Rethinking Antibiotics: Dental Professionals Embrace New Alternatives For Standard Dental Procedures
Following the World Health Organisation (WHO) revelations on the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threat, a dentist professional shares his opinion on the dentist’s contribution to reducing antimicrobial medicine overuse by choosing alternative plant-based oral care products for routine dental procedures.
December 19, 2023. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics poses a threat to global health, and the WHO highlights the consequences of inappropriate and excessive antibiotic use. Scientific estimates from the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) alone show that more than 670,000 infections each year are caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, with around 33,000 deaths as a direct result.
While it affects different areas of medicine, professional dentists discuss that unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions can be avoided by choosing innovative oral care products instead to help patients recover from interventional dental procedures.
Now dentists prescribe analgesics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to patients after surgery, or antimicrobials to prevent infections. Edvinas Mileris, an implant surgeon working in Vilnius, Lithuania, and London, UK, notes that dentists could make a significant contribution to reducing the use of NSAIDs and antibiotics in their work by avoiding prescribing them to patients in some cases if they were more aware of the latest tools for helping patients recover after dental surgery.
“Dentists often prescribe antibiotics to patients to prevent possible infections, but these unnecessary prescriptions cause serious harm. It is important to remember that antibiotics kill not only the bad bacteria that can cause infections but also the good bacteria that protect our bodies from disease and help prevent other health problems. And a major problem worldwide is the growing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, which is the result of the overuse of these drugs in various fields,” says Dr. Mileris.
Alternative to antibiotics for less complex dental procedures
Dr. Mileris shares his experience of not rushing to prescribe antibiotics to patients if they are not needed. “We all need to understand that bacterial resistance is a global problem. On the other hand, from an individual point of view, antibiotics can lead to a variety of other health problems, such as weakened immunity, disturbed microbiota, etc. The less antibiotics we use, the better,” says the doctor.
“If a patient undergoes a standard dental implant procedure without bone restoration, there is no need for antibiotics. Sometimes, even after such a procedure, there can be slight inflammation and swelling of the gums, which can make healing a bit more difficult. Young implantologists are often frightened in such situations and, fearing a possible infection, give the patient antibiotics. However, in such cases, I can confidently recommend alternative oral care products, like Fitodenta, which are an excellent solution to such problems and speed up the healing process. Of course, while choosing alternative solutions, I explain to them why a remedy made from plant-based materials could be healthier in their case,” says Dr. Mileris.
Solution accelerating recovery from dental procedures by 40%
A team of Lithuanian biotechnology scientists has developed Fitodenta products for recovery after dental surgery. The unique formula of the product consists of a combination of cannabinoids that work synergistically with other active substances of botanical origin whose therapeutic effects have been described in the European Pharmacopoeia.
“For example, if the guidelines and the patient’s condition do not require antibiotics, and I have doubts about prescribing them to a patient, then I choose not harmful alternatives. I have been recommending these products to my patients for five years now, and so far it has always worked,” says Dr. Mileris, adding that Fitodenta products reduce the risk of complications after dental operations or other surgical interventions, as the ingredients in the product have anti-inflammatory, pain-reducing and healing-accelerating properties, and the effects have been confirmed by clinical trials.
“My colleagues and I conducted a clinical study to see for ourselves that after more complex dental implant procedures, Fitodenta products significantly reduced pain and swelling, and when used in combination with traditional post-operative medications, in some cases including antibiotics, accelerated the healing process by as much as 40%,” says Dr. Mileris.
Sometimes antibiotics are unavoidable
If the dental implant procedure is complex and involves bone restoration, antibiotics cannot be avoided. In some cases, unpleasant sensations after dental implants can plague patients for up to two weeks.
Then doctors must emphasize to patients the most important rules for taking antibiotics: only take medicines when prescribed by a doctor and stick to the course, and don’t quit using medicine as soon as the discomfort goes away; don’t take any antibiotics that are left over from a previous course of treatment; and don’t share or take antibiotics prescribed to others.
The WHO reminds us that antibiotic resistance can affect people of any age, in any country. Antibiotic resistance leads to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and higher mortality. Responsible use of antibiotics is everyone’s contribution to preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics and reducing the rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance.
About the product
Fitodenta, an unparalleled product developed by Lithuanian health innovation experts and validated by clinical consumer studies, promotes the healing of the oral cavity after dental surgery. The kit consists of two products: a mouth spray and a cosmetic gel. Clinical user studies have shown that the best effect is achieved when both products are used together – the spray in the oral cavity on damaged gums and mucous membranes, and the gel externally on the swollen area. The product is intended for use after tooth extractions, implants, or other dental procedures that leave wounds and swelling. The patented formulas are based on natural substances of plant origin. The Fitodenta product is intended for oral care and is classified as a cosmetic product.
Thought Leadership & Innovation Foundation (TLI) Welcomes Esteemed Fellows to Advance Global Healthcare Innovation
MCLEAN, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Thought Leadership & Innovation Foundation (TLI), a not-for-profit organization that works at the nexus of science, technology and public health, today proudly announces the appointment of a distinguished cohort of industry leaders as TLI Fellows, underscoring TLI’s unwavering dedication to driving meaningful change and enhancing global health.
“Our Fellows are thought leaders and innovators drawn from the healthcare landscape in the U.S. and around the world,” explains Shawn Murphy, Vice President, TLI. “These visionaries are at the forefront of fueling the innovation that forms the core of TLI’s mission – driving transformative change projects in the healthcare sector.”
Meet the Newest TLI Fellow Members:
– Joseph Carabello, president and CEO, CPR Strategic Marketing and Communications
– Laura Carabello, CCO, CPR Strategic Marketing and Communications
– Marna Ericson, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Minnesota
– Jonathan Wiesen, MD, founder and CMO, MediOrbis
– Robert Mozayeni, MD, founder and executive director, Translational Medical Group
– Peter Chakales, CEO, Healytics
– Philip J. R. Day, MD, founder and CEO, GeneGini
– Robin Robinson, PhD, CEO, Esperovax, Inc.
– Ran Rossignol, MD, FAAFP and FMAPS, Rossignol Medical Center
– Paul Kent, founder, disAbled Life Alliance
– Matthew Levine, director of grants, partnerships and advocacy, American Macular Degeneration Foundation (AMDA)
– Beth Lambert, executive director, Epidemic Answers
TLI is committed to pushing the boundaries of innovative thinking and action, envisioning a world where health outcomes are significantly improved through innovation and data-driven solutions. The Foundation pursues its mission to foster transformative changes that inspire hope for patients and families confronting challenging health conditions. TLI’s core values, encompassing innovation, integrity, partnership, impartiality, intellectual curiosity and excellence, drive its efforts to integrate science, technology and strategic thinking for the public benefit. This approach creates a dynamic platform for meaningful change while effectively navigating the complexities of our ever-changing world.
Murphy continues, “These distinguished Fellows bring extensive experience, profound expertise and unwavering dedication to advancing healthcare. They play a vital role in shaping TLI’s vision for a world where transformative change, cutting-edge innovation and data-driven solutions merge to provide hope and improved care to patients and their families. Together, we are determined to harness the power of thought leadership and innovation to address the most pressing health challenges of our time.”
About TLI
The Thought Leadership & Innovation Foundation (TLI) is a not-for-profit organization that works at the nexus of science, technology and public health, innovating for superior prevention, treatment and outcomes for those facing life-altering medical diagnoses. TLI helps patients across the country and around the world find better healthcare outcomes. Visit www.thoughtfoundation.org and follow us on LinkedIn.
To read the original press release, click here.
In the U.S., scientists see barriers to the development of CAR-T therapies. In Spain, a hospital brews its own
By Andrew Joseph
statnews.com – Barcelona, Spain — Some of the patients waiting in the oncology ward of a hospital here, with its green-tiled floor and white walls, had arrived for a newfangled remedy for blood cancers, what’s known as a CAR-T therapy.
The patients were not here for one of the brand-name medicines — a Kymriah or Yescarta — that have shown the power of these cell-based approaches and helped reap their makers hundreds of millions of dollars. Rather, they would be receiving a CAR-T brewed up right here at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.
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Teen pregnancies down, but remain higher in the U.S.
By Elizabeth Cooney
statnews.com – Reproductive health has been in the spotlight since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision last year and will likely stay there with yesterday’s news on mifepsritone, meaning a renewed focus on contraception when abortion access is not certain. A new CDC report updates its survey of U.S. teenagers’ sexual activity, zeroing in on intercourse, contraceptive use, and childbearing. Teen pregnancy and birth rates and pregnancies have continued to decline since the 1990s, but that new low is still almost twice as high as rates recorded in Canada.
To view the article in its entirety, click here.
New study finds many couples around the world may share high blood pressure
By American Heart Association
benefitnews.com – If one spouse or partner in a heterosexual couple has high blood pressure, the other partner often does too, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.
“Many people know that high blood pressure is common in middle-aged and older adults, yet we were surprised to find that among many older couples, both husband and wife had high blood pressure in the U.S., England, China and India,” said senior author Chihua Li, Dr.P.H., a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Michigan and the study’s corresponding author. “For instance, in the U.S., among more than 35% of couples who were ages 50 or older, both had high blood pressure.”
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Report: Global Healthcare Benefit Costs Expected to Rise 9.9% in 2024
By Marissa Plescia
medcitynews.com – Healthcare costs are continuing to rise, with about three-fifths of insurers expecting increases over the next few years, a new survey revealed. However, there seems to be slight easing, with healthcare costs anticipated to increase at a slower pace in 2024 compared to 2023.
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House bill to make US healthcare costs transparent unlikely to bring down prices
By The Guardian
theguardian.com – A bipartisan healthcare reform bill passed by the House could make it easier for Americans to find out the cost of a doctor’s appointment or procedure before a patient receives it – a task that currently ranges in difficulty from Herculean to impossible.
The bill would require hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, imaging services, surgical centers and pharmacy benefit managers to publicly post prices. That, supporters said, could bring down the cost of healthcare as “consumers” shop around.
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Americans less satisfied with almost every part of the health system
By Maya Goldman
axios.com – Americans’ satisfaction with almost every major part of the health care system has dropped since 2010, according to a new Gallup analysis.
Driving the news: Drugmakers took the biggest reputational hit, andratings for physicians fell sharply, too.
The big picture: COVID-19, ballooning costs, an opioid crisis and other factors could contribute to Americans’ souring sentiment, Gallup says.
To view the article in its entirety, click here.