Laura Dorr

In all our years of fanatically watching Shark Week, we’ve learned a few things: Don’t go swimming at dusk; avoid inserting body parts into a shark’s mouth; we’ll probably need a bigger boat, and, perhaps most interestingly, that a shark can endlessly replace its teeth-which could have major implications for human dental health.

America: Home to revolutionaries, heroes, Wild West gunslingers, Olympic legends and artistic geniuses. What do all those country-shaping patriots have in common? Many of them were also dentists.

Even the greatest leaders can’t be perfect. In George Washington’s case, one big shortcoming was his infamously terrible teeth. Equally infamous, Washington’s wooden dentures have become the stuff of legend… a factually incorrect legend, as Washington never actually sported dentures made from wood.

A recent study found that tooth loss could be a predictor for future cardiovascular events, diabetes and even death.

A recent study out of Tufts University found that the accuracy of impression techniques can be affected by partial vs. complete edentulism. The study evaluated the differing levels of success of conventional and digital impression techniques in partially and completely edentulous patients.  It also assessed the effect different variables, such as materials, angulation, and connection type, had in regard to the accuracy of implant impressions.

Time to flash those pearly whites - for a mugshot! We compiled a list of the top dental crimes in each and every state in the USA - and the stories we found are pretty fantastic. See what's happening in your state!

What do you have in common with LeBron James? Probably not a lot, as King James is exceptional at pretty much everything and should be revered as an infallible deity. One thing that brings him down to mortal status? Being in the dentist’s chair.

Do you want fries with that dental work? The General Dental Council committee in the United Kingdom has barred one dentist from practicing after she tried to perform a dental procedure in a McDonald’s restaurant.

Every day, innovative new products and technologies are pushing the dental industry forward, streamlining the job and redefining practice management, patient care and treatment. While there are many exciting emerging technologies and cutting-edge products, there are some that rise above the rest. These are the recipients of the seventh annual Pride Institute Best of Class Technology Awards. 

Using a communal bathroom? There’s probably poop on your toothbrush.

Many people are afraid of going to the dentist, but most will muster the bravery to go in when their teeth start falling out. However, most people are not Angie Barlow of England.

    "This is the list every practitioner should be waiting for every year."

Rugby players are a carousing type who appreciate a good time, and one beer company is making it even easier for several players to enjoy the revelry.

A New York man was left gnashing his teeth in frustration last week when he lost a malpractice judgment against a local dentist on appeal.

It’s peak season for dental practices in eight cities, as the Stanley Cup playoffs continue in a quest for more dental casualties.

A man in New Zealand is on trial after his penchant for edentulous ladies allegedly peaked in a series of violent assaults, during which he removed his victims’ teeth with pliers.

Dentists are an upstanding, honorable bunch ... well, except for a few, apparently! We scoured the web for this year's strangest toothy crime stories, and were shocked (thrilled? amused?) by the number we found. Here are our top five.

We asked Dr. Daniel Etheridge and his assistant, Shannon Pace Brinker, CDA, CDD, of Greenbrier Dental Center in Chesapeake, Va., about their use of 3M™ ESPE™ Imprint™ 4 Preliminary Impression Material, 3M™ ESPE™ Imprint™ 4 VPS Impression Material and 3M™ ESPE™ Protemp™ Plus Temporization Material. 

A dental office manager in New York has learned the hard way that playing pretend can result in some very real consequences.

Strong teeth for beavers are a must (you try cutting down a tree with your incisors!), but how do they keep those chompers healthy and tough without access to fluoride or a toothbrush? A new study out of Northwestern University reports that beavers have natural protection against tooth decay built into the chemical structure of their teeth.

Deah Barakat, one of three students murdered on February 10 in Chapel Hill, NC, had a goal to provide dental care to Syrian refugees. Since his death, people have rallied to ensure that goal is achieved.

Electric toothbrushes are flying off shelves – but a surprising number are going into the pockets of sticky-fingered customers. 

A recent study has found that the walking speed and memory of adults without any teeth decline more rapidly than those who still have some or all of their own teeth.

We're always excited to hear about new dental health discoveries and emerging research, and are fascinated by the enlightening, educational - and sometimes downright weird - information they bring to light. What follows is a list of the most fascinating recent studies, as chosen by our editorial team.

Everyone knows that children need moderation in their lives. Giving a child too much sugar will undoubtedly result in a headache for parents. Exposing that child to excessive radiation? That can also only end poorly.

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a case regarding whether state-established boards of practitioners, such as those for dentists, made up of members of the profession they are overseeing can properly regulate the profession without running afoul of federal antitrust laws.

A newborn baby shocked her parents and doctors alike last month when she was born with two front teeth.

2014 brought many new innovations, technological advances and exciting product launches – but more entertainingly, it also gave us some very, very strange stories.  Here are the seven most peculiar, strange – and mildly alarming! – dental stories that we read in 2014.

Recent research published in the journal Microbiome found that as many as 80 million bacteria are transferred during at 10-second French kiss. The study also found that people who kiss each other nine times a day or more share similar oral bacteria.

A recent study published by researchers in Japan found that elderly patients who wear dentures while they sleep have a higher risk of developing pneumonia than those who remove them.