News: Dentistry @ the URMC

Contrary to conventional wisdom, overweight children have fewer cavities and healthier teeth compared to their normal weight peers, according to a study published in this month’s issue of Community Dentistry & Oral Epidemiology.

Surprised researchers at the Eastman Dental Center, part of the University of Rochester Medical Center, conducted a secondary analysis of nearly 18,000 children who participated in two separate National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES III and NHANES 99-02).

The study found no differences in rates of caries (tooth decay) among children ages 2-5 in all weight ranges, while children ages 6-18 who were considered overweight and at risk for becoming overweight showed a decreased risk of caries compared to their normal weight peers.

“We expected to find more oral disease in overweight children of all ages, given the similar causal factors that are generally associated with obesity and caries, said Eastman Dental Center’s Dorota Kopycka-Kedzierawski, DDS, MPH, the lead author. “Our findings raise more questions than answers. For example, are overweight children eating foods higher in fat rather than cavity-causing sugars? Are their diets similar to normal weight peers but lead more sedentary lifestyles? Research to analyze both diet and lifestyle is needed to better understand the results.”

The study defined overweight children as being at the 95th or higher percentile for their age and sex; children at the 85th or higher percentile and less than 95th percentile for their age and sex were defined as at risk for becoming overweight.

See also:
ScienceDaily April 3, 2008

Eastman Dental Center’s SMILEmobile program has been featured on Rochester’s R-News.  The article incluces comments from EDC’s Janice Glen and Dr. Desiree Laracuente.

The article, and link to the video, maybe be accessed here.

The Eastman Dental Center was recently featured in  WHAM News 13’s story Dental Care for Kids—Still a Nightmare for Some.

A class of chemicals in red wine grapes may significantly reduce the ability of bacteria to cause cavities.

The recent study examined the make-up of polyphenols in red wine grape varieties and their ability to interfere with Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), the bacteria that produces the substances most responsible for tooth decay.  The study was conducted by assistant professor of Dentistry, Dr. Hyun Koo, of the Eastman Department of Dentistry and Center for Oral Biology in collaboration with the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Cornell University.

Read the full release here.

“Benefits of Red Wine” also featured on News 10 Whec.com .

Patients who have their wisdom teeth pulled and do not take antibiotics before surgery are twice as likely to get an infection after the surgery than those who take a single dose of antibiotics shortly before surgery, says Eastman Dental Center researchersYan-Fang Ren, DDS, PhD, MPH and Hans Malmstrom, DDS.

Surgical extraction of impacted of wisdom teeth—or third molars—is the procedure carried out most commonly in oral surgery and general dental practices around the world,” said Ren. “Inflammation and infection associated with bacterial contamination are the most common complications after third molar surgery.” Because infection after surgery is usually accompanied by debilitating pain and functional impairment, clinicians have long sought effective ways to prevent complications after third molar surgery.

“Many clinical trials have been conducted in the past to investigate the controversial topic of using antibiotics before wisdom teeth surgery, but most of the published trials involved a sample size too small to support a conclusive outcome,” Ren explained. Through an extensive, meticulous process explained in the Journal, Ren and Malmstrom analyzed 20 published clinical trials involving nearly 3,000 patients.

The findings of this study may serve as a guideline for dentists and oral surgeons for prescribing antibiotics after wisdom teeth surgery. “We do not advocate a universal prescription of antibiotics for every third molar surgery,” Ren explained, “but for patients who have risks for postoperative infections, a single dose of antibiotics before surgery is probably more effective than taking several days of antibiotics after the surgery is completed.” Drs. Ren and Malmstrom hope that this study could help dentists be more purposeful when prescribing antibiotics and to avoid unnecessary antibiotic use.

A world leader in residency training and research initiatives, Eastman Dental Center each year treats thousands of Rochester-area patients by providing a full range of general and specialized dentistry including pediatrics, periodontology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics and prosthodontics. Established in 1915, the Eastman Dental Center is the only major post doctoral dental education, research and clinical institution in the U.S. within an academic medical center. The legacy of George Eastman continues to thrive with its extensive community outreach program helping underserved residents.

Resources for Patients

EDC faculty member and Orthodontist Dr. Mike Spoon was recently interviewed on Channel 10 regarding the new I-cat imaging technology. Read more here.

Stephanos Kyrkanides, DDS, MS, PhD, chair of the Division of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics has additionally been appointed associate chair/director of research in the Eastman Department of Dentistry and the Eastman Dental Center effective August 1, 2007.

Dr. Kyrkanides received his dental degree in 1991 from the School of Dentistry, National University of Athens in Greece. He completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry program, a Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Fellowship and an Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics residency at the Eastman Dental Center. In 1999, Dr. Kyrkanides received a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester in Neurobiology and Anatomy.

In this new role as associate chair/director of research, Dr. Kyrkanides will work to facilitate and stimulate research activity and collaboration in the Department and Center. Dr. Kyrkanides is a well-funded and active researcher and has extensive collaborations with investigators in the Medical Center. He will play a significant role in enhancing the translational research capabilities in Dentistry.

Carlo Ercoli, DDS, chairman of Prosthodontics, and Paul Romano, DDS, clinical associate professor of Periodontology at the University of Rochester Eastman Dental Center, will share the latest information on dental implants that can improve fit and increase quality of life (e.g. enjoyment of meals) via secure denture or fabricate fixed bridges.  more…