Natural molecule could be added to products to improve hygiene
Scientists have reported that a naturally occurring molecule known as DIM or bisindole reduces biofilm by 90%, leading them to posit that it could be added to products such as “toothpastes and mouthwashes to greatly improve dental hygiene.” The findings were a collaboration between researchers in Israel, China, and Singapore and were published earlier this month in the journal Antibiotics.
Dentist convicted of unlawfully prescribing opioids that resulted in patient death
A Kentucky dentist was recently convicted for unlawfully prescribing opioids, including morphine, despite “clear signs … including being told explicitly that his prescribing of controlled substances was dangerous and put his patients’ lives at risk,” that led to a patient's death. According to a press release from the Department of Justice, court documents and trial evidence indicate that Jay Sadrinia of Villa Hills, Kentucky, charged $37,000 for dental procedures and prescribed a patient medically unnecessary quantities of narcotics, including morphine, that resulted in a fatal overdose. He now faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison for the unlawful distribution of controlled substances resulting in death count.
New Covid variant on CDC's radar
In late June, the CDC began tracking new omicron variants including XBB.1.5 descendant EU.1.1, a strain first designated by scientists earlier this year due to its rapid ascent in parts of Europe. Currently it’s gaining traction in the US in areas including Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and the Dakotas. According to CBS, despite some anecdotal reports, health officials say there's little evidence of previous variants leading to changes in COVID-19's effects.
ICYMI: ADA's new tooth decay treatment guideline advises conservative approaches
The American Dental Association (ADA) has released a clinical practice guideline on the treatment of tooth decay in primary and permanent teeth recommending, overarchingly, that conservative treatments could lead to better outcomes when used with common restorative materials. Published in Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), the report, Evidence-based clinical practice guideline on restorative treatments for caries lesions, was developed by an expert panel and contains 16 recommendations about treatment of moderate and advanced tooth decay in primary and permanent teeth that have not received endodontic treatment.
The recommendations also identify selective CTR—which involves removing most, but not all, decayed tissue before sealing the tooth with a filling or cap—as an effective treatment option in most cases of moderate or advanced decay in primary and permanent teeth. The bacteria left behind under the new filling or cap can no longer multiply, which stops tooth decay.
