Two-Step Implantation with Built-up Bone May be More Effective

There may be an answer to the longstanding debate about whether or not it’s better to allow bone to build up before placing an implant.

New research shows that its more effective to build bone first and then place the implant, allowing more bone growth, according to Prof. Zvi Artzi of Tel Aviv University’s Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dentistry at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine. The information appears in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.

A one-step implant will show more wear and tear over a period time when compared to on implanted via the two-step process. There’s a larger amount of bone resorption around the neck with the one-step procedure. Bonding around the bone is also not as good.

The success of a tooth implant relies upon the biocompatibility of titanium. Human and animal tissues generally accept the implant and grow around it.

Periodontists choose the one- or two-step process based on preference. This particular study was based on long-term results, which are not usually included in the window in which the periodontist would monitor the patient’s procedure. So the researchers tracked the progress of the implants on animals during a two-year stretch.

Despite this research, it’s still possible for the one-step procedure to be better. It all depends on the way the patient heals and reacts. This research isn’t suggesting the one-step procedure doesn’t work, rather that the two-step procedure is more effective based on long-term results

Fruit Drinks, Like Energy Drinks, May be Problematic

Parents need to rethink giving their children fruit drinks.

Dentists are warning that some fruit drinks can have the acidity levels of vinegar. So some parents with good intentions may actually be putting their children's oral health at risk.

Fruits drinks and smoothies were thought to have some nutritional value as a healthy option other than drinks like soda. But, in actuality, these drinks contain sugar, in addition to having high acidity levels.

When consuming these fruit drinks, bacteria in the mouth produce dangerous plaque acids that attack the enamel. With weakened enamel, it's possible for the tooth to become compromised.

According to some studies, there are certain fruit drinks that are considered more acidic than vinegar.

Based on this information, whether or not a drink contain fruits is irrelevant. What's more important whether or not it contains sugar. Water is beneficial because it doesn't have any sugar and lowers the risk of obesity, something that is rising among young children. Drinks filled with sugar is one of the main reasons for this rise.

Study Claims Smile is Key to Everything

An attractive smile leads to success and happiness.

That’s what many people assume, according to a dental research group in the United Kingdom. More than half of the people surveyed believe that a nice smile can have a positive impact on the rest of your life. About 60 percent of the people surveyed thought an unattractive smile prevented a person from finding a good job or attracting a life partner.

Despite these revelations, only about half the people surveyed visited the dentist on a regular basis. One out of seven people surveyed said they had not seen the dentist in the last four years and 4 percent of people stated that they had never been to a dentist.

There were several other interesting findings in the survey. One out of seven people claimed they would give up sex for a year in exchange for the perfect smile and 20 percent of the people said they wouldn’t consume alcohol for a year if they would be guaranteed a perfect smile.

Although the results appear to make sense based on the way society feels, the amount of people that don’t visit the dentist is higher than expected.

Kissing May be Cause of Rise in Mouth Cancer Cases

Kissing could be the top cause in the increase of mouth cancer cases.

Most people know about the risk factors for oral cancer involved with drinking and smoking. The same cannot be said for the risk factors connecting the human papilloma virus and oral cancer. An extremely low number of people are aware of the correlation between HPV and oral cancer, according to a survey in the United Kingdom.

The rising cases of oral cancer in young people can be traced to the increased kissing and intimate physical contact, which is a main way of spreading HPV.

HPV infections are common and can be harmless. There are some strains, though, that can cause a great deal of harm, leading to cervical cancer.

According to some studies, mouth cancer cases have gone up by 25 percent in the last decade. The knowledge of the disease, however, isn't proportional to the dramatic rise in the number of instances of the disease.

Red or white patches in the mouth, lumps in the mouth/throat area and sores in that area are some of the signs.

More education about the disease is the only true way to increase awareness.

United Kingdom May Enact Soft Drink Tax

Your daily caloric intake soon may not be the only thing that soda increases.

Experts from Oxford University are supporting a raise in the cost of soda by possibly imposing a soft drink tax in the United Kingdom. This stems from the desire to lower obesity and diabetes rates, in addition to decreasing tooth decay rates.

The tax could be as much as 20 percent, which could lower the amount of heart disease-related deaths by as many as 3,000 each year, according to experts. If such a tax existed in the United States, it could save many lives as well.

Denmark and France have already begun utilizing taxes such as these on some drinks. The need for these taxes stems from the ever-increasing rates of obesity and the fact that the diets of many people continues to get worse.

Dr. Mike Rayner, from the Department of public Health at Oxford University, has suggested that the government conduct independent research to see if the tax makes fiscal sense.

Because of the plethora of negative effects on health, this tax could be considered similar to the taxes already in place on alcohol and cigarettes. If the healthier option is cheaper, people would be more inclined to go with the healthier option based on the price.

Tennessee Dental Health Needs Improvement

The dental health statistics in Tennessee leave a lot to be desired.

About 20 percent of adults ages 18 to 64 have lost at least sixth teeth because of some type of decay, infection or gum disease, according to the Commonwealth Fund. These numbers are about two times the national median.

There were only about two-thirds of the people in the state that visited a dentist or a dental clinic in 2010, according to a Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than 53,000 people visited a hospital emergency room for some kind of dental care in 2009, according to a Pew Center study. Roughly 24,000 of those visits were for a dental condition that could have been prevented, according to the same study. The study also discovered that emergency room visits for preventable dental conditions rose 7 percent from 2005 through 2009.

These problems stem from the fact that many counties in the state, like Chattanooga, Bradley and Whitfield, are federally underserved dental areas by official standards.

Another issue for Tennessee residents is that Tennessee is one of six states in which dental care is not covered for Medicaid enrollees older than 21.

Based on all of these issues, free dental clinics are the best bet for people to receive dental care. The problem is the amount of people that can be served by these clinics can never account for all people that need some type of dental treatment.

These issues will likely continue to worsen in Tennessee if reforms aren't made in the way dental treatment is handled.

Swedish People Not Brushing Teeth Correctly

People in Sweden apparently need a lesson on brushing their teeth.

A survey of Swedish people indicated that just 1 out 10 people in the country brush their teeth the correct way. According to the research by the team at the University of Gothenburg, most people are brushing their teeth two times per day, just not the right way.

The problem many people are encountering is that they don’t know the best brushing techniques, according to the researchers. They also don’t know the value of fluoride and the best ways to utilize toothpaste.

The brushing habits of slightly more than 2,000 Swedes age 15 to 80 were analyzed for the study. Additional flaws when it came to brushing were not brushing at recommended times, not using toothpaste with fluoride and not brushing often enough.

One conclusion that can be drawn is that Swedish people brush their teeth because that’s what they’re supposed to do, not necessarily to prevent tooth decay or to keep their mouth healthy.

Still, 80 percent of the people surveyed stated that they were happy with their brushing routine. Better education, however, would be a big help for people that need to brush their teeth better. It’s the best way for people to reduce the risk of oral diseases and maintain solid oral health.