Author
Yeom Da-in
Reporter
Covers what you wonder about before going to the dentist. How a first appointment actually goes, what to ask while you are there. Wants to write so that someone going for the first time can follow along.
Articles written 42
Ferroelectric Implant Surface Uses Ultrasound On/Off Switching to Sequence Bacterial Clearance and Bone Integration
A ferroelectric material coated onto titanium implants generates an electrical signal that clears bacteria when exposed to ultrasound, and a different electrical signal that promotes bone attachment when the ultrasound is turned off. This article explains the mechanism, confirmed in mouse experiments, and how it differs from existing antibacterial coatings.
4 min read
What Treatment Do I Need If My Gums Hurt and a Tooth Feels Loose?
Gum pain and a loose tooth call for different treatment depending on whether the problem started in the periodontal tissue or spread from the tooth's nerve. This explains the tests that distinguish the two causes and why the meaning of looseness differs between them.
4 min read
For TMJ Osteoarthritis Injections, Stem Cell-Derived Therapy Outperformed Hyaluronic Acid
Intra-articular injections for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis have expanded beyond hyaluronic acid alone to include platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell-derived therapies. A 2025 systematic review found that PRP performed similarly to hyaluronic acid, while stem cell-derived therapy showed better improvements in both pain and maximum mouth opening.
3 min read
As an Adult, If My Tooth's Root Tip Never Fully Formed, Is Root Canal Treatment Different?
An immature permanent tooth that persists into adulthood has a root tip that stays widely open. If its pulp dies, the root tip is closed off with either apexification or regenerative endodontic treatment instead of a standard root canal. This also explains why not every tooth with an unformed root has a dead pulp.
5 min read
Are 'Resin' and 'Composite Resin' Different Materials in Dentistry?
The 'resin' commonly mentioned in cavity treatment is, in most cases, shorthand for composite resin. However, some materials with similar names, such as resin inlays and resin cement, are made differently and used differently, and this article explains those distinctions.
3 min read
If My Mouth Stays Dry Even After Drinking Water, What Should I Check?
If your mouth stays dry even after drinking water, the underlying cause may be reduced saliva production itself, from medications, radiation therapy, or Sjögren's syndrome. Because lower saliva flow sharply raises the risk of cavities, you should review your medications and treatment history together with your dentist.
4 min read
400,000-Year-Old Tooth Fossils in China Show Signs of Interbreeding Among Human Ancestors
An analysis of enamel proteins from 400,000-year-old Homo erectus teeth found in China has turned up genetic variants also seen in Denisovans and some modern humans. We look at the study published in Nature this past May, along with the fossil gap on the Korean Peninsula for this period.
3 min read
If My Child's Cheek and Eye Swell After Tooth Treatment, Can We Wait?
If a child's cheek and the skin around the eye swell and turn red after pulpectomy on a primary tooth, it can be a sign that infection is spreading into the soft tissue beyond the gum, so this should be re-checked at the dentist right away rather than waited out.
4 min read
Are Frequent Dental X-rays Safe for Children?
It can be worrying when your child gets an X-ray at every dental visit. This explains the diagnostic purpose of finding what isn't visible to the eye, the principle of minimizing a child's radiation exposure, and why imaging intervals vary with dental development stage and caries risk.
4 min read
Untreated Toothache Led to Death at a U.S. Immigration Detention Facility
An autopsy has confirmed that a Haitian man detained at an immigration facility in Arizona died from complications of a tooth infection. This piece looks at how an untreated toothache led to his death, the gaps in medical care at detention facilities, and the state of dental support for migrant workers in Korea.
3 min read
Does a Replanted Child's Permanent Tooth Always Need Root Canal Treatment?
The timing of root canal treatment after replanting a child's knocked-out front tooth differs from case to case. This explains how the treatment plan changes depending on whether the root tip has closed or is still open, and whether signs of infection appear at follow-up checkups.
4 min read
Noma, the Disease That Destroys Children's Faces, Is Rising Again in Nigeria
In Nigeria, more children are contracting noma, an infection that starts with gum inflammation and destroys the face within weeks. This article looks at Doctors Without Borders' free reconstructive surgeries, why the WHO designated noma a neglected tropical disease, and why the disease has all but disappeared in Korea.
3 min read
If Your Jaw Hurts and Your Mouth Won't Open Fully, What Gets Examined?
When the jaw hurts and the mouth doesn't open fully, dentists look not just at the jaw joint but also at the chewing muscles, the sounds the joint makes, and how far and in what way the mouth opens. This explains why each of these is checked.
4 min read
High-Flow Nasal Oxygen Kept Oxygen Saturation From Dropping During Deep Pediatric Sedation
When 20 preschool-aged children underwent complex cavity treatment lasting one to two hours under deep sedation, high-flow nasal oxygen therapy kept their oxygen saturation from ever dropping to a dangerous level throughout the procedure. It is the first evidence that a method previously confirmed only in short procedures also works for longer, more complex pediatric dental treatment.
4 min read
Orthodontic Acceleration Devices Compared: Micro-Osteoperforation Beats Vibration on Evidence
A recent umbrella analysis pooled and recalculated the evidence on vibration devices, micro-osteoperforation, and electrical stimulation, all marketed to shorten orthodontic treatment time. The heavily advertised vibration devices had the weakest evidence for effectiveness, while micro-osteoperforation showed a comparatively clearer difference.
3 min read
Titanium Implant Allergy: When Confirmed, Most Cases Ended in Removal
When an implant fails for no clear reason, titanium allergy is one possible suspect. This article reviews how the reaction develops, why diagnostic tests remain unreliable, and how confirmed cases have been managed.
4 min read
How Should I Be Careful About Chewing While Wearing a Temporary Crown After Root Canal Treatment?
If chewing hurts while wearing a temporary crown after finishing root canal treatment and before the final crown, the remaining tooth walls may be weakened. This explains what a temporary crown protects and where its limits lie, and what to check if the pain continues.
5 min read
Attrition
Attrition is a condition in which the chewing surfaces and front tooth edges wear down as the upper and lower teeth, or neighboring teeth, contact and rub against each other. Bruxism and clenching are the main causes, and it is managed with occlusal protective devices such as night guards.
4 min read
Can Adults Get Oral Candidiasis Too?
Oral candidiasis is not just a condition seen in newborns or people with weakened immunity; it is a common oral infection that can affect adults too. Along with the symptoms, this outlines factors worth checking, such as antibiotic or steroid use, dry mouth, and diabetes.
3 min read
US Tap Water Fluoride Levels Shaken for Half a Year by Middle East War
The Middle East war has reduced U.S. imports of fluorosilicic acid, the raw material used to fluoridate tap water, lowering fluoride levels in some areas. As the shortage that began in April continues past September, more than half a year later, this article looks at both America's already-shaky fluoride policy and South Korea's situation, where few regions fluoridate their water to begin with.
3 min read