News Americas

Personalized care study questions frequency of dental visits

ANN ARBOR, Mich., USA: The assumption that biannual preventive dental visits are needed for all adults is generally adopted in most health systems worldwide. Now, a new study has suggested that the benefit of visit frequency largely depends on individual risk factors for periodontal disease. For low-risk, non-smoking patients, for example, one visit per year might be sufficient.

New test predicts patients' risk of dental caries

ALBANY, Ore., USA: In collaboration with CariFree, a caries research company, a New York-based dentist has developed a screening device called CariScreen that allows dental practitioners to measure levels of cavity-causing bacteria in patients' mouths. It is the only in-office, chairside caries-susceptibility screening test on the market and is hoped to halt disease rates.

First longitudinal study investigates link between oral health and kidney disease

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., USA: Although previous medical research has shown that periodontal disease can affect major organs such as the heart, only a few studies have examined the link between gum infection and kidney disease. Now, U.S. researchers are about to begin a study to track the progression of kidney disease in patients receiving treatment for periodontal disease.

Preventive dental visits may not reduce dental costs for children

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., USA: Although preventive dental visits are considered important for good oral health, relatively little is known about whether they actually reduce the number of subsequent dental visits or costs. Now, a U.S. study has suggested that preventive dental visits do not lower the costs for restorative procedures. In fact, expenditure was higher among parents of children with more preventive visits.

Report shows high global burden of oral conditions

ALEXANDRIA, Va., USA: Yesterday, the International Association for Dental Research and American Association for Dental Research released a report on the global burden of untreated caries, severe periodontitis and severe tooth loss. The paper showed that the burden of oral conditions has increased in the past 20 years by about 20 percent primarily owing to population growth and aging.

Researchers about to advance oral cancer diagnosis

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, USA: Scientists in the U.S. have developed a new noninvasive imaging technique that may render the detection and diagnosis of oral cancer more effective, less invasive and less time-consuming. They hope that the method will change the way medical professionals initially look for precancerous and cancerous areas in a patient's mouth.