All posts tagged: dentists

U.S. Dentists Still Overprescribing Opioids Compared To Other Nations, Puerto Rico

U.S. Dentists Still Overprescribing Opioids Compared To Other Nations, Puerto Rico

Published by Sam Flores

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterTUESDAY, April 28, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Folks getting a tooth pulled or a cavity drilled in the United States are still more likely to be prescribed powerful opioid painkillers, despite America’s ongoing opioid crisis, a new study says. There was a 27% drop in dental patients filling opioid prescriptions between 2021 and 2024, researchers reported recently in JAMA Network Open. But despite this decrease, U.S. dentists are still handing opioids out at rates far higher than other wealthy nations, researchers found. For example, the Netherlands had a dental opioid prescription rate 24 times lower than that of the U.S. by 2024, the study found. Even the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico is more tightly controlling dental opioids, with a rate half that found in the U.S., researchers found. “Our study shows that the U.S. dental opioid dispensing rate is decreasing but remains high by international standards,” lead researcher Dr. Kao-Ping Chua, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan, said in a news release. Under newer dental guidelines, …

Do water picks really work? Dentists weigh in.

Do water picks really work? Dentists weigh in.

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Perhaps you are one of the many Americans who have a small boxy tank balanced precariously on their bathroom sink. Or maybe you’ve seen one at a friend’s house—the appliances known as water flossers, oral irrigators, or often by the brand name Waterpik. In the 1950s, a dentist patented a “dental syringe” which connected to a faucet with a tube and allowed users to clean their teeth with pressurized water. But it took until the 1960s for dentist-engineer duo Gerald Moyer and John Mattingly to bring the water flosser as we know it to market, complete with a water reservoir and a motor to pump water out of a small tube. (Later, their company became known as ‘Waterpik.’)  These days, all kinds of water flossers are available, and all of them claim to be an easy way to clean teeth and the hard-to-reach spaces in-between. But are water flossers really good for you? Can that pulsing stream of water …

Dentists are becoming an unexpected front line in diabetes screening

Dentists are becoming an unexpected front line in diabetes screening

Published by Jenni Sidey

A finger-prick during a dental appointment may seem far removed from diabetes care. Yet in a new UK study, that small test picked up something many patients did not know about: blood sugar levels in the pre-diabetes or diabetes range. Researchers at King’s College London found that more than 35 percent of dental patients with no self-reported history of diabetes had raised HbA1c levels, a marker of average blood sugar over the previous two to three months. The finding came from a chairside test that produced results in about six minutes and was used during routine care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. That matters because diabetes and pre-diabetes are rising steadily, and many cases still go undiagnosed. According to Diabetes UK, nearly 1.3 million people in the UK could be living with type 2 diabetes without knowing it. The testing machine which can be used during dental appointments. (CREDIT: KCL) A test that fits the dental chair The study included 911 patients from the King’s College London Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Biobank. …

Have money, will travel: a16z’s hunt for the next European unicorn

Have money, will travel: a16z’s hunt for the next European unicorn

Published by skeptic

Gabriel Vasquez, a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, recently revealed he took nine flights from NYC to Stockholm in one year. That wasn’t just to visit Lovable, a portfolio company, but also to look for other future Swedish unicorns before they cross the Atlantic. This all came to light when news emerged that a16z had led a $2.3 million pre-seed round into Dentio, a Swedish startup that uses AI to help dentists’ practices with admin work. While this is a small check for a firm that just announced new funds totaling $15 billion, it confirms that U.S. VCs are actively seeking deal flow outside of the U.S., even without local offices. Stockholm is a natural stop for a16z, which previously achieved significant returns from backing Skype, cofounded by Swedish entrepreneur Niklas Zennström. Since then, a significant number of fast-growing startups have been created in the Swedish capital, and the VC heavyweight tracked down where many of them were coming from.  “We spend a lot of time developing a deep understanding of specific markets and knowing where …

Best Mouthwashes of 2026, Recommended by Dentists

Best Mouthwashes of 2026, Recommended by Dentists

Published by Sam Flores

Brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily are oral care essentials, however, mouthwash isn’t exactly a necessary part of your routine. Think of it as a way to enhance your oral care routine, says Dr. Chris Salierno, the chief dental officer at Tend, a dental studio company with several locations in major cities including New York City, Boston and Washington DC. “Mouthwash is a great addition, but it should complement, not replace, brushing and flossing,” he says. “It can quickly apply special ingredients to your teeth, gums and other oral surfaces for an intended effect, like freshening breath, preventing cavities and protecting against gum disease.” Anyone can use mouthwash, but it’s important to pick the right one for your needs. I talked to dentists to learn how to choose one and how often you should use it. I also rounded up a handful of options from brands like Act, Colgate and Listerine. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. The best mouthwashes of 2026 With …