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.
Desquamative Gingivitis: Maintenance through Proper Oral Care In Lieu of Medication
Desquamative gingivitis, or DG, is a periodontal disease caused by an excessive overgrowth of flesh-eating bacteria on any tissue determined to be gingival. The presence of DG means that our patients most likely suffer from blisters, inflammation, redness, flaking skin, tooth erosion, and the appearance of blisters. DG, and the general signs of DG, can all be caused by...
Specialized Visual Pedagogy Most Effective for Our Patients on the Spectrum
It can be a challenge to treat kids with autism in the dental office. They are sensitive to lights, smells, sounds, and textures, and some of these patients don't respond well to verbal advice and directives. For example, many parents of autistic children find it difficult to get their kids to brush, as the intrusion of the toothbrush and...
A Clinical Trial of Topical Erythropoietin Use During Gingival Graft Surgery
Patients suffering from periodontitis may experience various symptoms, like receding gingiva, halitosis, alveolar bone loss, and edentulism in severe cases. Periodontal treatments like non-surgical periodontal therapy may help, but in some cases, surgical interventions like gingival grafts are necessary. In a recent randomized controlled clinical trial, researchers looked at the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) effects on wound healing after gingival graft...
Can Heartburn Drugs Reduce the Severity of Periodontal Disease?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 47.2% of adults aged 30 years and above suffer from some form of periodontal disease. The condition worsens with age, with 70.1% of adults aged 65 years and above suffering from periodontitis.
Recent research published in Clinical and Experimental Dental Research has revealed a link between heartburn medications (specifically proton pump inhibitors) and the...
Universal, Standardized Education in Dental Hygiene Allows for More Autonomy
The International Federation of Dental Hygienists, or IFDH, has always encouraged a high level of autonomy in dental hygienists. Autonomy refers to a person's ability and responsibility to make important decisions without external control or, in our line of work, making decisions about a patient's care without a dentist approving or standing over our shoulders.
Mostly, in America and Canada,...
Research Shows Patients with Drug Addictions Labeled ‘Demanding” by Dental Professionals
In Norway, dental treatment is run by the Public Dental Service (PDS) and is free for children, adolescents, and young adults until age 19. Anyone who has a documented mental disorder, developmental disability, the geriatric population, and people who live in assisted living or utilize at-home nursing care receive free dental care. As an extension to this rule, in...
Research Examines Use of Concentrated Growth Factor During Tooth Transplant Surgery
Patients experiencing tooth loss may benefit from dentures or dental implants, but tooth transplants also show promising results. In a recent study, researchers used a substance extracted from the patient's own blood called concentrated growth factor, in addition to 3D-printed tooth replicas, to promote healing and recovery from tooth transplant surgery.
Medical Applications of Concentrated Growth Factor
A platelet-rich substance called concentrated growth...
Periodontist Sentenced to Six Weeks in Prison for College Admissions Scandal
A former associate professor of dentistry at the University of Southern California was sentenced to six weeks in prison on November 10th for his role in the Operation Varsity Blues scandal, where wealthy parents participated in a scheme to enroll children at top universities.
Dr. Homayoun Zadeh had entered a guilty plea last July. At his sentencing, he was also...
Study Looks at Oral Health Complications of Kidney Re-transplant Patients
Organ failure results from a variety of reasons, like genetic disorders, drug or alcohol abuse, or injury. In addition to treatments and medications, an organ transplant may increase the patient's quality of life, but sometimes an immune response causes the patient's body to reject the donor's organ. Immunosuppressive medications reduce this immune response, but with unfortunate side effects, like...
Research Shows Panoramic Radiographs’ Ability to Diagnose Bruxism via Bone Remodeling
Patients who experience bruxism, or teeth grinding and clenching, often suffer from jaw pain, tooth sensitivity, headaches, and other symptoms. A diagnosis usually starts with a patient's self-report data, but bruxism may go unnoticed for those who grind their teeth unconsciously. A recent study from Switzerland shows promising results in using panoramic radiographs to diagnose bruxism by looking for changes in...
VIDEO: Discussing Negative Comments from a Lobbyist about Hygienists
Emily Boge, CDA, RDH, MPA, and Kara Vavrosky, RDHEP, discuss the recent comments made by an Illinois Dental Society lobbyist saying this about dental hygienists: "I just don't feel anybody with a two-year associate's degree is medically qualified to correct your health. They're trained to clean teeth. They take a sharp little instrument and scrape your teeth. That's what...
FTC Sues Xlear for Company’s COVID-19 Nasal Spray Claims
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit on October 28, 2021, against a dental manufacturer, Xlear, Inc., saying the company “falsely pitched its saline nasal sprays as an effective way to prevent and treat COVID-19.”
The federal agency said Xlear violated the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act with its claims about the nasal sprays. The legislation was enacted by Congress...
Tooth Loss May Be Linked to Dementia and Cognitive Impairment
A new study by New York University Rory Meyer College of Nursing researchers found that each tooth you lose increases your risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. In their findings, published in JAMDA: The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-term Care Medicine, the researchers report a decreased risk of cognitive decline in older adults using dentures.
These findings suggest that you...
Can a Patient’s Baseline Periodontal Stage and Grade Predict Tooth Loss?
Good oral health is essential for overall health and if you want to enjoy a higher quality of life. Harmful dental conditions such as periodontitis can have a serious impact on the body and systemic health. A recent scientific study examined whether the baseline stage and grade could predict future tooth loss due to periodontitis. The study, "The influence...
Test Your Sharpen-Free Instrument Knowledge!
Disclosure: This quiz is sponsored content from Planmeca as part of our sponsored partner program.Now let's test your sharpen-free instrument knowledge!
Bactericidal Effects of Ultraviolet-C Light on Streptococcus mutans
Healthy teeth and gingiva impact our overall health and well-being. In a new study, researchers explored the use of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light in fighting Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium associated with tooth decay.
Clinical Uses for Ultraviolet-C Light
The sun emits UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C irradiation. Ultraviolet light intensity is measured in milliwatts per square centimeter per second (mW/cm² * seconds) and exists in...
Troubled Relationship Between Periodontitis and COVID-19 May Further Exacerbate Disease Severity
COVID-19 is being studied by researchers all over the world. Where did it come from? How can we stop it? While we cannot answer these questions definitively, researchers are still tackling the pandemic and its relationship with other serious health problems. For example, researchers have been studying the effects that COVID-19 may have on common diseases, such as periodontitis.
The...