A summary of: Heidari, E., Newton, J. & Banerjee, A. Minimum intervention oral healthcare for people with dental phobia: a patient management pathway. Br Dent J 229, 417–424 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-2178-2 Background: Dental phobia is very common among adults and usually associated with poorer oral health because these patients tend to delay treatment. Treatment may be avoided until advanced[…]

A Summary of: Lloyd-Williams F, Dowrick C, Hillon D, Humphris G, Moulding G, Ireland R. A preliminary communication on whether general dental practitioners have a role in identifying dental patients with mental health problems. Br Dent J. 2001 Dec 8;191(11):625-9. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4801252. PMID: 11770949. By Sathyam Sharma, Barts BDS5 Background: Mental health conditions are becoming[…]

Kholy, K., Genco, R., & Van Dyke, T. (2015). Oral infections and cardiovascular disease. Trends In Endocrinology & Metabolism, 26(6), 315-321. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2015.03.001 There is evidence linking periodontal disease to cardiovascular disease. This review examines the plausibility of the association and how systemic exposure to oral bacteria impacts the initiation and progression of cardiovascular diseases by triggering[…]

A summary of: Sumner, O., Burbridge, L. Plant-based milks: the dental perspective. British Dental Journal. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-2058-9 A quarter of people used plant-based milks in 2019 which is an increase compared to previous years. The increased consumption is a trend driven by the 16-24 age group.The aim of the study was to compare the nutritional[…]

A summary of: Angela R. Kamer, Ronald G. Craig, Richard Niederman, et al. Periodontal disease as a possible cause for Alzheimer’s disease. Periodontol 2000. 2020 Jun:83(1):242-271. doi: 10.1111/prd.12327. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32385876/ Worldwide, approximately 47 million people have dementia, 60-80% of whom are diagnosed with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. The prevalence of dementia is supposed to increase[…]

A summary of: Rahman, N., Nathwani, S. & Kandiah, T. Teledentistry from a patient perspective during the coronavirus pandemic. British Dental Journal. 2020.  doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-1919-6 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41415-020-1919-6 Teledentistry involves the transfer of imaging and clinical information over remote distances to aid in treatment planning and consultations. Teledentistry has been encouraged and greatly utilised by many hospital trusts following[…]

A summary of: Gao, X., & Meng, K. (2020). Comparison of articaine, lidocaine and mepivacaine for buccal infiltration after inferior alveolar nerve block in mandibular posterior teeth with irreversible pulpitis. British Dental Journal, 228(8), 605-608. doi: 10.1038/s41415-020-1434-9 Research was undertaken to compare the anaesthetic efficacy of 4% articaine, 2% lidocaine and 2% mepivacaine, all in combination with[…]

A summary of: Apelian, N., Vergnes, J-N., Bedos, C. Is the dental profession ready for person-centred care? British Dental Journal. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-1650-3  Over the past decades, healthcare professions have been urged to move towards delivering person-centred care (PCC). Dentistry has seemingly not adopted this change and decision making is still heavily biomedically grounded. The aim of this research was to[…]

Quek, S.J., Sim, Y.F., Lai, B. et al. The effect of parenting styles on enforcement of oral health behaviours in children. Eur Arch Paediatric Dent (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-020-00537-7 According to Public Health England, around 1-in-4 (23%) of 5-year-olds in England suffer from dental decay. Although an often-preventable disease, dental decay remains the number one reason for childhood admissions for general[…]

A summary of: Xiong X, Wu Y, Fang X et al. Mental distress in orthodontic patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. 2020. doi:10.1016/j.ajodo.2020.07.005 COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic on 11th March 2020. Orthodontic treatment was halted due to the risk of virus transmission. 48 orthodontists were[…]