Dear DrBicuspid Member,
Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and two injection needles used as reference points assisted in the removal of a broken 1.3-cm suture needle from a man's buccal mucosa. Our summary of the case report was the top story of the week.
The incident happened after a dentist accidentally cut the suture needle during explantation and local flap surgeries. The dentist referred the patient to a team of oral and maxillofacial surgeons, who removed the broken needle as well as the nylon fragment attached to it.
ADA stops supporting Rep. Gosar
The ADA made headlines this week with news that the organization's political action committee (ADPAC) is suspending political contributions to former dentist Rep. Dr. Paul Gosar (R-AZ).
Gosar has drawn criticism for comments he's made on political topics, particularly in the wake of the January 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol. Some ADA members began speaking out against the congressman days after the event.
The ADA is the first prominent dental organization to announce it is pulling support for Gosar. Gosar has also received past funding from the political action committees of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Association of Orthodontists.
Masks and dental health
Now that we're well more than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have turned their attention to how wearing face masks is affecting our health and well-being.
One recent study found continuous wear of N95 filtering facepiece respirators reduced blood oxygen saturation levels and increased the heart rates of dentists and dental assistants. However, the changes were within the range considered to be healthy, the authors noted.
Wearing face masks has also made us aware of our bad breath, according to another recent survey. While that news may not be surprising, it wasn't the only notable survey finding. Respondents also said that the use of face masks led them to make significant changes to their oral hygiene habits.
IADR 2021 coverage
The virtual International Association of Dental Research (IADR) General Session kicked off with a bang on Wednesday, and the scientific posters and presentations have been eye-catching. Here's a look at some of the research we've covered so far:
- Water from scalers largely fails to meet U.S. standards
- Study finds sodium fluoride tops SDF for kids
- CBD spray may help treat oral ulcers
- Dental professionals show strong response to SARS-CoV-2
- Artificial intelligence model predicts links between general, oral health
- Needle sticks, burs cause most dental school injuries
By the time you're reading this, there will already be more IADR meeting coverage on the website. Be sure to hit refresh and follow DrBicuspid on Twitter and Facebook for up-to-the-minute news from the meeting and more.
