-
1 month ago | 
rdhmag.com | Anne Rice
There are many, many reasons to keep the gums healthy, and now add the blood-brain barrier to the list. What is this, and how do you explain it to your patients?
-
Jan 14, 2025 | 
rdhmag.com | Anne Rice
A recent class action lawsuit filed in September (Vasseur v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc., No. 2:24-cv-7487 [C.D. Cal. filed 2024]) has the dental community abuzz. The lawsuit alleges that a common mouthwash misleads consumers of its potential for proliferation of harmful bacteria through regular use of the product. Recently, clinicians are beginning to question and try to understand that ingredients in antimicrobials might not get their patients to the disease-free end game they’re looking for.
-
Nov 11, 2024 | 
rdhmag.com | Anne Rice
Rapamycin, also known as sirolimus, is a fascinating drug with a history as intriguing as its potential applications. Initially discovered in the soil of Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, rapamycin was originally prized for its antifungal properties.1 However, its influence extends far beyond that, impacting everything from organ transplantation to the latest antiaging research. Recent studies have begun exploring its potential benefits for oral health, which could open new avenues for dental medicine.
-
Nov 5, 2024 | 
rdhmag.com | Anne Rice
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), or ubiquinone, is a naturally occurring coenzyme found in almost every cell of the human body. It plays a role in energy production and acts as a powerful antioxidant. Although it's most often associated with heart health and cellular energy, CoQ10 has garnered increasing attention for its benefits in oral health.
-
Oct 2, 2024 | 
rdhmag.com | Anne Rice
Theobromine is a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant and is found in chocolate. It is structurally similar to caffeine but differentiated from caffeine by only one methyl group. It belongs to a class of compounds known as methylxanthines and is often associated with the pleasurable and stimulant effects of chocolate consumption. Theobromine acts as a mild stimulant and vasodilator. Its chemical formula is C7H8N4O2.
-
Aug 20, 2024 | 
rdhmag.com | Anne Rice
Editor's note: This is part two of a two-part series. Read part one here. Welcome back! The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the association between periodontitis and systemic diseases has garnered increasing attention over the past decade. Periodontal tissue, like other bodily tissues, relies on mitochondrial function for the energy production necessary for maintenance and repair. Impairment of their function can compromise the integrity and health of tissues.
-
Aug 6, 2024 | 
rdhmag.com | Anne Rice
While admiring the stunning smile of Simone Biles, I couldn't stop my 35-year dental veteran self from thinking about Olympic athletes and their oral health. I’ve not had the privilege of treating an Olympian, and I suspect most dental hygienists can say the same. One of the earliest attempts to assess the oral health of elite athletes was a 1968 pilot study. Conducted by J. O.
-
Jul 5, 2024 | 
rdhmag.com | Anne Rice
Editor's note: This is part one of two. The continuous presence of periodontal pathogens, alongside the body’s immune reaction, prompts the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). This sequence results in the deterioration of collagen fibers, loss of alveolar bone, and weakening of the periodontal ligament. However, the impact extends beyond oral health.
-
Jun 1, 2024 | 
rdhmag.com | Anne Rice
Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), a key pathogen in periodontitis, possesses a range of virulence factors that aid its colonization in the gingival sulcus and lead to the onset of disease. Virulence factors of Pg encompass polysaccharide capsules, lipopolysaccharides, fimbriae, hemagglutinins, vesicles, outer membrane proteins, IgA and IgG proteases, and cysteine proteinases along with their associated adhesins.
-
Jun 1, 2024 | 
rdhmag.com | Anne Rice
Spectrum, a pioneering salivary diagnostic company, is poised to transform dental care with SimplyPERIO. By harnessing the power of saliva, SimplyPERIO is changing the way oral diseases are detected, monitored, and managed. Founded on the principle of delivering precision medicine to the field of dentistry, SimplyPERIO provides clinicians with advanced tools to better understand and address their patients’ needs.
