News and Topicality.
Written by me. Read by you.
On your time.
On your schedule.
News in dentistry and medicine moves pretty fast.
If you don't stop and read about it once in a while, you could miss it.
On my Listen and Watch tab, I'm a guest in someone else's conversation. On this tab, I'm on my own, working through a drug, a study, or a headline...and you are along for the ride!
Most of these start the same way: a patient asks a question a dental professional wasn't expecting, and the answer turns out to be more interesting than the question.
How can you stay informed in an industry that is constantly changing?
I am here for you. I write both the patient-facing version and the part that changes what you do chairside.
So pour your favorite beverage and read on.
Stay frosty, my friends!
Is Berberine Really “Nature’s Ozempic”?
Why this trending supplement belongs in every medication history conversation Your patient is taking a supplement that may be quietly cutting the effectiveness of the
Could Your Thyroid Gland Be Affecting Your Oral Health?
Given the significance of a properly functioning thyroid gland to one’s overall health, it should come as no surprise that this unique organ has a
How Effective Are Modern Anesthetics During Dental Procedures?
All dental professionals are aware of the negative effects of dental phobia. This widespread phenomenon leads otherwise healthy people to neglect their dental health for
Mental Health Concerns Amongst Dental Professionals
While recent events including the 2020 lockdown have led to a dramatic increase in mental health concerns, few industries have been hit as hard by
Periodontal Disease’s Potential Affect On Alzheimer’s Disease
Scientists have made great strides in understanding Alzheimer’s Disease in recent years. However, the disease remains notoriously difficult to identify in its early stages, and
The Dangers of Gabapentin and Why Dental Professionals Needed To Be Aware Of Its Potential
It was early on a Sunday morning when I first received several notifications on Facebook about a “new” prescription drug abuse menace in America that
The Positive and Negative Effects Of Cannabis On Oral Health
Cannabis’s popularity has exploded in recent years. Once thought of as strictly a recreational substance, it is now being used to treat a variety of
Just breathe! Why asthma matters to the dental hygienist (pt II)
Note: This is part two of a two-part series. Read part one. Globally, as of 2018, an estimated 339 million people were affected by asthma, with approximately
The Profound Effect Of Oral Health On Well Being
What are the profound effects of oral health on well-being? While most people are aware of the importance of a daily oral care regiment, many
Just breathe! Why asthma matters to the dental hygienist
Asthma is a chronic obstructive pulmonary condition that results in inflammation in the airway and thus interferes with the exchange of gases in the lungs.
The Need For Better Geriatric Dental Care
The oral health care needs of our elderly population have been overlooked for far too long. Fortunately, dedicated professionals are finding ways to both improve
Using Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen For Pain Management
Pain management has often been a controversial subject, especially when opioids are involved. Researchers have looked into alternatives to opioid-based medications, finding that a combination
Are Dentists Overprescribing Acetaminophen?
Acetaminophen is a popular painkiller, used by millions of people on a regular basis. But can overuse have detrimental effects? How can dentists be sure
How Drug Addiction Impacts Oral Health
How does drug addiction impact oral health? It goes without saying that drug addiction is extremely detrimental to both physical and mental health. The mouth
The Effects of Alcohol Addiction on Oral Health
What are the effects of alcohol addiction on oral health? Many people regularly consume small amounts of beer, wine, and liquor without experiencing any negative
The Connection Between Gingivitis and Alzheimer’s Disease
What is the connection between gingivitis and zlzheimer’s disease? Despite years of intensive research, Alzheimer’s Disease remains one of the medical world’s biggest mysteries. There
How Cannabis Negatively Impacts Oral Health
Cannabis, in its many forms, is more popular than ever before. And while many people consider it to be a harmless alternative to cigarettes and
Can Wearing Dentures Lead To Poor Nutrition?
Can Wearing Dentures Lead To Poor Nutrition? While dentures are an effective way of replacing multiple teeth for elderly patients, they represent a major change
Can Oral Cancer Be Treated By Deleting Proteins?
Can Oral Cancer Be Treated By Deleting Proteins? Oral cancers have always been a serious threat with an intimidatingly high mortality rate. However, groundbreaking new
Penicillin Allergies and Dental Implant Failures
Recent studies have suggested penicillin allergies are the likely cause of many dental implant failures. Could alternative medicines be at the root of these unsuccessful
Marijuana Pose Serious Health Risks
Does marijuana pose serious health risks? Marijuana’s reputation as a “safe” drug has recently come into question, as medical professionals across the United States report
Oral Health’s Crucial Role In Preventing Serious Disease
What is oral health’s crucial role in preventing serious diseases? Dental practitioners have been warning patients about the risks that come with poor oral healthcare
Why General Practitioners Should Conduct Oral Exams
Why should general practitioners regularly conduct oral exams? Countless studies have revealed the importance of oral health in regards to overall wellbeing. And yet, most
How CBD Is Affecting Dental Practices
A versatile substance with a wide range of proven health benefits, CBD has become a common topic in the medical community. It is fully legal
The Link Between Periodontal Diseases and Chronic Illness
Researchers have found that patients suffering from periodontal diseases are significantly more likely to experience serious physical and mental illness¹. Read on to learn how
The Hazards of High Potency THC Marijuana
Hazards of High Potency THC Marijuana There have been a lot of endeavors to legalize marijuana despite its high THC content. THC is the component
Role of a Dental Hygienist in Controlling Oral Manifestations
What is the role of a dental hygienist in controlling oral manifestations? Gastroesophageal reflux disease involves reflux of acidic gastric contents into the esophagus, most
Effect of Cannabis on Immune System and Viral Infections
Today, cannabis falls in the most frequently used drug globally. Almost 2 to 3 million new users add to the total number of cannabis users
Cannabis as a Neuropsychiatric Treatment
Although the medicinal properties of cannabis have been championed for quite some time(Russo), the investigation into its potential neuropsychiatric applications truly started in the 1990s
Asthma and Oral Health
As dental professionals, we know asthma affects the lower respiratory tract characterized by increased sensitivity to certain stimuli. These stimuli induce inflammation and constriction of
Vitamin D Deficiency and Opioids: An Increased Addiction?
Supplements may help combat opioid craving and addiction Author – Thomas A. Viola, RPh, CCP A new study conducted by the experts at Massachusetts General
Are dentists prescribing too many unnecessary antibiotics?
In-depth study shows 80% of patients were prescribed “unnecessary” antibiotics according to evidence-based guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis. Let’s take a closer look. Author – Thomas
FDA Warns NSAID Use After 20 Weeks of Pregnancy Could Lead to Complications
In its Drug Safety Communication, dated 10/15/2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that manufacturers of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) will be required to
FDA issues warning about dangerous “Benadryl Challenge” seen on social media.
Recently, a “Benadryl Challenge” posted on the social media application TikTok has prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a Drug Safety
New Asthma Indication for Triple-Ingredient Inhaler May Increase Orosystemic Complications
Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the supplemental New Drug Application for Trelegy Ellipta® for the maintenance treatment of asthma in patients aged
Periodontal Disease and Increased Risk of Colon Cancer
A new study, published in Cancer Prevention Research, indicates that periodontal disease is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Previous studies have pointed
Vaping linked to increased COVID-19 risk in teens and young adults
A recent study, published online Aug. 11, 2020 in the Journal of Adolescent Health, found that vaping is linked to a substantially increased risk of
Vitamins and Dietary Supplements For the Prevention of COVID-19?
While evidence continues to support that certain behaviors, such as maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet, wearing a mask, and washing hands frequently are
Naloxone Updates
Update: FDA now recommends prescribing naloxone and requires new labeling changes for opioids In its Drug Safety Communication from July 23, 2020, the Food and
Azithromycin Use and The Risk of Cardiovascular and Non-Cardiovascular Death
A recent study, published online in JAMA Network Open on June 17, 2020, found a statistically significantly increased relative risk and absolute risk of cardiovascular
Gabapentinoids and Potential Respiratory Depression with Dental Drugs
The FDA continues to warn practitioners that respiratory depression may occur in patients taking the drugs gabapentin or pregabalin, especially patients who are also predisposed
Opioid Analgesics vs. Non-Opioid Analgesics For Post-Extraction Dental Pain
A recent study, published in March 2020 in JAMA Network Open, sought to understand the differences in patient-reported outcomes between patients who used opioids and
Acetaminophen/Ibuprofen Combo Coming This Year–At Last
As pharmaceutical companies continue their search for non-opioid pain relief, we’ve made solid, evidence-based progress, and one of the most consistent research findings is this:
Oral Antibiotics and Cancer Risk: Is There A Link?
When we talk about the oral-systemic connection, we’re really talking about a subsystem of the human body itself. And while we frequently think of ourselves
Colchicine: Ancient Anti-Inflammatory Could Prevent Atherosclerosis Like Aspirin (But at What Price?)
As long as 3,500 years ago, the plant source of the drug we now know as colchicine was already being described as a source of
“I Want A New Drug:” OTC Inhaler Abuse
As in the period of transition that followed the end of alcohol Prohibition, the medical community will need to adjust its approach to screening and
Blood Thinners, Anti-Inflammatories, Supplements, & Bleeding: A Danger Zone
Polypharmacy. That’s a big word used among health care professionals, and it describes a pernicious, complicated, subtle syndrome: Little imbalances and unintended consequences that can
Vitamin E Acetate, EVALI, and A Higher Death Risk in Older Patients
When a few initially “isolated” cases of vaping-associated lung injury were recognized as a wider-spread phenomenon earlier this summer, epidemiologists at the US Centers for
Does Soda Really Rot Your Teeth? And Make You Fat? Surprise…(or Not!)
Sometimes health research dazzles us with stunning new insights and novel correlations that crack open unimagined vistas. The headlines blare unusual, creative connections, showing us
Benzocaine Can Give A Whole New Meaning to “Blue Blood”
When a 25-year-old woman showed up in a Rhode Island emergency room reporting that she was fatigued, weak, and short of breath—and that her skin