Category: Dental Care

New software from a company named Overjet aims to take the guesswork out of dentistry, and provide dentists with a more accurate depiction of a patient’s oral health. This software will enable more accurate treatment decisions to be made. Moreover, treatment outcomes and the overall experience for patients should improve. Therefore, this software has the potential to have a very positive impact on dentistry.

New software from a company named Overjet could result in improved accuracy in terms of interpreting X-rays in dentistry. Their new software represents an exciting development in dentistry.

A problem that has existed in dentistry for many years is that there is an element in guesswork when it comes to X-rays. Dentists often have limited time to interpret X-rays, knowing their patient is sat right next to them, with others waiting outside.

But now, this new software can have a positive impact on oral health. Improved software can lead to dentists making more informed decisions, leading to better treatment outcomes.

X-rays in dentistry

X-rays actually date back to 1895! However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that they were first used in dentistry [1]. Since then, they have become a main fixture in dental clinics.

X-rays provide images of a patient’s teeth. This allows a dentist to evaluate the oral health of their patient. These X-rays result in dentists being able to identify things like cavities, tooth decay and impacted teeth [2].

Once X-rays have been completed, they will appear on the computer used by the dentist. However, these computers aren’t specialized for radiology. Therefore, dentists need to interpret X-rays themselves.

This creates a situation where different dentists may have differing opinions on what treatment should be chosen. Software that improves this situation is badly needed, which is where Overjet comes in.

About Overjet

Overjet is a company that used artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze and annotate X-rays for dentists and insurance providers [3]. Overall, this allows for consistent results across X-rays, effectively removing guesswork for dentists.

To create their software, the company analyzed millions of X-rays which had been used by dental practices around the United States [3]. Then, using AI, the company were able to find consistencies across the millions of X-rays, along with other insights and information. As a result, Overjet have been able to create an strong understanding of X-rays.

The software works simply. X-rays are imported onto a computer, before Overjet’s software annotates and colours the X-rays automatically. The colours will show the overall health of each tooth. For example, Overjet’s software can show the exact level of bone loss, the severity of cavities and more in each tooth [3].

Overjet’s software is also capable of incorporating historical information about each patient, aiding dentists in identifying areas in the mouth that are worsening quicker than other areas [3]. This all provides dentists with strong insights into their patient’s oral health.

Overjet has recently been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to detect cavities in dental care [3]. Moreover, they have also gained approval by the FDA to quantify bone levels in X-rays – which can help dentists to spot the signs of gum disease [3].

The benefits this could have

There is no shortage of benefits that Overjet’s software can have on dentistry. Overjet’s core aim is to improve patient care by providing dentists with more accurate depictions of X-rays [3].

Wardah Inam is the co-founder of Overjet. Inam spoke of how dentists can have differing takes on conditions and their treatment choices [3]. For example, a cavity can be treated with a filling, a crown, a root canal, a bridge and more [3].

Therefore, when patients hear different things from multiple dentists, it can become confusing. Dentists make decisions based on milometers, with very little margin for error. But these X-rays can provide patients with more consistent and accurate results – regardless of the dentist involved [3].

Overjet’s software can also improve the patient experience. By providing clear and coloured annotations, dentists can visually show their patients what is happening in their mouth, which allows them to explain why they are recommending certain treatments.

Inam commented on the software created by her and co-founder Alexander Jelicich [3]. “It’s about moving toward more precision medicine, where we have the right treatments at the right time”, she commented [3].

Continuing, Inam said that this is “where technology can help” [3]. “Once we quantify the disease, we can make it very easy to recommend the right treatment”, Inam stated [3].

Looking ahead to the future, Inam has said that “our mission at Overjet is to improve oral health by creating a future that is clinically precise, efficient, and patient-centric” [3]. Overjet are hoping to integrate their tools directly into dental clinics. Software can easily be added to dental clinics.

Overall, these various areas can greatly improve the patient experience. It will result in better and more accurate treatment outcomes, and is another example of how AI can benefit the dental industry. This software would be very useful for dentists and patients alike.

Thinking points…

1) As mentioned, an X-ray is a very important part of dentistry, given all that it shows dentists. X-rays are a routine element of regular dental check-ups. Therefore, this shows the importance of a regular dental check-up. By seeing your dentist regularly, they can check your overall oral health. We highly recommend booking an appointment soon!

2) It could be a while before this software is implemented at dental clinics. When you next visit your dentist, don’t be afraid to ask for them to explain what the X-ray is showing. By taking an interest in decisions around your treatment, you will be significantly more informed, allowing you to choose the treatment option that is best for you and your circumstances.

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a Calgary Dental Clinic that provide its patients with a range of treatment options and advice aimed at improving oral health.

It is crucial to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to floss regularly. Moreover, eating healthily and trying to avoid sugary foods and drink is important.

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 their 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] Forrai, J. (2007). History of X-ray in dentistry. Revists De Clínica E Pesquisa Odontológica. 3 (3): p205-211. ISSN: 1807-5274.

[2] Frank, C. (2018). Dental X-Rays. Available: https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-x-rays. Last accessed: 1st July 2022.

[3] Winn, Z. (2022). Taking the guesswork out of dental care with artificial intelligence. Available: https://news.mit.edu/2022/overjet-dental-artificial-intelligence-0624. Last accessed: 1st July 2022.

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.

Research has shown that certain foods result in types of bacteria in our mouths that are known to contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. These foods are those with a high sugar and high glycemic level. Moreover, as well as impacting oral health, they also impact our physical health. The results of this research reaffirm the importance of eating healthily and having excellent oral hygiene.

Recent research has looked into the impact that the foods we eat have on the bacteria in our mouths. The collective group of bacterium in our mouths is called the oral microbiome.

Moreover, the research has then considered how the oral microbiome affects our overall health. This includes both oral health and our wider physical health.

The study focused on the impact that sugary foods have. It is already known that such foods are linked to tooth decay. However, the researchers sought to investigate in further detail.

Background

Bacteria inevitably gets into our mouths. Every time we eat, chew, drink or even bite a nail, bacteria enters. In fact, over 700 types of bacteria have been identified in the oral cavity, with humans typically having over 50 types in their mouths at any one time [1].

But not all bacteria is necessarily bad. However, many types of bacteria can be damaging, and are often linked to tooth decay and gum disease.

It is already known that bacteria can also have some physical health consequences. For example, a recent study found that some types of oral bacteria can be linked to hypertension problems in later life [2].

The research focuses on sugary foods and high glycemic foods. The Glycemic index is a system that shows the rates that different foods are broken down in the body [3].

Foods that are high in the glycemic index cause a rapid increase in blood sugar. Therefore, these foods can be considered unhealthy. For example, high glycemic foods include sweets, doughnuts, soft drinks, baked goods and white bread among others [3].

The research

The research was conducted by scientists from the University at Buffalo. Subsequently, their findings were published in the Scientific Reports journal [4].

The researchers sought to investigate whether carbohydrates and sugar were associated with certain oral bacteria. They used a sample of 1,204 women. The data used came courtesy of the Women’s Health Initiative [4].

Samples from the women were taken. These samples were taken from subgingival plaque – which is bacteria that occurs under the gums. This is important, as this is the bacteria that isn’t visible, and is often neglected [4].

Most studies use saliva as a sample. But by using subgingival plaque, the researchers would get a clearer picture of what was causing gum issues [4].

The researchers also analyzed eating habits, and then cross-referenced these habits with the types of bacteria found in the samples. Therefore, this allowed the researchers to get an overall picture of the impact that certain foods had.

The results showed that a higher intake of sugary and high glycemic foods appears to influence oral health. Furthermore, the authors also suggested that these foods appear to have a long-term impact on health outcomes in older women [4].

Overall, the researchers concluded that a bacteria named Strteptoccus mutans – which is known to contribute to tooth decay and cardiovascular disease – was present strongly in those with poor diets [4].

Moreover, the researchers also found a type of bacteria called leptotrichia, which has been associated with gingivitis – a form of gum disease – in the past [4].

Other types of bacteria that hadn’t previously been thought to contribute to oral health problems were also found. However, the researchers suggested these types of bacteria may now need further research [4].

What this means

The researchers were able to show how eating certain types of food impacted the oral microbiome. There are clearly consequences for oral health and overall physical health.

Therefore, these results emphasize the importance of having excellent oral hygiene and trying to eat healthily wherever possible. After all, we all want to avoid harmful bacteria in our mouth.

Amy Millen, Associate Professor at the University at Buffalo’s School of Public Health and Health Professions, commented on the findings of the team [5]. Millen said that the researchers placed specific emphasis on glycemic foods, as this was “not well studied in relation to the oral microbiome” [5].

Millen also said that “as more studies are conducted looking at the oral microbiome”, that the researchers could infer more “about how diet relates to the oral microbiome and periodontal disease” [5]. Such findings can be very helpful in trying to help improve oral health.

Thinking points…

1) The research above shows the potential damage of sugary foods and high glycemic foods. Now take a look at your diet – do you consume foods like this? If so, try and cut down wherever possible! Because of the damage it can do, it places emphasis on the need to attend regular check-ups at your dentist. Therefore, we recommend that you book an appointment now!

2) Remember that oral health problems are avoidable. It is important to have excellent oral hygiene. Part of this is to ensure that you attend your dental clinic for a check-up at least twice a year. Then if you do have any problems, they can be easily addressed and acted upon. Consider attending your dentist soon, as this is the best way of caring for your oral health.

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that offers many services, including regular check-ups, cavity fillings and root canals.

We are also pleased to offer some cosmetic services. Here at our Calgary dental clinic, we offer treatments like tooth whitening, Invisalign™ and implants.

It is important for dental problems to be addressed early. Any oral-based problems will be identified at check-ups. This helps to prevent the problem getting worse. If and when further treatment is needed after a check-up, our patients receive a clear treatment plan.

The best way of avoiding extra treatment is to have strong oral hygiene. This includes brushing our teeth at least twice a day, flossing regularly, and getting a dental check-up at least twice a year. Avoiding sugary foods and drink and not smoking also helps.

Our Calgary-based dental clinic Savanna Dentala also follows the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. This means our prices are competitive, transparent and affordable.

We would love you to visit us here at Savanna Dental soon! You can see more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.

References

[1] Paster, B. J., Olsen, I., Aas, J. A. & Dewhirst, F. E. (2000). The breadth of bacterial diversity in the human periodontal pocket and other oral sites. Periodontology. 2006 (42): p80–87. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0757.2006.00174.x.

[2] LaMonte, M. J., Gordon, J. H., Diaz-Moreno, P., Andrews, C. A., Shimbo, D., Hovey, K. M., Buck, M. J., & Wactawski-Wende, J. (2022). Oral Microbiome Is Associated With Incident Hypertension Among Postmenopausal Women. Journal of the American Heart Association. 11 (6): e021930. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.121.021930.

[3] NHS. (2018). What is the glycaemic index (GI)?. Available: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/what-is-the-glycaemic-index-gi/. Last accessed: 10th April 2022.

[4] Millen, A. E., Dahhan, R., Freudenheim, J. L., Hovey, K. M., Li, L., McSkimming, D. I., Andrews, C. A., Buck, M. J., LaMonte, M. J., Kirkwood, K. L., Sun, Y., Murugaiyan, V., Tsompana, M., & Wactawski-Wende, J. (2022). Dietary carbohydrate intake is associated with the subgingival plaque oral microbiome abundance and diversity in a cohort of postmenopausal women. Scientific Reports. 12 (2643). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-06421-2.

[5] Hill, D. J. (2022). Carbs, sugary foods may influence poor oral health, study finds. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-04-carbs-sugary-foods-poor-oral.html. Last accessed: 10th April 2022.