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Recent studies have found that dental professionals do not readily have access to their patients’ complete health record. This potentially causes problems, and can mean proper precautions are not taken into consideration ahead of dental treatment. Other research found that linking medical and dental records was possible, could be easily implemented – and very effective in terms of improving treatment outcomes.

In order to provide the best levels of care for their patients, dental professionals would need to have access to each person’s complete electronic health record. This would include prescriptions, laboratory test results and other useful information.

By doing so, dental professionals could provide safe care for the patient, prevent some dental conditions and provide strong treatment outcomes. But unfortunately, this isn’t the case.

Instead, dental professionals have limited information about the overall health of their patients. Recent studies have shown that this is causing many problems, and that it would be highly effective if dental professionals did have access to full patient health records.

The Current State

Currently, dental professionals do not readily have access to the electronic health records of patients. Instead, they just have internal records. Therefore, they have very little idea on the overall health of each patient – they are reliant on their patients to provide details on their own health.

One study that was completed in the last month looked at how the current system works. The study was completed by the Regenstrief Institute and the Indiana University School of Dentistry [1].

They looked at a range of dental clinics to see how, or if, they accessed their patients’ electronic health records. The findings were rather worrying. They determined overall that in most cases, the records aren’t available to dental professionals [1].

They found that in the rare cases where dental clinics do have access to health records, that they don’t receive the answers in a timely manner [1]. For example, the researchers found that information requested to Hospitals or other general health facilities typically arrived 7-10 days after it had first been requested [1]. However, 30% of the requests analyzed took even longer [1].

Lead author of the study, Thankam P. Thyvalikakath of the Regenstrief Institute, commented on the findings [2]. He stated that a dental professional “may need to confirm a list of medical considerations; for example, that there is no contraindication to a patient sitting in a chair for a lengthy procedure or whether a patient is taking any medication that could put them at risk for excessive bleeding during a tooth extraction or other procedure” [2].

Carrying on, Thyvalikakath said that health professionals should not “be relying on inefficient, paper-based methods for sharing patient information” [2]. This study provides an overview of the problems with the current state of record-sharing.

Study puts a model into practice

Another study from earlier in 2022 put a “Health Information Exchange” into practice for a number of dental clinics. The researchers provided dental professionals with instant access to the medical records of their patients.

The dental professionals found it to be very helpful, and aided them in choosing the correct treatment options. This ensured that favorable treatment outcomes were possible [3].

The same study found that there are some large healthcare organizations that provide both dental and medical care for their patients – allowing them to integrate records [3]. But this isn’t suitable for smaller dental clinics.

Upon conclusion, the authors believed that a Health Information Exchange would greatly benefit the dental professionals [3]. They also pointed to how such an approach could be easily integrated electronically, and added into existing dental systems [3].

Thyvalikakth, who was also the main author for this research, commented [2]. He said that “delays in receiving medical information can require dental treatment to be postponed, sometimes to the detriment of the patient’s health and convenience” [2].

He made the recommendation that “the exchange of information process should be two-way—in addition to the medical record informing dental care, dental records can inform medical care” [2].

Why it would help

Linking dental and general health records would have several benefits. For example, arguably the most important benefit would be more informed treatment decisions. Therefore, we would surely see an improvement in treatment outcomes.

If such an approach went ahead, then a range of dental professionals could have access to health records. For example, these may include dentists, oral surgeons, periodontists, endodontists and dental hygienists.

An example could be the antidepressant class of medicines. Those who take antidepressants will often have a dry mouth as a side effect. Dry mouth is very bad for oral health, as there is a lack of saliva to help clear bacteria and remove acid. But a patient would probably not know about the link of dry mouth and dental problems – meaning they wouldn’t normally tell their dentist about their prescription.

However, if a dentist knew about this, they could take extra precautions in treatment and educate their patient. This example is especially relevant, with 13.2% of American adults taking antidepressants regularly [4]. Moreover, a staggering 17% of adults in the United Kingdom take antidepressants regularly [5].

The more knowledge that the dental professional has – the better. They would be able to take the overall health of their patient into account – helping them to make decisions which would provide patients with appropriate treatment that can improve their oral and overall physical health.

Thinking points…

1) Hopefully in the future we will see more examples of linked records. But preferably, your oral health will be healthy to the extent that you won’t need treatment. The best way to keep problem-free is to have excellent oral hygiene. For example, a crucial part of this is attending a dental clinic at least twice a year for a check-up. Any problems can be detected and acted upon – we recommend booking an appointment as soon as possible!

2) Do you take any medications or have any underlying health conditions? You may not realize, but it can actually effect your oral health. When you next attend your dental clinic, be sure to tell your dentist about relevant physical health conditions. Therefore, this will help them to tailor your care accordingly, and take any conditions into account when choosing treatments. Consider booking a check-up soon, where you can inform your dentist.

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provide their patients with advice, a comfortable experience and treatment to improve oral health where needed.

Importantly, we recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing regularly. Moreover, eating healthily and trying to avoid sugary foods and drink is helpful.

We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a regular dental check-up. When problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals.

Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Many people find that these treatments have a positive impact on your appearance, confidence and self-esteem.

In addition, all of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.

We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.

References

[1] Li, S., Williams, K. S., Medam, J. K., Patel, J. S., Gonzalez, T., & Thyvalikakath, T. P. (2022). Retrospective Study of the Reasons and Time Involved for Dental Providers’ Medical Consults. Frontiers in Digital Health. 4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2022.838538.

[2] Regenstrief Institute. (2022). Linking medical and dental records could improve dental patient safety, preventive care, and treatment outcomes. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-06-linking-medical-dental-patient-safety.html. Last accessed: 13th June 2022.

[3] Li, S., Rajapuri, A. S., Gomez, G. G. F., Schleyer, T., Mendonca, E. A., & Thyvalikakath, T. P. (2022). How Do Dental Clinicians Obtain Up-To-Date Patient Medical Histories? Modeling Strengths, Drawbacks, and Proposals for Improvements. Frontiers in Digital Health. 4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2022.847080.

[4] Brody, D. J., & Gu, Q. (2020). Antidepressant Use Among Adults: United States, 2015-2018. Available: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db377.htm. Last accessed: 13th June 2022.

[5] Public Health England. (2020). Prescribed medicines review: summary. Available: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prescribed-medicines-review-report/prescribed-medicines-review-summary. Last accessed: 13th June 2022.

New research has found that eating problems are common among the elderly, especially in those with a poor appetite and lack of teeth. The problems include swallowing, chewing and general appetite difficulties. These eating problems are linked to oral health. Therefore, this research shows again the importance of good oral health.

New research has looked into eating problems, which is very common among older adults. The study has analyzed eating problems among those aged 75 and older.

Eating problems are inherently linked to oral health. The study found that poor appetite, chewing problems, swallowing and denture-related eating difficulties were very common.

This study shows the importance of good oral health. By having strong oral health, it gives us a decreased chance of having eating problems in the future.

Background

The mouth plays a crucial part in our overall health. For example, disregarding our oral health can result in mouth problems like gum disease and cavities.

Then, the mouth is also important for chewing and swallowing. In turn, these are crucial areas for overall health. Without eating properly, our overall health will worsen.

To have a balanced diet, it is important to be able to eat, chew and swallow as intended. This all points towards the importance of general oral health.

The study

The research outlined above was part of the ongoing Nutrition, Oral Health and Medication study at the University of Eastern Finland. Subsequently, the findings were reported on in the journal Clinical and Experimental Dental Research [1].

The study involved 250 people aged 75 and older who resided in Eastern Finland. Finland is well-known for its high quality of life. For example, the organisation Social Progress Index, which measures quality of life across 160 countries, says Finland is the 2nd best country in the world to live [2]. Therefore, those partaking in this study come from a nation where health and life expectancy are strong.

The participants were interviewed by health professionals including a pharmacist, clinical nutritionist and a dental hygienist [2]. This allowed the authors to get a strong picture of the participants.

The researchers aimed to find out the extent and causes of eating problems. Eating problems were divided into four areas:

• Loss of appetite

• Chewing problems

• Swallowing problems

• Eating problems relating to teeth or dentures

What were the results?

There were some interesting findings. The findings were rather worrying, and shows that oral health is certainly an area which needs to be improved upon.

Nearly 30% of the participants reported having a poor appetite [1]. 20% of the participants had chewing problems. Furthermore, 14% had swallowing difficulties. Finally, almost 20% reported eating problems relating to teeth or dentures [1].

The researchers noted that nearly all of those with issues had a poor nutritional diet – according to the Clinical Nutritionist [1]. Moreover, they also had a decreased food intake compared to those without problems [1].

Those with no teeth had further problems. For instance, this group had a higher chance of chewing issues and general oral health problems [1].

Those with existing oral health problems were also likelier to report problems with chewing and swallowing [1]. Participants with toothache or denture issues were also likelier to report having eating problems [1].

It is also worth mentioning that the researchers found a clear link between taking multiple prescribed medications and oral health-related eating problems [1]. This may be linked to dry mouth – which is a common side effect of many medicines.

What this study shows

This study underlines the importance of oral health. It also shows that we should get into good oral health habits from a young age, as it will help us in the future. After all, we only get one set of teeth in adulthood!

Annina Salmi, one of the authors, discussed the findings [3]. Salmi said “in this study, loss of appetite was the most common finding, suggesting that eating problems are multifaceted” [3].

Looking to the future, Salmi said that “it is important for older people to maintain good oral health because it affects eating” [3].

Thinking points…

1) It is so important to get into good oral health habits during adulthood to aid your mouth’s health in your later years. Therefore, it is crucial to brush your teeth regularly and try to avoid sugary food and drink. Most importantly, it is vital that you attend a dental clinic at least twice a year for a check-up. Any problems can be identified and treated early – resulting in an enhanced chance of treatment success. We recommend booking an appointment now!

2) This study mentions the impact that our diet has on both our oral and overall health. Take a moment to think about your diet – is it nutritious? It may be worth speaking to a dentist about your diet, as they can discuss any actions that may be harming your teeth. A regular check-up would be a good starting point for this. Why not book one now!

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a Calgary Dental Clinic that provide their patients with advice, a comfortable experience and treatment to improve oral health where needed.

Importantly, we recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing regularly. Moreover, eating healthily and trying to avoid sugary foods and drink is helpful.

We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a regular dental check-up. When problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals.

Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Many people find that these treatments have a positive impact on your appearance, confidence and self-esteem.

In addition, all of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.

We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic/ca.

References

[1] Salmi, A., Komulainen, K., Nihtila, A., Tihonen, M., Nykanen, I., Hartikainen, S., & Suominen, A. L. (2022). Eating problems among old home care clients. Clinical and Experimental Dental Research. (Pre-publication release). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cre2.585.

[2] Social Progress Index. (2021). 2021 Social Progress Index Map: Finland. Available: https://www.socialprogress.org/?tab=2&code=FIN. Last accessed: 4th June 2022.

[3] University of Eastern Finland. (2022). Eating problems are common among older home care clients. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-06-problems-common-older-home-clients.html. Last accessed: 4th June 2022.

We all use our toothbrush a lot, and it helps us to maintain healthy teeth, fight off bacteria and protect our gums. But many people are unsure of which type of toothbrush they should use, as well as questions over when to replace toothbrush heads, and the topic of bristles. Now, a dental professional has answered these questions and provided general guidance, which is useful for us all.

The toothbrush is the main tool that we use for our oral health. It is what we use each day to clean our teeth, with the aim of keeping harmful bacteria and tooth decay at bay.

Despite its importance, not many people put a lot of thought into their toothbrush. Instead, most people just use it, put it away and pick it up again later in the day – before the cycle repeats.

But in actual fact, it is important to think about our toothbrush. This includes knowing when to swap one toothbrush for another, whether a manual or electric brush is better, and then the question over using hard or soft bristles.

Now, Jane Cotter – Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University’s Caruth School of Dental Hygiene – has spoken about these questions [1]. As an expert in her field, she has been able to provide answers on these areas, which is very useful.

The different choices of toothbrush

The two different types of toothbrushes are electric and manual. Electric toothbrushes are brushes that – as the name suggests – are powered by electric, resulting in rapid and automatic bristle movement. Manual toothbrushes are brushes that a person will use to brush their teeth by hand.

Cotter commented on the different choices. She remarked that “research has consistently shown that electric toothbrushes clean better than manual toothbrushes” [1]. Research affirming this dates all the way back to 1989 [2].

Cotter also mentioned about how electric toothbrushes usually have 2 minute timers, which lets the user know when they have completed the recommended brush time [1]. Many also have pulses at each 30-second interval – with the intention of letting the user know it is time to move onto a new quadrant. These user-friendly features help to ensure that each part of the mouth gets adequate attention.

Going further, there is also the choice between soft and hard bristles. The bristles are found at the head of the brush, and are what actually clean the teeth. Some people prefer harder bristles, while others prefer softer ones.

Cotter recommends that we should use soft-bristled toothbrushes to clean our teeth. Because hard-bristled toothbrushes can potentially damage tooth enamel, it is better to use soft-bristled toothbrushes [1]. However, hard bristles can still be effective if used carefully.

How often should a toothbrush be replaced?

It can be tempting to use a toothbrush until it is completely worn out. However, this isn’t advisable for a number of reasons.

Cotter states that “The American Dental Association recommends that toothbrushes need to be replaced every three months” [1]. She mentioned that if brushes are used for longer than three months, the bristles could become frayed [1]. Therefore, this could lead to damage to the gums.

The three-month timeline mentioned above is applicable to both manual and electric toothbrush heads. We should note that when talking about replacing a toothbrush, we mean the head, rather than the whole brush!

But the three-month period should be seen as a maximum. If there are signs that the brush is becoming worn, is fraying or spreading out, then you should replace it. Cotter points out that “some toothbrushes have bristles that change color over time to help patients know when they need replacing” [1].

A note on toothbrush storage

Something that most of us don’t think of is how to safely store toothbrushes between use. Cotter actually mentions a useful point about the environment in which the toothbrush is located.

According to Cotter, toothbrushes shouldn’t be routinely kept near to those of others. This is because viruses, including cold, flu and the coronavirus, thrive in a moist environment and can spread through physical contact [1]. Therefore, with the mouth being so crucial in all of the above, it can be dangerous for toothbrushes to be near one another.

Commenting on the above, Cotter says that “it is important to store your toothbrush in a vertical, upright position in the open air so that it will dry out between uses”, which “helps control bacterial and fungal growth on the bristles” [1].

Moreover, this is particularly important given how bacteria is a major factor in the development of several oral health conditions. Recent research shows that those who keep their toothbrush clean and use it well host less microbial communities – meaning less bacteria is present [3]. This adds another reason to use the toothbrush both frequently and effectively.

While the above forms the opinion of an expert, everyone needs to find their own way of brushing their teeth in a comfortable way. The evidence does show that soft-bristled electric toothbrushes that have their head changed at least once every three months and kept in the open air – provide optimum benefit to oral health.

Thinking points…

1) Cleaning our teeth is crucial for our oral health, and forms the best way of protecting our teeth. This article provides some great advice in this area. But brushing alone won’t always stop cavities or other problems from forming. Therefore, always keep in regular contact with your dentist, and remember to see them for appointments at least twice a year. If you have not had an appointment recently, we urge you to book an appointment now!

2) This article offers a great chance to reflect on your toothbrush habits. For example, how often do you change your brush head? Or what type of bristle do you use – and where do you keep your brush overnight? Have a think about the above questions, and how they compare to Cotter’s recommendations. It could be worth making some changes, or at least having a discussion with your dentist about practical ways of improving your oral hygiene and brushing.

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provide their patients with advice, a comfortable experience and treatment to improve oral health where needed.

Importantly, we recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing regularly. Moreover, eating healthily and trying to avoid sugary foods and drink is helpful.

We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a regular dental check-up. When problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals.

Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Many people find that these treatments have a positive impact on your appearance, confidence and self-esteem.

In addition, all of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.

We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca .

References

[1] Brock, L. (2022). How to choose a toothbrush and when to throw it out. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-05-toothbrush.html. Last accessed: 20th May 2022.

[2] Boyd, R. L., Murray, P., & Robertson, P. B. (1989). Effect of rotary electric toothbrush versus manual toothbrush on periodontal status during orthodontic treatment. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. 96 (4): p342-347. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0889-5406(89)90354-5.

[3] Blaustein, R. A., Michelitsch, L-M., Glawe, A. J., Lee, H., Huttelmaier, S., Hellgeth, N., Maamar, S. B., & Hartmann, E. M. (2021). Toothbrush microbiomes feature a meeting ground for human oral and environmental microbiota. Microbiome. 9 (32). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-020-00983-x.