How many teeth have you lost? The number of teeth we have could tell us how long we'll live

Tooth loss can be used as a major predictor to somebody's life expectancy, according to new research.

The research, published in the Periodontology 20001, found that the number of teeth we lose can be a key indicator to our quality of life and that those who have a full set of teeth when they are 74 are significantly more likely to reach 100 years old2. 

The study shows that there was a clear evidence that tooth loss is closely related to ‘stress' during a person's lifetime. This includes a person's specific social, emotional, economic and educational experiences as well as health issues such as chronic disease, genetic conditions, nutritional intake and lifestyle choices. 

Evidence showed that people who had lost five or more teeth by the age of 65 were also more likely to suffer from other serious health issues such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis which could severely limit a person's life expectancy. Many of these illnesses have been previously linked to as person's quality of life and their socio-economic status.

With such a close relationship between our oral health and quality of life, leading health charity, the Oral Health Foundation, is encouraging people to ensure they pay close attention to the health of their mouth and visit their dental team regularly to check for any signs of disease which could lead to tooth loss.

Speaking on the issue Dr Nigel Carter OBE, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation, said: "There are many reasons why somebody can lose their teeth, it could be down to trauma, smoking or just a continued poor oral health routine, it can also be related to gum disease which is closely linked to health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. 

"What this piece of research suggests is that tooth loss can often be a signifier of a poor quality of other areas of a person's lifestyle and therefore a higher likelihood of someone having health issues because of this.

"Importantly it also shows that diseases associated with tooth loss, such as gum disease, can also contribute to an increased risk of life limiting diseases.

"It is very evident that what is going on in our mouths can really be a useful window to our overall health. It is therefore vital that we take proper care of our mouth and pay close attention to what is happening as it could be a sign of something more serious."

The charity is urging people to abide by three simple rules for looking after their oral health; brush your teeth last thing at night and at least one other time during the day with a fluoride toothpaste; cut down on the amount of sugary foods and drinks and how often you have them and visiting your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend, by doing so it is possible to help prevent disease, not only in the mouth but the whole body too.

Dr Carter added; "Tooth loss itself comes with its own problems, it can lead to issues with eating and therefore a person's ongoing nutrition and even create problems with their ability to communicate. 

"We welcome more research into this matter as it may be a way to detect and prevent diseases related to tooth loss and other serious systemic diseases."

Using selfies to help improve tooth-brushing techniques

The next time you brush your teeth, consider capturing the action on your cell phone -- and sharing it with your dentist. The results might provide you with a better shine and fewer cavities by helping you learn to brush more effectively.

This was the initial finding from a pilot study to investigate tooth-brushing behavior and to see how it may change after training. Inventors have been intrigued by devices to measure toothbrushing for years, but only now with the wide availability of smartphones, sensors and other wireless technologies have they had the opportunity to measure the behavior in real-time and in the real-world, where it counts.

An expert in health tracking technology, University of Rhode Island Associate Professor of Psychology Theodore Walls was asked to participate in the study, particularly to assist with the behavioral data analysis. In partnership with the Case Western Reserve University, School of Dental Medicine, the study was facilitated by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and conducted in India. With his combined background in statistics, movement and behavior, Walls said: "By tracking people's health behaviors, we have the opportunity to detect important patterns with statistics and, in turn, intervene to help people with technology or other interventions."

For this study, participants used stands to hold their smartphones and film themselves as they brushed their teeth. Even though the period of time for which the participants brushed did not change, the data suggested some improvement in their skill after the images were shown to dentists. The brush strokes were noted to be more accurate and increased in number. The study was published in the Indian Journal of Dental Research, July 2016.

"We've used similar techniques to track smoking behaviors -- using tools that indicate when someone is smoking and how much, and where to set up early warning systems to prevent a behavior. Although the selfie concept is being used in a variety of health applications, we think this is the first time it's been put to use to assess how people are brushing their teeth," said Walls. "People recording themselves as they brush might help to improve dental hygiene."

So open wide, and take out your cell phone as you brush!

Madan Kumar PD, Mohandoss AA, Walls T, Rooban T, Vernon LT. Using smartphone video “selfies” to monitor change in toothbrushing behavior after a brief intervention: A pilot study. Indian J Dent Res, 2016;27:268-77, 

Training to become a scuba diver? Start at the dentist

Scuba divers may want to stop by their dentist's office before taking their next plunge. A new pilot study found that 41 percent of divers experienced dental symptoms in the water, according to new research from the University at Buffalo.

Due to the constant jaw clenching and fluctuations in the atmospheric pressure underwater, divers may experience symptoms that range from tooth, jaw and gum pain to loosened crowns and broken dental fillings.

Recreational divers should consider consulting with their dentist before diving if they recently received dental care, says Vinisha Ranna, BDS, lead author and a student in the UB School of Dental Medicine.

"Divers are required to meet a standard of medical fitness before certification, but there are no dental health prerequisites," says Ranna, who is also a certified stress and rescue scuba diver.

"Considering the air supply regulator is held in the mouth, any disorder in the oral cavity can potentially increase the diver's risk of injury. A dentist can look and see if diving is affecting a patient's oral health."

The study, "Prevalence of dental problems in recreational SCUBA divers," was published last month in the British Dental Journal.

The research was inspired by Ranna's first experience with scuba diving in 2013. Although she enjoyed being in the water, she couldn't help but notice a squeezing sensation in her teeth, a condition known as barodontalgia.

Published research on dental symptoms experienced while scuba diving is scarce or focuses largely on military divers, says Ranna, so she crafted her own study. She created an online survey that was distributed to 100 certified recreational divers. Those who were under 18-years-old, ill or taking decongestant medication were excluded.

Her goal was to identify the dental symptoms that divers experience and detect trends in how or when they occur.

Of the 41 participants who reported dental symptoms, 42 percent experienced barodontalgia, 24 percent described pain from holding the air regulator in their mouths too tightly and 22 percent reported jaw pain.

Another five percent noted that their crowns were loosened during their dive, and one person reported a broken dental filling.

"The potential for damage is high during scuba diving," says Ranna, who has completed 60 dives.

"The dry air and awkward position of the jaw while clenching down on the regulator is an interesting mix. An unhealthy tooth underwater would be much more obvious than on the surface. One hundred feet underwater is the last place you want to be with a fractured tooth."

The study also found that pain was most commonly reported in the molars and that dive instructors, who require the highest level of certification, experienced dental symptoms most frequently. This frequency is likely attributed to more time spent at shallower depths where the pressure fluctuations are the greatest, says Ranna.

The Professional Association of Diving Instructors has issued more than 24 million certifications around the world. As scuba diving gains popularity as a recreational sport, Ranna hopes to see oral health incorporated into the overall health assessments for certification.

Patients should ensure that dental decay and restorations are addressed before a dive, and mouthpiece design should be evaluated by manufacturers to prevent jaw discomfort, particularly when investigating symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder in divers, says Ranna.

Additional investigators on the study include Hans Malmstrom, DDS, professor; Sangeeta Gajendra, DDS, associate professor; Changyong Feng, PhD, associate professor; and Michael Yunker, DDS, assistant professor, all of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Ranna is conducting a follow-up study with an expanded group of more than 1,000 participants.

Dental Council of India stops dental colleges in India

Dental college proposals to be scraped due to dearth of job opportunities in BDS.

Due to dearth of job opportunities for students opting for BDS, a course in medical for dentistry,  India has made a decision to stop all dental colleges. The firm decision was taken by the Dental Council of India (DCI), the body that grants permission to establishments of new medical/dental institutes.

The decision was a result of several existing colleges, that wanted to scrap all requests for new institutes in the country. Apart from this, shortage of jobs in the dental sector has led to such a firm decision.

Statistics of Bachelors in Dental Surgery (BDS) in India:

• With about 309 dental colleges in the country, 26,000 dentists graduate every year

• In 1970, only 8000 students graduated

• In 2004, there was one dentist per 10,000 people in urban India, however, there was only one dentist per 2.5 lakh in rural India

• In 2010, the number of dentists went up to as high as 30, 570

• It is likely in 2020, that India has a surplus of about 1 lakh dentists in the country.

What do dignitaries have to say about the issue?

• DCI member and dean of Government Dental College Dr. Mansing Pawar said,  "It would be a good idea to consolidate our numbers now and strengthen the existing institutes"

• "Mushrooming of dental colleges in the past few years in India has led to unemployment among Indian dentists. Thousands of dentists are coming out every year with very low prospects of jobs", said Namrata Dagli, a student, in one of her papers, 'Increasing Unemployment in dental graduates'

• "Over the years, we have created a huge manpower of dentists and job avenues have shrunk. There is not much opportunity for today's passouts, except if they want to start their own practice, which too isn't easy. It needs money, space, infrastructure and the right attitude", said former acting president of DCI, Dr. Mahesh Verma.

Indian dentist gets real lucky; extracts the ‘world’s longest tooth’

Something spectacular was in store for this Vadodara-based dentist when he decided to conduct a surgical procedure on a young college student.

Surprises primarily come in two dimensions. While one of it is unpleasant and can shove us into a state of dejection, the other can instantly get us on cloud nine. Something spectacular was in store for the Vadodara-based dentist, Dr Jaimin Patel, when he decided to conduct a surgical procedure on a young college student. What began as a routine procedure of removing a canine tooth soon turned into a moment that he would cherish all his life – one that could, in all likelihood, earn him a place in the prestigious Guinness Book of World Records.

How Prepared Are You for a Medical Emergency?

“Medical Emergency Mastery” was designed to take the guesswork out of emergency preparedness. It empowers general dentists and their staffs to recognize and manage medical emergencies in their office through (1) an expertly crafted medical history, (2) a targeted emergency drug kit specifically for general dentists and (3) staff emergency training that is reproducible for staffs of any size. This three-pronged approach will prepare you to proactively lead your staff, protect your patients and give you the peace of mind you have earned.

#1: A properly constructed Medical History

A thorough medical history is the single most significant diagnostic tool.The majority of dentists purchase pre-packaged medical questionnaires that are far too generic and ask questions in an alphabetic type order (such as asthma, allergy, angina etc.). These questions require the practitioner to look at each question, determine if the response is acceptable and then ask an appropriate follow-up question. What if we forget the next right question? What if we don’t know the next question? What if we’re too busy?

The medical history should be constructed to include questions that you believe are relevant to your patient population, asked in a way that will give you maximum access to the information.

The questions can be divided into three sections

1. physical systems
2. psychological systems
3. dental experiences       

The patient is requested to complete their form prior to the first visit, so the dentist has adequate time to review it. (If the patient doesn’t have a computer or doesn’t have the opportunity to complete it, the information can be obtained in the office.) The dentist or reviewing staff member is able to review the completed health history, highlight areas of concern and question the patient in greater detail prior to the initiation of dental treatment. This allows you to assess the overall health of your patients more effectively, and prevent potential medical emergencies.

#2: A properly constructed Emergency Drug Kit

Construct an emergency drug kit specifically for general dentists or specialists not providing sedation. I simplified the components of this drug kit to reflect the drugs used to treat the seven most commonly occurring medical emergencies in the dental office: syncope, hypoglycemia, asthma, mild allergic reaction, severe allergic reaction, angina, and heart attack.

The drug name, dosage and how to adminster need to be labelled and stocked in waterproof container.Many dentist know the theory part but into action it become worse.

#3: A properly trained and empowered staff

The Doctor’s primary role is to remain with the patient, direct the response efforts, maintain the patient’s airway, administer CPR, if necessary, and direct the administration of emergency drugs.

The primary responder will be the staff member with the most dental or emergency experience. She should have experience in recognizing the signs of an emergency and be knowledgeable in their treatment. She will know the location of all the emergency drugs, equipment and their use. This responder will follow only the Doctor’s direction. After receiving instructions from the Doctor, she will direct a second responder to be on standby to notify 911 and prepare for emergency intervention. The call to 911 will be placed only when requested by the Doctor.

It is impossible to predict what will occur in our practice on a daily basis. The medical emergencies will happen to each one of us. The shape, form and fashion will be unique to your patient population—but no matter what, you are responsible for your reaction to them.

Dental Emergencies

Here are three common dental emergencies that people suffer from and what you should do if you think you are suffering from one of these problems..

Losing a Tooth

An accidental trauma will normally be the cause if you unexpectedly lose an adult tooth. If that is the cause, there are certain steps that you’ll need to take to try and save this lost tooth. If you can find the tooth, use the crown to pick it up and not the root. It’s important to keep the root as clean and free from germs as possible, so as to avoid any infections further down the line.

Keep the tooth safe, placing it in a saline solution if you can, before finding the nearest dentist straight away. The main thing you need to try and do in this scenario is to keep the tooth moist and clean until the dentist can place it back into your gum. Should the tooth dry out before it’s placed back, it might not be as healthy, which could lead to issues later on.

Cracking a Tooth – What Should You Do?

Excruciating pain can be caused if you break or crack a tooth, with some of the worst cracks leaving sensitive nerves exposed. If you do crack your tooth, there are a number of things you can do to control the pain and to help your dentist repair the damage as best they can.

As soon as you know that you’ve cracked your tooth, use warm water to rinse your mouth out, replacing the water regularly. If there is blood, use gauze (or a warm teabag) and apply gentle pressure to the area until it stops. Use cold packs on the outside of your face if you experience any swelling and take over-the-counter painkillers to reduce the pain you’re in. Then, get in touch with your dentist immediately.

When you visit your dentist, they’ll be able to tell you if a cavity or trauma has caused the break, and they’ll also be able to tell if any blood vessels or nerves have been damaged. Then, they’ll proceed with the best course of action to save as much of your tooth as they can.

Persistent Toothache – What Should You Do?

There is nothing worse than a toothache that won’t go away and a persistent toothache can soon become debilitating. There are a number of reasons why this may occur, from a foreign object that’s got stuck in your gum to a tiny fracture that’s not visible. Whatever the reason for pain, there are a few ways that you can manage your toothache.

First, to keep bacteria at bay, rinse your mouth out with warm salt water; this will also help to soothe the temperature of your tooth. Floss around the tooth that’s aching to make sure there’s no debris caught between it and another tooth or the gum. Sometimes a toothache can be caused when a little piece of food has gotten lodged somewhere and it puts pressure on the tooth and/or gums, causing the pain you’re experiencing. However, if this doesn’t remove the ache, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers and use a cold pack on your face.

If the pain has been caused by something that’s gotten stuck in your teeth, you’ll probably be able to sort this problem out at home and you won’t need to seek a dentist’s advice. However, if the problem doesn’t go away and you don’t know what’s causing it, you should book an appointment with your dentist. They’ll then be able to advise you on what is causing the pain and will tell you what options there are to resolve it.

So, even though you don’t want to think about any of these things happening, by being prepared it’ll help you deal with the situation quickly and effectively, achieving the best possible outcome for your teeth. And, as mentioned in every dentist emergency, it’s important to get in touch with your dentist as soon as you can so they can help resolve your pain and discomfort as soon as possible. If you leave any of these dental traumas for longer than you should, it could result in further problems and even tooth loss.