Greg Kelly

A new study points out the difficulty of truly ridding bacteria from dental equipment. That story tops this week's DMD Check-Up. Also making the news roundup: Why are sharks able to regenerate teeth, and what's the connection between oral health and stroke?

According to a report from Water Research, “unless there is a way to ensure water lines at the dentist's office are free from bacteria all the time, they can’t be 100% sure that they are using clean tools to probe their patients' mouths and teeth.”

Sharks: Taking the Bite Out of Tooth Loss

British scientists have identified the “network of genes that enables sharks to develop and regenerate their teeth throughout their lifetime.” University of Sheffield researchers hope this “paves the way for the development of therapies to help humans with tooth loss.”

Good Dentist Just as Important as a Good President

A thoughtful offering by a columnist who recently learned that his dentist is retiring after 20 years of devoted service to his oral health. “I consider quite a few of my patients to be friends. This is a family practice, and I have been the dentist to three generations of some families,” explained Dr. Paul Clark of Ohio.

In the “you can’t make this stuff up” department, a Buffalo orthodontist who ran an unsuccessful campaign for a seat on the city council last year has been charged with patronizing a prostitute. Dr. Peter Rouff spent nearly $100,000 to serve a city of nearly 260,000 people and got just 29% of the vote.

 research finds “that chewing sugar-free gum could prevent tooth decay and a plethora of oral health problems—all while reducing the costs of dental treatments for the National Health Service.” Professor calls the results “hugely exciting.”

Proper oral care may significantly help reduce the risk of having stroke, a new study in Scientific Reports shows. Researchers found that “oral bacteria are involved in several kinds of stroke, including brain hemorrhages and strokes that lead to dementia.” Dr. Robert Friedland says: “oral health is important for brain health.”

10 Qualities of People with High Emotional Intelligence

Dentists know that there are few shortcuts to success—other than hard work. Then again, cultivating some Emotional Intelligence might offer solutions to tricky people-to-people matters. Here are 10 factors for identifying and managing your own emotions and the emotions of others.

“When it comes to falling in love, it’s not just fate that brings people together—sometimes it’s their jobs.” A recent scan of US Census Bureau data finds out how people are pairing up. Statistics show that dentists most often marry managers, school administrators, and nurses.

As the nation sees a leap in the “use of emergency departments for dental care—especially by low-income and uninsured adults—the dental profession must better collaborate to help decrease the number of non-traumatic dental visits,” according to the “Best Practice Approaches for State and Community Oral Health Programs” report.

Calling the incident his “15 minutes of fame” South Carolina dentist Dr. Dan Hughes tells about his recent encounter with 2016 Republican US presidential candidate, Marco Rubio. Even with a cracked tooth, the Florida US senator is running strong in the Palmetto State.

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Our weekly look at the top dentist-related news from around the Web.

The DMD Check-Up: Dental Equipment 'Never Clean'

A prominent columnist calls for lawmakers to allow salons and other professionals to offer teeth whitening services. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: Will green toothpaste fight tooth decay? And do electric toothbrushes cause it?

Time to Break the Teeth-Whitening Monopoly

One of the nation’s top columnists, George Will, offers some hard-hitting thoughts on the state of teeth-whitening in America and an upcoming US Supreme Court case. “Dentists are organized, salons are not, so at least 30 states have defended the strong by giving government-licensed dentists and dental hygienists a whitening monopoly.”

“Missing teeth have been associated with hard-nosed hockey—for better and for worse—for decades.” And “despite player safety being scrutinized by the league more than ever and technological advances in equipment, pro hockey players realize they are going to lose teeth.”

A study by University of Illinois at Chicago researchers shows that a new toothpaste, called Plaque HD, resulted in a better than 50% reduction in plaque after brushing.” The product set to hit the consumer market later this month contains a plant-based dye that sticks to plaque left on the teeth.

A US Department of Health and Human Services report “designates roughly a dozen North Dakota counties as dental health professional shortage areas.” To recruit dentists to the Rough Rider State, the government is offering students up to $100,000 in education loan repayments.

Minnesotans Go without Regular Dental Care

“Thousands of Minnesota families are lacking regular dental care because of high costs or low state payment rates to dentists,” according to state health officials. The dean of the state university’s dentistry school has called state oral health problems “a hidden epidemic.” Children in state are particular needy for oral care.

(British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy)

Work missed due to oral health problems costs the UK economy more than $52 million annually, according to a new national study. “National Toothache Day is certainly not anything to smile about,” said the BSDHT president.

Dentist to the Stars on Scoring a Celeb-Worthy Smile

Quick Q&A with a Beverly Hills dentist. Dr. Kevin Sands—“who works with everyone from Robert Downey Jr. to Kylie Jenner—spills on his clients' common concerns during awards season and why veneers are more popular than ever.”

Avoid These 10 Common Mistakes Among Dentists

Some straight business advice from a banker who heads his firm’s healthcare lending group. Some of the common blunders include: Trying to do everything on your own, waiting too long to purchase a practice, and buying an overly expensive home.

How an Electric Toothbrush Can Destroy Teeth

“Electric toothbrushes wear away the protective layer of tooth enamel, and expose the sensitive root, with inevitable, painful consequences.” In this report from the UK, dentists say that people are brushing too hard and fast with them and it is causing damage.

Our weekly look at the top dentistry-related stories from around the web.

The DMD Check-Up: Time to Break the Teeth-Whitening Monopoly?

 new report shows more people are complaining about their teeth as a result of the rise in so-called “selfie” photography. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also on the list: Should dentists be in charge of identifying children at risk of obesity?

A troubling but timely report from Britain about the “dramatic raise” in patient complaints from people who take selfie photos with their smartphones. “It’s an angle that’s chosen for its supposedly flattering line, but in fact it’s causing selfie addicts a whole raft of toothy insecurities.” Dentists see the “angles.”

Sorry “drinking seltzer is not the same as drinking water. The Atlantic reports that even unflavored carbonated water can have damaging effects on oral health. The good news? Sparkling water is still a better choice than both diet and regular flavored sodas.”

Dentists Should Screen for Pediatric Obesity

 holds that “oral healthcare professionals are uniquely positioned to be part of an interprofessional effort to intervene in the pediatric obesity problem.” The report found that dentists, “often have more frequent and regular contact with children than pediatricians.”

A touchy-feely profile of Dr. Michael Apa—the New York “cosmetic dentist behind the beaming smiles of Uma Thurman, Dree Hemingway, Chloë Sevigny, and Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, among others. He is very loyal to his patients—not to mention old-fashioned grooming standbys like Coast soap—but he also has firmly worded advice for those who want to achieve their ideal smile.”

February is a month-long national health observance bringing together thousands of dedicated dental professionals, healthcare providers, and educators to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, their caregivers, teachers and many others. Fighting the “Sugar Wars” is the mission.

“Mouth breathing during sleep is linked to a more acidic oral environment that may cause tooth enamel erosion and cavities,” according to new research published in the 

“So much for Obamacare controlling medical costs. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services report on trends in spending, national health-related spending topped the $3 trillion mark in 2014. This equates to $9,500 for every man, woman and child in America.”

“Many people have their dentists and they have their doctors, and they aren't connected at all.” Here is some worthwhile guidance on how and why dental and medical practices should be better at connecting and coordinating their electron health record systems.

And entertaining and educational piece about the “underrated profession” of dentistry. Among the realisms are: “There's a good reason they ask question when you can't talk," "They can develop major back and neck problems,” and “nine out of ten dentist really can’t agree on anything.”

Our regular look at the top dentist-related news of the week.

The DMD Check-Up: Selfies Linked to Teeth Worries

Most dentists make more than $1,000 for each cosmetic care visit, according to a new survey. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: The story of the dentist who invented cotton candy and a look at economic and oral health disparities in Chicago.

More than two-thirds of dentists report making more than $1,000 per cosmetic patient visit. This and other pertinent facts can be found in a new American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry survey of practitioners. Crowns (82%) and Bonding (74%) were the most common procedures.

This year's best job has “great growth potential, solid work-life balance, high wages and low unemployment.” And it’s all about the dentistry. The nation’s top two rated jobs for 2016 were Orthodontist and Dentist.

An entertaining brief on Dr. William J. Morrison, the Tennessee who made this legendary kid’s sweet treat a reality. His “Electron Candy Machine” hit the market around the turn of the century. Dentists all over owe him dividends.

A clear and chilling report on the sad state of oral health in America’s third most populous city: “Dental education is a pretty big problem,” “There’s a great divide between the city’s affluent and impoverished neighborhoods,” and “The state of Illinois reimburses only a third of the work that dentists do.”

Leading Massachusetts physicians and dentists are concerned that “a new law enforcement crackdown on opiate prescriptions could have a chilling effect on those who help patients manage chronic pain.” Who is “illegally, unlawfully prescribing prescription pain medication that is causing great harm”?

The 7 Most Important Pages of a Dentist’s Website

Every dental professional must have one today—a website. It’s your digital business card. Here are few worthwhile tips on how practicing dentists can build a useful website. “If you don’t provide the information people are looking for, they’ll find it somewhere else, probably on one of your competitors’ websites.”

About 75% of “children covered by Medicaid in four states didn’t receive all required dental care over a recent two-year period,” according to a recent US Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General report. And Obamacare hasn’t helped.

Thoughtful story about the humanitarian efforts of some New Mexico dental professionals. Dental Care in Your Home treats hundreds of senior citizens who no longer received dental care because they are homebound due to illness or are in nursing homes. “They can smile more.”

Here's our weekly look at the web's must-read news articles for dentists.

The DMD Check-Up: Cosmetic Care Earns $1,000 per Visit

A new technology could soon let dentists numb patients without needles, British doctors prepare to strike, and a researcher mounts a public health case against “Big Sugar.” Those stories and more in this week’s DMD Check-Up.

Patients terrified of injections at the dentist’s office could soon get relief, according to a University of São Paulo dental school study. Under a new technique, “a tiny electric current passes through an anesthetic gel seeping into the gums providing fast acting and long-lasting numbness.”

Secondhand Smoke Affects Children’s Teeth

 finds that “exposure to tobacco smoke at four months of age was associated with an approximately twofold increased risk of tooth decay in deciduous or milk teeth.” Will this be “a revelation in the dental world which will cause shockwaves”?

Those dentists who struggle to find success in both their personal and professional lives must develop and deploy their emotional intelligence—“the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others.” Find these skills.

Two prominent eastern universities (one dental school, one nursing school) have launched a new program joining nurse-practitioner and dental students together in a clinic to provide both primary care and dental services. School leaders are calling it a “cutting-edge model of care that offers patients access to healthcare that they otherwise might not have.”

Dentists & Physicians Create New Fluoridation Society

Now in agreement as to its health value, dental and medical professional groups have joined to create the American Fluoridation Society. The mission will be to "debunk myths and clarify the evidence behind fluoridation's safety and benefits.”

Dental Hygienists in the Primary-Care Physician’s Office?

A provocative essay on the growing effort to lower healthcare silos. “The key to getting oral health care to underserved populations may not be the dental practice—it could be the primary-care physician's office, offering dental hygienist a new nontraditional practice setting in which to expand their careers.”

Junior dentists (those in training for Britain’s NHS) have joined their medical colleagues in staging a work walk-out; the first UK doctor strike since 1975. The government is offering higher pay but reductions in the number of weekend hours junior doctors can claim extra “unsocial hours” pay for. Here’s a Q&A with a striking dentist.

Dental Care is Best Left to Dentists, Not Dental Therapists

The Washington State Dental Association president believes a state plan “to have Medicaid pay the same amount for dental procedures regardless of whether a dental therapist or a dentist provides the care” is flawed. “With costs being the same and no shortage of dentists in this state, the creation of a lesser-trained provider—dental therapists—wouldn’t save money, but does pose increased risks to vulnerable patients.”

It’s a sensational story that’s swamped the Internet as a “dentist” matter. “A Michigan dentist faces legal charges from her former employees over her all-day streaming of Christian music in her office.” Where are the adults?

Former Dentist Reveals Sugar's Rotten Secrets

A troubling report about Dr. Cristin Kearns who gave up “a promising career at the Kaiser Foundation to dig through sugar industry archives for a smoking gun. With help from the man who brought down Big Tobacco, she’s now proving that Big Sugar steered scientists away from looking at the ingredient’s harmful effects.”

A new technology could soon let dentists numb patients without needles, British doctors prepare to strike, and a researcher mounts a public health case against Big Sugar. Those stories and more in this week's DMD Check-Up.

The DMD Check-Up: Goodbye to the Dentist's Needle?

Pay for dentists has been flat, according to a new report. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: How dentists can ID child abuse, and former presidential candidate Rick Perry gets a job in the dental industry.

According to a new report by the ADA’s Health Policy Institute, “since the early 2000s, dental spending has flattened but the number of dentists has increased, resulting in stagnant dentist earnings.” Last year the average general practitioner netted about $175,000; specialists did nearly $325,000.

A report about British dentists being trained “to spot survivors of child sex abuse over concerns that too many victims are slipping through the cracks without proper help.” NAPAC research suggests “that for many people, going to the dentist can trigger memories of negative experiences and abuse in the past.”

California Kids Get Poor Oral Health Services

The most populous state in the nation gets “a D+ grade for not providing enough oral health services for its poorest children.” The 2016 California Children's Report Card issued by the advocacy group Children Now found that over half of all ER visits were for dental problems.

In Dentistry: “Mercury is like a hot potato”

A thorough but uneven report about the state of “mercury fillings in the teeth of more than 100 million Americans.” The ADA President says: “No properly designed, peer-reviewed scientific study links dental amalgam to any neurological or systemic disease, and that’s the scientifically sound bottom line.”

Hispanic Population Needs Oral Health Attention

The nation’s fastest growing demographic group has “one of the greatest racial and ethnic oral health disparities among young children,” according to a new DentaQuest Foundation report. Effective connection with the Hispanic community “goes beyond speaking Spanish and offering bilingual literature. It’s important to understand cultural, environmental, and behavioral factors.”

Rick Perry has New Job with Dental Insurer

Rick Perry, the longest-serving governor in Texas history and twice an unsuccessful GOP presidential candidate, has a new job “chief strategy officer at MCNA Dental, the nation’s largest privatively held dental insurance company.” MCNA was the top contributor to Perry’s presidential bid—about $58,000.

, shows that “health warning labels on sugary beverages—similar to those on cigarette packs—might make parents less likely to buy such beverages for their kids.” The average sweetened soda drink has up to seven teaspoons of sugar in it.

For 35 years, the federal government’s Dietary Guidelines have offered middling advice. Reform is overdue. “Nutrition science is notoriously terrible: characterized by poorly conducted research, pervasive industry influence, and a diffuse sense of confirmation bias almost akin to religion.”

Pennsylvania Dentist Retires After 70 Years

A heart-warming report about Dr. Harry B. Lutz, a Lancaster, PA dentist who always found time for his patients. His daughters “are working on an application to Guinness World Records to verify if he is the dentist with the longest career in history.”

This week's list of must-read news stories for dentists.


The DMD Check-Up: Dentists' Earnings are 'Stagnant'

An Oregon dentist is among the women vying for “The Bachelor’s” heart in the latest rendition of the ABC reality TV show. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: A look back at historic dental ads and a look forward to the future of fillings.

Amanda Kremer, DDS—“The Bachelor” Contestant

The network reality show, The Bachelor, (don’t laugh, it’s lasted 20 seasons) has a dentist, Amanda "Mandi" Kremer, as one of the female contestants this season. The Oregon Health and Science University dental grad “caught producers' eyes with a pretty hilarious audition tape.” The fellow doing the choosing from among 25+ women is Ben Higgins, a 26-year-old Denver software salesman.

America’s Addiction Habit Hurts Business

A national high? The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence reports that “the chances are good that one or more of your fellow employees, or someone you supervise or hired, has a drug or drinking problem.” As a result, there’s an $80 billion annual loss for the economy.

ODs Don’t Stop Patient from Getting More Drugs

A new survey in a major medical journal shows that “91% of people who survive an overdose on prescription opioid painkillers continued to receive opioid prescriptions despite their history.” And “many of the prescribers did not know about their patients’ overdoses.”

Dentist Won't Be Charged in Herding Complaint

The Minnesota dentist who killed a famous lion in Zimbabwe just can’t seem to stay out the news. Insufficient evidence was the reason that illegal deer herding charges were dropped against Dr. Walter Palmer. Zimbabwean officials never prosecuted the dentist but he faced international scrutiny.

An interesting remember-when report regarding newspaper ads for dentist’s services dating back to New Year’s Day 1916. An Indiana dentist advertised gold crowns, bridgework and white crowns for $3. A dentist in Utah listed $1 for a filling, gold crowns for $8 and bridgework for $5. A Kansas dentist pledged a set of teeth, upper or lower, for $8.

AAP Recommends Fluoride for Young Children

The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new preventive childcare guidelines advocating for the application of a fluoride varnish on the teeth of children ages 6 months to 5 years. “The varnish can help reduce cavities, the top chronic disease affecting young children.”

Parents Want Practical Advice from Dentists

A new study out of The Netherlands finds that “many parents know about the importance of oral health but want further practical advice from dental professionals.” Advice that they could apply immediately, like “using stickers as an incentive for children to brush their teeth or examples of healthy snacks.”

ACP Guidelines for Patients with Dental Restorations

The American College of Prosthodontists is out with new dental care instruction. “Often patients are unaware of the required brushing and general maintenance needs when they have expensive implant restorations. The take home message from the systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines is that implant supported restorations require ongoing at-home maintenance and regular recalls for an enduring result," says the ACP president.

Dentists Block Potential Source of Low-Cost Care

Here’s an uneven but detailed report on the state of dental practice in the Pacific Northwest—in Washington, which has “one of the nation’s lowest reimbursement rates for dental care provided through Medicaid.” Some see dental therapists as a way to less expensive care. Dentists say just pay them what they deserve and patient access would grow.

In a few years “millions of people might be walking around with an unusual kind of glass in their mouth, and using it every time they eat. Oregon State University engineers “have made some promising findings about the ability of bioactive glass to help reduce the ability of bacteria to attack composite tooth fillings.”

A new American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study “hints that it may be possible to tone down our taste for sugar.” It gets down to dietary tolerance—can we retrain the taste buds and quiet the demands of a sweet tooth?

An Oregon dentist is among the women vying for 'The Bachelor's heart in the latest rendition of the ABC reality TV show. That story tops this week's DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: A look back at historic dental ads and a look forward to the future of fillings.

The DMD Check-Up: Dentist Among 'Bachelor' Contestants

Lenny Kravitz made one major oversight when he tried to give away free dental care to residents of the Bahamas. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: A dentist with whom the Force is strong, and good news on the “robots are taking our jobs” front.

A free dental clinic in the Bahamas established by singer/songwriter Lenny Kravitz was abruptly closed after local officials discovered it was not licensed. Kravitz, who has a home on the islands, is a four-time Grammy Award winner.

Georgia Dentist has “Star Wars” Museum

The force is strong with him. Dr. David Simonds has been “a die hard nut about ‘Star Wars’ ever since the first movie in 1977.” To show his devotion the dentist keeps a Star Wars museum above his dental office—full of vehicle models, character statues, and weapons like blasters and lightsabers.

Navy Dentist Security Clearance Denial Questioned

Two Jewish organizations are calling for a review of US security practices after a dentist who worked for the Navy was denied security clearance on account of immediate family members who live in Israel. The groups called the actions against Dr. Gershon Pincus “outrageous and offensive.”

Dentists, computer scientists, and doctors “are the jobs least likely to be taken by robots as automation spreads through advanced economies,” according to a Bank of England report. Jobs with a “high creative and technical content,” and those requiring “emotional intelligence,” are those most impervious to the rise of robots.

In Dental Health, Areas of Improving Access

According to a report from The Pew Charitable Trusts, “three evidence-based policy solutions to oral health access problems gained ground at the local, state, and national levels in 2015: workforce innovation, school-based sealant programs, and community water fluoridation.”

(University of Maryland School of Dentistry)

Dentists looking to take a working vacation in the New Year, might consider a trip to quiet Maryland. There at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry is the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry—“America's premier national museum dedicated to dental history.”

A brave New Orleans dentist who saved the life of a stabbing victim has been named a recipient of the Carnegie Medal for “civilian heroism.” Dr. Laurence T. Norton, III rushed from his dental office to fight off the vicious attack on a woman by her ex-boyfriend.

Why Do Teeth Have Their Own Doctors and Insurance?

An interesting story on the history of dental care and how it is paid for. “What goes on inside a person's mouth can have a big impact on overall health, but the whole field of dentistry, as well as dental coverage, has long operated in its own sphere.”

Females with “periodontal disease are at greater risk for breast cancer, especially if they smoke or recently quit smoking,” according to University at Buffalo researchers. Periodontal bacteria has an effect on other parts of the body, including breast tissue.

Dedicated to delivering oral health care to the underserved. ADCF supports dental Missions of Mercy clinics, which provide free oral health care to any person who attends on a first come, first served basis—no questions asked. Visit, learn and give. ‘Tis the season to be generous.

Lenny Kravitz made one major oversight when he tried to give away free dental care to residents of the Bahamas. That story tops this week's DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: A dentist with whom the Force is strong, and good news on the robots are taking our jobs, front.

The DMD Check-Up: Rock Star's Unlicensed Dental Clinic Shut Down

A newspaper investigation in Texas reveals the perils of poor dental care. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the news roundup: New state-by-state oral health rankings, and a closer look at the “bad teeth” stereotype plaguing Britain.

A hard-hitting investigation by a major Texas news organization finds that at least 85 dental patients have died in the state since 2010, and national estimates could be as high as a thousand dead — all due to poor dental care. Here it is for those in those trenches, everyday practicing dentists, to consider.

The British have suffered a century of jokes about their bad teeth, but new research published in the journal 

 shows that Americans are more likely to suffer poor dental health. Americans have significantly more missing teeth and oral health inequalities are worse between rich and poor in the US than in Britain.

Most Dentists Don’t Follow Standards on Root Canal

A large national study of US dentists found that fewer than half (47%) always use a dental dam, considered the standard of care, during root canal treatment. According to the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network, practitioners say a “dental dam can be difficult to place or is not wanted by patients.”

The United Health Foundation is out with its 25

 annual America's Health Ranking report. The benchmark report is the longest-running, comprehensive state-by-state study of our nation’s health. Dentists should have a peek.

You probably know about the sun, the fun, and the rum, but watch out for the dentistry. A news report reveals that “more than 60 dentists could be operating illegally across the island, having failed to meet the deadline for registration and providing proof of continuing education.”

Pennsylvania Dentist Running for Congress

Democrat Gary Wegman, DDS, has announced plans to seek a seat in the US House of Representatives in 2016. The congressional seat in southeastern Pennsylvania has been held for 20 years by a retiring Republican. The dentist-farmer said he is “left-of-center on social issues and right-of-center on fiscal issues.”

California Dental Firm Hit with $1.7 Million Penalty and Banishment

For over six years, United Dental Group parties are alleged to have “unlawfully owned, managed, and controlled several dental offices in Southern California without a dental license or the necessary permits and registrations.” The Orange County DA also sued owner Jeong Hoon Kim.

11 Cities with the Highest Demand for Dental Hygienists

A solid working relationship between dentist and hygienist is vital to patient satisfaction. With more than 200,000 now working nationwide, according to BLS statistics, the following states have the highest number of jobs for dental hygienists.” Hint: Go West.

Dental Insurance That Will Save Your Smile

The nation’s best-known and most-respected consumer protection/advocacy organization is out with a new report that offers “10 ways to cut costs and find the best care for your teeth.” Practicing dentists might want to see what could be in store for them.

Science Closer to Therapeutic Approach for Gum Disease

Kentucky researchers have received a patent on a synthetic biochemical compound that “could lead to the formulation of a mouth rinse or tooth varnish to prevent gingivalis from colonizing in the mouth and establishing itself orally.”

A newspaper investigation in Texas reveals the perils of poor dental care. That story tops this week's DMD Check-Up. Also making the news roundup: New state-by-state oral health rankings, and a closer look at the bad teeth stereotype plaguing Britain.

The DMD Check-Up: Deadly Dentistry 

A pair of new studies add to the evidence that methamphetamine use is disastrous for oral health and raise concerns about a heightened incidence of tooth loss among diabetics. Those stories top this week's DMD Check-Up. 

A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study finds “that while tooth loss among the general population has declined, it remains more common in people with diabetes.” The reason being: there is a high incidence of gum disease in diabetics which doubles the rate of tooth loss.

The Oral Consequences of Methamphetamine Abuse

In the largest study to date, UCLA researchers offer “conclusive evidence of disproportionately high rates of dental disease in methamphetamine abusers.” The findings should “alert dentists to undisclosed methamphetamine use in their patients and help in the development of treatment plans.”

4 Times It Pays to Talk Back to Your Dentist

With 40% of Americans having no dental insurance coverage at all, dentists must address personal pocket concerns. Here are four dental procedures patients are increasingly advised to question: “You need to fill these cavities now.” “You need to replace these fillings.” “You need a mouth guard.” “You need sealants.”

“No-Drill” Dentistry Stops Tooth Decay

“Tooth decay can be stopped, reversed, and prevented without the need for the traditional 'fill and drill' approach that has dominated dental care for decades,” according to new Australian research. A professor says their “caries management system” represents “a major shift” in the oral care.

Going to the Dentist Hard for the Elderly

A troubling report on the state of dental care for American’s senior citizens. Holes in Medicare and Medicare coverage greatly hinder their access. It’s sad—Americans who “have maintained good oral health their entire lives, only to see it go down the tubes in 6 to 8 months.”

American Academy of Periodontology Installs New President

A prominent US dentistry organization (8,200 members) has a new leader, Wayne A. Aldredge, DMD. The New Jersey-based practicing periodontist, once a US Army captain at West Point, said his goal will be to “heighten the awareness of periodontal disease locally and nationwide.”

A Crime to Transport Dentures Across State Lines?

An interview with a Virginia congressmen about repealing “superfluous federal laws,” found that it’s illegal to transport dentures across state lines. While the law is “murky,” some states do have “laws that only dentures provided by licensed dentists can be sold within their borders, and other states don’t have that mandate.”

The Oral Health Care System: A State-by-State Analysis

The Health Policy Institute and the American Dental Association have teamed to create a first-ever study on the condition of oral healthcare by state. Major takeaways are: “adults view oral health as very important” and “emerging evidence that oral health is related to conditions outside of the mouth.”

Health Care Costs 101: Reaching a Spending Plateau?

Americans spend over $110 billion annually on dental care and more than 40% comes right out of their own pockets—no insurance. That fact and many others are in the California Health Care Foundation’s new report detailing how much is spent on healthcare in America—nearly $3 trillion per year. It’s worth a peek.

“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” says the great writer Stephen King. So why not make some magic this holiday season by giving the gift of knowledge. Buy a book for yourself or another. Here’s a thoughtful and diverse list to peruse.