UN Treaty Could Phase Down Amalgam

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 22 January 2013 16:30



Mercury use throughout the world could begin to decrease and eventually be phased out.

The United Nations recently discussed the issue but no date was set to fully phase out dental amalgam.

“This is the beginning of the end of dental amalgam globally,” said Michael T. Bender, director of the Mercury Policy Project, a US-based NGO, who is attending the mercury treaty talks. “We applaud the leadership role the US played in jump-starting support for a phase down in 2011 along with the concrete steps of the Nordic countries, Switzerland and Japan in phasing out amalgam.”

There are numerous ways that countries can phase down amalgam use, according to the treaty. Countries can create a national objective to do so, promote mercury-free dental treatment and discourage insurance policies from covering dental amalgam treatments compared to mercury-free options.

It also would be beneficial if dental schools would train students to utilize mercury-free ways to provide dental care.

Several countries throughout the world have already thought about ways to reduce mercury usage based on how destructive it can be. In 2012, the European Commission recommended that it would be best for mercury to be completely eliminated in five years.

The EC BIOS report stated that mercury-free fillings seem more expensive based on the negative external costs. Amalgam, however, adversely impacts the environment after it eventually releases.







The usage of mercury in tooth fillings represents about 10 percent of global mercury consumption, according to the United Nations Environment Program.

Certain Molecule is Necessary for Tooth Root Formation

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 24 January 2013 16:01



The International and American Associations for Dental Research recently made a discovery that could be pivotal for tooth root formation.

The protein called ß-catenin is expressed in odontoblasts and is required for root formation. The Chonbuk National Korea School of Dentistry wrote the research paper and it appeared in the Journal of Dental Research.

The tooth root and the surrounding periodontium maintain the tooth in the jaw. The root develops after the process of morphogenesis. Prior to this study, little was known about the molecular mechanisms that control tooth root formation.

Tissue-specific inactivation of ß-catenin in developing odontoblasts results in molars that lack roots and thin incisors.

Root odontoblast was disrupted in the mutant molars, which preceeded the loss of a subset of Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath. The outer layer of Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath extended without the root, making way for the molars to eventually erupt.

These results show that there is a cell-autonomous requirement for Wnt/ß-catenin, which alerts the dental mesenchyme to start root formation.







Dentist can learn a great deal of information from the tooth phenotypes, how Wnt impacts odontoblasts and the way the root develops.

Dentistry in Australia Headed in Right Direction

Written by Dentistry TodayFriday, 25 January 2013 16:20



The number of Australian dentists is on the rise, according to a recent study.

Dentists in rural areas and females dentists are becoming more prevalent, based on the report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

The report indicates that the number of dentists working in areas that would be considered rural has risen 49 percent since 2006. The national average rise has been 22.4 percent during that same time period. In urban areas, dentists have increased by 19 percent and there are now about 64 dentists for every 100,000 patients.

The amount of female dentists in Australia is at an all-time high. At this point, more than one third of dentists are women and that number increased by 7 percent from 2006 to 2011.

Dentists also worked about one hour less per week in 2011 when compared to

Wine After Whitening Nullifies Impact

Wine After Whitening Nullifies Impact

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 07 March 2013 16:49

Drinking wine after having your teeth whitened may be the worst substance one can consume. Even worse than coffee.

A recent study in the February issue of Acta Odontologica Scandinavicashowed this was the case based on a Brazil research team’s findings. The study showed that the stains produced from wine were more damaging than the coffee stains.

The group of researchers from a practice in Sao Paolo, Brazil explored the staining that resulted from red wine and coffee before and after a teeth-whitening treatment. The molars were broken into 11 groups utilizing wine, coffee and a control substance. A spectrophotometer was used to determine color change among the teeth.

The research indicated that there wasn’t much change in the concentration of the carbamide peroxide during the whitening treatment. When the treatment concluded, however, there was a large difference in the concentration involving the groups treated with coffee and red wine.

The research team explained its findings by stating that during remineralization of the enamel, the saliva and bleaching agent thwart the possible staining of the enamel. But after the treatment was finished, the red wine and coffee stained the enamel. The stains from the wine were definitively worse, based on this study.

Gum Cells Utilized to Grow Teeth

Gum Cells Utilized to Grow Teeth

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 11 March 2013 15:50

Gum cells were recently used as a way of growing new teeth—something that could be a major breakthrough in dentistry.

Based on this King’s College (London) research, missing teeth could one day be grown from gum cells.

To successfully grow the teeth, the researchers took epithelial cells from the gums and combined them with mesenchyme cells from mice. The research team then managed to promote the growth of new teeth through the epithelial gum cells.

The researchers later transplanted the combination of cells into the mice, which produced the development of human/mouth teeth that had a working root system.

The information appeared in the Journal of Dental Research.

The research team warned for patience, however. It still may take years before dentists can implement this process with humans.

Researchers will have to find a way to acquire a supply of mesenchyme cells that would result in a feasible way to grow these teeth in humans on a consistent basis. If the right amount of mesenchyme cells is found, the research team can proceed with the next step toward making this practice widespread.

New Study Indicates Fluoride Lowers Tooth Decay

New Study Indicates Fluoride Lowers Tooth Decay

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 12 March 2013 12:05

The debate will continue but a new study recently demonstrated the positive impact fluoride has on dental health.

The researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Adelaide in Australia concluded that when fluoride is placed in drinking water, there are positive results and less tooth decay. This even applies to people who weren’t exposed to fluoridated water as children.

Some previous studies came to the conclusion that only children who consumed fluoride from birth could benefit from it. But this study debunks that notion. This information shows that even more people may benefit from fluoride than most studies would even indicate.

To compile the data, the research team looked at nearly 3,800 people aged 15 and older in Australia from 2004 through 2006. The researchers examined the levels of decay of the people based on where they lived since 1964. The locations were then matched up to see if the people lived in communities with fluoridated water. A determination was then made on how much fluoride each person had been exposed to and if there was any correlation with tooth decay or other oral health problems.

The information also shows that people who spent more than 75 percent of their lifetime living in towns with fluoridated water had as many as 30 percent less instances of tooth decay when compared to their counterparts who lived with fluoridated water for less than 25 percent of their life.

The study appears in the Journal of Dental Research.

The reason for the study is because many Australian cities without fluoridation want to add fluoride to their cities, which is a no-brainer according to Kaye Roberts-Thomson, one of the study’s co-authors. Many of the people against fluoride, however, would beg to differ.

FDA Panel to Review Classification of Blade-Form Implants

FDA Panel to Review Classification of Blade-Form Implants

Written by Dentistry TodayFriday, 24 May 2013 08:09

The Food and Drug Administration may soon lower the risk class of blade-form dental implants.

An advisory panel will meet in July to analyze the case of lowering the blade-form endosseous dental implants from the highest risk category to a lower one.

The FDA will look at reclassifying Class III devices into the Class II category. The FDA believes that certain controls can effectively monitor the risks associated with these types of implants. These devices have been discussed for numerous years.

The devices have displayed a high success rate in regards to staying implanted in the mouth without the necessity for removal. It also appears as though these implants have the ability to hold up over time.

The dental blade-form implant was created to be put in place of tooth roots, in addition to providing support in the gingival tissue through the oral cavity. The goal is to allow the possibility for chewing. These implants are rectangular-shaped with a narrow edge. The implants are often made of titanium.

These implants are one of the few Class III devices left. They were first placed into that category because they are implanted in the body and can cause pain at any moment based on nerve impingement or bone issues in the jaw. There also may be extremely damaging effects if a person with these implants undergoes an MRI. Nerve damage or tissue infections are some of the possibilities stemming from an MRI.

The Dental Products Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee will meet on July 18 to discuss this topic.

Soda, Some Drugs Impact Teeth Same Way

Soda, Some Drugs Impact Teeth Same Way

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 29 May 2013 10:20

Judging by the impact on teeth, it may be difficult to tell the difference between methamphetamine use, crack cocaine use and soda consumption.

At least that’s what a new study says. The study, which was published in the March/April 2013 issue of General Dentistry, says that all of those substances can cause the same amount of teeth erosion.

Tooth erosion stems from acid wearing away at the tooth enamel. The teeth then become more vulnerable to cavities, discoloration or other issues.

To compile the data, three people were studied. One person was a methamphetamine user, another was a longtime cocaine user and the third person consumed large amounts of diet soda. All of the participants had poor oral hygiene and did not often frequent the dentist.

Just like the citric component in soda, the ingredients utilized in methamphetamine are corrosive, including things such as battery acid, drain cleaner or lantern fuel. Cocaine could be considered an acidic substance as well.

The soda drinker of the group consumed 2 liters of diet soda on a daily basis for three to five years. The impact on the teeth was so similar to the drug users that it begs the question of whether or not soda should ever be consumed.

Switching to more water over soda is always a good idea. Rinsing with water or chewing sugarless gum can also minimize the effects of soda by promoting saliva flow.

UAB School of Dentistry Tops in Research Funding

UAB School of Dentistry Tops in Research Funding

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 29 May 2013 15:35

No school receives more funding for dental research than the School of Dentistry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The $12.5 million given to the school in 2012 was No. 1 in the nation.

The school received a grant of $67 million last year, enabling the school to jump from 15th to the top spot on the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Researcher list. The seven-year deal was based on the institute’s three regional research networks, which are combined into a nationally coordinated effort to conduct studies on the best practices in dental care. This effort was given $9.9 million in 2012.

UAB previously reached as high as No. 4 on the list in 2011 when the school received $4.25 million.

The rest of this year’s top five included Forsyth Institute ($9.84 million), the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor ($9.76 million), the University of California San Francisco ($8.52 million) and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill ($8.35 million).

Some Medications May Ruin Teeth

Some Medications May Ruin Teeth

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 13 August 2013 15:45

You may want to be careful about which medications you take.

New information indicates that certain medicines could lead to problems for your teeth.

Oral inhalers are used to aid breathing for asthma patients but the inhalers could have unintended negative effects. Studies from researchers in Australia and Scandinavia show that inhalers may actually raise the risk of developing cavities.

Inhalers with powder—something that supposedly adds flavor—are even worse for teeth because the residual powder may stay in the mouth for a while. That’s why it’s essential for people who use inhalers to maintain good oral hygiene. It’s also pivotal to rinse your mouth with water after utilizing an inhaler.

There are also some antibiotics that could adversely affect oral health. There are some medicines, like tetracycline, that may stain teeth or cause discoloration.

There are other antibiotics that may cause oral thrush, resulting in white spots in the mouth. Excessive usage of mouthwash may result in oral thrush.

Many antihistamines are effective in preventing hay fever, among other issues. The problem is that dry mouth is a common side effect of antihistamines. Swallowing then becomes harder, making it more difficult to rid the mouth of food debris and bacteria. The chances of developing decay or gum disease then go up.

Milk Essential to Fighting Tooth Decay

Milk Essential to Fighting Tooth Decay

Written by Dentistry TodayTuesday, 02 July 2013 15:24

A glass of milk after breakfast may do wonders for your oral health.

A new study shows that when milk is consumed after breakfast in the morning, the risk of developing tooth decay goes way down. The study indicates that drinking a small glass of milk serves to reduce the amount of plaque acids in the mouth by more than 50 percent.

The study was done by the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Illinois. To compile the results, 20 adults were provided with a bowl of cereal that was followed by a glass of milk, a glass of fruit juice or a glass of water. The acid levels were lower among the participants who had a glass of milk. The average pH numbers were 6.48 for milk drinkers, 6.02 for water and 5.83 for apple juice.

These results further stress the importance of one’s eating habits and the impact on his or her oral health. It’s essential to limit snacking because the mouth is exposed to plaque acids each time something is consumed. The bacteria released can attack enamel, making way for tooth decay or other problems.

Dental Implants Can Save Money, Boost Quality of Life

Dental Implants Can Save Money, Boost Quality of Life

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 08 July 2013 15:32

Dental implants may provide the best way to avoid emptying one’s bank account.

A new report in the International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implantsdemonstrates the ways in which dental implants are a beneficial alternative when compared to conventional tooth replacement treatment.

The report stems from a comprehensive review of all studies published in the English language from 2000 though 2010. The total ended up being 14 studies on the matter.

There were numerous specific findings that came from the study. The first of which was that for single-tooth replacement, implant-based solutions were cheaper than traditional tooth-borne prostheses.

There were also higher initial costs for implant-borne solutions for patients with full dentures. The consensus, however, based on most studies was that dental implants are a long-term, cost-effective treatment option. For older edentulous patients, they were ok with paying for dental implants. There was also a movement for raising the overall level of quality of life based on oral health, which coincided with lower healthcare costs.

The goal of this study was to put all of the recent information on this matter into one study that could end up being the study of record on this matter. Based on the places in which the study appears, the goal has been achieved.

Dentistry Gets Another Bad Rap, Courtesy of Hollywood

Dentistry Gets Another Bad Rap, Courtesy of Hollywood

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 14 August 2013 12:25

Woody Allen’s new film, Blue Jasmine, may be getting Oscar buzz, but it’s also getting criticism from New York dentists.
Lead actress Cate Blanchett’s character gets a rude awakening when taking a job and a dental office with a dentist who is, for lack of a better word, unprofessional.
Dr. Mark Wolff, of New York University, told the New York Daily News that onscreen, dentists “range from killers to buffoons to sexual harassers.”
This new character, played by Michael Stuhlbarg, joins the ranks of other detestable dentists, such as Sir Laurence Olivier in Marathon Man, Steve Martin in Little Shop of Horrors, and Jennifer Aniston in Horrible Bosses.

AGD Applauds Congress on Student Loan Bill

AGD Applauds Congress on Student Loan Bill

Written by Dentistry TodayWednesday, 14 August 2013 12:31

The AGD has commended Congress for passing the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013.

The bill rolls back and restructures federal student loan interest rates. Dental student debt has been a top priority for the AGD since 2012.

AGD President Dr. Linda Edgar states that the debt of newly graduated dentists has nearly doubled in less than 10 years. She adds that new practitioners start out with more than $220,000 in debt, which makes them less inclined to provide dentistry to underserved populations.

AGD members have been partnering with American Student Dental Association (ASDA) members, conducting meetings with federal legislators regarding the personal, professional, and societal cost of educational loans.

Several AGD leaders and ASDA members met with policymakers and agency officials to discuss possible solutions to the student debt crisis.

Urine used to create teeth - stem cell success

Featured Article
Main Category: Dentistry
Also Included In: Stem Cell Research
Article Date: 30 Jul 2013 - 6:00 PDT

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Urine used to create teeth - stem cell success

Patient / Public:		2.84 (19 votes)
Healthcare Prof:		2.83 (6 votes)
Article opinions:	14 posts

Stem cell research is opening up the way for new teeth "grown" from an unlikely source - human urine.

Chinese researchers describe how stem cells derived from urine could be used to generate solid organs and tissues, including teeth. Their study is published this week in the open-access journal Cell Regeneration. The researchers hope the technique might one day help provide new, tailor-made teeth for dental patients.

Previous stem cell research has shown how cells can be generated from urine. It is also known that cells discarded with urea can become induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that can then generate many different cell types, including neurons and heart muscle cells.

Tissue culture breakthrough

Duanqing Pei and his colleagues from Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, and other Chinese universities have developed a novel chimeric tissue culture system that can coax these iPSCs into tiny structures that resemble teeth.

Their system mimics normal tooth development, which results from an interaction between two different cell types: epithelial cells, producing enamel, and mesenchymal cells, which generate the other three main tooth components of dentin, cementum and pulp.

Stem cells could one day be used to 'grow' new teeth


First, the team used chemicals to coax the cultured iPSCs into flat sheets of epithelial cells. They then mixed these cells with mouse embryonic mesenchymal cells, and transplanted them into mice.

Three weeks later, formations had grown that physically and structurally resembled human teeth. They are of roughly the same elasticity, and contain pulp, dentin and enamel-forming cells.

The hope for regenerative medicine

Though these structures are a new achievement, the method involves mouse cells, has a success rate of just 30% and the structures produced are only about one-third as hard as human teeth.


To resolve these issues, the team say human mesenchymal stem cells could be substituted for mouse ones and the tissue culture conditions tweaked. In theory, this revised method could create a bioengineered tooth bud, cultured in a jar and then transplanted into the jawbone of a human patient to form a fully functional tooth.


iPSCs remain a great source of hope for regenerative medicine. Not only do they avoid the controversial use of embryos, but they also come from a more readily accessible source than even cultured skin and blood. Furthermore, cells generated by this method cannot be rejected by the human immune system, being derived from the host's own cellular material.

Written by: Nick Valentine

Copyright: Medical News Today 
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today 

Poor dental health may lead to Alzheimer's, study suggests

Main Category: Dentistry
Also Included In: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Article Date: 31 Jul 2013 - 1:00 PDT

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Poor dental health may lead to Alzheimer's, study suggests

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People with poor oral hygiene or gum disease may be at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, a new study led by The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) School of Medicine and Dentistry suggests.

The research, which has received international collaboration, and led by Professor Stjohn Crean and Dr Sim Singhrao from UCLan, examined brain samples donated by ten patients withoutdementia and ten patients suffering from dementia. The research demonstrated the presence of products from Porphyromonas gingivalis in brains from patients suffering from dementia. This bacterium is commonly associated with chronic periodontal (gum) disease. These bacteria enter the bloodstream through daily activities such as eating, chewing, tooth brushing but especially following invasive dental treatment, and from there, potentially enter the brain on a regular basis. The researchers propose that every time they reach the brain, the bacteria may trigger immune system responses by already primed brains cells, causing them to release more chemicals that kill neurons. This could be one mechanism that leads to changes in the brain, which is typical of Alzheimer's disease, and could be responsible for causing symptoms such as confusion and deteriorating memory.

The research benefited from donated brain samples, provided by Brains for Dementia Research, a brain donation scheme supported by Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society. Finding P. gingivalis in the brains from dementia sufferers compared to those without dementia is significant as its presence in Alzheimer's diseased brains has not been documented previously and at the same time adds to a growing body of evidence that suggests an association between poor oral health and dementia.

These published research findings from human brain specimens are further supported by recent (as yet unpublished) research from the same group, on periodontal disease, using animal models, which has been carried out in collaboration with the University of Florida. This animal work has confirmed that P. gingivalis in the mouth finds its way to the brain once the periodontal disease becomes established.

Professor Stjohn Crean, Dean of School of Medicine & Dentistry said:

"Whereas previous studies have indicated a link between dementia and other bacteria and viruses such as the Herpes simplex virus type I, this new research indicates a possible association between gum disease and individuals who may be susceptible to developing Alzheimer's disease, if exposed to the appropriate trigger! Research currently underway at UCLan is playing an active role in exploring this link, but it remains to be proven whether poor dental hygiene can lead to dementia in healthy people, which obviously could have significant implications for the population as a whole. It is also likely that these bacteria could make the existing disease condition worse."

Dr. Sim K. Singhrao, Senior Research Fellow at UCLan said: "We are working on the theory that when the brain is repeatedly exposed to bacteria and/or their debris from our gums, subsequent immune responses may lead to nerve cell death and possibly memory loss. Thus, continued visits to dental hygiene professionals throughout one's life may be more important than currently envisaged with inferences for health outside of the mouth only. To help us prove our hypothesis we are hoping to use the Brains for Dementia Research tissue resource to examine brain tissue from people with both intact and compromised memory who have relevant dental records. The future of the research aims to discover if P. gingivalis can be used as a marker, via a simple blood test, to predict the development of Alzhiemer's disease in at risk patients".

Alzheimer's disease linked to poor dental health

Featured Article
Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Also Included In: Dentistry
Article Date: 31 Jul 2013 - 5:00 PDT

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Alzheimer's disease linked to poor dental health

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A study has found that people with poor oral hygiene or gum disease could be at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's compared with those who have healthy teeth.

Researchers from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in the UK, discovered the presence of a bacterium calledPorphyromonas gingivalis in the brains of patients who had dementia when they were alive. The bug is usually associated with chronic periodontal (gum) disease.

For the study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 10 brain samples from patients with dementia were donated for analysis by a scheme called Brains for Dementia Research, alongside 10 brain samples from people who had not had the disease.

Examination of the samples revealed the presence of the Porphyromonas gingivalis in the samples of the brains affected by Alzheimer's.

Need for invasive dental treatment 'increases the bacterial risk'

This bacteria is usually found in oral cavities, and enters the blood stream through a variety of daily activities, such as chewing, eating and brushing teeth. However, it is more likely to enter the blood stream after invasive dental treatment, where it is possible that the bacteria can enter the brain regularly, the researchers say.

Each time the bacteria enter the brain, the researchers note, this could potentially trigger immune system responses, causing the release of excess chemicals that can kill neurons.

The researchers say that this activity could lead to symptoms such as confusion and deteriorating memory - typical symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Study adds to previous findings

The study adds to previous findings that Alzheimer's is linked to poor oral health. Research from New York University in 2010 revealed long-term evidence that linked gum inflammation and Alzheimer's disease, finding that gum disease could increase the risk of cognitive dysfunction.

Another study has suggested that other bacteria and viruses are linked to the disease. Research from the University of New Mexico suggested that Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was linked to Alzheimer's. See "Cold sores" connected to cognitive decline.

Professor St John Crean, from the School of Medical Dentistry at UCLAN, says of this most recent research:

"Whereas previous studies have indicated a link between dementia and other bacteria and viruses such as the Herpes simplex virus type 1, this new research indicates a possible association between gum disease and individuals who may be susceptible to developing Alzheimer's disease, if exposed to the appropriate trigger."

"Research currently under way at UCLan is playing an active role in exploring this link," Prof. St John Crean continues, "but it remains to be proven whether poor dental hygiene can lead to dementia in healthy people, which obviously could have significant implications for the population as a whole. It is also likely that these bacteria could make the existing disease condition worse."

The researchers hope that continued donation of brain tissue will enable examination of more samples from people with and without Alzheimer's disease who have relevant dental records.

They add that future research will involve determining whether the Porphyromonas gingivaliscould be used as a marker for a blood test that predicts the development of Alzheimer's disease in patients who are at higher risk.

Written by Honor Whiteman

Copyright: Medical News Today 
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today