Category: Oral Exam

Childhood vaccinations have been steadily declining in recent years. While numerous reasons have been put forward to explain this, health professionals have said a decline in non-emergency visits to medical facilities is a leading cause. Therefore, to reverse this decline in uptake, there has been research into the possibility of dental clinics playing a role in vaccination uptake.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, federal data has revealed that childhood vaccinations have been declining. Health professionals have attributed this predominantly to a decline in non-emergency visits to medical facilities due to the pandemic.

But with vaccinations being important in terms of protecting people and the wider public from serious diseases, a decline in their use can cause substantial societal problems.

Now, in an effort to reverse the trend, research has looked into the possibility of dental clinics playing a role in the uptake of childhood vaccinations [1].

Declining vaccination rates

The World Health Organization say that vaccines “reduce risks of getting a disease by working with your body’s natural defenses to build protection” [2].

Immunization is seen as a global health success story and has been lifesaving for millions of people. Some conditions and diseases, such as smallpox, have been eradicated through vaccines. Incidences of other diseases have reduced significantly due to vaccinations.

Childhood vaccinations were common practice for several decades. But in recent years, the number of children being vaccinated has been lowering [3].

This is believed to be in part due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as less children have been accessing non-emergency visits to medical facilities. Moreover, vaccine misinformation, concerns over the side effects of some of the Covid-19 vaccines, and arguments over bodily autonomy have all played a role in falling immunization numbers.

The most contentious vaccine has been the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine – known as the MMR vaccine. Vaccine sceptics have associated the MMR vaccine with the onset of Autism, though the scientific consensus is that no such connection exists [4].

In the United States, The first dose of the MMR vaccine was missed by 22 million children in 2023, a rise from 19.3 million in 2019 [2].

Local outbreaks of Measles have become common in recent years, with this believed in part to be due to the falling vaccination rates. The state of Texas is currently battling with an outbreak [5].

In an effort to improve vaccination rates, it has been suggested that dental clinics could assist. It is a proposition which could have a very positive impact.

A role to play for dental clinics

A team of academics sought to assist in this effort by hypothesizing that an integration between medical and dental care could be helpful. Their findings have been published in the Pediatrics journal [1].

The team explained that children over the age of 9 generally visit the dentist more than the medical providers that would typically administer routine vaccinations [1].

They set up a study that took place between June 2021 and May 2023. The study was based in family health centers in Colorado, which meant dental care and vaccines could be administered in one location [1].

These family health centers were key to medical-dental integration as the researchers explained that a medical assistant could administer a vaccine straight after a dental check-up [1].

Furthermore, the researchers noted that this approach allowed dentists to access the electronic health record system that is used by wider health professionals – meaning that they could view a patient’s immunization record [1].

The researchers found that this integrated model resulted in a 5% increase in vaccines given in 2021 compared to 2020. This was particularly impressive given the restrictions caused by Covid-19 at the time.

The team enjoyed particular success with an increase in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations. Impressively, the vaccination rate at eligible visits increased from 5.3% in 2021 to 13.9% in 2023 [1].

In the study, any patient that was attending a dental check-up that was eligible for the HPV vaccine had the chance to have the vaccine on the same day [1].

The researchers noted that the HPV vaccine can be challenging to administer or talk about due to the sexual nature of the virus [1]. Therefore, they were particularly pleased with these results.

The researchers concluded that an approach of integrating medical and dental appointments could be highly effective for vaccine uptake.

Summary

Overall, a “one-stop shop” approach to dentistry and vaccinations can clearly be effective. In this example, vaccination rates rose strongly.

With vaccination numbers in children falling in recent years, this approach of integration could help to reverse this trend. Therefore, this would help to protect more people from these terrible conditions and diseases.

Jessica Jack is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado’s School of Medicine. She served as the lead researcher and commented on the results.

Jack said that “there are many hoops to jump through, but it could be a great way to increase access to vaccines” [6].

Continuing, Jack said that the key question going forward for the “next phase of medical-dental integration” is “can we get standalone dental practices to get this up and running” [6].

If this is possible, then there could be widescale improvements in vaccine uptake. Increased vaccine uptake can protect millions and save countless lives.

Thinking points…

[1] This research is further evidence of the connection between physical and oral health. Many people don’t realize, but dentists are trained to spot the signs of some physical health conditions during check-ups. Therefore, it is crucial to attend a dental check-up not just for your oral health, but your wider health too! At a check-up, a dentist will be able to assess your oral health and look for the signs of physical health problems too. We recommend that you book an appointment soon!

[2] Do you have any children? If so, this research shows how useful childhood dental visits are. By taking children to dental appointments from a young age, it means that they will get into good habits that will hopefully serve them well in future life. Just like adults, they should attend a dental check-up at least once every six months. Why not book a check-up now?

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!

We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.

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

In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set 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] Jack, J. L., Stein, A. B., Podewils, L. J. (2025). Improving Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Administration Using Medical-Dental Integration. Pediatrics. 155 (4): e2024066639. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-066639.

[2] World Health Organiation. (2023). Vaccines and immunization. Available: https://www.who.int/health-topics/vaccines-and-immunization. Last accessed: 16th May 2025.

[3] Hill, H. A., Yankey, D., Elam-Evans, L. D., et al. (2024). Decline in Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months and Vaccination Inequities Among Children Born in 2020 and 2021 – National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2021-2023. MMWR: Morbidity and mortality weekly report. 73 (38): p844-853. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7338a3.

[4] DeStefano, F., & Shimabukuro, T. T. (2019). The MMR Vaccine and Autism. Annual Review of Virology. 6 (1): p585-600. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-virology-092818-015515.

[5] Texas Health and Human Services. (2025). Measles Outbreak – May 16, 2025. https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-2025. Last accessed: 17th May 2025.

[6] Mason, K. (2025). To increase childhood vaccine uptake, researchers look to dental visits. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-childhood-vaccine-uptake-dental.html. Last accessed: 16th May 2025.

New research has led to teeth being grown in a laboratory for the first time. This landmark moment could have a big impact on dentistry and potentially offer a new treatment for those with missing teeth. While further research is needed, this is a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to find a way to get teeth to repair and regenerate themselves.

Our teeth are one of the most important parts of our body. Unfortunately, for numerous reasons, teeth can fall out or be extracted. Currently, for those missing teeth options are limited.

However, this may soon change, as in an exciting announcement, scientists from the United Kingdom have announced that they have grown human teeth in a lab for the first time [1].

This is an incredible finding, which could have wide-ranging implications for the future of oral health. It could result in lab-grown teeth being able to replace natural human teeth.

Background

Adults typically have 32 teeth. Teeth have a wide variety of roles, as well as obviously helping us eat, they help us to talk and even breathe.

Unfortunately, it is rather common for adults to lose one or more teeth. This could be due to extensive tooth decay, advanced gum disease, or trauma.

In fact, research shows that in the United States, the average number of natural teeth left by the time someone makes it to the age of 64 is 23.4 [2]. Therefore, tooth loss affects a range of people.

Dental implants and dentures have offered solutions in the past. While they are effective, they can also be costly, which stops some people from accessing this treatment.

Therefore, having other alternatives is desirable. Scientists have been trying for a long time to grow teeth in a laboratory. Now, there appears to have been a development.

The Research

The research was carried out by King’s College London in the United Kingdom. Their findings were published in the ACS Macro Letters journal [1].

Scientists at King’s College London have been exploring the potential of lab-grown teeth for over a decade [1]. They were finally able to make a breakthrough recently.

Currently, when a tooth becomes decayed, a filling is used. However, fillings weaken tooth structure over time and rarely last forever [1]. Implants can be used when whole teeth are missing, but they do not restore natural tooth function either.

Therefore, the aim has always been to get teeth to repair and regenerate themselves naturally [1].

But finding the exact environment and conditions needed to grow teeth in a lab has proven challenging. This has now seemingly changed.

The researchers have been able to introduce a special type of material that enables cells to communicate between each other [1]. Therefore, this means that one cell can ‘tell’ another cell to start differentiating into a tooth cell [1].

Incredibly, this means that the environment of growing teeth is mimicked. Therefore, scientists can recreate the process of tooth development in a laboratory [1].

The new material releases the signals that the cells use to communicate with each other slowly over time, rather than all at once [1]. This has proven to be a key reason for the success of this research, as this replicates what happens naturally.

The material takes the form of a hydrogel. In this study, the researchers prepared the hydrogel by mixing gelatin precursors that had been modified either with tetrazine or norbornene moieties [1].

The researchers were able to conclude that lab-grown teeth made from a patient’s own cells could integrate seamlessly into the mouth and repair themselves like a natural tooth [1].

Summary

This advancement marks the outcome of considerable research. It is a very important update and has the potential to have a big impact on dentistry.

It effectively means that in the future, humans may be able to replace lost teeth with a natural tooth using their own cells. This would be very positive and help those with missing teeth.

Xuechen Zhang of the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences of King’s College London, was the lead researcher. He commented on the findings [3].

Zhang said “lab-grown teeth would naturally regenerate, integrating into the jaw as real teeth. They would be stronger, longer lasting, and free from rejection risks, offering a more durable and biologically compatible solution than fillings or implants” [3].

The researchers pointed out that the next big challenge will be to work out how to get teeth from the laboratory to the mouth of patients [1]. But the good news is that the research suggests that teeth can integrate well into mouths.

Xuechen spoke about this challenge and said that the team “have different ideas to put the teeth inside the mouth,” which includes “transplanting the young tooth cells at the location of the missing tooth and let them grow inside [the] mouth” [3].

Furthermore, Xuechen said “alternatively, we could create the whole tooth in the lab before placing it in the patient’s mouth,” though he noted that “for both options, we need to start the very early tooth development process in the lab” [3].

While further research is needed, this is an exciting development and underlines the potential that research into regenerative dentistry can yield.

Thinking points…

1) This is a very exciting update and underlines the great work that scientists are producing. However, if you look after your teeth, hopefully you won’t need to worry about lab-grown teeth! A good way of aiding your oral health is to attend regular dental check-ups. At a check-up, a dentist can take a thorough look at your oral health, provide advice, and suggest treatment if necessary. We recommend that you book an appointment right away!

2) While we wait for further progress on lab-grown teeth, there is a useful and effective alternative available for missing teeth – dental implants. Dental implants are artificial teeth that look and act like a real tooth. They look natural, are easy to fit, and tend to last many years. Here at Savanna Dental, we offer a free dental implant consultation for our patients. To find out more and to book an appointment, please see our website – https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!

We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.

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

In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set 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] Zhang, X., Negrini, N. C., Correia, R., et al. (2024). Generating Tooth Organoids Using Defined Bioorthogonally Cross-Linked Hydrogels. ACS Macro Letters. 13 (12): p1620-1626. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmacrolett.4c00520.

[2] National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. (2022). Tooth Loss in Adults (Age 20 to 64). Available: https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data-statistics/tooth-loss/adults. Last accessed: 17th April 2025.

[3] Volponi, A. A. (2025). Lab-grown teeth might become an alternative to fillings following research breakthrough. Available: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/lab-grown-teeth-might-become-an-alternative-to-fillings-following-research-breakthrough. Last accessed: 17th April 2025.

Hypophosphatasia is a rare condition that affects the development of bones and teeth. Therefore, it causes several oral health problems, making early detection crucial. A research team has looked at cases of hypophosphatasia, and sought to find out how dentists can identify suspected cases of the condition at an earlier stage.

Hypophosphatasia is a rare condition that impacts the development of bones and teeth. It is a debilitating condition and causes lifelong problems for those with the condition.

Due to the impact on teeth, those with hypophosphatasia face oral health challenges from an early age and throughout their life. Therefore, there have been ongoing efforts to aid those with the condition.

Now, new research into the condition has presented findings that could help dentists in identifying suspected cases of hypophosphatasia earlier [1]. This is an exciting finding and will hopefully improve treatment outcomes for those with this condition.

What is Hypophosphatasia?

Hypophosphatasia is a rare skeletal disease which affects bones and teeth. It involves the abnormal development of the bones and teeth [2].

Hypophosphatasia is a serious condition and can cause fetal death. Some people won’t see any symptoms for several years. The earlier that the signs are spotted, the better.

The condition is caused by genetic changes to the ALPL gene [1]. It is possible for hypophosphatasia to run in families.

Those with hypophosphatasia typically have physical health symptoms like feeding and breathing problems in infancy, short stature, weak bones and short limbs [1].

Past research has underlined the oral health problems facing those with the condition. For example, one study found that when comparing those with hypophosphatasia and members of the general public, that those with hypophosphatasia had a higher chance of having severe gum disease and a higher number of teeth missing [3].

However, there have been positive developments in recent times. Enzyme replacement therapy has offered promise, with research finding that using this type of therapy can lessen the severity of oral manifestations of hypophosphatasia [4].

Therefore, having any additional research into this subject is highly desirable. By doing so, it can help support those with hypophosphatasia towards improved oral health.

The Research

The research was carried out by a team of researchers from Osaka University in Japan. Their findings have been published in the Scientific Reports journal [1].

The research involved studying Japanese patients with a diagnosis of hypophosphatasia. The researchers have carried out similar studies once every five years since 2013 [1].

This was the largest study yet on hypophosphatasia in terms of participants – with the researchers collecting data from 103 cases of hypophosphatasia across 30 clinics [1].

By having such a huge number of cases, the research team were able to break them down into two groups. One group whose symptoms involved only teeth – called the odonto-type disease, and those who had other symptoms, termed “non-odonto type disease” [1].

Clinical dental records were studied in order to identify common oral symptoms of the condition. Moreover, the researchers were particularly interested in seeing how the cases differed between the two groups.

When comparing the groups, they were looking at many different factors. Finding trends in these factors allowed them to make conclusions.

They found that those with odonto-type hypophosphatasia were more likely to lose their first teeth early [1]. This is a clear indication of hypophosphatasia, and with this type involving teeth, the link makes sense.

Those with the non-odonto-type disease were likelier to have tooth misalignment and tooth hypomineralization, which refers to enamel on the outside of the teeth softening [1]. This can make someone more prone to tooth decay.

Moreover, the researchers found that the non-odonto-type disease were also likelier to engage in poor oral habits like finger sucking and tongue thrusting [1].

Moreover, they were likelier to have problems with swallowing [1]. Therefore, those with the non-odonto-type disease faced more oral health problems.

The role of dentists

Dentists have an important role to play. Some people are unaware that dentists are also trained to look for the symptoms of various conditions. For example, dentists can identify the signs of oral cancer, such as tumors.

Furthermore, this extends to dentists being able to spot the signs of hypophosphatasia. Sometimes it will be dentists that are the first to notice this condition.

One of the study’s authors – Kazuhiko Nakano – said that the trends observed in this study “will be helpful for dentists who might come across patients with hypophosphatasia in their clinics” [5].

Furthermore, Nakano posited that “improved knowledge of the various ways this disease presents will lead to better diagnostic rates and earlier treatments for affected patients” [5].

Summary

Overall, the study showed that both types of hypophosphatasia cause oral health problems. However, the problems for those with the non-odonto-type version of hypophosphatasia had more difficulties [1].

Rena Okawa was the lead author of the study. Okawa mentioned that the team were “surprised to see big differences in oral manifestations between the two groups” [5].

With that said, it should be noted that both types are debilitating, and irrespective of the quantity of problems, the condition puts patients at high risk of oral health problems.

Research like this is very helpful and aids towards raising awareness and improved diagnostic rates. Hopefully these continuous efforts will result in improved treatment outcomes and quality of life for those with hypophosphatasia.

Thinking points…

1) As shown above, dentists have an important role to play with overall health. By examining your mouth, they can look out for the signs and symptoms of key illnesses and conditions. Therefore, we strongly recommend attending check-ups regularly. Check-ups ensure that a dentist can take a thorough look at your oral health and check for any warning signs of various conditions. We recommend booking an appointment now!

2) Do you know anyone with hypophosphatasia? If so, this article could be of interest to them. You could share this with them now! However, perhaps you’d never heard of this condition before? You could share this knowledge with friends and family, why not send them the link to this article now?

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!

We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.

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

In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set 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] Okawa, R., Kadota, T., Kurosaka, H., et al. (2025). Japanese nationwide dental survey of hypophosphatasia reveals novel oral manifestations. Scientific Reports. 15 (6743). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91043-7.

[2] Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. (2025). Hypophosphatasia. Available: https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/6734/hypophosphatasia. Last accessed: 14th March 2025.

[3] Weider, M., Schlagenhauf, U., & Seefried, L. (2022). Oral health status of adult hypophosphatasia patients: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Clinical Periodontology. 49 (12): p1253-1261. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpe.13718.

[4] Smart, G., Jensen, E. D., Poirier, B., & Sethi, S. (2023). The impact of enzyme replacement therapy on the oral health manifestations of hypophosphatasia among children: a scoping review. European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry. 24: p429-440. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-023-00796-0.

[5] Osaka University. (2025). Hard evidence of soft teeth: the oral symptoms of hypophosphatasia. Available: https://www.asiaresearchnews.com/content/hard-evidence-soft-teeth-oral-symptoms-hypophosphatasia. Last accessed: 14th March 2025.