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This week we discover a decrease in the rate of early childhood caries, discuss the link between hair keratin and tooth enamel, and learn that South Carolina will provide adult dental benefits under Medicaid starting December 1. Don’t forget to check out our healthy Halloween tips and our new blog series, Why it Matters to Me. Join the conversation on Twitter using #FridayDentalDL.
1. South
Carolina to provide adult dental benefits under Medicaid: Starting
December 1, 2014, South Carolina will provide preventive dental benefits to
adult Medicaid clients in the state. Previously, South Carolina was one of 16
states that offered only emergency dental benefits through Medicaid. We are
seeing this as a growing trend across the country and applaud South Carolina
for its dedication to improving the oral health of all. You can read about what
other states are doing related to Medicaid adult dental benefits here.
2. A new study
shows a link between hair keratin and enamel strength: A new
National Institute of Health study found that keratins, the proteins that play a large role in
maintaining the strength of hair, are also an essential organic component of tooth
enamel. As part of tooth enamel’s protein composition, keratin can influence
tooth enamel structure and strength. The study found that people who have had
keratin mutations associated with hair disorder also had abnormal enamel
structure that resulted in tooth weakness, which increases their risk of dental
caries.
3.
CDC data
shows early childhood caries trending down: CDC data
presented at the University of Maryland Early Childhood Caries Conference,
which DentaQuest attended, shows a downward trend in early
childhood caries in the United States. The National Institute of Dental and
Craniofacial Research defines ECC as the presence of at least one carious
lesion on a primary tooth in a child under the age of 6 years. According to Dr.
Bruce Dye, dental epidemiology officer at the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention National Center for Health Statistics, the greater proportion of
caries experience in the U.S. among 2-5 year olds has clearly shifted towards
more restored dental surfaces for all 20 primary teeth. The DentaQuest
Institute’s Early Childhood Caries Collaborative has
been engaging dentists, pediatricians, oral surgeons, educators and community
health workers in developing and testing best practices for managing chronic
caries infections in at-risk infants and pre-school children.
4.
Genetic test
for periodontal disease honored at ADA meeting: The link
between genetics and periodontal disease was a focus of this year's annual
meeting of the American Dental
Association,
which took place from Oct. 9 to 14. Interleukin Genetics CEO Dr. Kenneth S. Kornman
presented on the topic of genetic testing. The study provides insight into the
prevention of periodontal disease and the importance of a personalized approach
to preventive care that includes genetics.