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.
Study Shows Botox May Help TMJ Patients without Significant Bone Changes
Botulinum toxin (or Botox) injections is an innovative treatment for patients who suffer from intense pain in their jaw and facial muscles. A recent study published in the September 2020 edition of the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation titled, "Effect of multiple injections of botulinum toxin into painful masticatory muscles on bone density in the temporomandibular complex" examined the effects of the...
Geriatric Patients with Poor Dental Health Linked To Respiratory Issues
The American Society for Microbiology published an article in the journal mSphere titled, "Tongue Microbiota and Oral Health Status in Community-Dwelling Elderly Adults" that discusses in detail how a patient's poor dental health can lead to respiratory issues. Scientists arrived at those conclusions after examining the results of a large study conducted on geriatric patients living in Japan.
The American Society...
Researchers Find Groundbreaking Connection between Oral Bacteria and Stroke
Finnish researchers at the University of Tampere have some findings that show the presence of common oral bacteria in cerebral emboli for the first time. The article that documents their findings, "Oral Bacterial Signatures in Cerebral Thrombi of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Treated With Thrombectomy," focuses on the association between infection-causing oral bacteria and ischemic strokes. The Journal of the American Heart...
Research Examines Whether People Are Genetically Predisposed to Tooth Decay
A study published in Pediatrics, "Genetic and Early-Life Environmental Influences on Dental Caries Risk: A Twin Study," revealed that a person's genetics does not affect their chances of developing tooth decay. However, their data did suggest that young children with overweight mothers were more likely to develop cavities at a young age.
About the Dental Study
The lead researcher of the...
Global Study Unveils Breakthrough Discovery in Regenerative Dentistry
The scientific journal Nature Communications recently published a breakthrough study that is poised to further advance the field of regenerative dentistry. The study unveiled new information about the dental cell type atlas and other mechanisms necessary to reconstruct and engineer teeth. Based on their findings, it is highly likely the information provided by the research will likely encourage further studies of the...
Research Looks at Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Dental Professionals
The majority of our education in dentistry rightfully consists of increasing our patients' quality of life by addressing current dental issues and preventing future problems. We provide an essential service to our communities full of people who desperately need our help and guidance.
At the same time, who is looking out for us?
Our jobs can be very physical, which may...
Study: Periodontal Disease Increases Risk Esophageal and Gastric Cancer by 43%-52%
Scientists have long hypothesized that periodontal disease may increase someone's chances of developing cancer in the future. The topic was explored in an article titled, "Periodontal disease, tooth loss, and risk of esophageal and gastric adenocarcinoma: a prospective study." The piece was published in Gut, a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal on gastroenterology and hepatology by the British Medical Journal.
About...
Researchers Build a Smart Dental Implant that Resists Bacterial Growth
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a smart dental implant. The implant will resist bacterial growth and generate electricity from its piezoelectric qualities. The electricity could power a light for phototherapy that will protect periodontal tissue from inflammation and disease.
The Smart Dental Implant
Millions of Americans have dental implants, which replace missing teeth due to decay, injury, or...
Science Shows Dental Pain Better Treated with Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers Than Opioids
Dentists play an active role in managing the dental pain of their patients. It's important for every dental professional to maintain a delicate balance between the side effects and benefits of opioid and non-opioid therapies while providing the best pain relief possible. New evidence was published in The Journal of the American Dental Association that will affect how dentists prescribe medication to...
Clinician-patient Relationships Lessen Anxiety in Pediatric Patients
Children are inarguably the most sensitive and anxious type of patient for dental professionals (DP). They don't know what to expect from a visit, but many have fears of some sort of pain or other uncomfortable processes that they don't understand. Researchers and dental professionals want and need to know which approach to caries treatment on primary teeth is...
Research Questions the Accuracy of Oral Health Advice Given by Non-Professionals
Maternal oral health is a determining factor in a child's risk factor of decay. Many people don't realize that a mother's dental practices while pregnant and after the child's birth can affect a child's risk of caries as they age.
Non-dental professionals offer advice every single day with mixed results. So, how can we further help our patients really understand...
Scientists Discover New Gene That Can Help Repair Teeth
Over 120 million people living in America are missing at least one tooth, according to the American College of Prosthodontics. Meanwhile, an estimated 36 million U.S. citizens do not have any teeth at all due to an injury or complicated health issue. To combat this problem, scientists from the University of Plymouth decided to look for potential solutions that could...
Science Shows Surprising Dental Benefits from Drinking Red Wine
Lovers of red wine the world over are encouraged to raise their collective glasses and cheer the latest positive news concerning the ongoing and expanding positive benefits of drinking the red fruit of the vine. It has already been acknowledged for years that drinking red wine benefits both hearts and colons, due to the concentrated presence of polyphenols.
Now, thanks...
Study Suggests Periodontal Disease Bacteria May Be Linked to Depression
It's common knowledge that poor dental health may lead to serious systemic complications when left untreated. However, scientists have gathered evidence that suggests advanced stages of periodontal disease can also affect a patient's mental health. The Journal of Clinical Periodontology published an article titled "Periodontal diseases and depression: A pre‐clinical in vivo study" that further explored this theory.1
A Closer...
Science Confirms Water Fluoridation Prevents Tooth Decay in Children
Grand Rapids, Michigan made national headlines when they became the first city to add fluoride to their community's water in 1945. Since this landmark decision, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 42 out of 50 cities in the United States have decided to help fight tooth decay by adding fluoride to its drinking water. A new study published in the Journal...
Microbubbles & Biofilm: The Power of Cavitating Jets
Dental implants are an exciting alternative to bridges and dentures, eliminating many of the aesthetic and practical issues associated with removable dentures. The innovation doesn't stop there, however, as researchers devote resources to important studies, striving to make dental implants even easier to maintain and clean. Recently, researchers conducted a study on cavitating jets and their efficacy in cleaning...