Although dental hygiene is a young profession comparatively speaking, the number of dental hygienists has grown significantly in recent years in correlation with the increase in the number of dental hygiene schools. The United States Bureau…

Dental caries remains the most prevalent chronic disease in both children and adults in the United States, even though it is largely preventable. Monitoring the prevalence of caries is key to preventing and controlling oral diseases.…

This information is from the article Genetic Disorders and Oral Health By Rebecca Maginot, MS, Vanchit John, BDS, MDS, DDS, MSD, Christopher Dvorak, MS, LCGC and Daniel Shin, DDS, MSD. To read the article, click here.

Bacterial plaque is a soft, sticky, almost invisible biofilm containing millions of organisms that adhere to tooth surfaces, dental appliances, restorations, and oral mucosa. More specifically, oral biofilm is “a dense, transparent,…

Legionnaire’s disease is a respiratory illness associated with the inhalation or aspiration of water sources (aerosols) contaminated with Legionella pneumophila bacteria. There are more than 50 Legionella species with L. pneumophila being…

Affecting the quality of life for more than 10 million Americans, temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are musculoskeletal conditions associated with pain and dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and muscles of mastication. The…

In 2018 the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) published a new classification system for periodontal health and disease, changing the way oral health professionals consider clinical…

Xerostomia, or perceived dry mouth, has a broad range of prevalence, ranging from 5.5% to 65%, while also considered under-reported by patients and under-recognized by practitioners. As such, it is important for oral health professionals to…

Periodontal diseases are related to an immunoinflammatory response to various types of oral biofilm. They affect approximately 42% of United States adults. Chronic periodontitis is characterized by alveolar bone loss, attachment loss, and…

A child’s level of cooperation and ability to follow instructions from the dental team directly influence how well a restorative or surgical procedure can be performed and even what materials can be used. It is the clinician’s…