Man, 22, Dies After Tongue-Piercing Causes Brain Abscesses
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
They may seem cool to teenagers and young adults, but having your
tongue pierced can be deadly, BBC News reported.
A 22-year-old man died of multiple brain abscesses just weeks after
piercing his tongue, according to a report in the Archives of
Neurology.
According to doctors, an infection can spread from the site of the
piercing and go up to the brain.
"Dentists are all too aware of the health problems that can be caused
by oral piercings," said Professor Damien Walmsley, a scientific
adviser to the British Dental Association. "There are many potential
complications, ranging from pain and swelling to chipped or cracked
teeth. Patients who have oral piercings can also suffer with recession
of the gums and prolonged bleeding.
"Piercing of oral sites also carries with it a risk of infection. The
clear message is that oral piercing is ill-advised and should be
avoided."
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Tongue Piercing Cause of Death
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Prevent Periodontitis To Reduce The Risk Of Head And Neck Cancer
ScienceDaily (2009-09-08) -- Chronic periodontitis, a form of gum disease, is an independent risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. This suggests the need for increased efforts to prevent and treat periodontitis as a possible means to reduce the risk of this form of cancer.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090908023642.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090908023642.htm
Monday, June 15, 2009
Treating Periodontal Disease May Help Rheumatoid Arthritis
According to a recent article appearing on WebMD, “It was exciting to find that if we eliminated the infection and inflammation in the gums, then patients with a severe kind of active rheumatoid arthritis reported improvement on the signs and symptoms of that disease,” says Nabil Bissada, DDS, chairman of the department of periodontics at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. “It gives us new intervention.”
The study by Bissada and colleagues is published in the Journal of Periodontology.
The study was done with 40 subjects who had rheumatoid arthritis (moderate to severe) and periodontal disease that was classified as severe.
While one study is not a reason to make wholesale changes in the way we think, it is one more piece of the puzzle between the potential links between periodontal disease and other systemic health problems that have been and continue to be explored by researchers.
To read the complete article at WebMD, click here.
The study by Bissada and colleagues is published in the Journal of Periodontology.
The study was done with 40 subjects who had rheumatoid arthritis (moderate to severe) and periodontal disease that was classified as severe.
While one study is not a reason to make wholesale changes in the way we think, it is one more piece of the puzzle between the potential links between periodontal disease and other systemic health problems that have been and continue to be explored by researchers.
To read the complete article at WebMD, click here.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Top 5 Most Annoying Dental Patient Behaviors
Dentists Dish On What Drives Them Crazy While They Work...
30,000+ Dentists Converge in Chicago February 27-March 1
CHICAGO, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being issued by the Chicago Dental Society:
Who: The Chicago Dental Society (CDS) recently polled more than 300 members to find out some wacky, unusual, and just plain distracting behaviors they've encountered while patients are in their chair.
As we countdown to CDS's annual Midwinter Meeting, one of the largest displays of dental products in North America, here are the most annoying patient behaviors, according to those surveyed. Give your dentist a break and avoid these activities if possible.
5) Public displays of affection. Your breath may be minty fresh after a cleaning, but don't test it on your significant other until after you leave the dental office.
4) Playing games on your handheld. A few dentists reported getting knocked upside the head during an exam while their patients tried to continue playing their games at arms-length. Really, Tetris can wait.
3) Reading a book or magazine while the dentist is trying to perform an exam. You'll have to relinquish that People magazine or John Grisham novel so your dentist can get a look at your teeth.
2) Grooming. The light in the dental chair might be just right for touching up makeup or - heaven help us - plucking your eyebrows, but dentists really would prefer you save those activities for the bathroom.
And the most annoying thing patients do while in the dentists' chair?
Answering cell phone!
Why: Data was collected for the Chicago Dental Society's 144th annual Midwinter Meeting, which begins at McCormick Place in Chicago on February 26, 2009. The exhibit floor opens on February 27.
30,000+ Dentists Converge in Chicago February 27-March 1
CHICAGO, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being issued by the Chicago Dental Society:
Who: The Chicago Dental Society (CDS) recently polled more than 300 members to find out some wacky, unusual, and just plain distracting behaviors they've encountered while patients are in their chair.
As we countdown to CDS's annual Midwinter Meeting, one of the largest displays of dental products in North America, here are the most annoying patient behaviors, according to those surveyed. Give your dentist a break and avoid these activities if possible.
5) Public displays of affection. Your breath may be minty fresh after a cleaning, but don't test it on your significant other until after you leave the dental office.
4) Playing games on your handheld. A few dentists reported getting knocked upside the head during an exam while their patients tried to continue playing their games at arms-length. Really, Tetris can wait.
3) Reading a book or magazine while the dentist is trying to perform an exam. You'll have to relinquish that People magazine or John Grisham novel so your dentist can get a look at your teeth.
2) Grooming. The light in the dental chair might be just right for touching up makeup or - heaven help us - plucking your eyebrows, but dentists really would prefer you save those activities for the bathroom.
And the most annoying thing patients do while in the dentists' chair?
Answering cell phone!
Why: Data was collected for the Chicago Dental Society's 144th annual Midwinter Meeting, which begins at McCormick Place in Chicago on February 26, 2009. The exhibit floor opens on February 27.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Truth About Whitening
I get many inquiries from patients regarding in office whitening techniques such as so called laser whitening and Zoom. Studies show that the light or laser has absolutely no beneficial effect upon the results of teeth whitening. In other words the chemical applied to the teeth does the work, not the light.
The active ingredient in virtually all teeth whitening products is either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which releases hydrogen peroxide in the mouth. There is no science behind the light.
I have tried several in office whitening systems, and the results have been inferior to the take home systems.
Dentists who offer in office whitening often charge hundreds of dollars more than we charge for the take home whitening because the patient is taking up valuable chair and staff time. The teeth look whiter when the patient leaves the office because the treatment dehydrates the teeth, but they revert back to the original shade after a few hours. Many offices still give the patient a take home bleaching tray to "touch up" or finish the job.
So, if you are willing to pay more in the pursuit of instant gratification for a result that at best is equivalent to or at worst is inferior to take home whitening, then go for it.
The active ingredient in virtually all teeth whitening products is either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which releases hydrogen peroxide in the mouth. There is no science behind the light.
I have tried several in office whitening systems, and the results have been inferior to the take home systems.
Dentists who offer in office whitening often charge hundreds of dollars more than we charge for the take home whitening because the patient is taking up valuable chair and staff time. The teeth look whiter when the patient leaves the office because the treatment dehydrates the teeth, but they revert back to the original shade after a few hours. Many offices still give the patient a take home bleaching tray to "touch up" or finish the job.
So, if you are willing to pay more in the pursuit of instant gratification for a result that at best is equivalent to or at worst is inferior to take home whitening, then go for it.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Periodontitis And Myocardial Infarction: A Shared Genetic Predisposition
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090213115011.htm
ScienceDaily (Feb. 24, 2009) — A mutual epidemiological relationship between aggressive periodontitis and myocardial infarction has already been shown in the past. Scientists at the universities of Kiel, Dresden, Amsterdam and Bonn have now presented the first evidence of a shared genetic variant on chromosome 9, which maps to a genetic region that codes for the "antisense RNA" Anril, as reported in the latest edition of the specialist journal PLoS Genetics.
The first author, Dr Arne Schaefer from the Institute for Clinical Molecular Biology at Kiel University, sees clear similarities in the genetic predisposition: "We have examined the aggressive form of periodontitis, the most extreme form of periodontitis which is characterized by a very early age of onset. The genetic variation associated with this clinical picture is identical to that of patients who suffer from cardiovascular disease and have already had a myocardial infarction."
Because it has to be assumed that there is a causal connection between periodontitis and myocardial infarction, periodontitis should be taken seriously by dentists and diagnosed and treated at an early stage. "Aggressive periodontitis has shown itself to be associated not only with the same risk factors such as smoking, but it shares, at least in parts, the same genetic predisposition with an illness that is the leading cause of death worldwide.," warned Schaefer. Knowledge of the risk of heart attacks could also induce patients with periodontitis to keep the risk factors in check and take preventive measures.
Besides Arne Schaefer, Gesa Richter, who is doing a doctorate on the subject, is also part of Professor Stefan Schreiber's working group from the Institute for Clinical Molecular Biology at Schleswig Holstein University Hospital (UK S-H), Kiel Campus. As cardiologist, Dr Nour Eddine El Mokhtari from the Kiel Heart Centre is an important partner in the group. Dental expertise came from Dr Birte Größner-Schreiber from the Hospital for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology at the UK S-H, Dr Barbara Noack, Technische Universität Dresden, as well as Professor Søren Jepsen from Bonn University and Professor Bruno Loos, Free University Amsterdam.
ScienceDaily (Feb. 24, 2009) — A mutual epidemiological relationship between aggressive periodontitis and myocardial infarction has already been shown in the past. Scientists at the universities of Kiel, Dresden, Amsterdam and Bonn have now presented the first evidence of a shared genetic variant on chromosome 9, which maps to a genetic region that codes for the "antisense RNA" Anril, as reported in the latest edition of the specialist journal PLoS Genetics.
The first author, Dr Arne Schaefer from the Institute for Clinical Molecular Biology at Kiel University, sees clear similarities in the genetic predisposition: "We have examined the aggressive form of periodontitis, the most extreme form of periodontitis which is characterized by a very early age of onset. The genetic variation associated with this clinical picture is identical to that of patients who suffer from cardiovascular disease and have already had a myocardial infarction."
Because it has to be assumed that there is a causal connection between periodontitis and myocardial infarction, periodontitis should be taken seriously by dentists and diagnosed and treated at an early stage. "Aggressive periodontitis has shown itself to be associated not only with the same risk factors such as smoking, but it shares, at least in parts, the same genetic predisposition with an illness that is the leading cause of death worldwide.," warned Schaefer. Knowledge of the risk of heart attacks could also induce patients with periodontitis to keep the risk factors in check and take preventive measures.
Besides Arne Schaefer, Gesa Richter, who is doing a doctorate on the subject, is also part of Professor Stefan Schreiber's working group from the Institute for Clinical Molecular Biology at Schleswig Holstein University Hospital (UK S-H), Kiel Campus. As cardiologist, Dr Nour Eddine El Mokhtari from the Kiel Heart Centre is an important partner in the group. Dental expertise came from Dr Birte Größner-Schreiber from the Hospital for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology at the UK S-H, Dr Barbara Noack, Technische Universität Dresden, as well as Professor Søren Jepsen from Bonn University and Professor Bruno Loos, Free University Amsterdam.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Mountain Dew Mouth
Dentists have known for a long time how chronic consumption of soft drinks, Mountain Dew in particular, can ravage tooth enamel. I have seen the devastating effects in my own practice. Now PepsiCo, the manufacturer of Mountain Dew, has agreed to support a dentist’s efforts in rehabilitating kids suffering from “Mountain Dew Mouth” in rural Appalachia. The story was featured on the ABC TV series 20/20. Click the link below or copy and paste it to your browser to watch a video of the 20/20 report.
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=6899312&page=1
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=6899312&page=1
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
