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Objective: To examine the effects of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) on bleeding complications following dental surgeries. Subjects and Methods: This 6‐year retrospective study collected data from records of patients undergoing oral surgical procedures within a university setting. An electronic health record database was searched using current procedural terminology codes for oral surgical procedures. Information regarding patient, procedural factors, and postoperative complications were extracted. Data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test. Results: Of patients who had a procedural code associated with oral surgery, only 0.11% (12/11,320) took a DOAC. Twelve patients (10 males, age ranging from 44 to 90 years) underwent 17 surgeries by nine different practitioners involving 98 extractions, 14 alveoloplasties, two tuberosity reductions, and two tori removals. In nine cases, the DOAC was discontinued a mean of 52.5 hrs prior to surgery (range 12–120 hrs). Bleeding complications were not reported for patients whose drug was discontinued or continued. Documentation of drug continuation/discontinuation was poor. Conclusions: Bleeding was not observed with direct oral anticoagulation use in this oral surgery cohort. Drug discontinuation/continuation was not a factor in bleeding outcomes, and direct oral anticoagulation interruption was variable and poorly documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used conventional digital radiography to estimate the rate of tooth wear ( TW) of maxillary and mandibular central incisors based on a cross-sectional study design. The crown length of 1239 permanent maxillary and mandibular central incisors from 346 persons (age groups: 10, 25, 40, 55 and 70 years ±3) were measured by three calibrated dentists. Study teeth were intact incisally, had clearly visible incisal edges and cementoenamel junctions and had natural tooth antagonists. Measures were based on digital radiographic images ( N = 666) archived in Mi PACS within the electronic health record (axiUm®) from the College of Dentistry patient database. Incisor crown length decreased at a linear rate in both arches over the 60 years represented by the age groups. The average crown length for maxillary incisors in the youngest age group was 11·94 mm, which decreased by an average of 1·01 mm by median age 70. For mandibular incisors, the average crown length in the youngest age group was 9·58 mm, which decreased by an average of 1·46 mm in the oldest age group. Males and females showed similar rates of TW. Regardless of age, females demonstrated smaller mean crown height for maxillary incisors than males ( P < 0·0001). Measures by the examiners demonstrated good agreement, with an interclass correlation coefficient of 0·869 and an average intra-examiner correlation of 99·5%, based on repeated measurements ( n = 100). TW was estimated to average 1·01 mm for maxillary central incisors and 1·46 mm for mandibular central incisors by age 70 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Antimicrobial agents provide valuable adjunctive therapy for the prevention and the control of oral diseases. Limitations in their prolonged use have stimulated the search for new, naturally occurring agents with more specific activity and fewer adverse effects. Here we sought to determine the antibacterial properties of blackberry extract (BBE) in vitro against oral bacterial commensals and periodontopathogens. Material and Methods: The effects of whole and fractionated BBE on the metabolism of 10 different oral bacteria were evaluated using the colorimetric water-soluble tetrazolium-1 assay. The bactericidal effects of whole BBE against Fusobacterium nucleatum were determined by quantitating the numbers of colony-forming units (CFUs). Cytotoxicity was determined in oral epithelial (OKF6) cells. Results: BBE at 350-1400 μg/mL reduced the metabolic activity of Porphyromonas gingivalis, F. nucleatum and Streptococcus mutans. The reduced metabolic activity observed for F. nucleatum corresponded to a reduction in the numbers of CFUs following exposure to BBE for as little as 1 h, indicative of its bactericidal properties. An anthocyanin-enriched fraction of BBE reduced the metabolic activity of F. nucleatum, but not of P. gingivalis or S. mutans, suggesting the contribution of species-specific agents in the whole BBE. Oral epithelial cell viability was not reduced following exposure to whole BBE (2.24-1400 μg/mL) for ≤ 6 h. Conclusion: BBE alters the metabolic activity of oral periodontopathogens while demonstrating a minimal effect on commensals. The specific antibacterial properties of BBE shown in this study, along with its previously demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, make this natural extract a promising target as an adjunct for prevention and/or complementary therapy of periodontal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]