Today's Dental News

Oklahoma health officials are looking at many options after an oral surgeon’s unsanitary conditions.

Medical tests will be considered for W. Scott Harrington’s patients’ spouses and sex partners if the lab results reveal the spread of hepatitis or AIDS.

It’s not common for these infections to be spread through a dental practice. Nevertheless, Tulsa and Oklahoma health departments are recommending blood tests for signs of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV for all of the patients. Around 1,500 had done so as of last Wednesday.

Read more: Oklahoma May Expand Tests if Dentist Spread Disease

Plans are being made for an innovative study.

The first known human trial using embyronic-like stem cells from adult cells to grow bone cells will be happening soon. The cell technology, referred to as VSEL stem cells, come from adult cells, not fetuses. The distinction is important because it absolves the study from any possible ethical dilemmas.

The research will be conducted by the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and NeoStem, a New York-based company.

The research team believes that these stem cells have the ability to create a minimally invasive method to speed up painful bone regeneration for dental patients and other people that have experienced bone trauma.

Read more: Cells May be Capable of Growing Human Bone

Using remineralizing agents doesn’t necessarily help teeth recoup their enamel after whitening procedures.

A new study indicates that following in-office teeth whitening with 35 to 38 percent hydrogen peroxide, the teeth generally don’t regain their enamel.

There are several studies that show bleaching with large quantities of hydrogen peroxide can change the makeup of the enamel.

This information appears in Acta Odontologica Scandinvica.

To compile the data, the research team bleached 60 bovine incisors with hydrogen peroxide containing 35 percent calcium or calcium-free 35 percent hydrogen peroxide. The teeth were later exposed to artificial saliva, sodium fluoride gel or a nanohydroxyapatite-based agent.

Read more: Remineralizing Agents Have Minor Impact After Whitening

There’s more evidence of the health problems that stem from poor oral health.

A new study by researchers at the Swedish college Uppsala University found that tooth loss and gum disease raise the risk of heart disease and diabetes. The research team determined that missing teeth increased the enzyme levels of a specific enzyme. It was also discovered that this enzyme raised the risk of inflammation and hardening in the arteries.

The risk increased for every missing tooth. There were even new risk factors added, including high blood pressure, bad cholesterol and the circumference of the waist. The people with fewer teeth were also at an increased risk of suffering from diabetes. Each missing tooth made the person 11 percent more likely to develop diabetes.

Read more: New Study Shows Correlation Between Gum Disease, Heart Disease