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.