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Breast-feeding Lowers Risk of Crossbite
by Kobayashi, H., Scavone, H, Ferreira, R., et al. Relationship Between Breastfeeding Duration and Prevalence of Posterior Crossbite in the Deciduous Dentition. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 137: 54-58, 2010.
The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of an infant's life. This recommendation is based on benefits for both the mother and the child. Breast-feeding exclusively enhances craniofacial growth and development, and helps prevent non-nutritive sucking habits. Breast-feeding for less than six months or not at all has been shown to result in malocclusion and posterior crossbite in particular. Crossbite in deciduous teeth develops early and rarely self-corrects, so early preventive action is warranted.
Researchers in University of Sao Paulo City, in Brazil clinically examined 1,377 children from 11 public schools in Sao Paulo. The children ranged in age from three to six years. Mothers completed a questionnaire to determine breast-feeding history.
Posterior crossbites were divided into three categories: bilateral, true unilateral, and unilateral with functional deviation of the mandible. Four categories of breast-feeding were identified: never (119), less than six months (720), six to 12 months (312), and more than 12 months (226).
Crossbite was diagnosed in 16.2 percent of the entire group, with subcategories being 2.8 percent bilateral, 4.4 percent true unilateral and 9.4 percent with functional unilateral crossbite. Crossbite decreased with longer history of breast-feeding. In children who were not breast-fed, the crossbite incidence was 31.1 percent. For those breast-fed less than six months, the incidence was 22.4 percent. Much lower incidence was found for those breast-fed six to 12 months - 8.3 percent and 2.2 percent for those breast-fed more than 12 months.
Clinical Implications: Breast-feeding exclusively for at least six months and more than 12 months can reduce the potential for posterior crossbite in deciduous teeth.
Healthy Weight and High Physical Fitness Levels May Lower Periodontitis Risk, Study Finds
by Timothy J. Hempton, DDS, Associate Clinical Professor, School of Dental Medicine, Tufts University Boston and Private Practitioner Dedham, Mass. John T. Dominici, DDS, MS, Staff Endodontist and Faculty Member, General Practice Residency
People who maintain a healthy weight and have high levels of physical fitness may have a lower incidence of severe periodontitis, researchers report in an article published in the August issue of Journal of Periodontology.
Researchers at the faculty of dental science at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, evaluated 1,160 participants. They used the Community Periodontal Index (CPI) to evaluate participants' periodontal conditions. Those who had three or more sextants with a CPI score of 3 or 4 were defined as having severe periodontitis.
The researchers used body mass index (BMI) and percentage of body fat as a measure of weight control and maximal oxygen consumption during exercise as a measure of physical fitness. They compared participants' weight and fitness variables with the results of their periodontal examinations. Those with both the lowest BMI and highest levels of fitness were at a significantly lower risk of having severe periodontitis.
"Research continues to demonstrate that our overall health and oral health are connected," said Dr. Samuel Low, associate dean and professor of periodontology at the College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville. "Weight management and physical fitness both contribute to overall health, and now we believe staying in shape is the appropriate code to utilize when bone is surgically removed to prevent violation of the biological width by a restoration.
Dr. Patil's comments on forced orthodontic extrusion (FOE) are correct regarding the potential to eliminate surgery. We did not elaborate on this topic, as our article was a review of surgical crown lengthening. FOE, if done slowly, can extrude the tooth; however, the associated supporting bone may remodel coronally. As a result, this additional bone may still need to be resected.' The advantage with this treatment is that bone associated with the adjacent teeth does not need to be resected.
With rapid extrusion combined with fiberotomy, the tooth may be exposed without coronal growth of supporting bone. This may completely eliminate the need for surgical resection of the associated periodontal tissues.' A caveat to note is that if excessive forces are used, the potential for significant pulpal changes or necrosis may result.
We would note, however, that when a tooth is extruded slowly with concomitant resective therapy or extruded rapidly with fiberotomy, there is still less root length invested in the bone. This may still result in an unfavorable crown-to-root ratio.
Study: Drinking Coffee Regularly May Protect Against Head, Neck Cancer
Compiled by Janice Snider, senior editor
Drinking coffee on a regular basis may protect against head and neck cancer, according to a report published in the July issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Researchers pooled data from nine case-control studies of patients with head and neck cancer, consisting of 5,139 case participants and 9,028 control participants. They found that those who were regular coffee drinkers-that is, those who drank an estimated four or more cups a day-had a 39 percent decreased risk of experiencing cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx combined compared with that in nondrinkers.
The data regarding decaffeinated coffee were too sparse for detailed analysis, but they indicated no increased risk, the authors wrote. Tea consumption was not associated with head and neck cancer risk. "Since coffee is so widely used and there is a relatively high incidence and low survival rate of these forms of cancers, our results have important public health implications that need to be further addressed," said lead researcher Mia Hashibe, PhD, assistant professor in the department of family and preventive medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
"What makes our results so unique is that we had a very large sample size, and since we combined data across many studies, we had more statistical power to detect associations between cancer and coffee," Dr. Hashibe noted. Additional research is warranted to characterize the importance of timing and duration of exposure, as well as possible mechanisms of action, said Dr. Hashibe.
The International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology Consortium was supported by the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., and by National Cancer Institute grant R03CA113157.
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