Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) is a relentless and prolific oral bacterium that causes and facilitates oral and systemic infections. F. nucleatum is one of many bacteria found in dental plaque and, therefore, always present in the oral cavity. F. nucleatum has the capacity to interact with other bacteria and cause a host of problems throughout the body.

F. nucleatum combines with other bacteria and invades epithelial and endothelial cells in the body, causing oral diseases including gingivitis, orofacial abscesses and periodontitis, as well as infections throughout the body in various organs, including the abdomen, liver, lungs, spleen and blood. The bacterium is also known to cause preterm and stillbirths, and miscarriages by infecting the bloodstream during pregnancy and invading the amniotic fluid. According to the professor of Periodontics at Case Reserve University, more research is required to understand how F. nucleatum adheres to other bacteria in order to develop effective ways to combat it.

An agreement between 3M’s Digital Oral Care Department and the University of Michigan aims to graduate dentists prepared for digital dentistry. Although the Lava Chairside Oral Scanner (Lava C.O.S.) for digital impression-taking has yet to be incorporated into many dental practices, it is 3M’s interactive system intended for more accurate and comfortable digital impressions. Through the agreement, 3M has equipped the dental school with 10 computers with software to design precise restorative margins and the Lava Scan ST to transform impressions from traditional format to digital. Combined, the hands-on experience with state-of-the-art dental technologies will equip graduates from the University of Michigan to revolutionize the industry, according to the general manager of 3M’s Digital Oral Care Department.

Saliva may seem insignificant, but it can be difficult to speak, swallow and maintain proper oral health without it. People with throat or mouth cancer often suffer from xerostomia, or dry mouth, due to radiation treatments. For people suffering with these types of cancer, a recent study has determined that submandibular gland transfer can prevent xerostomia.

Submandibular gland transfer involves moving the saliva gland out of the line of radiation by relocating it from under the jaw to under the chin. This procedure proved more successful than salagen, an oral drug thought to protect the salivary gland if taken during radiation. While both procedures prevented difficulties occurring with speech, salagen decreased the ability to swallow, resulting in increased water consumption, decreased nutrition, physical and social discomfort and a general decrease in quality of life. According to the doctors who performed the study, those people with mouth and throat cancer can prevent xerostomia and its consequences by undergoing a submandibular gland transfer prior to radiation treatments.

Untreated caries in children can result in death, as in the 2007 case of 12-year-old Deamonte Driver from Maryland. In an effort to determine the seriousness of childhood tooth decay, a study was conducted on 2,313 migrant, poor and minority children in Los Angeles. It was determined that children of non-English speaking parents, parents without high school diplomas, and children of migrant workers and minorities were at higher risk for childhood caries than other segments of the population.

Underprivileged children that present with untreated caries also experience low self-esteem, struggles with learning and speech, poor nutrition and high absentee rates. Seventy-three percent of the children in the study presented with untreated caries and/or white spot lesions, which are the initial stages of cavities. White spot lesions are less-costly to treat and can be reversed, preventing cavities from progressing. To combat childhood caries in underserved children, mobile dental clinics and sliding-scale community health centers are available to families without dental insurance or access to dental care.

Visiting your dentist can lead to “foreign accent syndrome.” An unusual neurological disorder known to transform a person’s accent, only 60 cases have been recorded since 1941. While the disorder is generally caused by severe brain trauma or stroke, documentation also exists to indicate that severe migraines can cause the phenomenon. Most recently, a 56 year old American woman woke from dental surgery with a British accent. After considerable tests, it was determined that there was no brain damage, no incidence of stroke and her vision and motor skills were unaffected. Uncertain of the exact cause, experts believe that in the affected person, their articulatory planning becomes distorted, causing a change in pronunciation of words. Their native language, grammar and vocabulary are not affected. Experts suspect the woman’s newly acquired accent will eventually fade.