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This week, we discover a touchless image
navigation that could change dental surgery, learn about a new toothbrush and
discuss how pediatricians can offer new dental recommendations. Join in the
conversation on Twitter using #FridayDentalDL
1. Pediatricians Recommend Fluoride: Dental caries (tooth decay) is the most common chronic disease in children in the United States. Good oral health starts at birth. A new report in Pediatrics, strongly recommends that parents use fluoride toothpaste, even with the youngest children, to prevent cavities. On Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued new recommendations on tooth care. The Academy urges all children to use toothpaste with fluoride once their teeth appear, regardless of their risk level for cavities. AAP’s recommendation is that children up until age three should use a smear of fluoridated toothpaste when they brush their teeth. Fluoride plays a strong role in strengthening teeth and helping to protect children from dental caries
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2. Build a Toothbrush, Change The World. Or Not: Mike Davidson, President and Chief Designer
of MD Brush, believes he and his partner, dentist Mike
Smith, have invented the world’s perfect toothbrush. To remove the bacteria
that cause gum disease, dentists say you should hold the brush so the bristles
are at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Sounds easy enough but most people
don't. Davidson's brush has an unusual handle that automatically puts the
bristles at the correct angle. Click here to learn more about proper brushing techniques.
3. Did You
Know? Forty percent of pregnant women have some form of gum disease or tooth decay! Why? Hormonal changes during pregnancy
can make a woman more prone to gum disease or gingivitis. It’s important
to have regular dentist appointments during pregnancy to monitor the health of
mom’s gums. Moms and other caregivers should also be aware that cavity causing
bacteria in their mouths can be passed to their young children, via sharing
spoons as they feed their baby. Click here to read more.
4. Touchless image navigation will change dental surgery: The modern dentist has access to a range of
imaging tools that can aid in surgical procedures. Now, an experimental workstation
could make existing diagnostic and surgical images even more user-friendly: the
images can be manipulated without touching the display. A new workstation was
presented in a study published in Imaging
Science in Dentistry (June
11, 2014). The touchless workstation enables a person to
interact with a computer using normal human behaviors, such as hand gestures,
by tracking them with motion-sensing hardware and recognition software.
5. Health Talk: When “just cleaning” is not just a
cleaning: There’s more
to your annual (or bi-annual) dental cleaning than you think. Oral health
professionals ‘tailor’ your experience to your specific needs and your dental
health. All cleanings are designed to remove plaque (soft buildup), calculus
(hard buildup, also called tartar) and stains from your teeth. But there are
multiple ways to accomplish this.