dental health

Science Friday: Medicated Patch Fights Oral Cancer

September 9, 2011 By Catherine Hughes Leave a Comment

As reported by Health News Digest, researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center have developed a medicated oral patch that allows a chemoprevention drug to be released directly into precancerous lesions in the mouth over an extended time.

In the study published online by the journal Pharmaceutical Research, Dr. Susan Mallery and co-investigator, Dr. Peter Larsen of Ohio State, tested a patch using simulated saliva as well as lab animals.

From the Heath News Digest article -

The study evaluated the drug fenretinide, a synthetic derivative of vitamin A that has highly promising anti-cancer properties. Until now, scientists have failed to achieve a therapeutic, systemic dose of fenretinide because of drug toxicity and rapid release from the body. By using a new mucoadhesive patch invented by a team from Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James) and the University of Michigan, the researchers developed a delivery system that can provide continuous drug therapy to saliva-coated oral tissue.

In an online report published March 7 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the authors found an alarming trend: incidences of oral tongue cancer climbed 111% in young white females. This patch is an important step in fighting this rising cancer epidemic.

For more on this story see: Medicated Patch Shows Promise in Oral Cancer Prevention

Filed Under: Science Friday, The Wealthy Dentist Tagged With: Dental Care, dental health, Dental News, dentist, dentistry, dentists, oral cancer, oral cancer screening, science friday

Tooth Whitening Can Improve Seniors’ Dental Health

July 11, 2010 By Julie Frey 4 Comments

New research suggests that carbamide peroxide (a popular tooth whitening agent) may have dental health benefits for elderly patients.

Co-author Dr. Van Haywood remarked, "What we've noticed through whitening patients' teeth over the years is that as they bleached, their teeth got squeaky clean and their gingival health improved."

Custom-fit mouth trays with carbamide peroxide can improve tooth and gum health in patients who lack the dexterity for regular brushing and flossing, and can improve symptoms of dry mouth (xerostomia) as well.

Filed Under: Science & Technology Tagged With: carbamide peroxide, dental health, oral health, seniors, tooth whitening

Kids’ Dental Health Related to Mom’s

June 23, 2010 By Julie Frey 1 Comment

Mothers with untreated tooth decay are twice as likely to have children who do too.

That's according to a new study that was published in the Journal of Dental Research. Researchers at the University of California in San Francisco looked at the oral health of 179 mothers and 389 children.

This highlights the role of parental dental health in pediatric dentistry. In addition, parents may be more likely to treat tooth decay and gum disease if they realize it may negatively impact their children's dental health.

Filed Under: Dental News Tagged With: children, dental health, kids, pediatric dentistry, tooth decay

Extra Weight Ups Risk of Gum Disease

April 10, 2009 By Julie Frey Leave a Comment

New research from the Harvard School of Public Health has linked obesity with gum disease.

Obese men (with BMIs above 30) had a 25% higher risk of periodontal disease than men of normal weight (BMIs from 18.5-25). The correlation also held true for other measures of obesity, including waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio.

It's well-known that Americans are particularly prone to being overweight, and evidence suggests the obesity epidemic is only getting bigger. And that affects all aspects of public health – including dental care.

Read more about it

Filed Under: Science & Technology Tagged With: dental health, gum disease, obesity

Dentist Not Liable for Patient’s Poor Dental Health

April 25, 2008 By Julie Frey 1 Comment

Jury Finds Negligence Was Patient’s, Not Dentist’s

A Wisconsin dental patient filed a lawsuit against his dentist after his poor dental health lead to a brain infection. The jury found in favor of the dentist, deciding the patient’s own negligence had caused his health problems.

Bradley Tegge of Sauk County suffered from serious periodontal disease. He had been seeing Dr. Frank Kube for 10 years before developing symptoms that suggested brain cancer. Instead, doctors found an abscess the size of a golf ball. Treatment left him with some minor brain damage, and he also suffers from migraines.

The patient’s attorney alleges that the dentist neglected to take whole-mouth x-rays that would have revealed the infection as it traveled from jawbone to brain. However, the dentist’s lawyer counters that the patient was advised to see a specialist and counseled on the dangers of leaving his gum disease untreated.

Though Tegge filed suit three years ago, the case only recently came to trial. He had been asking for over $1.4 million in damages, including $650,000 for pain and suffering. After two hours of deliberation, jurors found in favor of the dentist.