Hannah Welk[email protected]Federally Qualified Health CenterDental visits lag for publicly insured patientsBy August 2020, privately insured patients were visiting the dentist at about the same rate as before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study in the Journal of the American Dental Association. But dental utilization still lagged by 7.5% for patients with public insurance.July 28, 2021Dental HygieneWearing a mask makes people aware of their bad breathWearing a face mask makes people aware of their bad breath, according to a recent survey published in Oral Diseases. The use of face masks also led respondents to make significant changes in their oral hygiene habits.July 21, 2021DenturesTooth loss is a risk factor for dementiaTooth loss is a risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia, according to a meta-analysis published on July 8 in the Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. What's worse, the risk of cognitive decline increases with each lost tooth.July 7, 2021Hygiene ToolsPatients are willing to pay for preventive dental carePeople are willing to pay for scale and polish services and oral hygiene advice even without seeing the immediate benefits, according to a study published in the July print edition of the Journal of Dental Research.June 30, 2021PeriodonticsPeriodontal disease cost U.S. $154B in 2018Periodontal disease comes with a high cost: The U.S. lost $154.1 billion in 2018 due to the condition, according to an analysis published on May 30 in the Journal of Periodontology. The loss was even worse in Europe, where periodontal disease cost the region nearly 158.6 billion euros ($194 billion U.S.).June 9, 2021Dental EducationTwitter can be useful for dental educationTwitter can be useful for dental education, according to a review published in the Journal of Dental Education. The social media network's open access platform, limited advertisements, and free registration make it an appealing tool for students' interactive learning, the authors wrote.June 2, 2021Dental EducationDental graduate medical costs are a growing investmentDental graduate medical education is a growing public investment that policy may need to address, according to a study published on May 27 in JAMA Network Open. The Medicare program spends millions each year supporting dental education programs, despite limited support for Medicare beneficiaries.May 27, 2021BrainGingivitis tied to increased risk of future depressionEuropean researchers discovered a link between gingivitis and depression in a study published in the June 2021 edition of the Journal of Psychiatric Research. Patients with chronic gingivitis had almost double the risk of developing depression as those with healthy gums.May 19, 2021EndodonticsPreventive dental care tied to lower Medicaid costs in NYPreventive dentistry services provided more than just better health outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries in New York, according to a study published on April 21 in the Journal of Dental Research. Participants who took advantage of preventive dental care also saved the state Medicaid program money.May 5, 2021Orofacial PainTMD linked to exposure to violence in childrenAdolescents who report temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain and jaw dysfunction are more often exposed to violence, according to a study published recently in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation.April 28, 2021Previous PagePage 4 of 5Next PageTop StoriesLegal IssuesDentist accused of drug deal near his office enters pleaA dentist entangled in a 2023 fatal hit-and-run case has pleaded not guilty in a separate case in which he allegedly was involved in a drug deal near his dental office.FluorideWhat’s stopping kids from getting fluoride at well visits?Oral-Systemic LinkWhen it comes to smoking, teeth don’t liePodcastsPodcast: The keys to transforming patient relationships in dentistryRegulatory UpdatesOpinion: Why advocacy in dentistry matters