News - May 2026

US dental opioid dispensing declines but remains high compared to international peers

Opioid overprescription remains a major concern in dentistry. Although the prescription of opioids by dentists in the US has decreased sharply in recent years, dentists in the country still prescribe opioids at a substantially higher rate than their counterparts in several other high-income countries, a recent study has found.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and the University of New South Wales. Building on earlier findings that the dispensing rate of opioid prescriptions from dentists in the US was substantially higher than in the UK in 2016, the researchers examined whether the US rate remains elevated by international standards. Using data from 2021 to 2024, they evaluated trends in dental opioid dispensing in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, and the US.

According to the findings, dental opioid dispensing declined in all jurisdictions studied between 2021 and 2024. The largest relative decreases were recorded in Germany, where the rate fell by almost one-third, and in the US, where it dropped by more than a quarter. However, the US still had the highest rate in 2024, at 2,022 prescriptions dispensed per 100,000 people. Although the gap between the US and the other jurisdictions narrowed over time, it remained substantial. France, Puerto Rico and Australia had rates between half and two-thirds of the US rate.

The study reported that two-thirds of opioid prescriptions by dentists in the US are for tooth extraction, indicating that there is still substantial room to reduce opioid use in dental care.

The study was published online in JAMA Network Open.

From: https://www.dental-tribune.com/news/us-dental-opioid-dispensing-drops-sharply-but-remains-high-internationally/.

Silent tooth infection could be hurting your whole body

Scientists are uncovering a surprising link between hidden tooth infections and blood sugar problems. Recent research has found that people who had root canal treatment for long-lasting infections at the root tip experienced lower blood sugar and reduced inflammation over the following two years. The same pattern was seen in a longitudinal metabolomic analysis. Simply removing the infected tissue inside the tooth seemed to benefit the body far from the site of the infection.

One reason is that these infections do not always stay local. When bacteria reach the tissues around the tooth root, the immune system responds. If the infection persists, the body produces low-grade inflammation: a constant, simmering immune response that never fully switches off. This type of background inflammation can spread through the bloodstream and make it harder for the body to regulate sugar effectively because chronic inflammation interferes with how insulin works, reducing the body’s ability to move sugar out of the blood and into cells.

None of this means that root canals are a treatment for diabetes. Researchers are clear that causality is not yet established, so more controlled trials are needed. But the research strongly suggests that oral health has a wider role in metabolic health than most people realise. For people with diabetes or at risk of it, this connection matters. A painful tooth, or even one that simply feels different, could be more than a local problem. A properly treated tooth can save more than a smile; it may contribute to better overall health.

Originally published in The Conversation.

From: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515002146.htm.

Artificial saliva made from sugarcane protein protects teeth from acid and decay

A new type of artificial saliva, delivered as a mouthwash and made using a lab-modified sugarcane protein called CANECPI-5, could help protect the teeth of patients with head and neck cancer. These patients often undergo radiotherapy near the mouth, which can damage salivary glands and reduce saliva production. Because saliva plays a key role in controlling bacteria and maintaining oral health, its loss can lead to serious dental problems.

Researchers at the Bauru School of Dentistry at the University of São Paulo (FOB-USP) in Brazil found that CANECPI-5 creates a protective “shield” over teeth. This layer helps defend enamel from acids found in beverages like juice and alcohol, as well as acids from the stomach.

Study co-ordinator Prof. Marília Afonso Rabelo Buzalaf explained: “This is the first product that uses the concept of acquired pellicle [a thin protective layer that quickly forms on the tooth surface] to treat xerostomia, which is the sensation of a dry mouth caused by a lack of saliva. We use substances that will reformulate the composition of the proteins that bind to the teeth”.

The study showed that CANECPI-5 works best when combined with fluoride and xylitol. In testing, the artificial saliva spray reduced bacterial activity and slowed tooth demineralisation – the process by which teeth lose calcium and phosphate, making them more vulnerable to cavities.

This development is especially important because there is currently no dedicated product available to treat the severe cavities that often occur after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. The findings were published in the Journal of Dentistry.

From: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260403224458.htm.