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Maya Angelou once said, “When you know better, you do better.” This quote echoes a simple and forgiving truth in all aspects of patient care; it’s about lifelong learning.
When it comes to periodontal therapy, both clinician and patient benefit from heeding this poignant statement of awareness.

Ignore the biofilm and calculus - It's time to think differently

The dentists were shown a picture of the President's smile during the White House Correspondents Dinner in Apri and asked to supply a diagnosis. They were given a cropped photograph and not told the identity of the smile.

9.5 out of 10 periodontists say President Obama has receding gums

Laura Dorr is the former executive editor of DPR's Modern Dental Network and a regular contributing author.

 “Jedes kind kostet die mutter einen zahn,” says an old German saying; “every child costs the mother one tooth.” While many people dismiss old wives tales, this is one that has some basis in reality: According to researchers at New York University, the risk of tooth loss and gum disease increases with the number of children a woman bears.

Does having more children equal fewer teeth for mothers?

 While stretching out in the sun this summer has its cancer-causing risks, it can also ensure a healthier smile. Research has found that a healthy dose of sunlight could actually help stave off gum disease and increase gum health.

Studies find sunbathing linked to gum disease prevalence

 Implants have become increasingly popular over the last 25 years due to the flexibility in accommodating different configurations of teeth and prevention of underlying bone loss1.

Current trends in dental implants, brought to you by Sikka Software

 According to new guidelines from the American Dental Association (ADA), dentists treating patients with chronic periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease that can lead to tooth loss, are advised to use scaling and root planing (SRP), deep cleaning of the teeth, as initial treatment.

American Dental Association releases new guidelines on gum disease treatment

 “…In the future, regenerative therapies could be as simple as the local delivery of regenerative molecules placed subgingivally to promote repair of periodontal and gingival defects. New drug delivery systems to stimulate wound repair of soft tissue and extraction defects may be as simple as applying medicaments directly to wounds..."

Bone regeneration ... in the hands of the dental hygienist?

 Brazilian researchers discovered that consumption of alcoholic beverages can have adverse effects on the health of a person’s gums, aggravating existing cases of severe periodontal disease or increasing periodontal disease risk factors. 

Study finds link between alcohol consumption and gum health

 Researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and the Departments of Urology and Pathology at University Hospitals Case Medical Center reported that treating gum disease reduced symptoms of prostate inflammation, called prostatitis.

Can treating gum disease affect prostate symptoms?

 A recent study found that tooth loss could be a predictor for future cardiovascular events, diabetes and even death.

Periodontics