Pain Management in Pediatric Dentistry

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An interesting article titled “Provider perspectives on pain management practices and needs in pediatric dentistry,” written by Melissa Pielech and Caroline Sawicki appears in the Journal of the American Dental Association (published October 25, 2023). The article sought to assess the pediatric dentists use of and attitudes toward evidence-based pain management strategies. To better understand dental pain management in children, the authors surveyed 625 pediatric dentists and residents. The dentists and residents were sent a 27-item online survey to assess attitudes about evidence-based pain management, tools, and practices and opinions regarding areas for improving pain management. Among the respondents, 89% were dentists and 11% were residents. The majority of respondents thought that pain management is an important aspect of clinical care in pediatric dentistry and believe it is necessary to improve pain management practices. Dentists and residents said that they … Read more

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

Transient Bradycardia during Dental Anesthesia: Risk Factors and Mechanisms

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Dental procedures are generally safe; however, transient bradycardia (TB), a temporary slowing of the heart rate, can sometimes occur during local anesthesia administration under sedation. This phenomenon, often linked to the trigeminal cardiac reflex (TCR), can occur during the administration of local anesthesia, particularly in patients undergoing sedation. Understanding the Mechanisms The TCR is a physiological response triggered by stimulation of the trigeminal nerve, which innervates the face and oral cavity. This stimulation can lead to a cascade of events, including a sudden decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as other autonomic responses. Identifying Risk Factors A recent prospective study identified several key risk factors associated with the occurrence of TB during dental anesthesia: Study Findings A study appearing in BMC Oral Health titled “Transient bradycardia during local anaesthesia to the oral cavity under intravenous sedation and … Read more

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Periodontitis: Is There a Connection?

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Periodontitis is a common gum disease that affects millions of people around the world. It is caused by inflammation of the gums, which can lead to tooth loss if left untreated. While the main cause of periodontitis is poor oral hygiene, recent studies suggest that exposure to environmental pollutants may also play a role. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a large group of chemicals that are found in many everyday products, such as paint, cleaning supplies, and air fresheners. VOCs can also be released from industrial emissions and traffic fumes. Exposure to VOCs has been linked to a number of health problems, including respiratory problems, cancer, and kidney disease. A recent study published in the BMC Oral Health (titled “Mediating role of systemic inflammation in the association between volatile organic compounds exposure and periodontitis: NHANES 2011–2014”, written by Zhida Dai and … Read more

Less sleep may increase cavities risk

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An interesting article titled “Association between sleep duration and dental caries in a nationally representative U.S. population” written by Abdullah Alawady and et. al. appears in BMC Oral Health (vol. 23, Article number 497, 2023). The article seeks to establish the relationship between sleep duration and dental caries (cavities). The authors used data from the 2017-2018 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to explore 5,205 patients age 16 and older who completed a dental exam and sleep questionnaire. They performed regression analyses to reveal a statistically significant negative relationship between caries and sleep duration. It was found that those who have an average sleep duration of seven or more hours per night were less likely to have caries compared to people who slept less than seven hours (95% confidence interval 0.33 to 0.82; p < 0.05). Specifically 88.9% (4630/5205) of the … Read more