You may think that the case is settled when it comes to dental anesthesia and pain management. However new research into this area of dentistry is being published all the time. Dental treatments of all complexities from simple to highly complex can involve pain for the patient. Anxiety about a procedure and the potential pain are the main reasons patients avoid the dentist and put off essential treatments. That is…

Pilocarpine is an effective drug for treating xerostomia (dry mouth) from various causes. It is commercially available in a tablet form for oral use but is not available in the form of a lozenge. The only way to obtain the lozenges is by having them custom made by a compounding pharmacy. Xerostomia Xerostomia refers to a sensation of dryness in the mouth that is difficult to alleviate. In most cases…

Low dose naltrexone (LDN) has gained more mainstream acceptance in a wide range of medical fields. Its low incidence of side effects, combined with its potential to improve quality of life for patients with chronic conditions, make it an excellent candidate for experimental research. In a comprehensive literature review published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, the reviewers concluded that: “Low-dose naltrexone provides an alternative in medical management…

The pain (and expectation of pain) of getting a local anesthetic injection can cause significant anxiety for many patients. Anxiety surrounding pain is the main reason many patients avoid going to the dentist when they have an oral health problem. Besides just improving the patient’s rating of their experience, better pain control before injections can lead to better oral health as well. Patients who experience less pain at their appointments…

Many current dentistry guidelines do not recommend discontinuing oral anticoagulants before a minor dental procedure. Instead, local haemostatic measures are taken to reduce bleeding and ensure a patient can continue their treatment. These measures may include mechanical pressure, suturing, or local haemostats like tranexamic acid. Tranexamic acid is administered in the form of a topical solution applied with gauze or used as an oral rinse. Studies have shown that post-procedural…

Lesion sterilization and tissue repair (LSTR) is an alternative to extracting primary teeth in cases of gross periradicular pathosis and internal resorption. LSTR involves the use of a triple antibiotic paste to treat the infection that is causing the inflammation and retreat of tissue. Avoiding tooth extraction can be a great benefit for patients and practitioners and help extend the longevity of a child’s teeth. LSTR with triple antibiotic paste…

Socket preservation is a term that encompasses techniques used by dentists to preserve the dimensions of bone after the removal of a tooth. This can be useful for a variety of reasons, mostly because it improves the chances of having a successful restoration procedure in the future that works aesthetically. Without socket preservation after tooth extraction, alveolar bone loss occurs and the jaw bone may be permanently altered before an…

Chronic periodontitis affects about half of the adult population over 30 in the United States. Despite the efforts of dentists and organizations advocating for good oral hygiene habits, periodontal disease is still extremely common. Scaling and root planing is the standard procedure used for reducing the severity of chronic periodontitis. However getting patients to return for the multiple sessions needed to see results can be difficult. The deep cleaning of…

One of the formulations we consistently receive requests for is high-powered topical anesthetic gels. There are numerous numbing gels used by dentists for numbing prior to routine dental care, oral surgery, and orthodontic procedures. How do numbing gels work though, and why are some formulations more effective than others? Anesthetics Designed for Topical Use A topical anesthetic is not just an injectable anesthetic applied without a needle. Unlike an injected…

Dry mouth (xerostomia) is a common condition that has multiple possible causes. It results from either a decrease in the production of saliva or a change in saliva’s composition. Dry mouth is frequently associated with the use of certain medications and is common in patients undergoing radiation therapy. Individuals with Sjogren’s syndrome have chronic dry mouth that requires long-term care. Compounded treatments include a topical dry mouth spray that can…