Many dental offices could be updated to make patients more comfortable, it has been stated.

Dentistry IQ reported that dental offices should embrace new technologies to make the patient’s life easier and also to maximise their effectiveness.

It argued that the use of digital technology can help surgeries to become more capable of handling and distributing patient notes and files, with wireless technology enabling the dentist to instantly transfer notes on a patient to reception and vice-versa.

Elsewhere, US dentist Dr Kevin Brunski has developed his I-Denti-Fied chip that is capable of being implanted into a tooth and can be encoded to contain a patient’s complete dental history.

He hopes the device will help make it easier for people to keep their records up to date and will make it easier for dental professionals to know about past procedures and treatments.

Maintaining the health of cosmetic dentistry treatments is reliant on a person’s dental IQ, it has been stated.

Irish Dentist reported Dr David Winkler, president-elect of the International Federation of Esthetic Dentistry, said individuals who have treatments carried out must play their part in keeping their teeth and gums healthy, or they may face the same problems again in a few years’ time.

“Given the average person only brushes their teeth for 47 seconds, there is clearly a lot more work to be done to address this issue and ensure patients are cleaning their teeth effectively so as to achieve a good long-term outcome,” Dr Winkler commented.

Meanwhile, research from the British Dental Health Foundation recently showed that fad dieting could be having a detrimental impact on the oral health of Brits.

It found that young women in particular could be putting the health of their teeth in jeopardy by failing to consume the right balance of nutrients.

Individuals looking to get ahead in their careers might be interested in having teeth whitening treatments carried out, it has been revealed.

A survey carried out by MyFaceMyBody showed that one in ten people would resort to surgery in order to get ahead in the workplace.

Indeed, nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of women believe that appearance and youthful looks play a part in getting hired, gaining a promotion, or getting new clients, while almost three quarters (73 per cent) of consumers would consider having a non-surgical treatment, such as teeth whitening.

Elsewhere, the Grand Forks Herald recently reported that there has been a rise in the number of people in their 40s and 50s going to dental professionals to have their teeth whitened.

Dr Susan Mathison of Catalyst Medical Centre in Fargo said that many people feel that a brighter smile helps them to feel more confident and also gives them a more youthful look.

Individuals who do not brush their teeth regularly run the risk of increased levels of cardiovascular problems in later life, it has been revealed.

According to research by Professor Richard Watt from University College London and published in BJM, lifestyle behaviours such as smoking, physical activity and oral health routines can all impact on a person’s likelihood of developing cardiovascular problems.

Professor Watt concluded: “Our results confirmed and further strengthened the suggested association between oral hygiene and the risk of cardiovascular disease – furthermore inflammatory markers were significantly associated with a very simple measure of poor oral health behaviour”.

Elsewhere, KDRV recently reported that the number of people who make trips to see an emergency dentistry professional could be cut considerably if people took better care of their teeth.

Dentist Dr Beau Kappthe told the publication that toothache is the number one reason that people have emergency treatments carried out and this is often caused by decay.

Brushing children’s teeth twice daily is important as the enamel on milk teeth is less dense than in adult teeth, it has been stated.

My Joy Online reported that the millions of bacteria that live in the mouth can “cause havoc” for milk teeth if they are not regularly brushed away and this can lead to problems such as toothache and decay.

Indeed, the publication noted that once the enamel is weakened, bacteria have access to the softer dentine underneath and this can quickly be eroded, exposing the nerve of the tooth and causing considerable pain.

Elsewhere, the Chicago Tribune recently reported that individuals who suffer from asthma have been advised that using toothpaste designed to tackle sensitive teeth problems could help with their condition.

It revealed that the active ingredient in many of these toothpastes is potassium nitrate – also known as saltpetre – and this was used for many years in the treatment of arthritis and asthma.

Manchester dentists are looking for the person with the city’s best smile.

Dental professionals in Manchester are holding a competition to find the city’s best smile.

As part of National Smile Month, professionals in the area have launched the competition on Facebook and will accept entries until June 12th.

The winner will receive an array of prizes, including becoming the face of the competition next year.

“We are delighted to get involved in National Smile Month and to promote awareness around Manchester. Our whole careers as dentists pivot around good oral health which is an extremely important issue in society,” commented Dr Paul Tipton – a Manchester-based oral health professional.

Elsewhere, products such as Zoom teeth whitening and dental implants are being offered to individuals who cannot afford treatments as part of Smiles for Life.

The campaign is designed to help those who are less fortunate and has helped raise funds for treatments in countries around the globe.

People respond to scare tactics to improve their oral health.

Individuals who are shown the end results of years of neglect in terms of oral health often do not make the same mistakes in their own lives, it has been revealed.

Dentistry IQ reported that talking to people about the problems that can arise from a lack of oral healthcare can help show them the error of their ways.

Indeed, problems like gingivitis, lost teeth and bleeding gums can all be avoided if a person brushes regularly.

Flossing and using mouthwash are also excellent additions to the routine, as they ensure all food debris and plaque is removed before it can cause a problem to healthy teeth and gums.

Meanwhile, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation Dr Nigel Carter recently stated that National Smile Month – currently taking place in the UK – could prompt many Brits to take better care of their teeth.

He claimed that the focus is on looking after teeth and keeping them healthy for life, with the tagline Teeth4Life hoping to raise awareness of this issue.

Tissue regeneration for emergency dentistry is becoming a reality.

A new technique that could see people with severe gum complaints regrowing lost tissue has been developed by researchers.

Scientists from Columbia University have created a technique that utilises stem cells to create tissue grafts that match a person’s DNA signature perfectly – thereby ensuring rejection does not become an issue.

Dr Jeremy Mao, a professor of dental medicine, has designed a form of miniature scaffolding that can be used to ensure tissue growth is regulated to the right dimensions for the task – significantly improving the ease by which dental professionals can carry out these grafts.

Elsewhere, Suncoast News recently reported that the use of new cutting-edge technologies can help dentists to diagnose problems more easily.

The publication revealed how US dentist Dr Garland Forbes is using 3D X-rays to make the diagnosis process much more straightforward.

Older people should take care of their teeth.

Older people have been advised they need to take greater care of their teeth and gums than people who are younger.

Dr Lawrence Singer of the Connecticut State Dental Association said once a person reaches 65 they enter a higher risk category for a range of oral illnesses and they should therefore have a regular health routine in place to combat this.

He stated that older people should look to see a dental professional at least once a year and that they should ensure they brush twice a day and use both floss and mouthwash to remove as much plaque and food debris from their mouth as possible.

Elsewhere, the Grand Forks Herald recently reported the number of men and women over 40 and looking for work who plan to have teeth whitening treatments has increased sharply since the onset of the economic downturn.

A growing number of people are seeking out brighter smiles and laser teeth whitening could be a great solution for many, it has been claimed.

The Daily Mail reported that the treatment works by applying a bleaching agent to the teeth, which is then activated using a laser.

Results for the treatment are often very good, with many being able to improve teeth colour by up to six shades in a single sitting.

According to the publication: “Traditional laser whitening uses one laser across all the teeth at the same time, but the latest treatment from Canada uses a tiny laser to treat each tooth individually.”

Elsewhere, the Beaming White Forever White Teeth Whitening Headset was recently unveiled costing $40 (£27.70), but boasting a take-home teeth whitening kit that also includes headphones to allow users to listen to music while they brighten their smile.