The goal of oral cancer screening is to detect mouth cancer or precancerous lesions that may lead to mouth cancer at an early stage. When cancer or lesions are found at the early stage they are easier to remove and have a larger chance of being cured.

Although no studies have proven that oral cancer screening saves lives,  Some groups agree about the benefits of an oral exam for oral cancer screening where as other do not.

Yet people with a high risk of oral cancer may be more likely to benefit from oral cancer screening. Risk factors that can increase your risk of oral cancer include:

* Tobacco use of any kind, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and snuff, among others

* Heavy alcohol use

* Previous oral cancer diagnosis

* History of significant sun exposure, which increases the risk of lip cancer

Ask your dentist whether oral cancer screening is appropriate for you.

Most dentists perform an examination of your mouth during a routine dental visit to screen for oral cancer. Oral cancer screening is an examination performed by a dentist  to look for signs of cancer or precancerous conditions in your mouth.

The main goal of oral cancer screening at your dental check up, is to identify mouth cancer early, when there is a greater chance for a cure. To do this some dentists may use additional tests to aid in identifying areas of abnormal cells in your mouth.

Although medical organizations have disagree on whether healthy people without risk factors for mouth cancer really need oral cancer screening. No single oral exam or oral cancer screening test is proved to reduce the risk of dying of oral cancer. However, you and your dentist may decide that an oral exam or a special test is right for you based on your own risk factors.

According to Dr. Marco Magalhaes, an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry and lead researcher in a study published in the journal Cancer Immunology Research. Call: An abnormal immune response or “feedback loop” could very well be the underlying cause of metastases in oral cancers. Dr Magalhaes has unearthed a significant connection between the inflammatory response of a very specific form of immune cells, neutrophils, and the spread of this deadly disease.

The International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) have published two reports including a critical review titled “Diet and Dental Caries – the Pivotal Role of Free Sugars Reemphasized.” In this study, authors Aubrey Sheiham, University College London, England; and W. Philip James, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, England, demonstrate the sensitivity of cariogenesis (the development of caries) to even very low sugars intakes. In this critical review, the authors reviewed the literature on the role of sucrose in the cariogenic process and conclude there is extensive scientific evidence that free sugars are the primary necessary factor in the development of dental caries.

Released by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health  August 13, 2015: A visit to the dentist has the potential to be more than a checkup of our teeth as patients are increasingly screened for medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes. A new study by researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health focuses on dental screenings for drug misuse, finding 77 percent of dentists ask patients about illicit drug use, and 54 percent of dentists believe that such screenings should be their responsibility. Results of the study are online in the journal Addiction.

There really is not much involve in taking care of your teeth and gums. Yet when you do not have proper dental care habits your oral health is put at risk.  Listed below are the simple steps you can take to making sure to maintain good teeth and gums.

1)  Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
2)  Floss your teeth at least once a day.
3)  Make sure to visit your dentist regularly for your checkup’s and cleaning.
4)  Eat a well-balanced diet.
5)  If you smoke, Quit. Smoking increases your risk for gum disease as well as increase your risk of having many other health issues.

Evidence shows that Brazil is tackling its health inequalities. In a clear demonstration that the country is overcoming this challenge, it was removed from the World Health Organization’s hunger map in 2014, after 22 million were lifted out of extreme poverty, meaning that the segment of the population living in extreme poverty fell from 25.5% to 3.5% between 1990 and 2012. For Brazil to take these strides, it had to deploy actions across different sectors and take individuals as well as society as a whole into consideration. Bearing in mind this integral approach, oral healthcare was incorporated into the public healthcare system.

In the lab, the researchers tested extracts from the wild lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium Ait., against F. nucleatum. The polyphenol-rich extracts successfully inhibited the growth of F. nucleatum, as well as its ability to form biofilms. It also blocked a molecular pathway involved in inflammation, a key part of gum disease. The researchers say they’re developing an oral device that could slowly release the extract after deep cleaning to help treat periodontitis.

A new research project from the University of Copenhagen has established an effective model for the fight against the escalating burden of tooth decay among children in Asia. The model is an important tool in breaking the social inequity in oral health of children.

A new research project from the University of Copenhagen has established an effective model for the fight against the escalating burden of tooth decay among children in Asia. The model is an important tool in breaking the social inequity in oral health of children.

An important part of your child dental care is having and maintaining regular dental visits. By having regular dental visits the dentist will be able to detect the earliest signs of any dental health care issues.   Studies have shown that routine and preventive dental care procedures, such as common dental treatment options emphasized by discount dental plans are crucial to maintaining proper dental health. These dental visits can lead to dental treatments that will prevent further damage or even reverse the problem.

Question: I have a molar that has need to be pulled out because it is decayed and chipped but I will have to wait four years before I can get a dental implant. Is there anything I can do instead of getting it pulled?

Answer: I am not sure why you would need to wait four years to get an implant unless it is about cost and it will take you that long to save for the money. Either way though, it is very risky to leave such a tooth in your mouth. Since you stated that the tooth has started to decayed, doing nothing will only make the decay worse.

If you are not in pain now it will not take long before you will be. Also it can lead to an abscess which is an infection. Any infection is not good but in your mouth it can quickly cause other larger health issues if not treated ASAP.   You can pull the tooth and deal with having a gap. Or you can pull the tooth and talk to your dentist about other non implant options until you can afford it latter on.

Please think twice about doing nothing for four years the issue will only get worse and more costly.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 14th,  A new study from the Forsyth Institute is helping to shed more light on the important connection between the mouth and heart. According to research recently published online by the American Heart Association, scientists at Forsyth and Boston University have demonstrated that using an oral topical remedy to reduce inflammation associated with periodontitis, more commonly known as gum disease, also results in the prevention of vascular inflammation and can lower the risk of heart attack.

According to new research done by the Universities of Bradford and Durham, baby teeth from children who died during the 1845-52 Irish famine could help us predict the future health of children born today.

The team analysed the teeth of children and adults from two 19th century cemeteries, one at a Workhouse in Ireland where famine victims were buried and the other in London, which holds the graves of some of those who fled the famine. They found that the biochemical composition of teeth that were forming in the womb and during a child’s early years not only provided insight into the health of the baby’s mother, it even showed major differences between those infants who died and those who survived beyond early childhood.

Researchers have taken an important step in research on stem cells and dental repair by isolating dental stem cell lines and describing the natural mechanism by which they repair lesions in the teeth. This fundamental discovery will make it possible to initiate unprecedented therapeutic strategies to mobilize the resident dental stem cells and magnify their natural capacity for repair.

Having to pay for dental health care can put a considerable strain on household finances in many countries, according to an international study led by King’s College London.

The new study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, assessed the extent of household ‘catastrophic dental health expenditure’ (CDHE) in 41 low and middle income countries. Expenditure was defined as catastrophic if it was equal to or higher than 40% of the household’s capacity to pay.

Up to 7% of the households surveyed in these countries had incurred catastrophic dental health expenditure in the last month.

Dry socket is a painful dental condition that can occur after you have a permanent adult tooth extracted.  Here are some signs and symptoms of dry socket.  If you feel like you have dry socket seek out your dentist asap to address your dental health.

* Severe pain within a few days after a tooth extraction
* Partial or total loss of the blood clot at the tooth extraction site, which you may notice as an empty-looking (dry) socket
* Visible bone in the socket
* Pain that radiates from the socket to your ear, eye, temple or neck on the same side of your face as the extraction
* Bad breath or a foul odor coming from your mouth
* Unpleasant taste in your mouth
* Swollen lymph nodes around your jaw or neck
* Slight fever

If you grind your teeth while you’re asleep, you may need to wear a mouth guard  at night. Mouth Guards even out the pressure across your jaw and create a physical barrier between your upper and lower teeth to protect them from further damage. They can also reduce any grinding noises you make at night. Make sure to talk to your dentist if you find yourself grinding your teeth.

New research shows that anxiety experienced in social circumstances elevates the risk of bruxism (teeth grinding) causing tooth wear, fractures, and jaw pain.

A new study by Tel Aviv University researchers, published recently in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, finds that anxiety experienced in social circumstances elevates the risk of bruxism — teeth grinding which causes tooth wear and fractures as well as jaw pain. According to the research, led by Dr. Ephraim Winocur of the Department of Oral Rehabilitation at TAU’s School of Dental Medicine and conducted by TAU doctoral student Roi Skopski in collaboration with researchers at Geha Mental Health Center in Petah Tikva, Israel, interaction with people is likely to trigger bruxism in the socially anxious.

Question:  I am covered under my moms dental insurance, I believe she has MetLife PPO..I am looking for dentist in the area and I was calling around to make sure they accepted our insurance. I called one place and they said that as long as the dentist is in the network, then all the prices for the dentist are all the  same. I was like, in that case there is no need in me calling the next few people to find out who is cheaper. Is this correct that all dentist offer the same prices if they are inside the network?

Answer: Generally speaking with PPO plans, dentist that are in the plan network have agreed to cost some what.  Meaning that when going to a plan provider they are normally going to be within the company’s UCR range (Usual Customary and Reasonable).   Compared to when you go to an out of network provider you run a higher risk of having UCR fees.  This will encourage you to use plan providers compared to going to dentist that are not providers of the plan. With some dental PPO plans they go a step further they reduce your coverages/benefits if you choose to go to a dentist who is not a provider. You would need to check with your policy to confirm this.

Arginine, a common amino acid found naturally in foods, breaks down dental plaque, which could help millions of people avoid cavities and gum disease, researchers at the University of Michigan and Newcastle University have discovered.

Alexander Rickard, assistant professor of epidemiology at the U-M School of Public Health, and colleagues, discovered that in the lab L-arginine—found in red meat, poultry, fish and dairy products, and is already used in dental products for tooth sensitivity—stopped the formation of dental plaque.