Category: Oral Health

Covid-19 has caused a huge range of problems for the oral health of children. Recent research has identified several trends associated with the dental health of children in the last few years. Among the issues are a low dental check-up attendance rate and a sharp increase in the number of youngsters having cavities and tooth decay. The findings are worrying, and shows how the oral health of children has been a hidden victim of the pandemic.

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted and impacted the lives of billions of people. Many effects were visible – the millions of tragic deaths, hospitals becoming overran and lockdowns.

But some effects have been invisible – such as mental health problems and economic concerns. However, one other neglected area that has been impacted is oral health.

Now, a new study has focused on the impact Covid-19 has had on the dental health of children. The results are rather worrying, and suggests the oral health of children has been poorly affected by the pandemic.

Background

Covid-19 started to spread in the first half of 2020, before creating chaos for several months. In fact, at the time of writing, the World Health Organization reports that over 6.1million people have died from Covid-19 [1].

The lockdown restrictions have meant that many children have led a more sedentary lifestyle than previous generations. Moreover, increased sugary food consumption has happened – causing severe problems for oral health [2].

Routine dental care was suspended soon into the pandemic, with dental clinics around the world only offering emergency care. Therefore, fewer routine check-ups took place, meaning chances to see and treat dental problems were missed.

Moreover, with most students learning online, regular routines were stopped. As a result, some children would have stopped cleaning their teeth on some days.

The research

Researchers from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine have completed a study that focuses on the oral health of children. Their findings will be presented in May’s annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry [3].

The researchers analyzed pediatric emergency cases at Tufts between 2018 and 2021 [3]. 2018 and 2019 represented pre-pandemic cases, while 2020 and 2021 would be used to measure cases during the pandemic.

As a result of comparing data across these years, the researchers were able to discover many trends. Furthermore, many of these findings were very worrying.

For example, the likelihood of a child in the United States visiting a dental in 2020 (during the pandemic) was 27% lower when compared to 2019 [3]. This represents a huge decline.

Another worrying finding concerned emergency cases seen at Tufts. Pre-pandemic, 44% of the emergency cases were for dental infections. However, this number rose to 56% during the pandemic [3]. Therefore, problems worsened over the pandemic.

The researchers also saw an increased level of cavities and tooth decay [3]. They also found that abscesses were forming, which could cause potentially “life-threatening” complications [3].

Another finding was that young emergency patients treated during Covid-19 were much less likely to return for a follow-up appointment compared to pre-pandemic [3]. The researchers concluded that this was due to parents being reluctant to attend emergency clinics during the pandemic [3].

In terms of general fitness, the authors were also worried about the nature of emergency room visits. They pointed out that before the pandemic, that most dental injuries were caused by sports [3]. Because of the restrictions in place, most children are spending time indoors, resulting in less physical activity.

One positive was that the researchers noted that since the end of the study – in August 2021 – more patients have been coming in for routine appointments [3]. This shows that people are starting to make the most out of having routine access to dental clinics now.

What this means

The above findings show the impact that Covid-19 has had on the oral health of children. Because of the areas outlined above, it seems that the oral health of many children has worsened during Covid-19.

Cheen Loo, Professor and Chairwoman of Pediatric Dentistry at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, discussed the findings of the research [4].

Loo mentioned that “a lot of parents were hesitant about coming to a dental visit” [4]. But she mentioned that now it seems that numbers are returning to a pre-pandemic level.

Moreover, Loo said that parents commonly “delayed dental treatment for their children”, with many waiting for their child to be vaccinated [4]. Due to the vaccination rollout, more people are now willing to attend dental clinics.

As more children get to visit a dentist, it is hoped that there will be less emergency room visits for oral health problems. The aim is for oral health to greatly improve post-pandemic.

Thinking points…

1) The research above shows how much children have struggled with their oral health over the pandemic. Children especially need assistance with their teeth. If you have children, it is important to book them a check-up to see how their teeth have been doing since the pandemic. A dentist will be able to offer advice and provide treatment if needed. Consider booking an appointment now!

2) It isn’t just children that have had their oral health impacted by Covid-19 – adults have seen problems rise. Many people have been reluctant to return to a dental clinic. However, with routine dentistry being offered again, now is an excellent time to book a check-up. Any problems can be identified and then treated. We strongly recommend booking an appointment soon.

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 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] World Health Organization. (2022). WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard. Available: https://covid19.who.int/. Last accessed: 3rd April 2022.

[2] Entertainment Times. (2022). COVID-19 and its connection with a high sugar diet. Available: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/covid-19-and-its-connection-with-a-high-sugar-diet/photostory/90109541.cms. Last accessed: 3rd April 2022.

[3] Lyu, W., & Wehby, G. L. (2022). Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children’s Oral Health and Dental Care Use. (Pre-publication issue)/ DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2022.02.008.

[4] Ragovin, H. (2022). For kids, toothaches become another kind of pandemic pain. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-03-kids-toothaches-kind-pandemic-pain.html. Last accessed: 3rd April 2022.

Parkinson’s Disease has a negative impact on multiple areas of a patient’s life. The condition is associated with shaking and slow movement. However, researchers have now analyzed the link between Parkinson’s and oral health-related quality of life. The research found that those with Parkinson’s disease had a very poor oral health quality of life.

Parkinson’s Disease is a debilitating condition that affects a person in many different ways. It is a rather common condition that many people suffer from.

The physical impact of Parkinson’s Disease is well established. But oral health is an area related to Parkinson’s Disease which has only limited research.

Now, researchers have analysed the oral health-related quality of life for those with Parkinson’s Disease. They have found that those who suffer from the condition typically have worse oral health than those without Parkinson’s Disease.

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s Disease is a condition that involves parts of the brain getting progressively damaged over the course of many years [1]. The three main symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease are involuntary shaking, slow movement and stiff or inflexible muscles [1].

England’s NHS predicts that around 1 in 500 people are diagnosed with the condition, with most developing symptoms once they are over the age of 50 [1].

As well as physical issues, there are other issues too. For example, Parkinson’s Disease has been linked to poor mental health and general psychological wellbeing [2].

Existing research has shown a link does exist between poor oral health and Parkinson’s Disease. One study found that those with the condition have more chewing difficulties, more denture discomfort, less teeth and more swallowing issues than those without [3].

The Research

A group of researchers from the Netherlands recently completed a study. Their findings were published in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation [4].

The researchers sought to analyze the link between Parkinson’s Disease and “oral health-related quality of life”. Oral health quality of life is defined as “a multi-dimensional construct that reflects factors such as people’s comfort when eating, sleeping and engaging in social interaction; their self-esteem; and their satisfaction with respect to their oral health” [4].

The research involved 752 participants aged 18-75 from the Netherlands. 341 of the participants had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Therefore, the remaining 411 did not [4].

The authors collected their data between June 2020 and June 2021. They used an electronic questionnaire, which was sent to participants. The participants were asked to report on their own oral health through several different questions [4].

The results showed that those with Parkinson’s Disease had worse oral health. For example, among the things reported were more oral facial pain, more tooth (in terms of tooth and dental tissue loss) and a higher incidence of burning mouth syndrome [4].

What this means

This research shows that there is a clear link between the oral health-related quality of life and Parkinson’s Disease. Therefore, the findings are rather worrying, and show that those with early stage Parkinson’s Disease need to take extra care with their oral health.

By adopting a more rigorous oral hygiene process, those with Parkinson’s Disease will hopefully be able to lessen future problems, or at least slow the onset of oral health problems.

The authors commented on their findings [5]. They concluded that “although problems concerning oral health are probably subordinate to other problems present in Parkinson’s Disease patients, this article suggests that oral-health related quality of life may be impaired in patients” [5].

They continued by making a recommendation to dentists [5]. By knowing about these findings, dentists “may be more alert and thus improve Parkinson’s Disease patients’ oral health to prevent further deterioration of their oral health-related quality of life” [5].

The authors did caution that there were some limitations of their study. They said that information from participants without Parkinson’s Disease was taken pre-pandemic [5].

Meanwhile those with Parkinson’s Disease reported during the pandemic. Because routine dentistry was put on hold at this time, they may have had worse oral health [5]. Therefore, this may have skewed their findings.

The authors also cautioned that the small sample size and self-report nature of the study may mean that their findings could be unreliable [5]. But their findings are still relevant, and show the clear link between Parkinson’s Disease and oral health problems.

Thinking points…

• 1) Do you know anyone with Parkinson’s Disease? The findings of this study shows that those with Parkinson’s Disease will typically have a worse oral health-related quality of life. Therefore, you could try and emphasize to them the importance of having strong oral hygiene. As part of this, try and suggest that they book a check-up soon.
• 2) Many of us will go on to have Parkinson’s Disease in the future. This research shows that oral health is crucial. Therefore, it is important to adopt strong oral hygiene now, as this can protect us in the future. Part of this is to make regular visits to the dentist for a check-up. We would recommend that you book an appointment soon!

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.

We recommend that our patients 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™! These treatments can have a positive impact on your appearance, confidence and self-esteem.

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.

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] National Health Service. (2019). Parkinson’s disease. Available: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/parkinsons-disease/. Last accessed: 18th March 2022.
• [2] Uitti, R. J. (2012). Treatment of Parkinson’s disease: focus on quality of life issues. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. 18 (2): p534-536. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1353-8020(11)70013-X.
• [3] Nakayama, Y., Washio, M., & Mori, M. (2004). Oral Health Conditions in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease. Journal of Epidemiology. 14 (5): p143-150. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2188/jea.14.143.
• [4] Verhoeff, M. C., Lobbezoo, F., van Leeuwen, A. M., Schuller, A. A., & Koutris, M. (2022). Oral health-related quality of life in patients with Parkinson disease. Journal of Oral Rehabiitation. 10: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/joor.13304.
• [5] Johnson, H. (2022). People With Parkinson Disease May Have Lower Oral Health Quality of Life. Available: https://www.neurologyadvisor.com/topics/movement-disorders/those-with-parkinson-disease-reported-a-worse-oral-environment/. Last accessed: 18th March 2022.

Teeth grinding while asleep and the clenching of the jaws is known as sleep bruxism. Bruxism causes a range of both physical and dental issues. Now, researchers have looked to make a conclusion on the debate of whether or not sleep bruxism is associated with temporomandibular joint disorders – a cluster of conditions that cause a range of jaw issues. In conclusion, the researchers found a positive association.

When we sleep, we all hope for a calm rest to give our bodies a chance to recuperate. While many of us achieve this, a sizeable amount of the population do not.

One such issue that many face is the involuntary grinding of teeth while asleep. This is also associated with the clenching of the upper and lower jaw. These actions are part of a condition known as sleep bruxism.

There has been continued debate as to whether or not sleep bruxism is linked to Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TJMs). These disorders cause intense jaw pain and can cause a range of dental problems.

Now, researchers have sought to understand the connection and find out whether or not sleep bruxism can be linked to TJMs.

What is Sleep Bruxism?

Sleep bruxism refers to when a person grinds their teeth while asleep. It usually includes the clenching of the jaws as well.

Statistics show that approximately 15% of the population suffer from sleep bruxism [1]. An even larger amount will have regular bruxism, which is tooth grinding during the day.

Teeth grinding can wear away tooth enamel due to the strong pressure on tooth surfaces. This makes teeth more vulnerable to decay and caries.

In fact, those with sleep bruxism typically have worse oral health in their lifetime [2]. Sleep bruxism also causes physical issues like jaw pain and even headaches.

Meanwhile, the Temporomandibular joint connects the jawbone to the skull. Any disorder that affects this region is considered to be a TMJ [3]. TMJs can cause jaw pain and muscle problems.

The Research

The intention of this research was to find out if there was indeed a connection between sleep bruxism and TMJs. The aim was to make a conclusion on what has proven to be a controversial subject [4].

The research was completed at the University Clinic of Dentistry at the Medical University of Vienna [5]. The findings were published in the Journal of Advanced Research [5].

The researchers entered the study with the theory that specific combinations of tooth shape and tooth location during grinding affects the mechanical load on the temporomandibular joint [5]. Therefore, sleep bruxism could be considered a risk factor for TMJs.

The study used a computer model of the masticatory region – an area that includes the bones and muscles of the head and neck. These models are used in cases where human experiments would be deemed highly unethical.

The researchers tested out various tooth movements and angles using the model [5]. The study analysed the effects of grinding on the first molar and a canine with different inclinations and angles used.

The researchers found that there was an association between bruxism and TMJs [5]. However, it was found that certain tooth shapes and locations were particularly associated with the development of TMJs [5].

What this means

The findings of the study show that there does seem to be a connection between bruxism and TMJs. This is especially pronounced in certain cases where teeth are at a certain angle or inclination during grinding.

Benedikt Sagl of the University of Vienna was among the researchers. Sagl commented on the findings [1]. Sagl suggested that “the decisive factor” was the “steepness” of grinding. For instance, “the flatter the tooth, the higher the risk of a TMJ disorder” [1].

Sagl suggested that more research will be needed to confirm their findings. It was suggested that further research will be used to “establish whether this finding can be incorporated into the development of therapeutic interventions for sleep bruxism” [1].

Thinking points…

• 1) Bruxism does affect many people. Sometimes, people will grind their teeth out of habit, which is very damaging! It is worth checking to see if you do suffer from bruxism. This is something that can be diagnosed by a dentist. Treatments typically include a mouth guard.
• 2) The research above is an example of how one seemingly-minor thing can have a big effect on our dental health. Therefore, it is very important that you take good care of your teeth! As part of this, it is vital that you visit the dentist for a regular check-up, where any problems can be identified. Consider booking an appointment now!

What we offer at Savanna Dental

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

We recommend that our patients 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™! These treatments can have a positive impact on your appearance, confidence and self-esteem.

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.

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 dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.

References

[1] Henderson, E. (2022). Sleep bruxism can be a risk factor for temporomandibular joint disorders. Available: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220303/Sleep-bruxism-can-be-a-risk-factor-for-temporomandibular-joint-disorders.aspx. Last accessed: 3rd March 2022. [2] Xhonga, F. A. (1977). Bruxism and its effect on the teeth. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation. 4 (1): p65-76. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2842.1977.tb00967.x. [3] Mayo Clinic. (2018). TMJ Disorders. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tmj/symptoms-causes/syc-20350941. Last accessed: 3rd March 2022. [4] Ohlmann, B., Waldecker, M., Leckel, M., Boomicke, W., Behnisch, R., Rammelsberg, P., & Schmitter, M. (2020). Correlations between Sleep Bruxism and Temporomandibular Disorders. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 9 (2): p611-620. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9020611. [5] Sagl, B., Schmid-Schwap, M., Piehslinger, E., Kundi, M., & Stavness, I. (2021). Effect of facet inclination and location on TMJ loading during bruxism: An in-silico study. Journal of Advanced Research. 29 (35): p25-32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2021.04.009.