Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Friday Dental Download: August 29 2014





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
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.