Sarah Crow

1 month ago | drbicuspid.com | Melissa Turner |Sarah Crow |Melissa Busch |Amerigo Allegretto

United Concordia Dental and Harmony Health are piloting a saliva test and mobile app aimed at improving dental care access for underserved Pennsylvanians. The test is designed to detect oral health risks like cavities, gum disease, and diabetes. Around 400 patients will use the test either in-office or at home, with artificial intelligence-powered guidance via the app, United Concordia said.

1 month ago | drbicuspid.com | Sarah Crow |Melissa Busch |Amerigo Allegretto |Melissa Turner

Oral testing is trending this year among both patients and dental practitioners. Having been introduced to salivary testing through platforms like 23andMe and Ancestry.com, dental patients are understanding firsthand how oral tests can uncover mysteries within their bodies. With the rise of new salivary, plaque, and cellular tests in the dental industry, dental practitioners have more questions than ever about which ones to offer their patients.

2 months ago | drbicuspid.com | Melissa Busch |Ava Barros |Sarah Crow |Kevin Henry

Oral cancer patients may show different bacteria, viruses, and fungi in their saliva, suggesting an imbalance in the microbiota may aid in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), according to the American Society for Microbiology. Furthermore, OSCC may disrupt age- and gender-related saliva microbiome patterns, according to a press release dated January 28 from the society.

2 months ago | drbicuspid.com | Ava Barros |Melissa Busch |Sarah Crow |Kevin Henry

Patients diagnosed with oral cancer experience substantial psychological distress with more than 1 in 10 reporting having suicidal thoughts and a small number reportedly attempting suicide. The systematic review was published on January 26 in BMC Oral Health. Risk factors for suicide attempts and ideation in these patients include depression and dysphoria, the authors wrote.

Dec 2, 2024 | drbicuspid.com | Melissa Busch |Sarah Crow |Kevin Henry |Karie Neeley Anderson

Low dental health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at the time of head and neck cancer diagnosis may be associated with worse survival outcomes. This research was published in mid-November in BMC Oral Health. Additionally, alveolar bone loss (ABL) associated with periodontitis may predict decreased long-term survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients, the authors wrote.