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Dentistry
Fluoride debate heats up as new analysis suggests IQ link
Water fluoridation is widely seen as one of the great public health achievements of the 20th century, credited with substantially reducing tooth decay. But...
UK man calls for guideline changes after near death linked to tooth extraction
A Welshman who survived two bouts of endocarditis after having a tooth pulled out – without prior antibiotic treatment – is calling for changes...
Dentists warn of risk to teeth from menopause
A little-known symptom of menopause can often be overlooked, say dental experts, because hot flashes and night sweats are among the most infamous maladies...
Severe tooth loss linked to higher risk of fatal heart disease – US analysis
Severe teeth loss – which can happen in older age – is not just a dental issue but could also be linked to a...
Formal inquiry after children’s dental visit deaths
The HPCSA has subpoenaed a dental practitioner to attend a formal inquiry in September, where her “professional conduct” will be questioned relating to two...
Paediatric group flags baby tongue-tie op ‘epidemic’
The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) has sounded the alarm about what they believe is an over-diagnosis of tongue-tie – a condition in infants...
Probe into child’s death after tooth extraction
The Free State Department of Health has launched an investigation into the death of a four-year-old girl, who died after having a tooth pulled...
Dental trial with generic drug to test anti-ageing efficacy
A drug that was first approved by the FDA for use in transplant patients in the late 1990s is being prescribed off-label by some physicians with...
Post-menopause CKD tied to tooth loss – South Korean study
There's an association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and increased tooth loss in post-menopausal women, particularly those aged 66-79, according to a South Korean...
Dentist fails to have charges over patient’s death dismissed
Durban dentist Anwar Mohamed Jeewa, charged with the death of a Canadian man at his illegal drug and detoxification centre in Westville in November...
Dentist pleads not guilty to patient’s murder in ‘detox’ clinic
The trial of a Durban dentist, charged with murder after a patient died in his detox centre seven years ago, started in the High...
AI tool to help straighten teeth
A new tool being developed by the University of Copenhagen and 3Shape will help orthodontists correctly fit braces using artificial intelligence and virtual patients,...
Dental X-ray lead aprons not needed, say experts
America’s largest dental association will no longer recommend the use of lead aprons and thyroid collars on patients undergoing dental X-rays, it says, with...
Why patients gag during dental visits – Israeli study
In a recent study, researchers found that excessive gagging during visits to the dentist is closely related to dental anxiety and emetophobia (fear of...
First special needs dental care unit opens in Cape Town
A dedicated and specialised paediatric and special needs dental unit has been opened in the Cape – the first in the country – thanks...
Cape teacher in bid to outlaw teen ‘passion gap’ teeth removal
A Western Cape teacher has launched an online petition aimed at halting the extraction of children’s healthy front teeth for the so-called “passion gap”,...
WHO warns of oral health crisis in South Africa
South Africa faces an oral health crisis, says the World Health Organisation, with millions suffering from tooth loss, oral cancer and tooth decay, especially...
Gum infection a risk factor for heart arrhythmia – Japanese study
The gum disease, periodontitis, can cause a number of dental problems, like bad breath, bleeding gums, and tooth loss, but now research suggests it...
SA study shows plant substitute less likely to decay teeth than sugar
Researchers from some of SA’s top dental schools found that teeth immersed in a stevia solution after 24 hours were the least likely to...
Experts call for more water fluoridation to fight tooth decay
For the first time, scientists have demonstrated the low environmental footprint of water fluoridation compared with other preventive measures for tooth decay, saying that...
Wearing dentures may negatively affect nutritional intake – US study
Dentures may have a significant negative impact on a person’s overall nutrition, according to research from Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Dentistry....
Dentistry: No endocarditis increase with end to antibiotic prophylaxis – Karolinska Institutet
Sweden is one of few countries to have removed the dental health recommendation to give prophylactic antibiotics to people at a higher risk of...
Dental meta-analysis: The best, worst and unproven oral hygiene tools
Beyond brushing with a basic toothbrush, only a handful of self-administered interventions provide additional protection against gingivitis and periodontitis, found a research review into...
Dental workers found to be at increased COVID-19 risk — UK study
UK dental professionals were at heightened occupational risk for COVID-19 infection early in the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an observational study yesterday in the...
Patient aggression towards dentists widespread – NYU study
Roughly half of New York dentists surveyed experienced verbal or reputational aggression by patients in the past year, and nearly one in four endured...
Gum disease substantially increases oesophageal and gastric cancer risk — 20-year Harvard analysis
A large Harvard University analysis over 20 years found that poor dental hygiene increases the risk of throat and stomach cancer by up to 43% and...
Elite athletes found to have poor oral health despite regular brushing
Elite athletes have high rates of oral disease despite brushing their teeth more frequently than most people, finds a new University College London (UCL)...
Antibiotics prescribed for dental patients unnecessary 81% of the time
Antibiotics prescribed by dentists as a pre-emptive strike against infection are unnecessary 81% of the time, according to a study. The findings are important...
Cavity-prevention approach effectively reduces decay
A scientifically based approach that includes a tooth-decay risk assessment, aggressive preventive measures and conservative restorations can dramatically reduce decay in US community dental...
US dentists come under scrutiny over their power to stifle competition
The American Dental Association is a political force 'so unified, so relentless and so thoroughly woven into US communities that its clout rivals that of the...
Dental implant nano-coating reduces peri-implantitis risk
Dental implants are a successful form of treatment for patients. But according to a study published in 2005, 5% to 10% of all dental...
Natural dentine restoration may revolutionise dental care
A novel, biological approach to dentine restoration via the mobilisation of resident stem cells in the tooth pulp, has been developed at King's College...
Prostatitis reduced with gum disease tx
Treating gum disease reduced symptoms of prostate inflammation, report researchers from Case Western Reserve University.
General health improved by treating periodontal disease
People who were treated for periodontal disease had lower healthcare costs and fewer hospitalisations for other medical conditions – type 2 diabetes; coronary artery...