Tooth Extraction News and Research

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Finnish study finds poor oral health increases jawbone necrosis risks in breast cancer patients

Antiresorptive drugs, which reduce bone breakdown, are an important part of treatment for breast cancer that has spread to the bones. However, their use can be associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), a condition in which bone tissue in the jaw dies.

14 Oct 2026

More kids are in ERs for tooth pain. Trump cuts and RFK Jr.’s anti-fluoride fight aren’t helping.

Eight-year-old Jonah woke up one May morning with a swollen face and a toothache. He refused the pain medication that his mom, Geneva Reynolds, tried to give him. He didn't sleep or eat and cried constantly.

10 Mar 2026

Over-the-counter pain relievers outperform opioids after wisdom tooth extraction

Over-the-counter pain medications work as well or better than opioids after wisdom tooth extraction for both men and women, according to a Rutgers Health-led follow-up to a landmark paper on comparative pain relief.

6 Nov 2025

Smoking leaves lasting marks in teeth even after quitting

Evidence of the permanent impact of smoking on people's teeth has been uncovered by researchers for the first time.

18 Jun 2025

Non-opioid pain relief proven more effective after wisdom teeth removal

A combination of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) controls pain after wisdom tooth removal better than opioids, according to a Rutgers Health study that could change how dentists treat post-surgical pain.

6 Jan 2025

Concizumab shows promising results for hemophilia patients

For people with the bleeding disorder hemophilia, life can seem like one continuous state of alertness. If they accidentally cut their finger while chopping vegetables, they have to immediately administer the clotting factor protein that their body either lacks or does not produce enough of.

2 Dec 2024

Children in deprived areas face higher risk of severe tooth decay requiring hospital extraction

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have found that children living in areas with high levels of deprivation are three times more likely to have severe tooth decay that requires a dental extraction in hospital, compared with children living in more affluent areas.

15 Jul 2024

Study reveals anesthetic injections as biggest stress factor in teen dental patients

Children are very stressed by anesthetics injected into the mouth before tooth extraction, in connection with orthodontic treatment.

14 Jun 2024

New guideline supports use of acetaminophen and NSAIDs for pediatric dental pain

Acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen are recommended as first-line treatments for managing short-term dental pain in children under age 12, according to a new clinical practice guideline developed by the American Dental Association Science & Research Institute (ADASRI), the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and the Center for Integrative Global Oral Health at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.

25 Aug 2023

Research offers hope for patients with lower lip sensory loss

The inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) is a branch of the trigeminal nerve and plays a vital role in providing sensation to the lower lip.

12 Jul 2023

Light therapy may benefit heart health and longevity

Light therapy has demonstrated its usefulness in treating a variety of diseases. But can it delay the occurrence of age-related disease?

27 Mar 2023

After Congress fails to add dental coverage, Medicare weighs limited benefit expansion

Proposed changes in Medicare rules could soon pave the way for a significant expansion in Medicare-covered dental services, while falling short of the comprehensive benefits that many Democratic lawmakers have advocated.

17 Oct 2022

Consuming water with fluoride at levels used for public supplies is safe: study reassures

Research from The University of Queensland has found no link between community water fluoridation and adverse effects on children's brain development.

10 Oct 2022

Improving dental care by linking medical and dental records in health Information exchanges

Dental professionals require access to each patient's complete electronic health record – including laboratory test results and current prescriptions – so they can provide the best care possible; care that is safe for the patient, promotes preventive management and improves dental treatment outcomes.

14 Jun 2022

Cessation of antibiotic prophylaxis in dentistry led to no increase in infective endocarditis

Sweden is one of the few countries that have removed the dental health recommendation to give prophylactic antibiotics to people at a higher risk of infection of the heart valves, so-called infective endocarditis.

17 Feb 2022

If Congress adds dental coverage to Medicare, should all seniors get it?

William Stork needs a tooth out. That's what the 71-year-old retired truck driver's dentist told him during a recent checkup.

29 Oct 2021

87% of the patients still favor root canal treatment for badly damaged teeth

Few patients regret having a severely damaged tooth saved by a root canal filling. A University of Gothenburg thesis shows that 87 percent would choose the same treatment again, if in need, although pain and discomfort around the tooth are common.

28 Oct 2021

Children and young adults are frequently exposed to unsafe opioid prescriptions, study suggests

Children and young adults who have pain from surgery, dental care and other conditions are often prescribed opioids.

19 Aug 2021

Opioids like ‘lean’ permeate hip-hop culture, but dangers are downplayed

Nykerrius Williams knows about the close relationship between hip-hop and opioid use. Williams, 27, an independent rapper from Gibsland, Louisiana, who goes by the name Young Nyke, took oxycodone pills for the first time when he was 16 and has continued patterns of misuse of those pills, as well as Lortabs, Xanax and codeine cough syrups, until recently. To him, it's part of the business.

28 May 2021

Study finds higher risk of overdose in patients treated with opioids to reduce dental pain

When they go to the dentist to get a tooth pulled or another procedure, patients might not think that the prescription they receive to ease their pain could put them or their family at risk of an opioid overdose.

29 Apr 2021