Risky business part 2: The unspoken truth about dental fraud and the NHS
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Streptococcus abundance and oral site tropism in humans and non-human primates reflects host and lifestyle differences
The genus Streptococcus is highly diverse and a core member of the primate oral microbiome. Streptococcus species are grouped into at least eight phylogenetically-supported clades, five of which are found almost exclusively in the oral cavity. We explored the dominant Streptococcus phylogenetic clades in samples from multiple oral sites and from ancient and modern-day humans and non-human primates and found that clade dominance is conserved across human oral sites, with most Streptococcus reads assigned to species falling in the Sanguinis or Mitis clades. However, minor differences in the presence and abundance of individual species within each clade differentiated human lifestyles, with loss of S. sinensis appearing to correlate with toothbrushing. Of the non-human primates, only baboons show clade abundance patterns similar to humans, suggesting that a habitat and diet similar to that of early humans may favor the growth of Sanguinis and Mitis clade species.
Foundation dentists’ attitudes and experiences in providing dental care for dependant older adults resident in care home settings
There is a continued increase of older dependant adults in England. Foundation Dentists (FDs) are often the dental workforce being tasked with providing dental care to dependant older adults resident in care home settings. This study explores whether FDs have the experience and confidence to deliver this.
Experts consensus on management of tooth luxation and avulsion
Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) of teeth occur frequently in children and adolescents. TDIs that impact the periodontal tissues and alveolar tissue can be classified into concussion, subluxation, extrusive luxation, intrusive luxation, lateral luxation, and avulsion. In these TDIs, management of injured soft tissue, mainly periodontal ligament, and dental pulp, is crucial in maintaining the function and longevity of the injured teeth. Factors that need to be considered for management in laxation injuries include the maturation stage of the traumatic teeth, mobility, direction of displacement, distance of displacement, and whether there are alveolar fractures. In avulsion, the maturation stage of the permanent tooth, the out-socket time, storage media/condition of the avulsed tooth, and management of the PDL should also be considered. Especially, in this review, we have subdivided the immature tooth into the adolescent tooth (Nolla stage 9) and the very young tooth (Nolla stage 8 and below). This consensus paper aimed to discuss the impacts of those factors on the trauma management and prognosis of TDI to provide a streamlined guide for clinicians from clinical evaluation, diagnostic process, management plan decision, follow-up, and orthodontic treatment for tooth luxation and avulsion injuries.
The risk effects of corporate digitalization: exacerbate or mitigate?
This study elaborates on the risk effects of corporate digital transformation (CDT). Using the ratio of added value of digital assets to total intangible assets as a measure of CDT, this study overall reveals an inverse relationship between CDT and revenue volatility, even after employing a range of technical techniques to address potential endogeneity. Heterogeneity analysis highlights that the firms with small size, high capital intensity, and high agency costs benefit more from CDT. It also reveals that advancing information infrastructure, intellectual property protection, and digital taxation enhances the effectiveness of CDT. Mechanism analysis uncovers that CDT not only enhances financial advantages such as bolstering core business and mitigating non-business risks but also fosters non-financial advantages like improving corporate governance and ESG performance. Further inquiries into the side effects of CDT and the dynamics of revenue volatility indicate that CDT might compromise cash flow availability. Excessive digital investments exacerbate operating risks. Importantly, the reduction in operating risk associated with CDT does not sacrifice the potential for enhanced company performance; rather, it appears to augment the value of real options.
Expert consensus on the prevention and treatment of enamel demineralization in orthodontic treatment
Enamel demineralization, the formation of white spot lesions, is a common issue in clinical orthodontic treatment. The appearance of white spot lesions not only affects the texture and health of dental hard tissues but also impacts the health and aesthetics of teeth after orthodontic treatment. The prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of white spot lesions that occur throughout the orthodontic treatment process involve multiple dental specialties. This expert consensus will focus on providing guiding opinions on the management and prevention of white spot lesions during orthodontic treatment, advocating for proactive prevention, early detection, timely treatment, scientific follow-up, and multidisciplinary management of white spot lesions throughout the orthodontic process, thereby maintaining the dental health of patients during orthodontic treatment.
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