Necrotising periodontal diseases and alcohol misuse - a cause of osteonecrosis?

'Necrotising periodontal diseases' is an umbrella term for necrotising gingivitis, necrotising periodontitis, necrotising stomatitis and noma. These rapidly destructive conditions are characterised by pain, interdental ulceration and gingival necrosis which, if left untreated, can result in osteonecrosis. Research indicates that patients with a history of alcohol misuse are at an increased risk of malnutrition, which negatively affects the immune response and predisposition to necrotising periodontal diseases.

Of babies and bathwater: balancing support and challenge in a 'was not brought' approach to children's missed dental appointments.

Prompted by a recent Letter to the Editor describing another team's experience of implementing the Sheffield 'was not brought' pathway for children and young people's missed dental appointments (WNB-CYP), its author reflects on the reasoning behind certain deliberate features of the pathway and the place of the WNB approach within the wider context of dentistry's involvement in safeguarding children.