Category: Oral Health

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is having a substantial effect on multiple areas all over the world. Unfortunately, the healthcare system is not immune from its impact. Now, there are concerns that shortages caused by the conflict could impact dentistry – with more complex interventions like root canal treatments being affected.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is causing many issues around the world. While some of these effects – such as the emerging humanitarian crisis engulfing the country – are visible, other effects are not.

Among the areas that have been negatively impacted is the worldwide healthcare system. Unfortunately, the dental industry is also being affected by the consequences of the conflict.

Ukraine and Russia – the two countries involved in the conflict – are huge exporters of key commodities, including some items and materials that are used in healthcare.

Therefore, dental treatments are among the areas to be affected. More complex procedures like root canal treatments are likely to be the worst affected.

Commodity Issues

Towards the end of February 2022, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine. The conflict has been going on for several months, with the Russian offensive met by strong resistance from the Ukrainian military.

As a result, the world has been impacted enormously. There have been concerns over a potential nuclear war, record high gas prices and a range of shortages. Therefore, many industries have been impacted – including the dental industry.

Russia and Ukraine are key exporters of some commodities. For example, in this case, the key resources are Ammonium Nitrate and Natural Gas [1]. But international sanctions, transport issues and procurement struggles has led to shortages. As a result, accessing these commodities has become more difficult.

When the above commodities are refined, they can produce two gases which are vital for the healthcare system. These are Nitrous Oxide (known as Laughing Gas) and Helium [1]. Both of these are used in millions of healthcare procedures each day.

Other Healthcare shortages

The Covid-19 pandemic had disastrous effect on worldwide supply chains, causing huge shortages [2]. These shortages have now been exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine.

Since the invasion began, even more shortages have been reported. For example, baby formula, medication, and contrast dye used in diagnostic scans are among the current shortages. As a result of the contrast dye shortage, potentially life-saving scans are having to be rationed in some states – a dire situation [1].

The impact on dentistry

Nitrous Oxide is primarily used in dentistry for complex procedures or surgeries. Unfortunately, around 40% of Ammonium Nitrate – which is needed for Nitrous Oxide – comes from Russia [1].

Root canal treatments are used to treat an infection in the tooth. It involves a dentist removing infected soft tissue inside the tooth – known as the pulp [3]. Because of the invasive nature of a root canal treatment, as well its long procedure time, it can cause anxiety and concern from patients [1].

When patients are anxious, nervous or distressed, they can be offered a sedative – such as Nitrous Oxide. However, because of the shortages, less sedatives are expected to be available. This may result in less people wanting to undergo root canal treatment.

This shortage is therefore causing concern in healthcare. It is important to remember that dental clinics typically do have other sedatives available, but supplies are normally limited.

Regardless of potential shortages, dental clinics will aim to continue providing root canal and other complex treatments. This shouldn’t stop the overall goal of providing effective and efficient treatments for patients around the world.

Thinking points…

1) This article talks about root canal treatments. They aren’t pleasant procedures, but fortunately – they can normally be avoided through strong oral hygiene. As part of having a strong oral hygiene routine, you should ensure you see your dentist regularly for a check-up. If there are any problems that need addressing, your dentist will be able to spot them and suggest treatment if necessary. Therefore, this will prevent problems worsening – we recommend booking an appointment soon!

2) Maybe some of you reading this will be awaiting, or are in need of, root canal treatment. It can be tempting to avoid the dentist when you are scared ahead of a procedure. However, it is important that you go ahead and get the root canal treatment done. Unfortunately, dental problems won’t go away, and the longer you leave it for, the more damage will be done. Try to attend the appointment and if needed, discuss taking a sedative with your dentist.

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 dental implants.

It is important for oral problems to be addressed early. Any dental 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 that is suited to their needs.

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 Dental 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] Tahir, D. (2022). Why the war in Ukraine might make root canals more difficult. Available:https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-06-war-ukraine-root-canals-difficult.html. Last accessed: 11th June 2022.

[2] NHS. (2022). Root canal treatment. Available: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/root-canal-treatment/. Last accessed: 10th June 2022.

[3] Cohen, J., & van der Meulen Rodgers, Y. (2020). Contributing factors to personal protective equipment shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preventive Medicine. 141 (106263). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106263.

The 2022 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report has been released, with the findings suggesting Americans are caring more about their oral health, and recognizing its importance. Visits to dentists have risen, and most children have had improved access to dentistry. However, there is a lack of knowledge of the link between oral health and physical health, which has caused some concern.

Delta Dental have released the 2022 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report. The yearly report presents a nationwide view of the opinions and behaviours relating to oral health.

The findings were mainly positive. For example, most respondents were clearly aware of the importance of oral health. Moreover, more routine dentistry appointments were attended. Furthermore, there were less oral health issues for children [1].

However, there is a degree of concern over the lack of knowledge that most had in terms of of the link between physical and oral health [1]. This is an area that healthcare professionals hope will improve in the next year.

About the report

This annual report has become a very useful way of reviewing the overall state of oral health in the United States. It is commissioned by Delta Dental – the largest dental insurance provider in the US, with 83million Americans insured with them [1].

The research was conducted between the 19th and 28th of January by Material – a global insights and strategy consultancy [1]. The research involved American adults and parents of children aged 12 and younger.

Overall, they received responses to surveys from 1,027 Americans aged 19 and over. Additionally, there were 1,172 participants that were parents of children aged 12 and younger [1].

The report asked the respondents a range of questions which allowed them to self-assess their oral health and general oral hygiene [1]. The responses were then collated and analysed.

The Key Positive Findings

The conclusions drawn from the report were largely positive. The most promising finding was that 92% of adults and 96% of parents consider their oral health to be “very or extremely important” to their overall health [1].

Another pleasing aspect was the number of people attending the dentist. 89% of children attended the dentist in 2021, along with 72% of adults [1]. Both have risen when compared to 2020. 94% of adults in the survey signalled their intention to visit the dentist this year [1].

Much fewer parents reported that their children had experienced oral health issues throughout the year, when compared to recent years [1]. The researchers noted that this correlated with the finding that 92% of children visited the dentist for preventive reasons, rather than purely reactive reasons – up from 81% in 2020 [1].

The scale of the impact of Covid-19 on oral health continues to be realised. 55% of adults believe that Covid-19 has resulted in them making their oral health more of a priority [1].

Moreover, 63% of adults report paying closer attention to their oral habits due to Covid-19 [1]. Similarly, 74% of parents report paying closer attention to their children’s oral habits due to Covid-19 [1].

With more parents paying attention to the oral health of their children since Covid-19, it is unsurprising to see that many parents are worried about how oral health issues could affect their children. 70% of parents reported being concerned that poor oral health would have a poor impact on their child’s overall confidence [1].

The Key Negative Findings

However, despite the positives, there were some negatives. The researchers asked those who did not attend the dentist what the main barrier to dental care was. Unsurprisingly, the biggest issue was not being able to afford the cost of treatment [1].

Other barriers to oral healthcare also existed. For instance, other common barriers included lack of dental insurance, not wanting to visit a dental clinic during Covid-19 and having a fear of the dentist [1].

The main concern though of the researchers was how there was limited knowledge of the link between oral health and physical health [1]. This is an area that the researchers aim to address in the year ahead.

Many respondents did not realize that some medical conditions are linked to poor oral health. Only 38% of respondents knew about the link between oral health and strokes, with 37% knowing about the link with high blood pressure, and 36% being aware of the diabetes link [1].

As mentioned, this shows that there is room for improvement. But the researchers were pleased to report that 90% of adults said that they were interested in learning about oral health’s critical connection to overall health [1].

What this means

The findings are mainly positive, and compared to the last report, Americans do seem to be taking their oral health more seriously. Of course, with routine dentistry having been suspended due to Covid-19, it is natural that accessing dental services is easier now.

But the findings do show that there is room for improvement in terms of increasing awareness of the impact of oral health on physical health, and vice versa.

James W. Hutchison is the President & CEO of the Delta Dental Plans Association. He commented on the findings of the report [2]. He said that while most “understand that oral health is critically important to overall health”, many “don’t fully realize the ways oral health is linked to serious health issues” [2].

Hutchison stated that “unfortunately, this lack of understanding isn’t surprising, as people often think of the mouth and body as two distinct parts” [2]. He went on to say that his organisation aims “to partner with the public on their journey to better health”, which they aim to achieve by elevating “awareness of the essential role of oral health” [2].

It is now a case of waiting to see what progress is made over the next year in terms of overall oral health. It certainly seems that things are moving in the right direction, but that there is room for improvement.

Thinking points…

1) It is positive to see that Americans are aware of the importance of oral health. One of the most important parts of oral health is a simple check-up. A check-up allows a dentist to provide an overall summary of a patient’s oral health, and provide advice and guidance. If any problems are found, they can be acted on and treated. We recommend attending a check-up at least twice a year – why not book now!

2) If you stop and think about your oral health and hygiene – how would you answer the questions discussed in this article? Consider taking on board some of the key findings of this report – such as the link between oral and physical health. If you need some information, help or advice with your oral health, consider speaking with your dentist about this – they’ll be happy to help!

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provides advice, comfortable experience and treatment to improve the oral health of its patients, 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] Delta Dental Plans Association. (2022). The 2022 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report. Available: https://www.deltadental.com/content/dam/ddpa/us/en/press-releases/DDPA_State%20of%20Oral%20Health%20Report_2022-Release.pdf. Last accessed: 13th May 2022.

[2] Delta Dental Plans Association. (2022). New Delta Dental report finds many are unaware of connection between poor oral health and serious medical conditions (but 9 in 10 want to learn more). Available: https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_health/new-delta-dental-report-finds-many-are-unaware-of-connection-between-poor-oral-health-and/article_e307ea8e-e7fa-5dd2-997d-669baa5e37eb.html. Last accessed: 13th May 2022.

Researchers have concluded that the way our immune system “learns” from previous threats may actually have a negative impact on areas like inflammation. The researchers used gum disease to investigate their theory. They found that the inflammation caused by gum disease ends up having a negative effect on physical health, and can actually worsen future inflammation-based conditions.

Our immune system is a remarkable thing. It fights diseases, protects us from viruses and can detect any issues that may compromise our safety and overall health.

The various battles that the immune system encounters results in it developing a “memory” of sorts to protect us in the future from similar threats.

This is mostly great for our overall health. But this also has the negative impact of the immune system sometimes responding to something that it determines to be a threat – even if it isn’t.

For example, when the immune system is challenged by an internal driver like chronic inflammation, it can result in a misguided immune system response.

Researchers have looked into the overall process of inflammation, with a specific focus on gum disease. Therefore, this research is very important for oral health.

Background

Some of the authors in this study had previously worked together on research into the “memory” of the immune system. They found that the immune system is capable of memorizing past threats, which helps it to become more responsive to new threats [1].

A trained and responsive immune system is mainly a positive thing. However, this isn’t always the case, as the immune system can sometimes misinterpret supposed threats.

The researchers focused on gum disease in this study. Gum disease is one of the most common dental disorders, with research finding that 47.2% of adults aged 30 and over in the United States have some form of gum disease [2].

Therefore, any research into gum disease can be very useful. A common problem with gum disease is that most people do not realize the impact that gum disease has on our physical health.

The Research

The research was completed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine. Their findings were then published in the journal Cell [3].

The research sought to find out the impact gum disease has on the immune system in terms of future interactions with inflammatory-based conditions.

At first, the researchers exposed a mouse to gum disease. Within a week, some of the cells in the mouse expanded in the bone marrow [3].

The researchers found that the immune system of the mouse was capable of handling the periodontal disease [3]. Therefore, there were limited changes in the cells initially.

However, the researchers soon found that the cells appeared to have memorized the inflammation they were exposed to [3]. Therefore, the researchers found that when triggered by inflammation in the future, the immune system would react differently.

The mouse that was exposed to gum disease then had some cells transplanted to mice that had never previously been exposed to gum disease [3]. A few months later, the mice were exposed to collagen antibodies – which triggered arthritis. Arthritis is also associated with inflammation.

To act as a control, cell transplants were also conducted between mice without any form of gum disease and a group of separate mice [3]. This would allow the researchers to compare findings.

The researchers found that the mice that received the cells from mice with gum disease developed more severe arthritis when compared to mice that received cells from mice that were free of gum disease [3].

Overall, the researchers said that this showed the link between inflammatory conditions. The idea was that this study essentially replicated a bone marrow transplant [3]. The mouse with gum disease acted as a donor, with the healthy mice being the recipient.

The researchers were able to conclude that the mice that received a transplant from the group of mice with gum disease were predisposed to more severe arthritis [3].

Impact on dentistry

This research shows the impact that oral health can have on physical health. If these findings were applied to humans – it would show that those with gum disease are vulnerable to severe arthritis. Furthermore, they would also put those receiving a bone marrow transplant from them at heightened risk of inflammatory conditions.

Professor George Hajishengallis, one of the researchers, talked about the impact of these findings on dentistry. “I’m proud for the field of dentistry that this work, with significance to a wide range of medical conditions, began by investigating oral health”, Hajishengallis said [4].

The researchers also spoke of the wider impact these findings may have. They noted that their conclusions could result in a reconsideration of how bone marrow donors should be selected in the future [4]. The conclusions suggest that some bone marrow donors may unwittingly place their recipient at higher risk of inflammatory disorders.

Thinking points…

1) So many of us suffer from gum disease. As this research shows, gum disease does have a big impact on physical health. Treatments are available though for gum disease – including scaling and root planing. If you do have gum disease, it may be worth discussing treatment options with your dentist at your check-up. Consider booking an appointment today!

2) While you may not think you are at risk of gum disease, the truth is that we all are. A common theme in the news is that gum disease has a big impact on physical health. Therefore, if possible, preventing gum disease is crucial. The easiest way to do this is to have excellent oral hygiene, and attend regular dental check ups. We would recommend booking an appointment now!

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provides a warm welcome and comfortable experience to its patience whenever 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] Hajishengallis, G., & Chavakis, T. (2021). Local and systemic mechanisms linking periodontal disease and inflammatory comorbidities. Nature Reviews Immunology. 21: p426-440. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41577-020-00488-6.

[2] Eke, P. I., Dye, B. A., & Wei, L. (2012). Prevalence of Periodontitis in Adults in the United States: 2009 and 2010. Journal of Dental Research. 91 (10): p914-920. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034512457373.

[3] Li, X., Wang, H., Yu, X., Saha, G., Kalafati, L., Ioannidis, C., Mitroulis, I., Netea, M. G., Chavakis, T., & Hajishengallis, G. (2022). Maladaptive innate immune training of myelopoiesis links inflammatory comorbidities. Cell. (Pre-publication issue).DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.03.043.

[4] Baillie, K. U. (2022). How one inflammatory disorder exacerbates another. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-04-inflammatory-disorder-exacerbates.html. Last accessed: 29th April 2022.