In Europe, the tooth jewelry fashion has existed for quite some time, but in the US, it’s a relatively novel conception that is slowly gaining momentum regarding the application. The most prevalent form of dental jewelry involves the covering of teeth with gold or silver caps. However, it is salient to note that there are different viable materials which perform the same aesthetic function.
Dental jewels are affixed to the teeth’s enamel, with the latter being slightly roughened to get a strong grip between a bonding agent and the two subjects. The procedure is simple and utterly pain-free. The choice on the jewel type determines whether the process will be expensive or cheap.
Besides material classification, tooth jewelry also entails a variety of configurations, designs, and colors. The figures may include crosses, stars, hearts, skulls, etc. Rubies, Amethyst, and emeralds are some of the most common stone typologies used in the domain.
Dentists have nevertheless expressed concern with the practice, detailing that attaching metal/crystalline implements could result in bacteria/plaque build-up on the teeth and gums.
Reference
http://dentalnewspk.com/did-you-know-about-dental-jewelry/
Category Archives: Dentistry
Miraculous Honey: A Sweet and Valuable Remedy in Dentistry
The curative attributes of honey bee items have since time immemorial been put into practical use. While bearing anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties, honey has also proved to be quite effective in impeding cancer metastasis in rodent specimens. It is currently serving as a constituent in some prevalent anti-cancer medications. But besides that, the product’s benefits in the dentistry domain are yet to be fully documented, and therefore the article provides a few insights on the conception.
Honey harbors polyphenol compounds which enhance restoration in cases of dental carries, oral cancer, and periodontal ailments. It can consequently be integrated into oral antiseptics including toothpaste and mouthwash. Manuka and acacia honey have demonstrated significant capability in dealing with halitosis. Dental specialists have also advocated for the chewing of honey gum after meals as a means of decreasing plaque and the subsequent risk of gingivitis. Further, honey can also accelerate healing after a radiotherapy treatment plan on stomatitis.
Reference
http://www.srmjrds.in/article.asp?issn=0976-433X;year=2016;volume=7;issue=2;spage=132;epage=133;aulast=Newadkar
Tooth Truth: Human Teeth Tell the Story of Humanity Through our Fragile Relationship With the Sun
Valuable insights on humanity’s essential, yet fragile relationship with the sun have surprisingly been hidden within our teeth for hundreds of millenniums. A new approach has begun unraveling relative answers to queries on migration and evolution, using evidence from the enamel’s base.
An interdisciplinary team from McMaster University and the Quebec Institution has demonstrated the method’s capability in a dissertation published in the journal Current Anthropology. Lead author of the study Megan Brickley mentions that their expedition could yield answers to important questions on initial movements and conditions of humans, while also providing info about the salience of vitamin D for modern populations.
In 2016, scientists for the first time uncovered that dentine bears the capability of displaying vitamin D deficiency/rickets. With the shortcoming, new layers of dentine cannot form, therefore minute marks are left and can be viewed under a microscope. The features could decipher early migration from equatorial Africa into low-light areas, plus impacts of indoor living on overall health.
Reference
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170518140323.htm
The Importance of All-Ceramic Dental Prosthetics in Dentistry
Modern day dentistry is now making use of all-ceramic artificial components amongst other novel technologies and materials. Oral healthcare specialists have in the past few years souped up dental ceramics to feature favorable attributes as well as novel advancements in their application. These compounds are often employed in rectifying defects, like for example restoring damaged teeth or replacing missing teeth. They are applicable in various forms including veneers, fillings, crowns, and bridges. A key aspect of ceramics is that they’ve come in handy to negate the use of unnatural metal restorations which are undoubtedly not pleasing to the eye. As an example, the initially prevalent braces are now being replaced by veneers which can effectively repair crooked or misshapen teeth. Veneers are tailored to fit in perfectly to the patient’s teeth and facilitate a natural look. Another salient ceramic attribute is its bio-compatibility, which makes it appropriate for the development of an array of dental prostheses.
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Tooth Restoration and Bioengineering
The conventional method of tooth restoration for teeth that are damaged (for instance, due to cavities, trauma, or gum decay) is the use of an artificial filling or a dental implant. New work done by researchers at Okayama University, however, has made progress in bioengineering a tooth and successfully implanting it into a mammal.
Using stem cell technology, the researchers first developed a tooth germ with the organ germ method, and then transplanted the tooth into mice to determine whether a healthy tooth would form. The trials proved successful, and both hard and soft tissues developed after several weeks. The same method was then applied to a larger mammal (a beagle), and promising signs of tooth restoration once again could be seen after 180 days.
This procedure could also be relevant to humans; scientists have identified immature wisdom teeth as a potential source of stem germ cells, which could drastically change the way we treat damaged teeth.
Reference: https://www.nature.com/articles/srep44522
Link Between Drug Use and Poor Dental Health Confirmed
A study published at the scientific journal Addiction has revealed that persons partaking in substance abuse are more likely to develop dental caries when compared to the general population, and are also less likely to engage in dental care. Statistics from the World Health Organization indicates that drug use is surging at a rate of around three million new users with each passing year, therefore it’s undoubtedly a key concern that needs to be addressed urgently.
Direct impacts of drug use that have proved quite detrimental to oral health include the dry mouth, frequent snacking, teeth grinding, and chemical reactions on the teeth/gums. Subsidiary effects on the other hand are neglect of proper oral hygiene, consumption of high sugar diets/malnutrition, and lack of adequate dental care consultations.
Oral health is undoubtedly a significant aspect that plays a role on the overall quality of life. Poor oral health has been linked to increasing incidence of respiratory ailments, diabetes, and stroke.
Reference
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170316093016.htm
European Union Bans Amalgam Fillings for Children and Pregnant or Nursing Women
The European Union has enacted a ban on the use of mercury fillings on infants and pregnant women, and it will take effect from July 1st 2018. The imposition comes after a series of reports’ reviews, Parliamentary meetings, Commission forums, conferences at various capital cities, plus testimonial presentations to an unprecedented number of actors.
Health specialists have in recent times been regarding mercury based amalgams as primitive, asserting that they are pre-Civil war contaminants that cannot be applied in modern day dental proceedings. Research expeditions on these compounds have discovered they often release mercury in vapor form whenever one consumes anything or brushes his/her teeth. Additionally, they’ve also been identified to be increasing the risk of contracting a great number of neurological disorders including the Alzheimer’s disease. Further, they are catalysts to tissue ailments such as disseminated sclerosis, and have also proven to be quite detrimental to those with kidney problems.
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