Impressions

New ASU Research Documents Association Between Poor Oral Health and the Heart and Brain

A recent study from Arizona State University (ASU) has documented an association between poor oral health and increased inflammation, reduced brain volume (indicative of dementia), and higher rates of cardiovascular disease among the Tsimane, an indigenous group in the Bolivian Amazon. Additionally, the research has heightened understanding in the US about connections between oral health and chronic illnesses and has led to potential collaborations with local Bolivian dentists to enhance dental care for the Tsimane community.

Evolutionary anthropologist Ben Trumble of the ASU School of Human Evolution and Social Change explained that it is very difficult to identify the role of oral health in chronic disease in the US, which is the reason for the focused test group. Trumble notes that the Tsimane exhibit minimal socioeconomic differences and have restricted access to health care, two important health status variables. Controlling for these variables allows for clearer analysis of the links between oral health and chronic disease. For this research, Trumble collaborated with two dental researchers from the ASU School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Gary Schwartz, a professor and evolutionary anthropologist, and Christopher Stojanowski, a professor and bioarchaeologist.

Trumble is involved in The Tsimane Health and Life History Project, a collaborative health and anthropology initiative designed to explore how ecology and evolution influence the development of the human life course. The Project has gathered initial data revealing a significant unmet demand for dental care within this group, with the Tsimane specifically requesting increased access to dental services.

The research was published in The Journals of Gerontology.

Bronze-Age Teeth Discovered to Have Bacteria that Cause Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

A study, published in the Molecular Biology and Evolution journal, analyzed bacteria on Bronze-Age teeth and compared it to modern samples, showing that the ancient molars have a plethora of naturally preserved bacteria that causes tooth decay and gum disease. This aids scientists in better understanding how the human diet has contributed to the prevalence of cavities in modern times.

The pair of molar teeth found during the 1993 to 1996 excavations in County Limerick, Ireland, belonged to the same individual who lived around 4,000 years ago during the Bronze Age.

Lara Cassidy, an assistant professor in genetics at Trinity College Dublin, noted that the bacteria is less frequently found in ancient teeth because the human diet at that time contained fewer processed foods and refined sugars. Cavities have been found on other ancient teeth but in low amounts. Cassidy believes the cool and dry conditions of the cave where the teeth were found contributed to the well-preserved artifacts.

The two Bronze-Age teeth also held DNA traces of Tannerella forsythia, a bacterium associated with gum disease, commonly detected in ancient microbiomes. Researchers identified two unique strains of bacteria in the teeth. Today, only one strain is typically observed, alluding to the idea that the ancient microbiomes were more diverse than modern microbiomes.

Louise Humphrey, research leader at the Centre for Human Evolution Research at the Natural History Museum in London, suggests that ancient teeth such as these can provide insights into the evolution of human oral microbiota and the effects of these changes on human health.

Study Shows Further Connection Between Tobacco Products and Oral Conditions

Recent data collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2017 and 2020 shows the influences of smoking cigarettes and other types of smoked tobacco on oral conditions of US adults. Those conditions include tooth loss, coronal, and root caries.

In the study, cigarettes were the most common type of tobacco product used, and e-cigarette smokers had the highest numbers of untreated root caries and the highest rate of tooth loss. It was apparent that cigar smokers had the highest rate of teeth with untreated coronal caries.

Dentists and oral health care providers can play a vital role in counseling and supporting tobacco users to quit using tobacco products in coordination with routine dental examinations and oral health.

The research was published in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry.

Topical Solution Halts Tooth Decay in Children

A recent clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health has demonstrated that Silver diamine fluoride (SDF), a topical liquid, effectively stops tooth decay in children. The study found that 54% of the cavities ceased to progress after treatment with SDF. The silver in SDF kills the microbes that cause cavities and helps stop tooth decay.

Margherita Fontana, DDS., PhD, lead investigator at the University of Michigan stated that current treatments for severe early childhood caries typically involve tooth extraction and restoration, necessitating anesthesia use, which could potentially affect long-term brain development.

Researchers recruited children between 1 and 5 with severe tooth decay measuring cavity hardness before and after being treated and found that the proportion of a cavity that was treated with SDF was halted six months after a single treatment. Subsequently, the trial was stopped after indication that the studies’ primary endpoint had already been achieved. Ending this trial early opened the door for effective interventions to promote moving toward FDA approval, potentially allowing it to become readily available for patients sooner.

Researchers are still examining the ultimate data concerning the effects of SDF on tooth pain, quality of life, and potential side effects. Rena D’Souza, DDS, PhD, MS, the director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, points out that oral health issues, such as untreated tooth decay, can have broad public health consequences for both adults and children. This study supports the potential of SDF as a top treatment option for cavities, which could improve the overall health of children.

Nearly 46% of children in the US suffer from tooth decay, the most common chronic disease among kids, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tooth decay affects children from lower income households in disproportion. Untreated cavities can put children at risk for impaired development and long-term oral health problems.

The research was published in Pediatric Dentistry.

Study Finds a Combination Treatment that Could Reduce Caries

Researchers at Penn Dental Medicine discovered that combining stannous fluoride (SnF2) with ferumoxytol (Fer) could point to a potent solution against dental caries. The study was led by Hyun (Michel) Koo, DDS, MS, PhD, in collaboration with David Cormode of Penn’s School of Medicine.

The results of the study show that Fer can stabilize SnF2, Fer combined with SnF2 exhibits increased catalytic activity, and the creation of a protective Fe/Sn/F-rich film on tooth enamel, which acts as a barrier to further demineralization. The multi-faceted approach to caries targets both the biological and physicochemical aspect of dental caries, according to Cormode. Beyond this protective measure, a secondary benefit emerged: Using Fer might address dental and anemia concerns as many children with severe tooth decay also suffer from iron deficiency. Researchers plan to dig deeper in understanding the heightened catalytic activity of Fer when combined with SnF2 while advancing combination treatment to clinical trials.

According to Koo, traditional treatments of fluoride come up short in managing the complex biofilm environment in the mouth. This new combined treatment will amplify the effectiveness of each agent with a lower dosage.

The research was published in Nature Communications.