In the last quarter of the year, schedules pick up and things begin to get busier on the personal and professional fronts. DentistryIQ has published several articles on oral-systemic health, pharmacology, and pathology that have gotten the attention of your colleagues. In case you missed them, here are some quick takes.
Americans and diet
According to new research, over half of Americans have a pro-inflammatory diet. But consuming anti-inflammatory foods can improve oral and overall health.
It's no secret America has health and diet issues. Over the years, our penchant for processed food and overconsumption has led to high rates of obesity, heart disease, cancer, and stroke. And according to the CDC, an estimated 36.6% or approximately 84.8 million adults consume fast food on any given day. Now, a recent study revealed that almost 60% of Americans have a pro-inflammatory diet, further increasing the risk of these deadly diseases. Read the full article here.
Why “under the radar” drugs are worrying
Phenibut, a neuropsychotropic drug discovered in Russia in the 1960s (and illegal in the US), has made a comeback. Here’s what you need to know about how phenibut and other drugs that fly under the radar can affect dental care.
We’ve talked a lot about gabapentin over years—its uses, misuses, and what it could eventually lead to. But there’s a new kid on the block—phenibut (beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid).
Phenibut is a neuropsychotropic drug discovered and introduced into clinical practice in Russia in the 1960s. It is not legal in the US because it was never considered worthy of the FDA’s consideration. However, since the US has the largest market for illicit drugs, phenibut is here to contend with. Phenibut has anxiolytic activity with neurotropic effects, which means it enhances cognition and produces a euphoric effect.
In this episode of Medical History Mysteries, we’ll talk about drugs that fly under the radar—such as phenibut, nitazenes, tianeptine (gas station heroin), and others—and how they can affect your patients and ultimately their dental care. Listen to the full episode here.
Oral health and high blood pressure
Research shows a strong link between periodontal disease and hypertension. Unhealthy gums can trigger low-grade inflammation in the body, which negatively affects vascular health and increases the risk to the heart.
Oral health may be more important than many think—especially among the millions dealing with high blood pressure (hypertension). Research shows a strong link between gum disease and hypertension. Unhealthy gums can trigger low-grade inflammation in the body, which negatively affects vascular health and increases the risk to the heart.
High blood pressure is a common condition where the force of blood against the artery walls is consistently too high, typically defined as a reading of 130/80 mmHg or higher. According to the World Health Organization, the number of adults aged 30–79 with hypertension has doubled in the past 30 years, reaching 1.28 billion globally.
In the United States, hypertension is a major public health concern that affects nearly half of US adults—around 116 million, according to the American Heart Association. Yet, only about one-quarter of those affected have their condition under control. Read the full article here.
Salivary gland essentials
Seemingly innocuous bumps and swellings can sometimes present a diagnostic challenge, and while they are often benign, it's crucial to recognize and understand their underlying causes. Here’s what you need to know about the salivary glands.
In my many years as a dental professional, I've encountered a lot of cases of mucoceles, ranulas, and salivary cysts. These seemingly innocuous bumps and swellings can sometimes present a diagnostic challenge, and while they are often benign, it's crucial to recognize and understand their underlying causes.
To fully understand these lesions, we must first explore the intricate network of salivary ducts and how they can be vulnerable to various insults and obstructions that can disrupt their integrity, leading to either ductal leakage or obstruction—the root cause of salivary cysts, mucoceles, and ranulas. Read the full article here.
4 illicit drugs that could affect dental treatment
The list of illicit drugs continues to grow, making accurate and complete medical histories for every patient even more critical. Here are four drugs you should know about and how they could affect dental treatment.
The list of illicit drugs continues to grow, a reminder that all health-care professionals must stay current on the types of medications their patients may be taking. A thorough medical history can’t be an afterthought. There are five things that should be included in every medical history: review them here.
Over the past couple of years, DentistryIQ has published numerous episodes of Medical History Mysteries, covering a wide variety of pharmaceutical topics as they relate to dentistry. Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD, chief editor of Dental Economics, and pharmacist Tom Viola, RPh, CCP, have recently talked about four illicit drugs to watch for—tianeptine, nitazene, phenibut, and xylazine—that are often combined with other drugs, such as opioids. Here’s a breakdown. Read the full article here.
Share these articles with your peers if they haven’t seen them and stay tuned for more content to help you in your career.
