The New York state dental journal
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Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is a defect in the enamel of permanent and/or primary molars and incisors. This disorder allows for rapid breakdown of the teeth and often calls for extensive restorative procedures. Due to the chronic pulpitis condition that is often associated with hypomineralized teeth, local anesthesia complications can result. This paper is a systematic review of the literature for the purpose of investigating adjuncts to traditional local anesthesia techniques in the case of hyper-responsive, hypomineralized-involved teeth during restorative procedures.
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Health care reform has been a subject of debate long before the presidential campaign of 2008, through the presidential signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) on March 23, 2010, and is likely to continue as a topic of discussion well into the future. The effects of this historic reform on the delivery of healthcare and on the economy are subject to speculation. ⋯ It is the purpose of this paper to review how dental care is currently accessed in the United States and where oral health care disparities exist, to suggest approaches to alleviating these disparities and to delineate how the changes in dental policies found in the PPACA hope to address these concerns. The main arguments of organized dentistry, both those in support of and in opposition to the PPACA, are summarized.
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Calcifications can develop within the crypts of the palatine tonsil. During routine dental panoramic radiography, these tonsillar calcifications, or tonsilloliths, may be visualized superimposed upon the mandibular ramus. Their anatomic location and radiographic appearance are such that confusion with parotid sialolithiasis may occur. This report defines the symptomatology and differential diagnosis of these tonsilloliths.
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Older adults are living longer and retaining their teeth, resulting in a concomitant increase in the need for oral care services. Despite improvements in oral health among the elderly, there continue to be profound disparities by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic and dentate status. Furthermore, challenges, such as limitations in activities of daily living, poor wheel-chair accessibility of dental clinics, poor geographic distribution of providers, difficulty navigating the oral health system and fiscal limitations make access to, and utilization of, dental services difficult among older adults. While dialogue around national policy, especially incorporation of dental benefits for adults in Medicare and Medicaid, is imperative, local efforts in New York and Northern Manhattan show promise in addressing the oral health and health care of older New Yorkers.