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Dental News: New survey says dentists don't mind "playing doctor" with their patients.
Don't be surprised if the next time you visit your dentist you hear words uttered such as "Are you getting enough exercise" or "Have you had any unprotected sex lately or shared any dirty needles" in addition to the usual "Open wide" and "Okay, rinse".
According to the January issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association, a new study finds that dentists are willing to screen their patients for common medical conditions and, if necessary, refer them to a general physician.
Survey Says...
Most of the dentists surveyed said it was very or somewhat important for dentists to conduct screenings for high blood pressure (86%), cardiovascular disease (77%), Diabetes (77%), Hepatitis (72%) and HIV (69%). Most were willing to collect saliva samples, measure blood pressure and take a patient's blood by finger stick. Nearly all (96%) were willing to refer patients to a physician for follow-up.
In addition, nearly three quarters of those dentists surveyed were willing to discuss the results of these screenings with their patients during the same dental visit... as well as recommending sugarless gum for their patients who chew gum.
(Note: That last sentence about chewing gum was not part of the study. I added it for humor sake.)
Researchers from two universities and the American Dental Association performed this study. The 1,945 dentists who were surveyed were roughly 85% male, white and had been practicing for more than 10 years. Why the survey asked dentists their gender and racial identity eludes this writer but... whatever.
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Thursday, January 28, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Goodbye Dentist Drill; Hello Plasma Jets?
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Dental News
A newly developed "Plasma Jet" device would be a painless and far more effective weapon against tooth decay-causing bacteria than the traditional dentist's drill, according to a new study set to be published in the February issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology.
Firing low temperature plasma beams at dentin (the fibrous tooth structure underneath the enamel coating) was found to reduce the amount of dental bacteria by up to 10,000-fold. The findings could mean plasma technology is used to remove infected tissue in tooth cavities, a practice that conventionally involves drilling into the tooth.
Scientists at the Leibniz-Institute of Surface Modifications in Leipzig, Germany and dentists from the Saarland University, Homburg, Germany, tested the effectiveness of plasma jets against common the most common types of bacteria found on the surface of teeth which erode tooth enamel and the dentin below it to cause cavities. If left untreated, these bacteria types usually lead to pain, tooth loss and sometimes severe gum infections.
Dr Stefan Rupf from Saarland University who led the research said using plasma technology to disinfect tooth cavities would be welcomed by patients as well as dentists. "Drilling is a very uncomfortable and sometimes painful experience. Cold plasma, in contrast, is a completely contact-free method that is highly effective. The low temperature means they can kill the microbes while preserving the tooth. The dental pulp at the centre of the tooth, underneath the dentin, is linked to the blood supply and nerves and heat damage to it must be avoided at all costs."
Related Blog Posts
Panic Button Lets Patients Control Dental Drill ( November 13, 2009 )
Dental News
A newly developed "Plasma Jet" device would be a painless and far more effective weapon against tooth decay-causing bacteria than the traditional dentist's drill, according to a new study set to be published in the February issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology.
Firing low temperature plasma beams at dentin (the fibrous tooth structure underneath the enamel coating) was found to reduce the amount of dental bacteria by up to 10,000-fold. The findings could mean plasma technology is used to remove infected tissue in tooth cavities, a practice that conventionally involves drilling into the tooth.
Scientists at the Leibniz-Institute of Surface Modifications in Leipzig, Germany and dentists from the Saarland University, Homburg, Germany, tested the effectiveness of plasma jets against common the most common types of bacteria found on the surface of teeth which erode tooth enamel and the dentin below it to cause cavities. If left untreated, these bacteria types usually lead to pain, tooth loss and sometimes severe gum infections.
Dr Stefan Rupf from Saarland University who led the research said using plasma technology to disinfect tooth cavities would be welcomed by patients as well as dentists. "Drilling is a very uncomfortable and sometimes painful experience. Cold plasma, in contrast, is a completely contact-free method that is highly effective. The low temperature means they can kill the microbes while preserving the tooth. The dental pulp at the centre of the tooth, underneath the dentin, is linked to the blood supply and nerves and heat damage to it must be avoided at all costs."
Related Blog Posts
Panic Button Lets Patients Control Dental Drill ( November 13, 2009 )
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Pet Dental Insurance Growing Leaps & Bounds
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Dental News
Health insurance that includes dental coverage for pets is experiencing extraordinary growth and acceptance among both pet owners and the veterinary profession in the US and Canada. Over one million pets are estimated to now be insured, and according to research firm Packaged Facts double digit growth among the leading providers of pet health insurance is expected to continue.
But what most people don't know is that dental health plays an even bigger part in their pet's overall health then it does to their owner's overall health.
"One issue that our (veterinarian) practice highlights is making certain our clients include dental coverage when they purchase pet insurance. Dental disease such as stomatitis and periodontal disease are very common today and some (pet insurance policies) do not provide coverage. Unfortunately oral health is often neglected until it has a serious negative impact on a pet's overall health. Adding an insurance or wellness option to cover dental care is very important. Overall, we feel our efforts related to pet health insurance education and awareness translates to a healthier pet for our clients," according to Dr. Keith Niesenbaum, veterinarian of the Crawford Dog and Cat Hospital, Garden City Park, New York, and Vice President of the Long Island Veterinary Medical Association.
Surveys and research by the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Pet Products Association indicates that today most pets are regarded as members of the family. Projected 2009 pet expenditures for North America are over $45 billion, of which $25 billion will be spent on veterinary related care.this
Related Blog Posts
Pets Need Dental Care Too? Oh, Come On! ( April 19, 2008 )
Dental News
Health insurance that includes dental coverage for pets is experiencing extraordinary growth and acceptance among both pet owners and the veterinary profession in the US and Canada. Over one million pets are estimated to now be insured, and according to research firm Packaged Facts double digit growth among the leading providers of pet health insurance is expected to continue.
But what most people don't know is that dental health plays an even bigger part in their pet's overall health then it does to their owner's overall health.
"One issue that our (veterinarian) practice highlights is making certain our clients include dental coverage when they purchase pet insurance. Dental disease such as stomatitis and periodontal disease are very common today and some (pet insurance policies) do not provide coverage. Unfortunately oral health is often neglected until it has a serious negative impact on a pet's overall health. Adding an insurance or wellness option to cover dental care is very important. Overall, we feel our efforts related to pet health insurance education and awareness translates to a healthier pet for our clients," according to Dr. Keith Niesenbaum, veterinarian of the Crawford Dog and Cat Hospital, Garden City Park, New York, and Vice President of the Long Island Veterinary Medical Association.
Surveys and research by the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Pet Products Association indicates that today most pets are regarded as members of the family. Projected 2009 pet expenditures for North America are over $45 billion, of which $25 billion will be spent on veterinary related care.this
Related Blog Posts
Pets Need Dental Care Too? Oh, Come On! ( April 19, 2008 )
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Dental Tourism: More Costly Than Going To Your Dentist?
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Dental News
The price of travelling abroad for cheap dental treatment can work out to be more costly than visiting your local dentist according to new research reported by the website Dentistry.co.uk.
Research by Dentale, a British dental implant clinic, suggests that although the recession has driven more people abroad for treatment, when you factor in the cost of travel and lodging -especially when multiple dental treatments are involved-, he could end up making dental tourism more expensive than simply going to a local dentist near where you live.
"It's important that when people are looking to go abroad for dental treatment that they not only investigate the cost of the procedure, but also the other added expenses such as hotels, flights and how many times they will have to see the dentist before the treatment is complete" warned Dentale's Jason Buglass. "In the case of dental implants, you need to make a number of follow-up visits and if your dentist is in another country this can not only be very time consuming but also costly."
Increasingly, so-called traveling to a poorer countries for dental treatment (i.e.'dental tourism') has provedg popular in recession-hit Great Britain and especially in the United States. Eastern Europe, Mexico and even India openly encourage dental tourism to their countries. Although less expensive, the standards for hygiene in the dental offices of these countries vary greatly and are usually do not measure up to those in either England or America.
Related Blog Posts
Dental Tourism Done Safely ( June 29, 2009 )
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Dental News
The price of travelling abroad for cheap dental treatment can work out to be more costly than visiting your local dentist according to new research reported by the website Dentistry.co.uk.
Research by Dentale, a British dental implant clinic, suggests that although the recession has driven more people abroad for treatment, when you factor in the cost of travel and lodging -especially when multiple dental treatments are involved-, he could end up making dental tourism more expensive than simply going to a local dentist near where you live.
"It's important that when people are looking to go abroad for dental treatment that they not only investigate the cost of the procedure, but also the other added expenses such as hotels, flights and how many times they will have to see the dentist before the treatment is complete" warned Dentale's Jason Buglass. "In the case of dental implants, you need to make a number of follow-up visits and if your dentist is in another country this can not only be very time consuming but also costly."
Increasingly, so-called traveling to a poorer countries for dental treatment (i.e.'dental tourism') has provedg popular in recession-hit Great Britain and especially in the United States. Eastern Europe, Mexico and even India openly encourage dental tourism to their countries. Although less expensive, the standards for hygiene in the dental offices of these countries vary greatly and are usually do not measure up to those in either England or America.
Related Blog Posts
Dental Tourism Done Safely ( June 29, 2009 )
Mexican Town Popular Due To Dental Tourism ( March 28, 2009 )
Friday, January 1, 2010
Nutritional Supplements Improve Periodontal Health
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Dental News
The periodontists in both of Dr. David DiGiallorenzo's Pennsylvania dental practices have recently began offering two lines of nutritional supplements to patients as a means of promoting the connection between good nutrition and improved periodontal health.
DiGiallorenzo, a dental implants specialist, introduced nutritional supplements called Isagenix Cleanse and NuVerus's Euphoria because studies have shown that nutritional supplements can help patients improve their immune systems and fight gum infections.
"We use the Isagenix and NuVerus to strengthen immunity, improve digestion, build proteins, reduce inflammation and remove toxins from the body," said Dr. DiGiallorenzo. "All of these factors are crucial when dealing with chronic inflammatory diseases such as periodontal disease, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and a variety of other conditions."
Strengthening immunity is of particular importance because immune response with periodontal infection changes the way oral tissues properly use nutrients, and that has a bearing on normal repair and healing. Nutritional deficiencies also can weaken the resistance of oral tissues to plaque bacteria, which can result in more inflammation.
DiGiallorenzo calls nutrition "an essential part of the puzzle," and said many foods we eat today don't provide the nutritional support the body needs. "We have become far too sophisticated and many of our foods lack the nutrients they once had," he said. "We all can benefit from nutritional supplements."
Related Blog Posts
What Does "Sugarless" Really Mean? ( February 11, 2007 )
Dentists Frequently The First To Discover Eating Disorders ( December 5, 2007 )
Dental News
The periodontists in both of Dr. David DiGiallorenzo's Pennsylvania dental practices have recently began offering two lines of nutritional supplements to patients as a means of promoting the connection between good nutrition and improved periodontal health.
DiGiallorenzo, a dental implants specialist, introduced nutritional supplements called Isagenix Cleanse and NuVerus's Euphoria because studies have shown that nutritional supplements can help patients improve their immune systems and fight gum infections.
"We use the Isagenix and NuVerus to strengthen immunity, improve digestion, build proteins, reduce inflammation and remove toxins from the body," said Dr. DiGiallorenzo. "All of these factors are crucial when dealing with chronic inflammatory diseases such as periodontal disease, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and a variety of other conditions."
Strengthening immunity is of particular importance because immune response with periodontal infection changes the way oral tissues properly use nutrients, and that has a bearing on normal repair and healing. Nutritional deficiencies also can weaken the resistance of oral tissues to plaque bacteria, which can result in more inflammation.
DiGiallorenzo calls nutrition "an essential part of the puzzle," and said many foods we eat today don't provide the nutritional support the body needs. "We have become far too sophisticated and many of our foods lack the nutrients they once had," he said. "We all can benefit from nutritional supplements."
Related Blog Posts
What Does "Sugarless" Really Mean? ( February 11, 2007 )
Dentists Frequently The First To Discover Eating Disorders ( December 5, 2007 )
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