Periodontitis may be Preventable

Periodontitis may be Preventable




Written by Dentistry TodayFriday, 07 December 2012 16:50



There could be a new method to stop periodontitis.

By blocking a molecular receptor that is usually targeted by bacteria, scientists from the University of Pennsylvania have shown the ability to prevent periodontitis in a mouse model. They also demonstrated the ability to stop the progression of the disease once it has already begun developing.

The study appeared in the Journal of Immunology.

Previous research showed that Porphyromonas gingivalis, which is the bacterium that causes periodontitis, basically hijacks a receptor on white blood cells. The receptor, C5aR, is part of the complement system, which is also part of the immune system that aids in fighting infection.

There were several other studies that enabled these researchers to come to their conclusion. These studies confirmed the idea that the C5aR receptor could be successful in curbing all types of periodontitis, not just the form that includes P. gingivalis.

More tests will be conducted on mice and other animals to make sure the results would have the same impact on humans.

Gum Disease During Pregnancy May Stem from Higher Estrogen Levels

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 09 January 2013 16:52



There may be a clear reason why there as an increase in gum disease risk for pregnant women: higher estrogen levels.

A research team recently concluded that women are at increased risk of gum disease when estrogen levels are raised. Regardless of trimester, the study found pregnant women are at a higher risk for gum disease based on estrogen levels.

The increased risk of developing gum disease for pregnant women is not a new fact. The impact of estrogen, however, on gum disease risk was is still a relatively unknown factor. This University of Helsinki study explored the possible impact of hormones on gum disease.

If proven to be definitively true, this information could be vital in the way pregnant women are treated regarding their oral health. It’s even more essential for pregnant women to visit the dentist regularly compared to everyone else.

If gum disease persists in a pregnant woman, the results could be disastrous, with issues like premature birth and complications during labor, among others.

Australia Needs More Dentists in Some Places

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 17 January 2013 11:10



Some areas of Australia could use an infusion of dentists.

The rural areas of New South Wales are currently experiencing a shortage of dentists, according to the Australian Dental Association. This is happening despite the increasing number of dental school graduates in the area in recent years.

A common problem in Australia is that it’s assumed that when the dental graduation rate in an area increases, the number of dentists in the area will rise. That is not often the case, however.

The dentists in Australia tend to flock to the more urban areas. As a result, it may be important for the government to create an incentivized program to promote an influx of dentists in the areas that need them most.

Many of the public dental services are fully stocked regarding the number of dentists they can employ. One of the goals of Dr. Karin Alexander, president of the Australian Dental Association, is to more evenly disperse the dentists throughout the country so people in all areas have the ability to visit the dentist on a regular basis.

Tooth Loss May be Linked to Age-Related Blindness

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 21 January 2013 16:12



There could be a correlation between blindness and tooth loss.

A recent study in the Journal of Periodontology has linked the two. The study indicated that men who lost teeth were as much as four times likelier to encounter age-related blindness. Age-related macular degeneration happens when the macula begins to deteriorate. Vision then suffers.

Earlier studies have displayed a link involving poor oral health and increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, diabetes and strokes.

The researchers tried to pinpoint why the relationship may exist. They came to the conclusion that some of the risk factors are similar, including smoking and alcohol consumption. When the similar risk factors were considered, the correlation still existed.

The information did not show the same correlation exists in cases involving women.

Gum disease is the most common reason for adult tooth loss, according to most studies. This is something that is preventable for most people.

If people maintain good oral health and visit the dentist regularly, they may not have to be concerned with the tooth loss associated with age-related blindness.

Dental Waiting Times May be An Issue in Some Places

Dental Waiting Times May be An Issue in Some Places



Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 13 February 2013 16:06







The average wait time for a dental appointment in South Australia is two months. And that’s after the average wait time has decreased during the last six months.


Despite the positive direction the wait times are headed in for the Riverland area of Australia, the waits are still double the wait times compared to Adelaide. The waits for Riverland residents are still 18 months for dental care that is not considered urgent.


A mobile dental clinic will soon be opening to try to easy the burden dentists in the area are often faced with.


There are also cases of private dentists treating public patients because the wait times are so prohibitive in this area. The only way to accommodate all of the dental patients is for private dentists to step in as much as possible.


A new clinic, which would work in connection with the University of Adelaide, may also be in the plans.


The ultimate goal is to create enough dental facilities/personnel to be able to have each person in Australia visit a public dentist once each year.

FDA May Impose Limits on Sugar

FDA May Impose Limits on Sugar



Written by Dentistry TodayFriday, 15 February 2013 10:38







The U.S. Food and Drug Administration may soon make major changes to sugar consumption.


The FDA, after being urged by the Center for Science and Public Interest, is going to explore creating a new sugar level for products, meaning a number in which added sugar can’t exceed in a given product. The goal is to boost oral health, in addition to combat diabetes and heart disease, among other health issues.


The CSPI filed a 54-page petition with the FDA. The petition goes in depth about the overwhelming evidence that added sugars cause major health problems.


The average 20-oz bottle of soda possesses 16 teaspoons of sugar from high-fructose corn syrup. The American Heart Association only recommends consuming half of that amount throughout the entire day. No person should consume more than 9 teaspoons of sugar each day, according to the AHA.


The CSPI and researchers involved with this data agree that diet soda is healthier than regular soda despite some studies that say otherwise.


Sugary drinks comprise the largest source of calories in the American diet, according to some studies. The average American consumes between 18 and 23 teaspoons each day.


The CSPI is also requesting other industries lower the amount of sugar in various other consumable products.

Ancient Teeth Bacteria Display Evolution of Disease

Ancient Teeth Bacteria Display Evolution of Disease



Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 25 February 2013 16:38







Researchers recently learned a great deal of information about oral health from DNA preserved in calcified teeth bacteria.


It was learned that negative changes regarding oral bacteria developed after humans became farmers. The Industrial Revolution led to even worse oral health based on the manufactured food that was created.


The information, which was compiled by the University of Adelaide’s Center for Ancient DNA, appeared in the February 17 issue of Nature Genetics. The Department of Archeology at the University of Aberdeen and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge (United Kingdom) also participated in the study.


This is the first study of its kind that shows the oral bacteria have changed during the last 7,500 years. In earlier history, oral bacteria were more diverse, which was a good thing. Now, there are more oral health and other diseases based on the current human diet.


The research team utilized data from 34 prehistoric northern European human skeletons. The lineage of the bacteria was traced from the last of the hunter-gatherers through the farmers in the Bronze Age and Medieval times.


The study pinpointed the major changes that happened when farming was first introduced and again 150 years ago with the Industrial Revolution and the influx in sugar. In some ways, it could be stated that the modern mouth is in a constant state of disease.










This type of research was not possible prior to 2007, when contamination was a problem when studying ancient bacteria. The researchers plan to do similar studies involving other species like Neanderthals.