We all used to believe that dental x-rays are not linked to any serious risks to our health, both dental and overall. The amount of radiation we receive during the procedure was considered quite small and harmless to our body. However, recently a group of scientists found out that regular dental x-rays are actually exposing people to the amounts of iodizing radiation that should be enough to increase the chances for several types of health risks. The study published earlier this month in Cancer, the Journal of the American Cancer Society, have shown that those who have frequent dental x-rays are in the group of increased risks for developing brain tumor and even have fatal damaging changes in the DNA.

The scientists say that doing dental x-rays as often as once per year is connected with quite increased risks of developing meningioma, one of the most common type of non-cancerous brain tumor. It can be formed in the very membrane around the brain, as well as in the lower area, closer to spinal cord. Despite the fact that this type of disorder is considered among the less aggressive kinds of brain tumors since the tumor cells grow and reproduce very slowly, still it is linked to a series of very serious consequences, including severe mental disabilities and even lethal health conditions. More common effects of maningiloma include chronic headaches, loss of motor control, impaired vision and loss of speech, and so on.

A group of scientists of the Yale University School of Medicine, led by Prof. Elizabeth Claus, initiated a research aimed to analyze the connections between brain tumor development and possible causes of meningioma. The data on about 1430 American people diagnosed with this type of brain tumor and aged between 20 and 79 was thoroughly studied. It turned out that such factor as dental x-rays played a very important role as a possible cause of brain tumor. The detailed analysis has shown that those who had dental x-ray procedures once a year had from 1.4 to 1.9 times higher chances to develop meningiloma compared to the data collected on the members of other group of 1350 people with similar dental and overall health history, but had not been diagnosed with the mentioned type of brain tumor.

Experts confirmed the importance of the findings of American scientists. According to the most common expert opinion, it is true that dental x-rays are not linked to exposure to serious amounts of radiation, however, it is necessary to keep in mind the findings of the study and re-examine the frequency of dental x-rays for all dental patients around the world. “The study presents an ideal opportunity in public health to increase awareness regarding the optimal use of dental x-rays, which unlike many risk factors is modifiable,” Elizabeth Claus commented on the findings of her colleagues. “This should come as no great surprise given the connection between radiation and meningioma development that has been established in various other contexts,” says Michael Schulder, an expert at Cushing Neuroscience Institute.

Tags: brain tumor, dental x-rays

Posted: April 27th, 2012 under Miscellaneous.
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British dental specialists are going to have more work to do. According to an initiative of a group of experts from the University of Cardiff, all national dental care professionals and specialists should detect unhealthy habits of their patients by asking them to fill in the questionnaires before consulting them or providing them with the required dental care services. In particular, the Cardiff University scientists are sure that such a measure will assist in determining those people who suffer from such a bad habit as alcohol abuse and have increased risks of developing a great variety of dental diseases and other related health conditions. In particular, it is known that alcohol abuse is closely linked to increased risks of gum disease, along with other numerous risks.

Why exactly dentists should do this job, one should ask? The Cardiff University experts are convinced that dental care specialists are in unique position to offer their patients answer questions about their habits as most of people visit dentists for regular check-ups very often. Besides, asking this kind of questions can seem to be usual for dental care specialists because they are trying to learn any sort of supporting information to find out more about general health condition of their patients. This will allow dentists successfully identify those people who suffer from alcohol dependence and offer them help (including personal coaching sessions, etc.) in combating their bad habit and lowering numerous health risks linked to drinking too mush of alcohol on a regular basis.

Alcohol dependence is associated with a great deal of dental problems, starting from tooth decay, cavities and enamel erosion, and ending up with such serious dental conditions as oral cancer. If a patient who displays the signs of alcohol abuse refuses the fact or refuses participating in any sort of therapeutic programs, dentist should inform the general practitioner or health care specialist who the patient sees often for general health check-ups, and inform the GP about the situation. Such measures, according to the experts from the University of Cardiff, will contribute greatly in improving general health of today’s British society.  It is estimated that every one of five Brits have problems with controlled alcohol consumption causing serious problems for their health.

“After screening, the individuals identified as misusing alcohol could then be offered treatment, including brief motivational advice sessions delivered by hygienists or dental nurses,” Cardiff scientists write in their article published in the latest issue of the Royal College of Surgeons’ Dental Journal. “This provides the primary dental healthcare team with unique opportunities to intervene, particularly as asking patients about their levels of alcohol consumption is a routine component of medical history taking.” The experts are sure that dental care specialists and the government should unite their efforts directed on detecting and lowering the number of alcohol dependent people, as well as providing them with a proper high quality alcohol abuse treatment programs.

Tags: alcohol abuse

Posted: April 19th, 2012 under Miscellaneous.
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Excessive alcohol consumption is dangerous from many angles. Nowadays, one more risk linked to this type of substance abuse was discovered. According to the findings of a clinical research, those people who are alcohol dependent and consume excessive amounts of alcohol on a regular basis are three times more likely to develop serious dental problems, including gum disease. Moreover, as it is stated in the report about the study published in March in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, combining alcohol abuse with heavy smoking can substantially rise the risks of gum disease and other serious dental problems.

According to Dr Nigel Carter, one of the expert at the British Dental Health Foundation, who presented and wrote a series of comments on the research, all those who enjoy excessive amounts of alcohol on a daily basis should be aware about numerous consequences of this terrible habit. ‘The growing body of evidence suggests what we once thought were safe alcohol consumption levels are in fact not so, particularly if it’s compounded by smoking,’ Dr. Carter said. The study revealed that every one of five regular alcohol consumer develop very serious stages of gum disease withing just few years of practitioner their nasty habit.

However, the experts continues, it is possible to lower the mentioned risks for heavy drinkers by observing the basic rules of daily dental care, namely brushing the teeth twice a day, flossing the teeth regularly, and visiting dental care professionals for regular dental check-ups. Dr. Carter underlines that not only alcohol itself (which is rich in sugars, calories, and other harmful compounds) causes elevated risks of gum disease in those who consumes it in excessive amounts. Most heavy drinkers never follow the mentioned rules of dental and oral hygiene, this way seriously lowering their chances to enjoy good dental health for many years.

Specialist points on the fact that currently, the number of people who drink alcohol on a regular basis, as well as heavy smokers, is steadily increasing, making the mentioned risks of social dental health becoming more and more serious. ‘People are drinking more and more these days and, with many so-called “social smokers” having a cigarette while they drink the likelihood is that the number of poor dental health and increased cases of illness will continue to rise until people are forced to take notice,” he said. It is estimated that every year about 70,000 deaths in the UK are cause by chronic illnesses originating from poor dental health.

Tags: risks of gum disease

Posted: April 5th, 2012 under Miscellaneous.
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