Medical information

  TAKE-HOME MESSAGE In this study, 9971 records from the 2015–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were assessed to determine the association between self-reported poor oral health and systemic health conditions. Substantial associations were seen with poor oral health and poor mental health, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, and other associations with physical activity/functioning, vision, hearing, genitourinary symptoms, and hepatitis. These associations continue to show a link between poor oral health and poor systemic health. Causation or the mechanisms of the associations were not determined or assessed, but the associations described in this study were clear. –   James Boynton, DDS, MS OBJECTIVE This proof of concept study uses data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to explore potential associations between oral and systemic health in a survey-wide association study (SWAS). BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN Data from n=9,971 records in t

  TAKE-HOME MESSAGE In this retrospective, observational study of weekly visits to dental offices as tracked by cellular smartphone data, weekly visits averaged 34% lower for the period March to August 2020 compared with the same period in 2019. The greatest decline in weekly visits compared with 2019 occurred during the week of April 12, 2020, when there were 66% fewer visits. The average decline in weekly visits during the pandemic was 5.7% greater in counties with the highest COVID-19 incidence compared with  counties with the lowest incidence (P < .001). The average decline in weekly visits during the pandemic was 8.3% greater in counties in the middle tercile of COVID-19 incidence compared with counties in the lowest tercile of incidence (P < .001). This is the first study to directly compare the volume of dental office visits in 2019 and 2020 and to use objective data unaffected by self-reporting bias. As states exhibited widespread variation in declining visits, the author

  TAKE-HOME MESSAGE This umbrella review (an analysis of systematic reviews) assessed 15 systematic reviews to assess the risk factors for early childhood caries. The authors found that enamel defects, high levels of mutans streptococci, presence of dentinal caries, increased consumption of soda, daily intake of sugary snacks, and obesity, are the highest potential risk factors for early childhood caries. Not enough evidence was found in systematic reviews to confirm a relationship with maternal smoking or breastfeeding beyond 24 months. Although unsurprising, this paper verifies what we consider to be risk factors for early childhood caries, although the inclusion of childhood obesity was based on a single systematic review (which included two studies). Intensive caries prevention in early childhood should be targeted to children at risk. –   James Boynton, DDS, MS PURPOSE The purpose of this umbrella review was to summarize and evaluate the available evidence concerning risk factors