Today's RDH
Today's RDH is for curious and passionate dental hygienists. We deliver the latest dental hygiene news, research, and entertainment on your phone, tablet, and computer.
Azadirachta Indica (Neem) as a Treatment for Oral Cancer
The Neem tree found on the Indian subcontinent exhibits a cluster of biological applications. Every piece of the neem tree is useful, whether it is the bark, the stem, the leaves, the flowers, the fruit, or the sap. This tree's technical name is Azadirachta indica from the Meliaceae plant family. Researchers recently did a systemic review of the plant's...
Dental Caries Among the Geriatric Population: A Decade Long Study
Scientists have long speculated about the prevalence of dental caries and their potential long-term risk factors among the geriatric population. Recently, the topic was further explored in an article titled, "Caries disease among an elderly population—A 10-year longitudinal study." The piece was published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene, which is the official scientific peer-reviewed journal of the International...
Research Shows Women’s Menstrual Cycles May Impact Oral Health
A recent study has shown that a woman's oral health can be strongly linked to her menstrual cycle.
The study noted that, even when women practice good oral hygiene, the hormonal changes created during menstruation can present harmful, short-term changes in the microbial load in saliva. Consuming sugar and smoking can make these changes even worse.
About the Study
The study, published...
Does Past Sexual Abuse Affect Patients’ Dental Anxiety and Homecare?
If a child is not familiar with going to the dentist or unsure what treatments they will be subjected to, anxiety may arise but should mostly dissipate with age. When dental anxiety occurs in older teens, especially without a history of anxiety, there may be another problem that they are dealing with that we, and their guardians, may be...
Research Supports SARS-CoV-2 May be Spread through Saliva
Finding the Virus Vectors
During the first year of the pandemic, there was growing worldwide consensus that COVID-19 was spread primarily through respiratory means. It was also shown quite early in the pandemic that transmission from presymptomatic/asymptomatic carriers was a virus vector as well.
The reported respiratory studies drove the vast majority of research and focus to those areas, and reporting...
Non-surgical Periodontal Therapy May Reduce Rheumatoid Arthritis Inflammation
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system, which is responsible for protecting the body from harmful bacteria, starts to malfunction and attack healthy cells instead. The autoimmune and inflammatory disease can cause inflammation in the joint area of the knees, ankles, hands, and wrists. Patients may feel pain or stiffness when they move. The most common symptoms associated with...
Silent Osteoporosis and Its Relation to Periodontitis in Middle-Aged Patients
Periodontitis is one of the most widespread preventable diseases in the world. A vast majority of studies, both qualitative and quantitative, looked at the association between periodontal disease and osteoporosis in geriatric populations. But what about the occurrence of periodontal disease and osteoporosis in adults that are currently determined to be 'middle-aged'? Are the two conditions related to someone...
More Research Shows Periodontal Disease May Lead to Alzheimer’s
To some, it may seem impossible that bad (virulent) bacteria in your mouth can affect memory cells in your brain. DNA researchers, however, discovered that bacteria in the mouth that cause periodontitis could move from the mouth to the brain. The most common periodontal bacteria found in patients with Alzheimer's is Porphyromonas gingivalis, also known as P. gingivalis.
Data from...
Virus Prevention in the Dental Chair: Should Clinicians Give HPV Vaccines?
Have you ever thought about administering vaccines in a dental office? It sounds very unusual when most of the injections we give in our offices come in the form of local anesthesia but never a medication known to prevent an STD that can lead to cancer.
HPV, or the human papillomavirus, is a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer not only...
Can Type 2 Diabetes and Hyperglycemia Affect A Patient’s Dental Implants?
More than 34 million Americans have diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since the disease is so prevalent among adults and young children, scientists in the dental community are very focused on understanding how the disease may impact a patient's oral health or the effectiveness of treatment plans. Recently, a team of researchers located in Germany conducted...
How Dental Professionals Can Help Women Exiting the Criminal Justice System
Women who live under the poverty line tend to favor other responsibilities over dental care, which may seem like elective care to some individuals. Many studies have been completed on the reasons behind a lack of dental knowledge in poverty-stricken communities. The specific detriments to adequate dental care are the same all over the world.
Perceptions of Access to Oral...
Systemic Review Reveals Green Tea Variants in Oral Rinses Show Efficacy
It's no secret that the number of people that seek out healthier options to increase the quality of their everyday lives is growing. Some choose to take the stairs instead of using an elevator. Some try to eat more natural foods.
How do we approach herbal dental care with our patients if they should ask for our advice?
We have previously...
Adjunctive Use of Experimental Calculus Disruption Solution Decreases Scaling Time
A team of researchers from the University of Minnesota decided to organize a clinical trial last year to determine whether an experimental solution could help clinicians remove calculus deposits more quickly when using in conjunction with hand-held instruments. The article, titled "Efficacy of a Prototype Solution to Facilitate the Removal of Supragingival Dental Calculus: A Proof of Concept Study,"...
7 Reasons to Date or Marry a Dental Hygienist
We may be a bit biased being a dental hygiene publication and all, but we think dental hygienists are awesome people! The following are seven reasons why dating or marrying a dental hygienist is a wonderful thing!
1) Dental Hygienists are Well-educated!
Hygienists have spent years in college and have gone through rigorous training to get where they are. So needless...
Effectiveness of Fluoride Varnish Combined with Silver Nitrate and Tricalcium Phosphate
People of all ages suffer from dental caries, but it can lead to disastrous effects for children because it can interrupt their school performance and quality of life. To remedy this, a group of Chinese researchers at the University of Hong Kong decided to investigate the effectiveness of two fluoride application protocols in arresting caries in the primary teeth...
Research: Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles May Stop Tooth Decay Before it Begins
Scientists have discovered a new nanoparticle solution that can prevent the formation of plaque and dental caries before it can damage the teeth. The initial proof of concept was presented online by an esteemed professor from the University of Illinois at Chicago during the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting & Expo. The meeting featured more than 6,000 presentations on...