By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Between three million years ago (Ma) and 2.5 Ma, there were as many as four hominin lineages living in eastern Africa. They were the early Homo, Paranthropus, A. garhi, and the newly discovered Ledi-Geraru Australopithecus, according to a study which describes the age, geologic context and dental morphology of the …
The Dentist is In
Ancient teeth reveal new human species (Part 1)
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Teeth millions of years old reveal a new human species, turning the story of evolution upside down. The new unknown branch of humanity from the depths of time cannot be named yet based on the teeth alone. More fossils are needed before that can happen, reports Arizona State University (ASU), …
Cart before the horse?
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim The drinking water system in the Philippines has no fluoride to prevent tooth decay. Instead, fluoride is available in toothpaste and other oral health care products. That said, it may interest you to know that the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) announced last May that it will …
From urine to dental implant
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Human urine may be used in dental implants. Believe it or not. Improbable that may be, researchers at the University of California in Irvine have devised a way to change wastewater into hydroxyapatite (HAp), a natural mineral. HAp is lightweight, strong and durable — an ideal material for dental implants …
Your gums and heart rhythm
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim There is danger lurking in your gums, new research from Hiroshima University shows. It’s the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) that causes gum disease, according to the study published in the medical journal Circulation. The bacterium can travel in the bloodstream and enter the heart where it can cause atrial …
75 years of research excellence
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim For 75 years now, the International Dental Journal (IDJ) has shared significant dental research and clinical practice to oral health practitioners worldwide. Since 1951, it published public health, community dentistry and epidemiology and beyond. In 2022, a subsection on Science and Technology in Dentistry was added and the section on …
Da Vinci, a dentist and the elegance of the universe
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim More likely than not, you’ve seen it before: Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. Drawn circa 1490, it shows arms outstretched, in a symmetry inside a circle and a square. Vitruvius was a Roman engineer who believed the human body is a well-designed, harmonious physique in perfect proportions, a template in …
America in trouble
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim It is true that in these social media times, reading hard copy may not be the norm. Still, we love the feel and convenience of not turning on a device just for the simple pleasure of reading and manually turning actual pages. And Time magazine is our favorite hard copy. …
When was the last time you visited a dentist?
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim When was the last time you’ve seen the dentist? If you don’t remember, you are not probably seeing the dentist regularly. You’re not alone. In the United States, only six in 10 or 65 percent of adults had a dental exam or cleaning in the past year. The American Dental …
The dangers of alcohol and the public’s right to know
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Stronger labeling policies should disclose the health risks of drinking alcohol. This is what prominent consumer protection and safety groups in America said on June 19, calling on their government to include alcohol in efforts to reduce chronic disease. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) led 24 …