In postmenopausal women, reduced bone mineral density at the hip and spine is associated with an increased risk of tooth loss, possibly due to a loss of alveolar bone. In turn, having fewer natural teeth may lead to compromised food choices resulting in a poor diet that can contribute to chronic disease risk. The tight link between alveolar bone preservation, tooth retention, better nutritional status, and reduced risk of developing a chronic disease begins with the mitigation of postmenopausal bone loss. The ovariectomized rat, a widely used preclinical model for studying postmenopausal bone loss that mimics deterioration of bone tissue in the hip and spine, can also be used to study mineral and structural changes in alveolar bone to develop drug and/or dietary strategies aimed at tooth retention. This review discusses key findings from studies investigating mandible health and alveolar bone in the ovariectomized rat model. Considerations to maximize the benefits of this model are also included. These include the measurement techniques used, the age at ovariectomy, the duration that a rat is studied after ovariectomy and habitual diet consumed.

There is growing recognition of the role of micro-architecture in osteoporotic bone loss and fragility. This trend has been driven by advances in imaging technology, which have enabled a transition from measures of mass to micro-architecture. Imaging trabecular bone has been a key research focus, but advances in resolution have also enabled the detection of cortical bone micro-architecture, particularly the network of vascular canals, commonly referred to as 'cortical porosity.' This review aims to provide an overview of what this level of porosity is, why it is important, and how it can be characterized by imaging. Moving beyond a 'trabeculocentric' view of bone loss holds the potential to improve diagnosis and monitoring of interventions. Furthermore, cortical porosity is intimately linked to the remodeling process, which underpins bone loss, and thus a larger potential exists to improve our fundamental understanding of bone health through imaging of both humans and animal models.

Methods to optimize healing through dietary strategies present an attractive option for patients, such that healing from delicate oral surgeries occurs as optimally as possible with minimal patient-meditated complications through improper food choices. This review discusses findings from studies that have investigated the role of diet, either whole foods or individual dietary components, on periodontal health and their potential role in wound healing after periodontal surgery. To date, research in this area has largely focused on foods or individual dietary components that may attenuate inflammation or oxidant stress, or foster de novo bone formation. These studies suggest that a wide variety of dietary components, including macronutrients and micronutrients, are integral for optimal periodontal health and have the potential to accelerate oral wound healing after periodontal procedures. Moreover, this review provides guidance regarding dietary considerations that may help a patient achieve the best possible outcome after a periodontal procedure.

Dietary supplement use may modify the risk of periodontal disease but effects on wound healing after periodontal procedures are less clear. This study characterized dietary supplement use by male and female patients (n = 376) attending a periodontal clinic—information that is essential for evidence-based intervention studies that may improve patient outcomes after periodontal procedures. Calcium, vitamin D, multivitamin and vitamin C were most commonly used. A greater (p ≤ 0.05) number of males took no supplements compared to females, and more (p ≤ 0.05) females than males took ≥ four supplements. Females took more (p ≤ 0.05) calcium, vitamin D, fish oil, green tea, magnesium, omega 3,6,9 and B vitamin complex. Younger patients (31–50 years) had the highest (p ≤ 0.05) frequency of no supplement use compared to older age groups. Patients over age 50 had a higher (p ≤ 0.05) frequency of using ≥ four supplements including calcium and vitamin D. Supplement use was lower (p ≤ 0.05) in smokers, particularly for calcium, fish oil, green tea and vitamin D. In conclusion, females, older individuals and non-smokers have higher supplement use. Future dietary intervention studies can focus on supplements with known biological activities—anti-inflammatory, antioxidant or osteogenic activity—that may enhance wound healing after reconstructive periodontal procedures.

Background: Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) training in Canadian undergraduate medical programs is steadily increasing. To date, the simulated patients (SPs) in our program have only provided feedback on comfort and professionalism. Involving the POCUS SPs as teachers (SP-teachers) of POCUS skills provides an additional opportunity for instruction. In this pilot study, we explored the impact of SP-teachers instructing medical trainees while they learned POCUS. Outcomes of interest included the level of proficiency achieved after the session and trainee satisfaction with the learning experience.  Methods: Second year medical students were randomized into a conventional or SP-teacher learning experience. Both groups received the same video tutorial, instructor guidance, and basic SP feedback (comfort and professionalism). The SP-teaching group received additional instruction (landmarks, transducer technique, and troubleshooting) from the SP-teachers when session instructors were assisting others. Students evaluated the session and were subsequently assessed through direct observation. Results: Students that received SP-teaching scored significantly higher in both image acquisition (p = 0.029, d = 1.26) and overall entrustment (p = 0.002, d =1.75). Both groups rated their sessions highly.  Conclusions: Students that received SP-teaching were observed to better acquire images and achieved higher entrustment scores. In this pilot study, SP-teachers had a positive effect on acquisition of POCUS skills.

Previous research has shown that feeding a high fat diet can result in adverse effects to body composition in male rodents. The potential adverse effects of maternal high fat feeding on body composition of male offspring is less clear. Our study objective was to determine if maternal high fat feeding leads to higher fat mass and lower lean and bone mass in male Wistar offspring at 19 days (weaning) and 3 months of age (young adulthood). Female Wistar rats were randomized to either a control (C, AIN93G, 7% soybean oil by weight, n = 11) or high fat (HF, modified AIN93G, 20% lard by weight, n = 12) diet at 28 days of age. After 10 weeks of feeding, females were bred and consumed their respective diets throughout pregnancy and lactation. Body composition of male offspring was measured using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at age 19 days or at 3 months of age. Greater body weight (p < 0.05) and absolute fat (p < 0.001) and bone mass (both bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD); p<0.05) was observed at 19 days in offspring from mothers fed HF compared to C diet. When expressed relative to body weight, fat mass was higher (p <0.001) at 19 days in offspring of mothers fed HF compared to C diet. Interestingly, differences in body weight, fat mass, BMC and BMD were not sustained at young adulthood (age 3 months). The effects at weaning are fully attenuated by 3 months of age when male offspring are fed a ‘healthy’ control diet from weaning onwards.

Using rodent models, maternal exposure to an obesogenic diet ‐ high in fat and sucrose ‐ can have adverse effects on offspring health and may set them on a trajectory for unfavorable body composition. The objective of this study was to determine whether maternal exposure to a high fat diet results in higher fat mass and lower lean and bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) in female offspring at weaning (19 days) and young adulthood (3 months). Female rats (28 days old) were fed control (C, AIN93G with 7% soybean oil by weight) or high fat diet (HF, modified AIN93G with 20% lard by weight) for 10 weeks at which time they were bred and continued on the same diet throughout gestation and lactation. Body composition in female offspring at 19 days and at 3 months of age was measured using dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry. There was no significant effect of HF diet on body weight or absolute BMC, BMD, lean and fat mass at 19 days and 3 months of age. When corrected for body weight, fat mass and BMC was higher (P<0.05) while lean mass was lower (P<0.05) in 19 day old but not 3 month old offspring of mothers fed HF compared to C diet. These findings demonstrated that effects on offspring at time of weaning are not sustained when offspring consume a “healthy” diet post‐weaning. Moreover, understanding whether the higher quantity of bone mineral at PND 19 is accompanied by improved bone structure and strength requires further investigation.

High saturated fat (HSFA) diets in rodent models can have adverse effects on healthy bone development. Past studies have focused on bone development of the primary consumer (parent) and did not examine indirect (in utero programming) or direct (fat consumption through milk) diet‐mediated effects in offspring. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine if maternal consumption of HSFA diet influences bone lipid content in female rat offspring at weaning (19 days) and young adulthood (3 months). Female Wistar rats (28 days old) were fed control (CON; AIN93G, 7% soybean oil) or HSFA (HF; AIN93G, 20% lard) diet for 10 weeks, bred, and remained on the same diet throughout gestation and lactation. After weaning, female offspring from both treatments were fed CON. Femur lipids of mothers and their 19 day and 3 month old offspring were analyzed. After 16 weeks on HSFA, maternal femurs had 12 and 34% more saturates (SFA) and monoenes (MUFA), respectively, and 45% less polyenes (PUFA) compared to CON. Similar effects were seen with 19 day olds (2 and 35% less SFA and PUFA, respectively, and 51% higher MUFA). However, after 9 weeks of CON, 3 month olds from mothers fed HF became more similar to CON (3 and 11% lower MUFA and PUFA, respectively, and 14% higher SFA). These results suggest that maternal diet can influence offspring bone lipids and the effects are somewhat reversible by early adulthood. The project was funded by NSERC (PJL & WEW).