Articles tagged with Teeth
A study reveals that mothers with high levels of dental plaque are 8 times more likely to transfer Candida albicans, a fungus involved in tooth decay, to their babies. This highlights the critical role of good oral hygiene for both mother and child.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 clinical trials found daily tooth brushing may reduce hospital-acquired pneumonia rates by up to 50% in high-risk patients. This study suggests that widespread toothbrushing policies could save lives and reduce healthcare costs.
A University of Otago-led study found that early primates primarily consumed soft fruits, as indicated by dental chipping patterns and cavities. The research, published in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology, analyzed fossils from the Fayum Depression in Egypt and compared them to data from living primates.
A recent study published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences found that AI technology can accurately identify prehistoric and modern African antelopes, with an accuracy rate of over 90% compared to humans. This breakthrough sheds light on ancient ecosystems and their impact on human evolution.
A study of Viking Age teeth from Varnhem in Sweden found that 49% of the population had one or more caries lesions, with children's milk teeth being entirely caries-free. The Vikings also underwent dental treatment, including filing front teeth and relieving pressure through holes drilled into molars.
A study published in PLOS ONE reveals that Vikings in Sweden had a high prevalence of tooth decay, with many exhibiting severe caries and other dental pathologies. The findings provide insights into the lives of these ancient Scandinavians and their attempts to treat dental issues.
Researchers at ADA Forsyth have discovered the regenerative properties of Resolvins, specifically RvE1, which promotes pulp regeneration and reduces bacterial invasion in dental pulp. The technology has far-reaching potential for regenerative medicine beyond oral health, including growing bones in other parts of the body.
The UK soft drinks industry levy introduced in 2018 may have reduced the number of under 18s having a tooth removed due to tooth decay by 12%. The largest reductions were seen in children aged up to nine years old, with more than 5,500 hospital admissions for tooth decay potentially avoided.
A new study found that electric toothbrushes significantly reduce plaque and gingivitis in young children aged 3-10. The research showed that electric toothbrushes are more effective than manual toothbrushes in reducing these dental issues, with whole mouth plaque reduction increasing by up to 55.7% in younger children.
The USPSTF concludes that routine screening for dental caries or periodontal-related disease in adults lacks sufficient evidence, potentially leading to unnecessary procedures. Preventive interventions are also not recommended, as the current evidence is insufficient to assess their benefits and harms.
A new study shows a significant decline in dental opioid prescriptions, with 45% fewer opioids dispensed between 2016 and 2022. However, progress slowed significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may be attributed to dentists being more cautious due to limited follow-up appointments.
Researchers studied over 100 noctilionoid bat species, finding that different dietary types drove modifications in tooth number, size, shape, and position. For instance, fruit-eating bats have shorter jaws with reduced middle premolars, while nectar-feeders have longer jaws with room for more teeth.
A study by Annika Avedik and Marcus Clauss found that hippos' prominent tusks and wide gaping mouths restrict grinding jaw movements, making chewing inefficient. This limitation may have restricted common hippos to a semi-aquatic lifestyle.
Researchers found stable antibodies in 800-year-old medieval human teeth that can still recognize viral proteins, allowing them to study the history of infectious human diseases. This discovery expands the field of palaeoproteomics and may enable experts to analyze how human antibody responses developed over time.
Proeboscideans evolved tooth changes in response to vegetation changes and climate change in East Africa. The earliest true elephants developed highly specialized high-crowned molar teeth around 7 million years ago, adapted to grass-rich diets.
Researchers successfully created stem-cell derived organoids from human stem cells that secrete three essential enamel proteins. These proteins form a matrix that undergoes mineralization to create a hardened enamel structure. The breakthrough offers hope for developing novel treatments to repair and regenerate teeth.
A clinical trial found that hydroxyapatite toothpaste is equally effective in preventing cavities as fluoride toothpaste. The study involved 189 adults who used either hydroxyapatite or fluoride toothpaste for 18 months, with no significant difference in efficacy between the two groups.
A new study reveals that Megalodon, the iconic extinct shark, was not as fast as believed but had a mega-appetite that explained its gigantism. The discovery of tiny scales found in rock pieces surrounding fossil teeth suggests that Megalodon used its warm-bloodedness to promote visceral food processing and absorb nutrients.
Researchers discover that 3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM) reduces Streptococcus mutans biofilm by 90%, a main cause of plaque and cavities. The molecule also has anti-carcinogenic properties.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Zurich found that the Notch signaling pathway plays a crucial role in shaping and varying tooth enamel. The team used genetically modified mouse models to analyze the effects of the Notch-ligands on teeth, revealing that their absence affected tooth morphology and enamel formation.
A retrospective cohort study reveals that racial disparities in tooth decay among children are significantly influenced by insurance type and dental procedure types. The study's findings suggest targeted strategies can be developed to reduce oral health disparities.
Researchers at the University of Southampton discovered a British dinosaur tooth that doesn't match any known spinosaur species, revealing hidden diversity in the region's Wealden Supergroup. The study confirms that distinct and distantly related spinosaur types lived in southern England during Early Cretaceous times.
A new study published in PeerJ Life & Environment reveals that several distinct spinosaur groups inhabited Cretaceous Britain. The analysis of a British spinosaur tooth shows that these groups did not all live at the same time, but rather inhabited the region over more than 15 million years.
A study using tooth enamel analyzed by laser ablation revealed that Neanderthals in western Europe hunted large animals, such as wild goat and horses, whereas humans consumed smaller creatures like rabbits and fish. The researchers estimated the territory size of both human groups, finding contrasting results.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that patients with Type 2 diabetes who have full chewing function have significantly lower blood glucose levels compared to those with impaired chewing ability. The research highlights the importance of dental care and occlusal function in managing blood sugar levels.
A growing connection between diabetes, oral health, and dementia highlights the importance of dental care and diabetes management as we age. Older adults with both poor oral health and diabetes experience accelerated cognitive decline, emphasizing the need for regular dental visits and adherence to diabetes treatment.
A novel AI architecture, relational reasoning network, accurately identifies anatomical landmarks in CT scans for orthodontic treatments. The model learns spatial relationships between landmarks without explicit image segmentation, achieving accuracy comparable to conventional methods.
Researchers found a connection between arthritis flare-ups and periodontitis, suggesting that regular dental check-ups could help prevent rheumatoid arthritis. The study also identified potential therapeutic targets for cancer, including the use of mouthwash to prevent flares.
A NYU school dental program using silver diamine fluoride and sealants prevented 80% of cavities in a randomized trial. The study suggests an efficient and cost-effective approach to improving children's oral health through school-based care.
A recent study found that nearly half of older adults receive no dental care and half lack dental insurance. After becoming eligible for Medicare, the percentage of people receiving restorative dental care decreased by 8.7%, while complete edentulism increased by almost 5 percentage points among those aged 65 and above.
A Brazilian study found that early sugar consumption and interruption of breastfeeding are key factors contributing to dental caries in infants. Extended breastfeeding was shown to protect babies' teeth as long as they didn't receive sugary food, with the risk declining with falling sugar consumption.
Research suggests that poor oral health may contribute to declines in brain function and cognitive abilities. A recent study analyzed the relationship between oral health and brain health among approximately 40,000 adults and found a potential link between gum disease and white matter hyperintensities.
Researchers analyzed ancient teeth from Homo erectus and great apes to reveal annual cycles in tooth enamel, providing insights into their diets and seasonal food supplies. The study shows that humans and great apes had distinct dietary patterns, with humans exhibiting less pronounced peaks and lower Sr/Ca values.
Researchers have developed shortwave-infrared and thermal imaging techniques to accurately diagnose active dental caries. SWIR-based approach shows superior results in detecting lesions, while thermal imaging proves less effective.
A survey of 3,021 people in Brazil found that Black women experience the highest rate of tooth loss, with a 26% higher proportion than white women. The study suggests that socioeconomic status and racism are major contributors to these disparities.
Research found that common anti-inflammatory drugs taken by children can alter the formation of dental enamel, leading to defects. The study's authors suggest potential harm from widespread use of these medications and plan to conduct a clinical trial to confirm findings in humans.
A study on extinct lemurs has found surprising similarities between ancient primate species and fossil humans. The 'monkey lemur' had novel anatomical features, including tooth chipping patterns similar to those of Neanderthals, suggesting a more complex diet than previously thought.
Current tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery systems use associated with increased risk of bleeding after brushing or flossing. Longitudinal studies highlight the importance of tobacco cessation counseling in clinical practice.
A new diapsid reptile species has been discovered in Oklahoma with evidence of dental pathology, providing insights into its biology and evolution. The fossil, dated to the early Permian period, was analyzed using neutron tomography and revealed abnormalities in its teeth.
An international team of researchers found evidence of cooked fish remains at the Gesher Benot Ya'aqov archaeological site in Israel, dating back approximately 780,000 years. This discovery predates previous knowledge by about 600,000 years and sheds light on the evolution of cooking techniques.
A University of Washington researcher claims that organizations like the World Health Organization and American Heart Association promoted high-carbohydrate diets over low-carb diets due to flawed nutritional guidelines. This shift led to increased use of fluoride to combat tooth decay, making it largely unnecessary.
A new study using zinc isotope analysis found that Neanderthals were probable carnivores, contrary to earlier research suggesting a plant-based diet. The analysis of a tooth enamel sample from the Gabasa site in Spain revealed a carnivorous diet without blood consumption.
A new fossil specimen discovered in California reveals that the first saber-like canines evolved in an early nimravid around 40 million years ago. This finding highlights the quick diversification of carnivorous mammals after the middle Eocene climatic optimum.
Researchers discovered that cross-kingdom assemblages of bacteria and fungi can form superorganisms that colonize teeth, causing extensive tooth decay. These superorganisms exhibit enhanced surface adhesion, increased mechanical and antimicrobial tolerance, and unique mobility, moving at speeds similar to fibroblasts.
Scientists have discovered 439-million-year-old remains of a toothed fish in China that suggest the origins of modern osteichthyans and chondrichthyans. The fossils, named Qianodus duplicis, possessed spiral-like dental elements with multiple generations of teeth.
A study conducted at the University of Zurich has identified a key gene network responsible for severe tooth enamel defects. The researchers found that mutations in the Adam10 molecule lead to disorganization of ameloblasts and severe defects in both structure and mineral composition of enamel.
A study at the University of Helsinki found that periodontitis has a particular link with diabetes and accelerates its progression. The research highlights the importance of considering general and oral health as a whole in healthcare to achieve better treatment outcomes.
Researchers have created a biomimetic mineralized layer that replicates the structure of natural tooth enamel, exhibiting increased nanohardness and surpassing the natural tissue in terms of strength. The new material can be used to restore or repair damaged enamel due to abrasion, erosion, or improper diet.
Poor periodontal health is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Tooth loss alone increases the odds of cognitive decline by 23% and dementia risk by 13%.
A new study by Trinity College Dublin researchers shows that water fluoridation has the lowest environmental impact among community-level caries prevention programmes, offering a sustainable solution to prevent dental decay. The study also highlights its cost-effectiveness and ability to reduce disability-adjusted life years.
Scientists found complex tooth-like enameloid in ancient sawfish fossils, similar to shark tooth enameloid, supporting the 'outside-in' hypothesis. The discovery suggests that scales have the capacity to evolve into complex structures like teeth, making it more parsimonious to conclude that scales produced a similar microstructure.
Research found that adolescents with faster dental biorhythms (five or six-day cycle) weighed less and gained less weight than those with slower biorhythms. This discovery provides a new avenue for exploring links between childhood overweight and adult health risks.
Researchers developed a novel biologically-inspired intraoral camera with a wide-angle insect eye structure, increasing field of view and resolving optical aberrations. The device provides multifunctional dental imaging, including high dynamic range, 3D depth, and autofluorescence, without discomfort or image blur.
Researchers found that woodpeckers have regained the ability to sense sugar by repurposing their savory receptor. In contrast, wrynecks selectively lost this ability due to a single amino acid change in their receptor, highlighting a novel mechanism of sensory reversion.
Researchers develop a safe and effective way to whiten teeth without damaging enamel, breaking apart cavity-forming biofilms. The treatment uses a hydrogel activated by green light to kill 94% of bacteria in biofilms and prevent cavities from forming on teeth.
A new panda species, Agriarctos nikolovi, has been discovered in Bulgaria, which may have been Europe's last known giant panda. The fossilized teeth, found in the late 1970s, suggest that this ancient panda consumed a largely vegetarian diet, unlike modern pandas.
A study published in PLOS ONE analyzed the oldest domestic horse specimen from the Americas, revealing a genetic lineage linked to Southern Europe. The findings support the hypothesis that horses originated on the Iberian Peninsula and highlight the importance of ancient DNA in understanding cultural and historical processes.
A centuries-old tooth found on a Caribbean island yielded ancient DNA from a domesticated American horse, which was later discovered to be the oldest sequenced specimen in the Americas. The DNA analysis linked the horses to Spanish explorers who brought them to the mid-Atlantic region in the 16th century.
The University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Dentistry has developed an AI-powered approach to automate denture design, allowing for high accuracy and reducing treatment time. The new method uses a 3D Generative Adversarial Network (3D-GAN) algorithm to reconstruct the shape of natural teeth and generate prosthetic teeth.
A study of tooth isotopes from Adelaide graves found one person likely born in Adelaide, eight from Britain and Ireland, with three potentially from either location. The results support the overwhelming British origin of colonists in South Australia before 1880.