Sharks May Have the Healthiest Teeth in the Animal Kingdom

Sharks May Have the Healthiest Teeth in the Animal Kingdom

You’d think with all those seals, fish and the occasional surf board, sharks’ teeth would be a mass of cavities and bad dental hygiene. Not the case. Sharks may have the healthiest teeth in the animal kingdom, it turns out. Scientists just found that their pearly whites contain fluoride, the active ingredient in most toothpastes and mouthwashes.

Be a Part of FDA's New Mentorship Program

Be a Part of FDA's New Mentorship Program

This month the Florida Dental Association is rolling out a ambitious new mentorship program. The program is aimed at helping dental students and new dentists gain practical and professional exposure to dentistry though experienced member dentists.  In order for it to be successful, it will require the participation of experienced dentists willing to donate their time and expertise.

New peanut allergy prevention guidelines start in infancy

New peanut allergy prevention guidelines start in infancy

An article published by CNN states that peanut allergy affects about 2% of the children in the United States, and those numbers appear to be growing. 

A serious peanut allergy can lead to anaphylaxis and, rarely, even death, which means some parents avoided introducing peanuts to their children.But on Thursday, an expert panel published new guidelines about when to introduce some infants to peanut-containing foods as a way to prevent food allergies, a technique validated by the Learning Early About Peanut allergy, or LEAP, study.

Your Dental Benefits: Use Them or Lose Them

Your Dental Benefits: Use Them or Lose Them

When it comes to dental benefit plans, millions of people each year are ringing in the New Year leaving money on the table. According to the National Association of Dental Plans, only 2.8% of people with PPO dental plan participants reached or exceeded their plans annual maximum. Many people also have Flexible Spending Accounts, which help pay for dental and medical care with pre-tax dollars.

Treating Anxious Patients

Treating Anxious Patients

Treating anxious patients is nothing new to dentists.  However, I have always been astonished by how much a patient’s anxiety affected me while treating them.  Despite my best efforts, it is difficult to separate my anxiety from their’s when a patient is rude, short, squirming, or crying while under going treatment.  I believe that part of our humanity is in our ability to be empathetic. Because of this I would imagine (and hope) that many clinicians feel their own anxiety as we treat scared and fearful patients.  As dentists we need to have a strong understanding of what anxiety is, how a patient’s anxiety can affect us and the efficacy of our treatment, how it can affect our practice economically, and how it can impact our own stress level.