Dear Restoratives Insider,
What types of noncarious lesions do dental practitioners most often choose to restore, and why?
Researchers from the University of Florida College of Dentistry analyzed 30 months' worth of data collected by a dental practice-based research network to quantitatively answer that question in a new study in the Journal of the American Dental Association.
In this latest Restoratives Insider Exclusive, we spoke with the lead author of the study, which also sets the stage for a debate about the best treatment approach for these lesions.
In other clinical news, is there a single best oral analgesic for treating postsurgical pain following third-molar extractions? Yes and no, according to a study in the British Dental Journal.
And a study out of the Indiana University School of Dentistry considered the bacterial contamination risk posed by impression guns. Read on to see what the authors found on guns used in a clinic -- and the best way to keep them clean.
In other Restoratives Community news, an article in the November 28 New York Times suggested that the advent of advanced diagnostic tools is prompting dental practitioners to "drill and fill" more than they need to and driving up patient costs as a result. But Dr. Peter Blanchard, director of evidence-based practice at the DentaQuest Oral Health Center, offers a different perspective in his Second Opinion response.
Meanwhile, the issue of water fluoridation stirred up some new debates in recent weeks. Communities across the U.S. are weighing the importance of fluoridation against the realities of slimming budgets. Read how situations in several California and Florida districts highlight the conundrum.
In related news, three national healthcare organizations launched the Campaign for Dental Health to educate the public about the need to invest in water fluoridation.
And two major players are squaring off over polymer-based restorative materials. Find out how the legal dispute over a patent on these materials is shaping up between 3M and Ivoclar Vivadent.
Finally, in the latest installment of DrBicuspid.com's Dental Heroes series, read the remarkable story of Operation Smile and how a single mission to the Philippines 30 years ago grew into a global charity that has helped hundreds of thousands of people suffering from cleft lip and palate.
