Archaeologists Discover Earliest Dental Prosthesis In Italy

International Business Times (UK) reported that “archaeologists have found the earliest dental prosthesis in Tuscany, in the collective tomb of an aristocratic family from the late Middle Ages.” The dental prosthesis, which may date back to the 14th century, is made of “five human teeth linked together by a golden band” to “replace the anterior arch of the jaw.”

        

The Daily Mail reported that the archaeologists said in their paper published in Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research, “This dental prosthesis provides a unique finding of technologically advanced dentistry in this period.”

Many Seniors Need Dental Care But Lack Coverage

The Boston Herald carries KHN contributing columnist Michelle Andrews’ piece stating many seniors need dental care, but paying for it can be “a serious concern” since 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 value 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.

Many Medicare Advantage Plans Cover Dental Care

In the Motley Fool “Industry Focus: Healthcare” podcast, analyst Kristine Harjes and contributor Todd Campbell discuss Medicare to help retirees “understand the ins and outs of this critical program.” Harjes and Campbell explain that unlike traditional Medicare, many Medicare Advantage plans offer coverage for dental, vision, and hearing.

FDA Approves Intranasally Administered, Needleless Dental Anesthetic

UPI reported in continuing coverage that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved Kovanaze, “a nasal spray anesthetic” for use during a restorative procedure “after it was shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials.” The FDA approved Kovanaze, which is a combination of tetracaine and the nasal decongestant oxymetazoline, “for use with patients over 88 pounds, though the company plans to investigate its use with children, as well as for other procedures.” The article noted that the results of the phase 3 trial are published in The Journal of the American Dental Association.

        In a release carried on EurekAlert (8/25), the University of Pennsylvania stated Kovanaze “was deemed safe and effective in a recent Phase 3 clinical trial led by University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine researchers.” Dr. Elliot V. Hersh, the study’s lead author and a professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Pharmacology at Penn Dental Medicine, said, “This is obviously a great thing for needle-phobic individuals, and it can reduce inadvertent needle-stick injuries in the clinic as well.”

        The ADA (7/15) had reported previously that “Kovanaze™ is indicated for regional pulpal anesthesia when performing a restorative procedure on teeth 4 through 13 and A through J in adults and children who weigh 40 kg (88 lbs) or more.”

Increasing Number Of Adults Turning To Braces

US News & World Report reports that adults are increasingly “getting braces to straighten their teeth, fix their bites and improve their smiles.” The article reports that “adults made up a record high of nearly 1.5 million orthodontics patients in the U.S. and Canada,” according to a 2014 survey from the American Association of Orthodontists. According to the article, “This rising popularity” is due in part to “orthodontic options that make braces inconspicuous.”

Presidental Health: 3 Historical Tooth Tales

From the myth about President George Washington’s wooden dentures to the alien conspiracy theory surrounding President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s emergency crown, commanders in chief have quite the history with their teeth. Here are three more fascinating facts about past presidents and their connections to dental health.

Legend has it that during the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant went into battle for six days with no other baggage but a toothbrush. Unfortunately, his later affinity for cigars took a toll on his mouth and his overall health. Our 18th president was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1884 and died the following year. 

Abraham Lincoln’s signature style was a stovepipe hat. Teddy Roosevelt’s was a mustache. “As he approached early adulthood, TR made a conscious decision to grow a ‘walrus mustache’ to cover his prominent, but attractive set of teeth,” states an article in the Fall 2007 Journal of the History of Dentistry. 

Still, that didn’t stop people from referring to his “squirrel teeth”, as seen in a 1903 newspaper article. The article reads: “When President Roosevelt was in Sharon Springs, Mo., a countryman stepped up and said to a member of the presidential party:’ Whar’s the President?’

Mr. Roosevelt, scenting something good, said: ‘Do you wish to see him particularly?’ 

‘I never seen but one president in my life, an’, of course, I would like to see him on gen’ral principles,’ replied the countryman. ‘But what I wants to see this one fur mos’ particular is to see if he’s got them squirrel teeth the papers say he has.’ 

And then and there the president displayed his ‘squirrel’ teeth in the broadest of grins. ‘Gosh, ter blazes, you’re the feller,’ said the man as he hurried away.”

People Encouraged To Plan Ahead For Healthcare Expenses In Retirement

US News & World Report (7/20, Reiss) states that “mitigating potential health care expenses” before retirement can “make all the difference.” In a list of six tips for future retirees “to protect their retirement nest eggs from sky-high medical bills,” the article recommends people “start by understanding the system.” For example, individuals can select Medicare Advantage, “which allows companies regulated by Medicare to cover dental care, eye exams and other medical services.”

The Jackson (TN) Sun (7/19, Thomas) added that “one of the biggest questions” for retirees is “whether to sign up for the original Medicare plan or an Advantage Plan.” According to the article, Medicare Advantage “bundles services and costs and might offer some extra benefits like vision and dental coverage but include some restrictions.”

MouthHealthy.org provides additional information on paying for dental care after retirement.

Some Medications May Cause Xerostomia

The Global Dispatch discussed xerostomia, describing how saliva helps promote oral health by flushing out bacteria and “helping to provide a healthy environment for beneficial bacteria.” Noting that dry mouth can result as a side effect from some medications, the article identified symptoms of decreased salivary production and provided treatment tips, such as chewing sugarless gum and using oral rinses.

While Not Recommended, Nail Biting And Thumb Sucking Reduce Risk Of Developing Allergies, Study Finds

CBS News (7/11) reports on its website and during a broadcast that “children who bite their nails and suck their thumbs are about one-third less likely to develop certain allergies,” according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics. “Cat, grass, house dust mite, and dog [allergies] – those were reduced, some significantly, some borderline,” said study author Malcolm Sears, a researcher for the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health at McMaster University School of Medicine, in Ontario, Canada. “When they suck their thumbs or bite their nails they’re exposing themselves to additional microbes or dirt which is stimulating the immune system.” CBS News adds that the findings do not imply parents should encourage their kids to bite their nails or suck their thumb, noting “the American Dental Association advises that while thumb- or finger-sucking is a natural reflex in young children, intense sucking can cause problems with a child’s tooth alignment.”

WebMD Considers “15 Myths And Facts” About Dental Caries

WebMD provides a list of “15 myths and facts,” about dental caries, featuring quotes from American Dental Association spokesperson Dr. Kimberly Harms throughout. For example, the list states that it is a myth that sugar is the only cause of dental caries. Dr. Kimberly Harms states, “The truth is, acid produced by bacteria in your mouth is the cause of cavities.” Another myth is that children have more dental caries than adults. As a result of fluoride in tap water, “we’ve actually cut decay in school-aged children by half in the last 20 years,” Dr. Harms says. On the flip side, more senior citizens are getting dental caries because of medication that reduces saliva, she says. WebMD also states that the following are myths: aspirin on a tooth will alleviate a toothache; all fillings will eventually need replacing; people will know if they have a cavity; bruxism causes dental caries; gaps in teeth lead to dental caries; dental sensitivity means there is decay; dental caries are the cause of root canals; and dental caries aren’t possible in baby teeth. In addition, the article states it’s true that acid causes dental decay; once treated, the decay stops; dental caries are more likely to appear between teeth; dental chips and cracks can lead to decay; and proper dental hygiene helps prevent decay.

Coverage Continues: Nearly A Third Of Americans Never Floss Their Teeth, CDC Study Finds

Newser reports in continuing coverage that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers surveyed “more than 9,000 Americans aged 30 and over” about how often they floss, finding “32.4% said they didn’t floss their teeth at all, in contrast to the 30.3% who said they flossed daily.” Discussing the oral health benefits of regular flossing, the article notes that the American Dental Association recommends flossing daily.

ADA Provides Healthy Habits To Follow During Pregnancy

US News & World Report carries a HealthDay News article noting that during pregnancy the American Dental Association recommends women care for their teeth by brushing and flossing them daily, visiting the dentist regularly, eating a balanced diet, and rinsing “with a teaspoon of baking soda diluted in water” to help with morning sickness and vomiting.

        MouthHealthy.org provides additional information on pregnancy and oral health.

Studies Examine How Triclosan Affects The Body

The ADA reports that a “study by Poole et al. in the May 2016 issue of mSphere...was designed to examine whether use of consumer products,” including toothpaste, “would alter gut microbiome composition, endocrine function, and markers for obesity, diabetes, and inflammation.” The ADA says the study does not provide insight as to how fluoride toothpaste containing triclosan “[reduces] plaque and gingivitis more than toothpaste containing fluoride alone,” as was demonstrated in a 2013 Cochrane review. Moreover, the results of the mSphere study “are not consistent with the hypotheses that use of triclosan at physiologic levels achieved through the use of consumer products has a major impact on human gut or oral microbiome composition.”

        Regarding the mSphere study specifically, HealthDay also reports that “triclosan doesn’t dramatically alter the microbiome of the gut or the mouth, or significantly affect the endocrine system.” After randomizing “13 healthy people to use household and personal care products with or without the ingredient,” researchers found “little effect on the endocrine system” and “now major blow to oral flora or gut flora.”

        TIME reports that “in light of new evidence” that the antibacterial triclosan may be linked to “bacteria resistance, hormone disruption, and possibly even liver cancer,” the Food and Drug Administration is “currently reviewing” those studies.

Many Seniors Lack Dental Coverage

The Provo (UT) Daily Herald (3/16, Cook) states that “according to the Center for Disease Control, a little over half (60 percent) of today’s senior adults visited a dentist in 2013 despite the fact that one in four of seniors aged 65 and older have gum disease.” The article notes seniors face several unique challenges when it comes to accessing dental care, such as lacking dental coverage and transportation. Stating that “regular dental checkups and good oral hygiene habits remain important for seniors,” the article provides several suggestions for helping seniors overcome these and other challenges.

19th Century Dentists Documented Exploding Teeth Cases

BBC News (UK) (3/2, Morris) reports that several cases of exploding teeth were documented by 19th Century dentists, including Pennsylvania dentist WH Atkinson, who “documented an outbreak of exploding teeth” in the journal The Dental Cosmos. In a 1965 publication, the British Dental Journal also detailed “tales of detonating dentine throughout history.” The article adds that “although there were five or six reported cases in the 19th Century, there has been no documented case of exploding teeth since the 1920s.” Despite several hypotheses for why these cases occurred, no evidence exists supporting the explanations. The article concludes, “So either an unknown process was causing the explosions or the patients were exaggerating symptoms which were far more mundane.”

Gum Disease Associated With Cognitive Deterioration In People With Alzheimer’s, Study Suggests

BBC News (UK) (3/10, Howell) reported that a small study, published in PLOS ONE, suggests a link between gum disease and “a greater rate of cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer’s disease.” The early stage research, led by the University of Southampton and King’s College London, involved “59 people who were all deemed to have mild to moderate dementia.” After tracking the participants for six months, the study found “the presence of gum disease – or periodontitis as it is known – was associated with a six-fold increase in the rate of cognitive decline.”

        The Independent (UK) (3/11, Gander) reported that the research “builds on previous evidence which has linked periodontitis with higher levels of inflammatory molecules associated with deteriorated mental health,” adding that the study suggested that “the body’s inflammatory response to gum disease could explain the link between gum disease and cognitive deterioration.”

NHL Increasingly Focused On Players’ Dental Health

Many sources are carrying an AP (2/10, Lage) story reporting that although the National Hockey League is scrutinizing player safety “more than ever,” many NHL players still lose teeth as part of the game. Still, there is increasing interest in helping players keep their original teeth, and “when players do get hit in the mouth with a stick or puck during a game, they are moments away from getting professional treatment from a team dentist and perhaps an oral surgeon.” Several teams, including the Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings, are equipped with a dental chair in their arenas. The article adds, “Dental care is one of the progressive moves made by the NHL, according to Predators general manager David Poile.”

Research Shows Gut Microbiome May Be Linked To Bone Health

Dr. Rana Samadfam, the principal scientist in musculoskeletal research at Charles River, writes a guest blog for Scientific American (2/10) saying that our gut microbiome, which is “now known to influence heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and obesity,” may also help bones heal. Dr. Samadfam says that “exciting new research now shows that the gut microbiome can affect bone strength in both animal models and humans.” Dr. Samadfam says that the results from rodent models may be “related to the immune system,” as “different cells in the immune system can regulate bone density, and an imbalance in this regulation leads to diseases such as arthritis, cancer and osteoporosis (a disease in which bones become weak and brittle).” In addition, treatments with probiotics in rodent models have been shown to improve bone mass, which may “indicate that treatments that affect the composition of the microbiome can also regulate bone health.”

Dental Visit Was “Turning Point” For Runner With Eating Disorder

In an article in The Guardian (UK) (1/8), marathon runner Tom Fairbrother described how he developed and recovered from an eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, stating the “turning point” was when he went to the dentist to seek care for a toothache. Fairbrother said the dentist “asked if I was making myself sick, because my front teeth had been eroded by 75% due to the stomach acid from vomiting.” Fairbrother said, “It was the first time I had ever been asked directly, and I had no choice but to confess to him,” adding, “He informed me that if this behaviour continued, within six months I would lose my front teeth entirely.” The ADA provides additional information on eating disorders and oral health at MouthHealthy.org.

American College Of Prosthodontists Releases Guidelines For Patients With Dental Restorations

Globe Newswire (12/29) hosts a release from the American College of Prosthodontists, which announced it has published new clinical practice guidelines suggesting “patients with dental restorations supported by natural teeth such as crowns, bridges and veneers, or supported by implants can keep their teeth healthy using a lifelong recall and maintenance approach.” Carl F. Driscoll, DMD, FACP, the President of the American College of Prosthodontists, said, “The take home message from the systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines is that implant supported restorations require ongoing at-home maintenance and regular recalls for an enduring result.”