Emerging Research

Snails may be small, but their teeth pack a huge punch. Limpet teeth, or those belonging to aquatic snails, have strength comparable to those of the strongest man-made fibers, according to a recent study published in Royal Society's journal Interface.

Mass media face tight restrictions on time and space. There are limited minutes to deliver the message in a fast-changing, ever-more complex world, and the tendency can be to oversimplify.

A recent study has found that the walking speed and memory of adults without any teeth decline more rapidly than those who still have some or all of their own teeth.

We're always excited to hear about new dental health discoveries and emerging research, and are fascinated by the enlightening, educational - and sometimes downright weird - information they bring to light. What follows is a list of the most fascinating recent studies, as chosen by our editorial team.

A recent report confirms scientists have created a new biocompatible material that may rebuild worn enamel and decrease tooth sensitivity for longer periods of time than current materials on the market.

Everyone knows that children need moderation in their lives. Giving a child too much sugar will undoubtedly result in a headache for parents. Exposing that child to excessive radiation? That can also only end poorly.

Recent research published in the journal Microbiome found that as many as 80 million bacteria are transferred during at 10-second French kiss. The study also found that people who kiss each other nine times a day or more share similar oral bacteria.

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland have found a critical reason to treat periodontal disease as soon as possible.

A recent study published by researchers in Japan found that elderly patients who wear dentures while they sleep have a higher risk of developing pneumonia than those who remove them.

In the fight against dental caries, we commonly utilize exogenous materials such as fluoride or sealants. However, a recent study has found that a key tool for fighting caries-causing bacteria may be our own saliva.

Recent research out of the University of Adelaide in Australia is challenging the belief that people with tooth loss actually need dentures.

New research out of England has found that weaning in human babies is tied to prenatal tooth enamel growth rates.

Stem cells have been buzzwords in the medical industry for many years now, but little has been said about the dentist's role in regards to storing stem cell tissue for future use. What do dentists have to do with stem cells? They may provide a patient's last chance to bank potentially life-saving tissue.

While oral hygiene habits and diet influence the risk of tooth decay, genetics are also at play in regards to susceptibility for dental caries development … genetics that can also determine hair disorders. 

While coffee may stain your teeth, research from Boston University has found that your morning java can provide some surprising dental health benefits.

The International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) have released a study examining the correlation between dental implant failure and the use of a widely prescribed antidepressant drug.  

A recent study has found that a very unpopular weed that ravages gardens and crop fields around the world may not have always been a nuisance: it may have actually protected prehistoric humans from tooth decay.  

Athletes may be in peak physical condition, but that good health doesn’t always extend to their dentition.  According to several studies, athletes, particularly runners, are more prone to oral health problems such as dental caries and erosion than the general population.   

A recent study from the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center discovered that some dentists are not encouraging patients who smoke to ditch the habit. Researchers found that only 1 in 10 smokers who saw a dentist in the past 12 months received the recommendation to quit smoking. 

A team of researchers at Harvard has discovered that it may be possible to regrow dentin in teeth-through the power of lasers.

A new study published in Cell Regeneration Journal reports that stem cells collected from human urine can be used to create tooth-like structures. The study, which was conducted by Duanqing Pei and colleagues, gives rise to the hope that the technique might one day be used to help grow new teeth for dental patients.

Two clinical studies conducted by separate research institutions concluded that Dentsply’s NUPRO Sensodyne prophylaxis paste with NovaMin® offers a substantial reduction in dentine hypersensitivity for an extended period of time.

According to a new study published in General Dentistry, a peer-reviewed clinical journal published by the Academy of General Dentistry, drinking large quantities of soda erodes teeth much in the same way as consuming illegal drugs does. 

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association analyzes data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to determine the connection between tooth loss and diabetes.

Distributor integration lets dental professionals buy dental products where and when they research them.

Scientific evidence linking type 2 diabetes with a greater risk of periodontitis continues to increase. The December 2012 volume of Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice includes a study showing individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus exhibited an even stronger association with risk of periodontitis.

In recent years, faculty members at the UCLA School of Dentistry have been expanding the traditional boundaries of dentistry through groundbreaking multidisciplinary research that has led to major advances in everything from stem cell science to saliva diagnostics. 

Maryland dental school professor Huakun (Hockin) Zu, PhD, and a team of researchers at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry are using nanotechnology to create a new dental composite that has the potential to aid dentists in the task of removing more harmful bacteria from a cavity and go one step further – rebuild the tooth.

Achaeological geneticist Christina Warinner is a researcher at the University of Zurich and has discovered a thrilling new tool that will shed light on the history of diseases dating back to ancient hominids. That new tool is fossilized dental plaque.

Dr. Lee Ann Brady, Executive VP of Education for Spear Education After practically growing up in the dental lab where her father worked as a ceramist, Dr. Lee Ann Brady chose the dental profession for herself while a sophomore in college. For 17 years, she led a successful private restorative practice. She took on a part-time teaching position with the Santa Fe Community College Dental Hygiene Program, after which she joined The Pankey Institute as a clinical instructor. She hit the work with such force that it eventually took its toll on her.