Sensitive composite fillings were thought to be normal. It used to be said that there were two choices, mercury fillings that were ugly but didn’t hurt or tooth colored (composite) fillings that took time to get used to due to nerve adaptation. Years ago, dentists didn’t really understand dental anatomy or histology and treated fillings the same, no matter what material was used.

A recent study suggests that fatigue, one of the most common and disabling symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), may actually not be due to MS, but is caused by obstructive sleep apnea. As with other sufferers of sleep apnea, it’s likely that treatment could lead to an improved quality of life.

In January, the FDA announced its intention to begin regulating e-cigarettes, but as tobacco products, and not as drug delivery systems, which some had feared. The FDA is currently receiving commentary from people in the industry and related fields before it makes the final rules, but in the meantime it notes that there are many things we don’t know about e-cigarettes, including:

• Potential risks of e-cigarettes
• How much nicotine and other chemicals the devices deliver
• Whether e-cigarettes offer any benefits over conventional cigarettes

Another thing we don’t know about e-cigarettes is what impact they may have on dental implants. Traditional smoking leads to increased risk of dental implant failure, but will e-cigarettes do the same?