Latest Dental News
Dentist Uses New System To Straighten Adult Teeth In 6 Months
"A new braces system utilized by Minneapolis-based dentist Dr. Shamblott straightens adult front teeth with lower cost, less discomfort, and in less time than traditional orthodontics. The new system called Six Month Smiles® utilizes clear brackets and tooth-colored wires so they are far less obvious than typical metal braces.
Traditional braces take anywhere from two to four years to straighten teeth because they are correcting both the appearance and the bite of all the teeth in a patient's mouth. This new system is much faster because it only straightens the front teeth visible in a person's smile. This also allows for less time and lower force required to make the cosmetic corrections."
Dental Helpline On Hand To Reassure Public
"The UK's only independent dental helpline is advising the public to get in touch if they are concerned about their rights and costs involved when receiving NHS dental treatment. The advice follows 'Dispatches' investigation into the state of UK dentistry aired on Channel 4 last night.
The Dental Helpline is run by the British Dental Health Foundation - an independent UK charity which offers free and impartial advice on dental issues to the public. The Foundation is concerned that many people will be put off from receiving dental treatment following last night's TV programme, especially in relation to dental charges. "
Bullying and low self-esteem in children can be linked to dental appearance
"One in eight adolescents with prominent, or irregular shaped teeth have experienced bullying, with a negative impact on their self-esteem and quality of their oral health, according to a report published in the latest issue of the British Dental Journal (BDJ).
The authors, hospital-based orthodontic specialists, found that the children, aged between 10 and 14 years, were at an increased risk of being teased or bullied by their peers if they had certain dental features: these included maxillary overcrowding; a cleft lip, with or without a cleft palate; an overjet and a deep overbite (ie prominent teeth).
The specialists also expressed concern that psychosocial factors are not considered when assessing a child’s need for orthodontic treatment, although they acknowledged that the relationship between the shape of teeth, self-esteem and bullying is a complex one. "
Help make dental history
"A project to build a comprehensive living history of dentistry, the John McLean Archive, is seeking participants from across the UK to help make dental history. Participants are required to participate in the project’s next witness seminar in October; and to take part in an ongoing series of oral history interviews across the UK.
The second witness seminar for the project, which will take place at the British Dental Association’s (BDA’s) London headquarters on 26 October 2011, will focus on changes in dentistry since 1948. Discussion is expected to concentrate on topics including the introduction of the NHS, payment and contracts, developments in equipment and evolution of private practice. Participants in the project’s first witness seminar, which took place in March and looked at the development of the regulation of dentistry, included past Presidents of the BDA and General Dental Council, three former deans of dental schools and a former dean of the Dental Faculty of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. It was chaired by Professor Nairn Wilson, Dean of King’s College London Dental Institute. Deliberations from each of the witness seminars will be published and placed in the John McLean Archive and will be publicly available via the BDA Museum’s website: www.bda.org/museum"
Dental Check-Ups Avoided By Squeezed Brits
"Four in ten Brits can't afford to visit the dentist, a study revealed last Friday.
Researchers found the escalating costs have got so much for one in nine - or two million - that they have avoided check-ups for more than five years, while a quarter have dodged the chair for 18 months.
Another one in four said that dental appointments are considered a 'luxury rather than a necessity' in their house and fall low down on their list of priorities."
The Mystery Of Burning Mouth Syndrome
"Most people can relate to the uncomfortable feeling that occurs after scalding their mouth on hot soup or coffee. It's a relief when that burnt feeling subsides after several days. But imagine experiencing that burning sensation all day, every day. The condition is called burning mouth syndrome (BMS), and damage to the nervous system during menopause may be to blame, according to an article published in the May/June 2011 issue of General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).
BMS affects nearly 5 percent of Americans and causes a constant burning sensation, most commonly on the top of the tongue, lower lip, and roof of the mouth."
Woman Comes Out Of Dental Surgery With Foreign Accent
"Imagine going in for dental surgery with an Oregon accent, and coming out with a mixture of Northern British, Scottish, Irish and a hint of Eastern European. This is what happened to Karen Butler, 56. She woke up from anesthesia sounding like somebody from the British Isles.
After undergoing several tests, experts say she has "foreign accent syndrome", an extremely uncommon neurological disorder - only 60 cases have been identified since 1941."
Seeking Solution To Dry Mouth In Cancer Patients
"For patients suffering from cancer in the mouth or throat, a recent study shows that a treatment called submandibular gland transfer will assist in preventing a radiation-induced condition called xerostomia.
Also known as dry mouth, xerostomia occurs when salivary glands stop working. University of Alberta researcher Jana Rieger likens the feeling of xerostomia to the experience of the after-effects of having surgery and anesthetic - but the feeling is permanent.
While the importance of healthy saliva glands may be an afterthought for some patients when battling cancer, the long-lasting effects create a number of problems for them when they are in remission."
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