Author
Han Seo-woo
Staff editor
Chooses the headlines and smooths out the sentences. Looks for the spots that need more explaining, and for the question that got left out. Hopes a piece reads easily even if you know nothing about dentistry.
Articles written 46
A New Electrochemical Sensor Detects Oral Cancer From a Single Drop of Saliva
A Chinese research team has developed a portable sensor that detects oral cancer by reading the genetic material miR-31 in saliva as an electrical signal. Preliminary tests showed high accuracy, but this remains early-stage evidence confirmed by only one research team.
3 min read
Do I Really Need a Night Guard for Bruxism, and How Long Should I Wear It?
A night guard for bruxism protects the teeth and jaw joint from grinding forces, but it does not cure the grinding habit itself. This explains when wearing one is truly necessary and how to decide how long to use it.
3 min read
Pulp Necrosis of the Immature Permanent Tooth
When trauma or deep decay kills the pulp of a permanent tooth whose root has not finished forming, the tooth darkens and root growth stops right there. This article compares the principles and differences between conventional apexification and the recently established regenerative endodontic treatment.
7 min read
How Is the Amount of Tooth Reduction for Laminates Decided?
Laminates are designed to remove teeth minimally, staying within the enamel, so that bonding holds well. This explains the standard reduction amounts and why the actual amount varies with incisal edge design and the condition of the tooth.
2 min read
Tooth Sensitivity to Cold Water
This guide covers the common causes of a brief, sharp tooth sensitivity to cold water or cold air, how to tell them apart on your own, and when to see a dentist.
3 min read
If a Pus-Filled Bump Forms on the Gum, Is It Always Due to Periodontitis?
A pus-filled bump on the gum can occur with periodontitis, but it can also form when a tooth's nerve dies from decay or trauma. Because appearance alone cannot distinguish the two, dentists rely on several tests together.
4 min read
Smart Retainers Measure Wear Time Precisely, But Don't Improve Compliance
A new technology embeds a temperature sensor in the retainer worn after orthodontic treatment to track how long patients actually wear it. The sensor measures wear time accurately, but it hasn't made patients more diligent about wearing their retainers. Instead, the resulting data is now being used to identify patients at high risk of relapse.
4 min read
For Periodontitis, a New Capsule Treatment Plants Bacteria Instead of Killing Them
A lab study has introduced a new approach to gum disease treatment: instead of killing bacteria, it packages beneficial bacteria into capsules and plants them in the gums. Here's what's different and how far the findings actually go.
2 min read
One Implant Coating Tackles Bacteria, Inflammation, and Bone Integration All at Once
One in four people with dental implants develops inflammation around the implant over time. Researchers at Sun Yat-sen University and Sichuan University confirmed in mouse experiments that a single coating combining polyphenols with an antibiotic reduces bacteria, calms the immune response, and even speeds up bone integration.
3 min read
If a tooth still feels sensitive after a deep cavity was filled with composite resin, does that mean I need a root canal?
Sensitivity after a deep cavity is filled with resin is usually a temporary reaction that appears in the early period after the filling. This article explains how to tell apart pain that only reacts to a stimulus from pain that continues even without one.
4 min read
If a Cavity Doesn't Hurt, Is It Safe to Delay Treatment?
A dark spot on a molar can't be judged by pain alone. This explains why management depends on whether the lesion is active or arrested, and on the person's individual caries risk.
5 min read
If a Lost Baby Tooth's Root Looks Short or Missing, Is It Broken?
When a loose baby tooth falls out with a short or barely visible root, it's usually the result of normal root resorption. Since a photo alone can't confirm whether a fragment remains, this explains when you should have it checked at the dentist.
4 min read
A New Test Predicts Cavities From Bacteria in a Child's Saliva
A new study read the bacterial makeup of saliva from cavity-free one-year-olds through gene sequencing to gauge whether they would develop cavities by age two. The ratio of just four bacterial species alone reached 80% accuracy, but with only thirty children in the sample, further validation is still needed.
4 min read
If My Child Has Blisters and Ulcers in the Mouth and Won't Eat, Could It Be Herpes?
If a young child develops blisters and painful ulcers in several spots in the mouth and refuses to eat, herpetic gingivostomatitis is a possibility worth considering. This explains why a dental visit is needed to confirm the diagnosis and why unnecessary antibiotic use should be avoided.
3 min read
Ion-Releasing Dental Fillings: Secondary Caries Prevention Varies by Material
Dental restoratives that release calcium and fluoride ions to prevent secondary caries are becoming more common. Three recent meta-analyses found that glass ionomer clearly reduced secondary caries risk, but no statistical evidence showed that giomer or alkasite materials prevent secondary caries better than conventional composite resin. We review these findings alongside a 12-month clinical trial.
3 min read
How Do You Find Which Tooth Is Causing a Severe Toothache You Can't Pinpoint?
This article explains how dentists identify the source tooth when a toothache is severe but its exact location is unclear. It walks through the step-by-step process of narrowing down the affected tooth, from history taking through temperature testing, percussion, palpation, bite and transillumination tests, to the anesthetic test.
4 min read
LMU Munich Study Finds Vibrating Splint Reduces Duration of Teeth Grinding
A team at LMU Munich reported in a 2020 study that the frequency and duration of bruxism episodes decreased while using the bruXane vibrating splint. This article looks at how the device combines pressure sensing with vibration feedback in a tooth-protecting appliance, and what happened after use was stopped.
2 min read
If a Resin-Filled Tooth Hits First and Hurts When Chewing, Does It Need Adjustment?
If a tooth filled with resin hits first and hurts when chewing, it may need a bite check and adjustment. This explains how to monitor pain changes after the adjustment.
3 min read
Photobiomodulation for Orthodontic Pain: The Effect Depends on How the Laser Is Delivered
More dental clinics are using lasers to ease orthodontic pain. The latest research confirms that low-level laser therapy (photobiomodulation) reliably reduces pain, but its effect on speeding up tooth movement is still modest.
3 min read
If My 5-Year-Old's Gums Near an Erupting Molar Look Like They Have Pus, Should We Go to the Dentist Right Away?
Explains that swollen, sore gums where a molar is erupting are a common reaction during eruption, but that only a dentist can tell whether a pus-like area is a normal part of eruption or a sign of infection.
3 min read