Dentists Urged to Take a Role in Identifying Children Suffering from Neglect
from Science Daily
A new policy urging dentists to check for tell-tale signs of neglect when treating children with severe oral disease has been published. Dental neglect is defined as the persistent failure to meet a child's basic oral health needs. Oral disease can have a significant impact on the health of a child. Consequences can include severe pain, loss of sleep and even reductions in body weight and growth. More

Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Maxillary Sinus Mucoceles
from Head & Face Medicine
The most common causes of mucoceles are chronic infection, allergic sinonasal disease, trauma and previous surgery. In 64 percent of the patients of our study cause remains uncertain. Endoscopic sinus surgery is an effective treatment for maxillary sinus mucoceles with a favorable long-term outcome. More

Neuromuscular Dentistry Helps Align a Patient's Jaw to Reduce Migraines and Other Painful Symptoms
from The News Journal
Unlike traditional dentistry, which operates on the assumption that the jaw's acquired or habitual position is the optimal one, neuromuscular dentistry seeks to establish a harmonious relationship between the teeth, muscles and joints to align the jaw in the most comfortable position possible. Dental experts estimate that as many as 80 percent of the population experiences some degree of malocclusion, or a "bad bite." When people try to find their ideal jaw position, muscles become overworked. More

New Study to Probe Link Between Dental Health and Memory Loss
from DentalPlans.com
A research team at West Virginia University recently received funding to continue studies into whether gum disease is connected to poor memory in old age. The institution received $1.3 million from the National Institutes of Health to carry out its work and eventually present guidelines for everyone to improve dental health. As part of the study, scientists will examine detailed records from thousands of American patients over an extended period of time in order to see the exact connections between oral health and memory. More

Dentists Work on Reducing Costs
from American Dental Association
Dentists are finding new strategies to combat the current economic downturn, according to the 4th ADA Survey of Economic Confidence. They say patient needs are different now and they're modifying their practices accordingly. Sixteen percent of dentists responding reported increasing hours of operation and adding other services during the second quarter of 2009, up from 9.9 percent during the first quarter. More

Rhinoplasty, Maxillary Augmentation
from eMedicine
Maxillary augmentation denotes the genre of reconstructive surgeries that address the correction of maxillary hypoplasia. Maxillary hypoplasia results from the underdevelopment of the maxillary bones and produces midfacial retrusion, creating the illusion of protuberance of the lower jaw. As a result the profile appears prognathic. More

Flying By the Skin of Our Teeth
from Science Daily
It's been a mystery: how can our teeth withstand such an enormous amount of pressure, over many years, when tooth enamel is only about as strong as glass? Researchers applied varying degrees of mechanical pressure to hundreds of extracted teeth. They found that it is the highly-sophisticated structure of our teeth that keeps them in one piece — and that structure holds promising clues for aerospace engineers as they build the aircraft and space vehicles of the future. More

Saliva Test for microRNA Could Detect Oral Cancer
from MedPage Today
Researchers say they have identified dozens of microRNAs in saliva, raising hopes that saliva tests could assist in early detection of oral cancers. Analyzing patient saliva with a polymerase chain reaction technique, the researchers identified about 50 microRNAs -- molecules that halt mRNA translation and/or lead to mRNA degradation. More

Once in Check, Tooth Decay in Children Surges
from The Tennessean
Health professionals and experts in pediatric dentistry are seeing an increase in the number of children with tooth decay and cavities. The culprits are plentiful, and the decay often preventable, but the lack of education for parents is causing more children to end up in the dentists' chairs with "owies." More

11,000-Year-Old Mammoth Tooth Found on Golf Course
from USA Today
A groundskeeper at a Michigan country club found an 11,000-year-old-tooth from a mammoth while cutting weeds on the golf course. Scott Beld, a research specialist at the University of Michigan's Museum of Paleontology, said the tooth appears to be from a Columbian mammoth, which can grow as tall as 13 feet. The 10-pound tooth appears to be from a female adolescent, Beld says. More