Dentist Uses New System To Straighten Adult Teeth In 6 Months
A new braces system utilized by Minneapolis-based dentist Dr. Shamblott straightens adult front teeth with lower cost, less discomfort, and in less time than traditional orthodontics. The new system called Six Month Smiles® utilizes clear brackets and tooth-colored wires so they are far less obvious than typical metal braces. Traditional braces take anywhere from two to four years to straighten teeth because they are correcting both the appearance and the bite of all the teeth in a patient's mouth.
Gum Disease Linked To Anaemia
A new study suggests that severe gum disease (chronic periodontitis) may cause a reduction in red blood cells and haemoglobin leading to the blood disorder anaemia. The research, published in the Journal of Periodontology (1), found that over a third of people suffering from severe gum disease had haemoglobin levels below normal concentrations. Following a six month course of treatment to improve their oral health, all patients had improved levels of red blood cells, haemoglobin and all other clinical measures used to assess the health of the blood.
Combating Fluorosis In Ethiopia's Water
A University of Oklahoma environmental science graduate student will travel to Ethiopia in June to test materials she has been investigating as possible solutions to fluorosis - a widespread problem in the Rift Valley, where high levels of fluoride in the drinking water result in dental and skeletal disease. Laura Brunson, graduate student in the OU College of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, works with researchers in the OU Water Center on global water challenges, specifically fluorosis.