Oral Cancer Claims Rise 61 Percent Since 2011

A release on PRNewswire states that data from FAIR Health shows “privately billed insurance claim lines related to oral cancer diagnoses rose 61 percent from 2011 to 2015.” The data also shows that men were “nearly three times as likely to be diagnosed as women,” and “tongue and throat cancers in particular were more likely to occur in men than women.” Men and women had “similar chances of developing gum cancer,” the release adds.

        MouthHealthy.org and the Oral Health Topics on ADA.org provide information on oral and oropharyngeal cancer for patients and for dental professionals.

Many Seniors Need Dental Care But Lack Coverage

Michelle Andrews writes in her “Insuring Your Health” column in Kaiser Health News that seniors need dental care, but most lack coverage because traditional Medicare does not cover dental care. According to an analysis by the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, over a third of low-income seniors “had untreated tooth decay between 2011 and 2014.” Some have proposed adding dental coverage to Medicare Part B to increase seniors’ access to dental care, while others advocate for seniors buying private dental coverage. Marko Vujicic, the vice president of the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute, said that private dental coverage often lacks values for seniors, because the premiums and copays exceed the benefits.

        MouthHealthy.org provides a guide to finding and paying for dental care, listing factors to consider when determining if purchasing a dental benefit plan will save money on dental care costs.

Consumers Encouraged To Consider Several Items When Selecting Dental Coverage

On its website and in a broadcast, WATE-TV Knoxville, TN discussed dental coverage, recommending consumers consider several factors when selecting a plan, such as the annual price of premiums, the policy limit and coverage, and the care needed. In addition, the article emphasized the importance of preventive dental care to help reduce costs.

        MouthHealthy.org provides resources for patients on finding and paying for dental care.

ADA Spokesperson Discusses How To Prevent Cavities

A consumer-directed video on the Business Insider website features American Dental Association spokesperson Dr. Ada Cooper discussing dental caries. “The biggest myth about cavities is that if it doesn’t hurt you don’t need to fix it,” Dr. Cooper said. “That is completely wrong.” She states that when a cavity has begun to cause pain, it usually requires “more extensive treatment” at that point. Explaining what causes dental decay and why some people may have more cavities than others, Dr. Cooper says “brushing and flossing, of course, are the best way to minimize the number of cavities that you get.” In addition, dentists have many tools available, such as fluoride rinses and treatments, to make teeth more resistant to dental decay. “The best thing to do,” Dr. Cooper says, is to have regular dental visits to ensure detection and treatment of cavities while they’re still small.

Antibiotics: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

Antimicrobials, antibiotics among them, are unique among medications in the way they intersect personal and public health. Successful treatment of patients for bacterial infections will result in decreased spread of infections in the community. Not long after the discovery of these miracle drugs, however, patients’ use of antibiotics also created resistant bacteria, which is a serious public health concern. It is estimated that more than 70% of illness-causing bacteria are resistant to at least 1 antibiotic. Numbers may lie, but with an estimated 50,000 deaths due to antibiotic resistance in 2015 in the United States and Europe alone—and a projected death toll of 10 million worldwide every year by 2050—the continued benefits from antibiotics may be dwindling rapidly. In the United States alone, every year 23,000 deaths and more than 2 million infections are attributed to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The primary reason for the increase in antibiotic resistance is its excessive use.

     

Study: Frequent Recreational Cannabis Use May Increase Risk Of Gum Disease

In a release on MarketWired (CAN), the American Academy of Periodontology stated, “Researchers have found that frequent recreational cannabis use – including marijuana, hashish, and hash oil – may be associated with elevated risk of periodontal disease.” The study found participants who used cannabis “at least once a month for a year” had “increased indicators of mild, moderate, and severe periodontal disease” when compared to those who used cannabis less regularly. Dr. Terrence J. Griffin, president of the American Academy of Periodontology, said, “There are a number of risk factors that contribute to the development of periodontal disease, and this report suggests that cannabis use may be one of them.” The study is published in the Journal of Periodontology.

Researchers Find Stem Cells From Jaw Bone Can Help Make New Cartilage, Repair Joints

A release on EurekAlert stated Columbia College of Dental Medicine researchers have found that stem cells residing within the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can “make new cartilage and repair damaged joints” in animals with TMJ degeneration. “This is very exciting for the field,” said Mildred C. Embree, DMD, PhD, assistant professor of dental medicine at Columbia University Medical Center and the lead author of the study. The findings were published in Nature Communications.

        MouthHealthy.org provides information on TMJ disorders for patients.

Most Dental Patients Do Not Require Antibiotic Prophylaxis Prior To Procedures

The Washington Post discussed antibiotic prophylaxis, stating that revised guidelines recommend fewer people receive antibiotics before a dental procedure. The article notes that a 2014 American Dental Association panel “reviewed studies comparing the dental histories of people who had contracted infections of artificial joints with those of similar people with replaced joints who remained infection-free,” finding “no statistical connection between dental visits and subsequent joint infections, regardless of whether patients had taken antibiotics.” In 2015, the ADA published new clinical practice guidelines concerning prophylactic antibiotics for patients with prosthetic joints.

        The ADA News reported previously that a continuing education course at ADA 2016 – America’s Dental Meeting will focus on prophylactic antibiotic use. According to the article, “The session, Prophylactic Antibiotic Use and a ‘Different’ Kind of Joint (5352), will be led by Dr. Tom Sollecito, the lead author of a 2015 report from the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs that offers guidelines about the use of prophylactic antibiotics prior to dental procedures in patients with prosthetic joints.”

        The guidelines, “The Use of Prophylactic Antibiotics Prior to Dental Procedures in Patients with Prosthetic Joints,” are available for download at JADA.ADA.org. MouthHealthy.org and the Oral Health Topics on ADA.org also provide information on prophylactic antibiotic use for patients and for dental professionals.

Researchers Finding “Possible Relationships” Between Gum Disease And Several Health Problems

The Washington Post reported that researchers are finding “possible relationships between gum or periodontal disease and diabetes, heart disease, stroke and at-risk pregnancies.” Although “experts are far from understanding what these links might mean,” the links “have been so consistent that some insurers offer extra preventive periodontal care at little or no cost to people with those conditions.” The article pointed out that according to the CDC, “nearly half of all Americans age 30 and older have some form of gum disease; in people 65 and older, 70 percent have some degree of periodontal disease.” The article noted, “Signs of gum disease include bleeding, red or swollen gums; areas where the gum seems separated from the teeth; bad breath; and loose teeth, which can cause changes in your bite, according to the American Dental Association.”

ADA: Dental Amalgam Is “Durable, Safe And Effective

TIME carries an article originally published on Health.com that stated University of Georgia research suggests “dental fillings made of amalgam—a mixture of mercury, silver, and other metals—can contribute to elevated mercury levels in the body.” The study found “people with more than eight fillings had blood mercury levels more than twice as high as people with no fillings,” although the article noted the average mercury levels for these individuals were still “below the safety thresholds established by the EPA and the World Health Organization.”

        The ADA examined the study’s findings, noting that although the study found a “statistically significant difference in circulating levels of mercury, all the levels observed were within the lower 95% confidence limit set forth as safe by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences.” In addition, the findings “also pointed to the impact of fish consumption in blood total and methyl mercury levels.”

        The ADA released a statement reaffirming its position that “dental amalgam is a durable, safe and effective cavity-filling option” and providing information for patients about restorative materials at MouthHealthy.org.

Tips For Choosing New Health Benefits Includes Recommendation To Consider Dental Plans

Virginia Business Magazine features a list of five tips for people taking advantage of open enrollment season to find a new healthcare plan, so that they can “make more informed choices that may improve [their] health and even save money.” The first four tips include: “take time to review your options;” “look for incentive-based wellness programs;” “take advantage of health care apps and online tools;” and “open a health savings account.” The fifth piece of advice is to pay attention to other sorts of benefit plans, notably dental, vision, accident and critical illness insurance plans. The magazine states, “Research shows a connection between oral health and overall health, so adding a dental plan may help prevent larger medical problems.”

Gum Disease Can Worsen Pain For Rheumatoid Arthritis Sufferers

Dental Asia reports on the ways in which poor dental hygiene and gum disease can contribute to and worsen rheumatoid arthritis. By testing gum disease strains on arthritic mice, researchers found that Porphyromonas bacteria made the mice’s joint pain worse. Dental Asia recommends that people with rheumatoid arthritis who wish to prevent gum disease use a moving toothbrush, rinse their mouth with mouthwash, quit smoking, and eat a healthy and clean diet.

Oral Health Issues May Indicate Other Health Conditions

Good Housekeeping identified several oral health issues that may signal other health conditions. For example, chronic halitosis may be a sign of gum disease, says ADA spokesperson Dr. Sally Cram, who recommends brushing and flossing daily to help reverse early gum disease. If gums become swollen and bleed even with proper oral hygiene, the article states, this may be a sign of diabetes, warranting a trip to a dentist or physician. In another example, having prolonged tongue pain is a common early sign of oral cancer, says Dr. Cram. If the pain persists for longer than two weeks, or if any “sores, lumps or lesions” do not disappear, visiting a dentist or physician is advised.

Researchers Find Associations Between Gum Disease And Several Health Problems

The Washington Post reported that researchers are finding potential links “between gum or periodontal disease” and several different types of health problems. Although “experts are far from understanding what these links might mean,” the “links between gum disease and diabetes, at-risk pregnancy, heart disease and stroke have been so consistent that some insurers offer extra preventive periodontal care at little or no cost to people with those conditions.” The article pointed out that according to the CDC “nearly half of all Americans age 30 and older have some form of gum disease; in people 65 and older, 70 percent have some degree of periodontal disease.” The article noted, “Signs of gum disease include bleeding, red or swollen gums; areas where the gum seems separated from the teeth; bad breath; and loose teeth, which can cause changes in your bite, according to the American Dental Association.”

Research Aims To Help Humans Grow New Teeth

BBC News (UK) discussed recent research that suggests someday people may be able to grow or repair their teeth, using “healthy, living tissue.” For example, the article noted a lab at King’s College London has “successfully implanted bio-teeth into mice,” while other “recent approaches have focused on finding ways to get our teeth to heal themselves.” The article stated that despite this research, preventing dental decay is still essential. “The most important ... thing for us to keep in mind in terms of prevention is water – especially fluoridated water,” said ADA spokesperson Dr. Ruchi Sahota. “Not only does the fluoride help mineralise and regenerate tooth structures that may have become infected by a cavity, the physical motion of drinking water helps to flush away food, bacteria and any debris that may be stuck in your teeth as well.”