The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dental anxiety and mistrust are among the leading reasons individuals avoid dental treatment. Approximately 36% of people in the U.S. have a fear of dental care, with 12% experiencing extreme fear. This leads to missed appointments, neglected tooth pain, and poor oral health. Fortunately, emerging dental technologies are significantly improving patient care and outcomes, helping to reduce the prevalence of anxiety and mistrust associated with dental treatments. The prevalence and impact of dental anxiety Due to its impact on overall health and quality of life, dental anxiety is categorized as a major public health concern. Each year, 40 million Americans avoid the dentist because of anxiety, resulting in serious consequences for their oral health. Individuals experiencing dental anxiety are more likely to have at least one missing or decaying tooth and are at higher risk of gum disease and early tooth loss. Sponsored Post The Funding Model for Cancer Innovation is Broken — We Can Fix It Closing cancer health equity gaps require medical breakthroughs made possible by new funding approaches. By Eve McDavid - CEO of Mission-Driven Tech The fear of dental treatment affects a patient’s overall quality of life. One in three Americans aged 50-64 feel ashamed about the state of their teeth, and 38% report that dental conditions have caused them pain, difficulties with eating, or interference with their daily lives. With one in six individuals over the age of 65 missing all their teeth, it is apparent that improvements in the dental industry are urgently needed. Establishing trust and understanding patients’ fears is critical for providing relief. Doctors can reduce mistrust by walking patients through the process, discussing their concerns, and presenting potential solutions. This allows patients to visualize and participate in their dental treatment. In addition to thorough communication, advancements in dental technology have revolutionized the patient experience. Tech innovations are revolutionizing the dental industry Innovations such as intraoral digital scanners and advanced radiology tools can significantly minimize dental anxiety. For example, intraoral digital scanners eliminate the discomfort associated with traditional dental mold trays, which are often used to capture replicas of patient’s mouths for implants, braces, and orthodontic procedures. These molds can be uncomfortable, and patients with fragile or loose teeth may worry that the mold could dislodge their teeth. Intraoral digital scanners offer a convenient alternative for patients with vulnerable teeth. The non-invasive scanner is a small, handheld device that is placed in the patient’s mouth and carefully moved across their teeth and gums to create a fully digital and more accurate image of the mouth. Dentists can also utilize extraoral radiology, including cone beam CT scans, to reduce the need for excessive sensors placed in the mouth. These tools enable patients to visualize every step of their treatment, providing security and confidence. presented by Market Trends to Watch for Health Systems and Their Specialty Pharmacies The future looks bright for the integrated specialty pharmacy model – for health systems, providers, and most importantly, for patients. By Jake Gaffey, MBA, Chief Strategy Officer at Shields Health Solutions Virtual smile design technology elevates visualization by allowing patients to see an image of what their appearance could look like following treatment. The process involves taking images of a patient’s teeth and smile and manipulating the data to design an improved smile. Patients can see an accurate representation of their future results, which incorporates their tooth shape, size, color and alignment. Additionally, the integration of 3D printers significantly improves efficiency for both providers and patents, by enabling dental providers to manufacture essential treatment components in-office. This technology not only streamlines the workflow for providers, but also aids the timeliness of patient solutions.This not only showcases the dental provider’s expertise but also helps patients make informed decisions with clear expectations. These innovations contribute toward creating a safer and more comfortable environment while reducing possible triggers. Triggers can include the prolonged time patients spend with their mouth open, which may cause pain and discomfort for individuals with trismus or limited jaw mobility. Trismus can result from TMJ disorders, trauma, muscle or nerve dysfunction, or oral cancer treatments. Other triggers diminished by technology include lack of knowledge about treatment details and uncertainty around results. Enhancing patient care The integration of the latest technologies improves diagnostic quality and accelerates treatment solutions, decreasing the time patients spend in discomfort or pain due to dental issues. Modern oral scanning technology creates state-of-the-art imagery of the patient’s mouth, providing a detailed view of the condition of the teeth to better inform treatment plans. Improved reliability and consistency in diagnosing patients support dynamic, individualized treatment plans. The adoption of patient-centric technologies enriches dental treatments, making them more personalized and tailored to patient needs. Dental providers can adjust their approaches based on individual concerns, dental history, and oral health demands. Cutting-edge materials used in treatments, such as dental implants, are customized to the exact specifications of a patient’s mouth, optimizing comfort and improving patient outcomes. Workflows are now efficiently streamlined through the integration of these technologies, contributing to expedited results. Today’s patients are looking to avoid healthcare treatments that require multiple visits. In a survey conducted by Futuredontics, 30% of respondents said convenience is the top reason for selecting their dentist. While dental implants typically require 3-10 appointments, innovations in modeling synthesize dental treatments, providing access to oral surgeons, prosthodontists, and dental labs under one roof. This model minimizes appointments and reduces the time patients spend in the chair, allowing them to feel more at ease with treatment decisions and boosting their confidence in overcoming their fears. For dental professionals seeking the latest technology for their patient base, be sure to understand what exactly you need and properly vet the software or hardware before implementation. It’s important to understand how this will add value to your patients and staff. As healthcare providers, we are obligated to strive for the highest quality of care, and with the integration of the right advanced technologies, we can help alleviate dental anxiety and mistrust in the industry. Picture: Nastasic, Getty Images Theresa WangDr. Theresa Wang is the chief clinical & development officer at ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers. She received her doctorate degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She then completed advanced training and certification in prosthodontics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she concurrently earned a Masters degree in prosthodontics and completed and published clinical research on dental implants. She has extensive training with the latest dental technologies and dental materials. Dr. Wang also holds an Illinois license as a Dental Specialist in Prosthodontics. By combining her knowledge of the most current dental technologies with her particular aesthetic eye, she is equipped to design smiles that have substantial effects on her patients’ lives.This post appears through the MedCity Influencers program. Anyone can publish their perspective on business and innovation in healthcare on MedCity News through MedCity Influencers. Click here to find out how.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2024 -- A centralized colorectal cancer (CRC) screening outreach intervention involving mailed fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) is effective for increasing screening completion and detection of advanced colorectal neoplasia, according to a study published online Nov. 25 in JAMA Network Open . Daniel S. Reuland, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and colleagues examined the effectiveness of a centralized CRC screening outreach intervention involving mailed FIT outreach and patient navigation to colonoscopy after abnormal FIT results. Patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to usual care alone (control group) or intervention (2,001 participants per group). Intervention participants received mailed screening outreach materials including an introductory letter, FIT kit packet with instructions and return postage, and two reminder letters if necessary, in addition to usual care. Navigation to facilitate follow-up colonoscopy was offered to intervention participants with positive results of mailed FIT. The researchers found that intervention participants were more likely than controls to complete screening within six months of randomization (30.0 versus 9.7 percent). The intervention was found to be effective in all insurance types. Overall, 68.8 percent of the 48 participants with positive FIT results in the intervention arm completed follow-up colonoscopy within six months compared with 44.4 percent of 18 participants in the control arm. Advanced colorectal neoplasia was detected in 1.4 and 0.7 percent of intervention and control participants, respectively. "We found that a centralized mailed FIT outreach intervention and patient navigation effectively increased CRC screening among diverse populations served by independent federally qualified health centers," the authors write. Several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry. Abstract/Full Text Editorial Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

MONDAY, Dec.2, 2024 -- Cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are rising at an alarming rate among young Americans, a new study reveals. "Prevalence rates [are] among the highest reported worldwide," said researcher Dr. Michael Kappelman , a professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The study -- published Nov. 20 in the journal Gastroenterology -- breaks new ground in understanding pediatric IBD in the United States. It estimates that more than 100,000 Americans under the age of 20 have some form of IBD, a group of diseases in which the immune system attacks healthy bowel cells. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the most common types. For the study, Kappelman's team used insurance claims data from Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and California to estimate prevalence of disease nationwide for 2020. They estimated pediatric cases of Crohn's disease rose 22% and ulcerative colitis were up 29%, compared to 2009. "Our findings reveal that pediatric IBD affects a significant number of American youth," Kappelman said. Highest rates of disease were among white youth and those in the Northeast, the study found. Researchers said more research is needed to understand differences in prevalence among various racial and ethnic groups. "This comprehensive evaluation of pediatric IBD prevalence in the U.S. is an important step in understanding the full spectrum of the disease in our youth," said study co-author Andrés Hurtado-Lorenzo , a senior vice president at the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. "These data are essential for healthcare professionals and policymakers to effectively manage pediatric IBD, make informed public health decisions, and ultimately improve outcomes for affected children and adolescents," he added in a foundation news release. Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.