Carolina Pickens

Carolina Pickens has a bachelor's degree in international studies and politics, and has worked as a copywriter for six years. Her experience includes years of writing website copy for dentists and doctors, as well as many hotels and hospitality venues. Carolina is also an avid nature- and animal-lover.

Articles by Carolina Pickens

• Black triangles: An increasing problem with adult orthodontic aesthetics

  Monday, September 11, 2017

  ​According to information published by the American Association of Orthodontics, adult orthodontics are on the rise. Since 1996, the use of adult orthodontics ​has risen around 40 percent. Additionally, the British Orthodontic Society saw a 10 percent increase in adult patients in the last 10 years.

• This is the gum your dentist wants you to chew

  Friday, August 25, 2017

  ​Researchers at a leading German university recommend patients use chewing gum to detect detrimental bacteria. Scientists at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg discovered that 6 percent to 15 percent of patients develop an inflammatory response after dental implants are successfully placed. This is caused by bacteria in the mouth that can cause decay and other problems in the gum tissue and bones.

• Dentists work with engineers to improve dental implant biomaterials

  Friday, August 18, 2017

  Collaboration between two of the University of Illinois at Chicago's premier schools — the College of Dentistry and College of Engineering — resulted in improved dental implant techniques. This partnership succeeded in refining the structure of collagen to make it suitable for use in dental implant placement.

• Research: Possible link between periodontal disease and cancer

  Friday, August 11, 2017

  ​Periodontal disease, an advanced form of gum disease, is known to have links with many ailments, including diabetes, chronic hypertension and more. Recent studies have shown another unfortunate connection: Periodontal disease was found to increase the likelihood of developing different types of cancer.

• Bacteria that cause periodontal disease may soon save lives

  Friday, August 04, 2017

  ​The bacterium Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is the bane of many oral health professionals. It is commonly associated with periodontal disease and other forms of both oral and nonoral infections.

• Transoral robotic surgery cuts patient recovery time

  Friday, July 28, 2017

  ​Oral cancer is diagnosed in almost 50,000 Americans each year and has a 57 percent survivability rate past five years, according to research from the Oral Cancer Foundation. The number of diagnoses has been fairly constant in oral and pharyngeal cancer for decades, but survivability has actually gone up in the last 10 years. This can be attributed to the increasing percentage of patients with dental insurance attending annual appointments (when oral cancer is most often recognized and diagnosed earlier), the spread of HPV-related oral cancer (which is easier to treat) and advances in diagnostic tools for dentists and oral specialists.

• Study finds link between bullying and grinding teeth

  Thursday, July 20, 2017

  A recent study published in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation identified a connection between high rates of bruxism and incidence of teen bullying. Bruxism is defined by the Mayo Clinic as the unconscious clenching or grinding of teeth while awake or asleep.

• Save teeth with anti-inflammatory foods

  Friday, July 14, 2017

  Everyone knows that diet is one of the biggest factors of healthy living. Doctors recommend dietary guidelines to patients to help combat widespread problems including obesity, heart disease and diabetes. However, recent research shows the right foods can even contribute to a decline in overall tooth loss.

• Oral health funding bill moves to House committee

  Friday, July 07, 2017

  ​The Action for Dental Health Act of 2017, written by Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), recently passed the House Subcommittee on Health. This bill secures $18 million in each year from 2018-2022 to fund oral health promotion and disease awareness programs from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• Rapidly advancing dental implant field continues to innovate

  Friday, June 30, 2017

  ​The dental implant industry expands across the globe year after year. In fact, the dental prosthetic and implant market is expected to exceed $6.4 billion by next year. More than 10 percent of dentists place implants, though that rate is expected to climb higher, as well. As the dental implant business continues to grow, so do advances in implant technology.

• Pediatric experts recommend no juice for babies, toddlers

  Thursday, June 22, 2017

  Every parent wants the best for their children, which includes the best oral health for their baby’s smile. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently issued a recommendation for parents to save fruit juice until after the child’s first year. It also strongly urges parents to give juice in limited amounts after that. The organization’s previous policy recommended no fruit juice for babies younger than 6 months, and limited daily quantities for older children.

• Virtual reality helps patients ‘escape’ dental pain

  Friday, June 16, 2017

  ​A recent study by U.K. scientists has concluded patients can better manage procedure-related pain with the help of virtual reality (VR). This research was published earlier this week in the Environment and Behavior journal.

• Study of baby teeth finds link between autism and environmental exposures

  Thursday, June 08, 2017

  Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai partnered with Sweden's Karolinska Institutet to study the baby teeth of patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Their study, "Fetal and postnatal metal dysregulation in autism," was published in Nature Communications in April. It detailed that biomarkers in the layers of the ASD patients' teeth revealed they were exposed to higher concentrations of lead and other neurotoxins in utero and within the first months of life.

• Research: Vitamin D deficiency leaves its mark on the smile

  Thursday, June 01, 2017

  A study published by McMaster University in May found vitamin D is vital to more than just skin and the neurological system. Previously, there was no way to prove long-term vitamin D deficiencies in the human species. However, anthropologists studying ancient human teeth found that the main material of teeth — dentin — records when the body undergoes deficient periods.

• Hormones and periodontal disease in menopausal women

  Thursday, May 25, 2017

  Hot flashes, mood changes and fatigue are just a few of the many symptoms commonly associated with menopause. Physicians can recognize its telltale signs based on a patient's medical history and age. When symptoms interfere with the enjoyment of everyday life, doctors can prescribe hormone replacement therapy to help women adjust to these sudden changes. This therapy is more commonly prescribed today than in the past, as doctors see its additional benefit to prevent osteoporosis and other significant medical problems.

• How dentists can help patients discover hypertension

  Friday, May 19, 2017

  ​The month of May is officially known as National High Blood Pressure Education Month in the U.S. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and other health organizations use this time to spread awareness of the problem and how to best address it.

• The impact of marijuana use on oral health

  Thursday, May 11, 2017

  ​As more and more states legalize the recreational and medicinal use of marijuana every year, the subject itself becomes less taboo. Increasingly, dentists and other medical professionals find themselves in the potentially uncomfortable position of asking about a patient's personal marijuana habits, due to the potential impact it can have on oral health.

• Vaping vs. smoking: Is one better for oral health?

  Monday, May 01, 2017

  ​The trend of replacing cigarettes with e-cigarettes is gaining traction around the globe. Many smokers are opting for the electronic substitute (also known as vaping) to improve their health, while others believe that both are equally detrimental. Dentists need to broach the subject of smoking with their patients and dig deeper to fully evaluate what those in their care need to know.

• Patients should know the dangers of online kits for teeth whitening

  Monday, April 17, 2017

  ​It's no secret that white teeth are highly coveted around the world. After all, psychological studies show that not only are people with white teeth perceived as more attractive and intelligent than those with an average smile, but those with white teeth are more likely to receive a job offer and larger salary.

• Educate your patients during Oral Cancer Awareness Month

  Tuesday, April 11, 2017

  Do your patients know April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month? Dentists and other oral health professionals throughout the United States should take time to ensure their patients know the early signs and symptoms of this deadly disease. Taking extra steps to educate those in your care can help them spot the warning signs of oral cancer before it's too late.

• How to tell patients about the link between gingivitis and diabetes

  Tuesday, April 04, 2017

  The American Diabetes Association reports that a whopping 30 million Americans have diabetes. Unfortunately, this condition comes with many extensive complications that aren't limited to the medical field. Many reports have shown a prevalent connection between diabetes in patients and early to advanced stages of gingivitis.

• How dentists can help fix America’s opioid epidemic

  Friday, March 24, 2017

  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), opioid-related drug overdoses have tripled from 1999 to 2014. Additionally, opioids were present in 60.9 percent of overdose deaths in 2014. It is increasingly apparent the United States has an opioid abuse epidemic on its hands, and dentists may be surprised to find themselves in the middle of this rapidly-growing problem.