dental health

Fluoridated Water: Still a Valuable Tool, but Benefits May Be Diminishing

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Tooth decay remains a significant public health concern worldwide. For decades, adding fluoride to community water supplies (CWF) has been a cornerstone of dental health strategies. However, a recent Cochrane review (titled “Water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries” written by Tanya Walsh and et. al., 2024) suggests that the benefits of CWF may be less pronounced today than in the past, particularly in developed countries where fluoride toothpaste is widely used. The Review’s Findings: The review analyzed 157 studies comparing tooth decay in children living with fluoridated water and those without. Why the Change? The authors attribute this shift to the widespread use of fluoride toothpaste. With fluoride readily available through oral hygiene products, the incremental benefit of CWF may be less pronounced in modern populations. Important Considerations: The review emphasizes that these findings do not negate the … Read more

Tooth loss associated with brain shrinkage

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An interesting article titled “Associations of Dental Health With the Progression of Hippocampal Atrophy in Community-Dwelling Individuals: The Ohasama Study,” written by Satoshi Yamaguchi and et. al. appears in Neurology, published on Juy 5, 2023. The article sought to explore associations between the number of teeth present and hippocampal atrophy older patients 55 years and older in a longitudinal study. The hippocampus is part of the brain that is important for learning and memory. With Alzheimer’s disease, atrophy of the hippocampus is a common feature but other factors, such as periodontitis (gum disease) can be seen. The researchers were under the assumption that the association between dental health and hippocampal atrophy might be due to inflammation. Gum disease is a chronic inflammatory condition, and inflammation has been shown to damage the hippocampus. The study included 172 people with an average … Read more

Rheumatoid arthritis linked to dental disorders

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An interesting article titled “Increased dental visits in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a secondary cohort analysis of population based claims data,” appears in BMC Oral Health written by Ching-Ya Juan, Chia-Wen Hsu, and Ming-Chi Lu (published December 15, 2022). The article sought to eplore the use of dental care in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and explore the incidence of dental disorders in patients with and without RA. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that characterized by persistent joint infammation. RA can affect not only the joints, but it can also involve other organ systems, such as the lung and lead to systemic comorbidities. In the article the authors selected 1,337 patients newly diagnosed with RA between January 2000 and December 2012 and 13,370 patients without RA. The authors found that patients with RA had a higher prevalence (70.3% vs. … Read more

Does Medicare Cover Dental Services in 2023?

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In the U.S. when Americans turn 65 they are eligible for medical services and health insurance under the program called Medicare. Unfortunately Medicare doesn’t cover most dental care such as procedures and supplies like tooth extractions, cleanings, fillings, dentures, dental plates, or other dental devices. Recent surveys have shown that most people are in favor of expanding Medicare to include services like dental an vision. Many are also in favor of lowering the age of eligibity to less than 65. As of 2023. As of January 1, 2023, Medicare has now been expande to cover medically necessary conditions requiring dental services. According to the ADA the following dental services are now covered under Medicare: Such care can be performed in both an inpatient and an outpatient setting. Further, coverage applies to X-rays, anesthesia, or the use of an operating room … Read more

NIH awards grant to study responsible antibiotic use

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio a four-year, $2.4 million grant to work with the American Dental Association Science & Research Institute (ADASRI) to perform a clinical trial study for the responsible use of antibiotics to treat periodontal disease also known as gum disease. The study will allow for the generatation of real-world data on periodontal disease treatments that are supplemented by antibiotics. The study will be lead by principle investigator Georgios Kotsakis, DDS, MS who is an associate professor of periodontics at the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. More than 30 clinicians who belong to the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) will collect data for the study. The trial is expected to start in Spring 2023 and the periodontal patients will be treated and … Read more