. This lead to a persistent headache that was later diagnosed as viral encephalitis but initially missed. The person who had wisdom teeth removed did not have the proper diagnosis made by both oral and maxillofacial surgeons and when admitted to a hopsital, medics from NHS Fife at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. None of the people who treated the person suspected an infection and the person was not given an MRI scan. This lead to encephalitis which is an inflammation of the brain typically caused by an infection. A complaint was submitted to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman for this case and they came out with a decison report that contained a summary of the case and recommendations. The board of NHS Fife where the person was … Read more