Loss of teeth in older adults
Number of teeth remaining in older patients is important for oral function as well as esthetics and overall oral health−related quality of life. The World Health Organization has set a goal of preserving more than 20 teeth by age 80 years, but this has not yet been realized. The causes of tooth loss include oral and systemic diseases as well as sociodemog raphic factors. Periodontal disease and untreated caries are specifically associated with tooth loss, an association that can be heightened by lifestyle factors such as unhealthy nutrition or smoking, poor attitudes toward dental care, and lower educational and socioe...
Source: Dental Abstracts - September 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
Nutrient intake related to tooth loss
Proper diet is recognized as an important component of a healthy life, being related to the etiology of many chronic conditions. Tooth loss and nutritional intake are also related, with a loss of teeth compromising masticatory function and altering the individual's ability to eat a properly balanced diet. Although many studies investigating the relationships among tooth loss, diet, and nutritional status have been done, often early studies were less systematic in their approach and presentation and later reviews tend to focus solely on older adults, free-living older adults, or only recent findings, which limits the eviden...
Source: Dental Abstracts - September 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research
Implementing infant oral health care into practice
Infant oral health (IOH) refers to the well-child practice of visiting the dentist between ages 6 and 12 months for an oral examination and an assessment of dental caries risk. Parents are given instructions on preventive actions, a dentist-family relationship is established, and the oral health care professional applies fluoride varnish to the child ’s primary teeth. Although well-supported as an important beginning for dental care, IOH has not enjoyed widespread implementation into preventive care interventions for young children. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - September 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: The Big Picture Source Type: research
Easing into change
Although dental practitioners know a great deal about how to promote better oral health in older adults, how to prescribe antibiotics more appropriately, or other relevant dental topics, there is no guarantee that this knowledge will be used to enact improved care delivery. The problems associated with adopting evidence into practice in dentistry were explored, along with ways to achieve knowledge transfer. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - September 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: The Big Picture Source Type: research
Tracking disparities in the United States
Oral health disparities remain in the United States based on income, racial and ethnic minority status, age, and sometimes gender. Some of these disparities are profound, with low-income and minority individuals experiencing the greatest burden of disease. A distinction must be made between health equality and health equity (Figure 1). Some health differences are unavoidable and some are unjust, which pertains to the human rights principle of health equity. For example, equal treatment may be unjust if some disadvantaged groups need but do not receive the additional resources or services needed to achieve healthy status....
Source: Dental Abstracts - September 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: The Big Picture Source Type: research
Global smoking-attributable burden of periodontal disease
Although many studies confirm that smokers are at significantly higher risk for developing periodontal disease (PD) and losing teeth, because of variations in the case definitions used in the different research, the exact relationship has yet to be defined. To produce more robust and generalizable estimates regarding the relationship between smoking and PD and allow comparisons to be made, the smoking-attributable burden of PD in different countries, age groups, and gender groups was determined. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - September 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: The Big Picture Source Type: research
Limiting free sugars intake
Dental caries is one of the most prevalent noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and is the most expensive to treat, costing 5% to 10% of national healthcare budgets. As a result, prevention is more appropriate and cost-effective. One approach to prevention is the control of dietary free sugars. The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a Guideline on Sugars Intake for Adults and Children in 2015 that strongly recommends the intake of free sugars be limited in both children and adults. Specifically, the guideline recommends that the intake of free sugars should be less than 10% of total energy intake, with an eventual further r...
Source: Dental Abstracts - September 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: The Big Picture Source Type: research
Barriers to screening for intimate partner violence
About 10 million men and women in the United States are subjected to intimate partner violence (IPV) each year, making this a serious but preventable public health issue. Although over half of these individuals suffered injury, just 34% sought medical care. Even when faced with a patient ’s obviously inflicted injuries, few medical professionals routinely screen for IPV. In fact, screening for IPV is the least common and most difficult practice among primary and prenatal care providers because these professionals feel uncomfortable with the topic, lack resources, or, among male pr oviders, believe that patients are more ...
Source: Dental Abstracts - September 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: The Big Picture Source Type: research
Power structures
Dental team members can readily identify whether they work in a ‘power over’ or a ‘power with’ environment. The former shuts people down, whereas the latter opens up possibilities. Understanding the power structure of the dental office and striving for the best possible ‘power with’ environment are essential parts of having an effective dental team. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - September 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: The Front Office Source Type: research
Benefits of exercise and diet
Dentistry has been reported to be the second-most damaging job with respect to overall health. The work involves some difficult positioning, but also there is a lot of time spent sitting and being sedentary. As a result, dentists fall prey to heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, and depression. By engaging in some fitness activities (also called exercise) and managing our diet, it's possible to improve our health so we can enjoy our lives more and for a longer time. One caution: before you begin any exercise program, it's important to get checked out by a physician, especially if you are thinking of trying more moderate t...
Source: Dental Abstracts - September 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: The Front Office Source Type: research
When you have to fire an employee
Termination of an employee is a difficult task for practice owners but can be necessary to ensure that the functions of the dental office as a business and that the delivery of the best clinical care are protected. Reasons for termination, avoidance of wrongful termination, adherence to professionalism during the termination proceedings, and acts of goodwill are all aspects of the process that must be considered. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - September 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: The Front Office Source Type: research
Infection control coordinator
An infection control coordinator (ICC) helps to ensure that infection control policies and protocols are in place to protect both staff and patients from mistakes that endanger their well-being. The need for such a position has been demonstrated through the requirements of both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and, unfortunately, through breaches of protocols that have occurred when protocols are not followed. Often the breaches result when no individual or group is in place to enforce regulations and ensure protocols are not being ignored. (S...
Source: Dental Abstracts - September 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: The Front Office Source Type: research
Medical emergencies in the dental office
Medical emergencies are unlikely to occur regularly during dental visits but they do occur sometimes and the dentist and staff must be prepared. Dentists need to understand why they occur, what constitutes malpractice in these cases, and what patients expect. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - September 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: The Front Office Source Type: research
Differentiation and market segmentation
The myth is that there is a generic dentist and a generic patient and success in dental practice is only achieved by everyone offering the same thing but setting a price or locating in an area where there is less competition. In reality, finding a way to be successful in the current climate of an overabundance of dentists and a population of apathetic consumers will not be solved by sticking with the views of the past. Instead, today's dentists need to seek to differentiate themselves from their competition and identify through market segmentation that part of the population that will be attracted to their services and ben...
Source: Dental Abstracts - September 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: The Front Office Source Type: research
Building a small group practice
Dentists often ask whether they should add additional practices, but without a careful evaluation of as many aspects of this undertaking as possible, this isn't a wise strategy. Adding more practices involves many factors, including financial, managerial, and logistic concerns, and all must be carefully considered. Dentists thinking about adding one or more practices should consider why they are doing so, formulate a strategy for achieving this goal, and have a team in place to ensure that it all comes together effectively. (Source: Dental Abstracts)
Source: Dental Abstracts - September 1, 2018 Category: Dentistry Tags: The Front Office Source Type: research
