Those with diabetes and forms of dementia face their own oral health challenges. There has long been a connection between type II diabetes and Alzheimer's; recent research suggests that Alzheimer's may actually be a form of diabetes itself. In this article, learn about the mechanisms of periodontitis in those with diabetes and Alzheimer's, as well as useful patient care considerations.... read more »

Studies have indicated that individuals with a high body mass index are more prone to developing periodontal disease than other people are. Being overweight or obese might also negatively affect one’s response to nonsurgical periodontal therapy. In line with these findings, a recently published study has suggested that overweight or obese patients, particularly men, carrying a... Read More Here  

Who expected to wake up last week to the “news” that flossing doesn’t matter? In case you missed it - and you can be sure that your patients will enlighten you if you did - here is a link to one of the many media reports: http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-floss-benefits-unproven-20160802-snap-story,amp.html So, what is going on? The answer lies in understanding the process and... read more »

Regenerative dental fillings that allow teeth to heal themselves have been developed by researchers, potentially eliminating the need for root canals. The treatment, developed by scientists from the University of Nottingham and Harvard University, earned a prize from the Royal Society of Chemistry after judges described it as a “new paradigm for dental treatments.” The tooth filling works by stimulating... read more »

The mouth is home to more than 700 different bacteria species. Tobacco smoke, though, promotes the colonization and fortification of harmful species like Porphyromonas gingivalis. The immune system, then, has a much harder time fighting them off as biofilms begin to develop. “Once a pathogen establishes itself within a biofilm, it can be difficult to eradicate as biofilms provide a... read more »

People with diabetes are 1.46 times more likely to lose their teeth than healthy patients.   Diabetes patients are also more likely to lose their teeth earlier in life than people without diabetes of the same age. Furthermore, diabetics suffer more severely and more frequently from periodontal disease and dental caries, which probably increases... Read More Here

The risk of osteoporosis increases with age. As it sets in, so can periodontitis, according to research from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Yet the study also found that treatment for osteoporosis can protect patients against periodontitis. The researchers selected 48 elderly women with normal bone mineral density (BMD) and 86 with osteoporosis from 1,266 subjects... read more »

Dental care has been disconnected from general health care for many years now, but the more you start to think about it, the stranger it seems. After all, you don’t really separate any other branch of medicine so… why teeth? It all started in the 19th century, following conflicts between surgeons and dentists in England. The conflict was carried on... read more »

Approximately every 3 minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with cancer. Oral complications resulting from anticancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiation can significantly affect morbidity, the patients’ tolerance, and their overall quality of life. Is your office prepared to handle the unique oral care needs of these patients? In 1989, The National Institutes of Health had a Consensus... read more »

Sparkling waters, popularly received as a healthy alternative beverage, have their advantages. But many people do not know certain types can cause dental erosion. We know that certain foods and beverages are harmful to our bodies and our mouths. Sugary drinks have been linked to tooth decay, obesity, diabetes, depression and more; even diet drinks have been shown to have... read more »