The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agency, extended through March 31 an online survey of private dental practices. The survey evaluates the use of Exposure Control Plans to prevent occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens in private dental practices. The survey also gathers information on barriers to actively using an Exposure Control Plan so that better strategies can be developed for the profession.

OSAP requests that private dental practices complete the brief anonymous online survey. Click here to access the survey. Please complete only one survey per office.

Alexandria, Va., USA – Timothy DeRouen will be installed as the 43rd president of the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) on March 22, 2014, at the conclusion of the Association’s 43rd Annual Meeting & Exhibition. This meeting is being held in conjunction with the 38th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research. 

DeRouen earned a B.S. in statistics from McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana; and an M.S. and Ph.D. in statistics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, Virginia. He is professor emeritus of biostatistics, oral health sciences and global health at the University of Washington, Seattle. There, he also serves as the director of the Center for Global Oral Health and the Summer Institute, which is a research training program for dental school faculty and other oral health professionals interested in clinical research in dentistry. The Summer Institute is designed to offer training in research methods that dentists and other oral health professionals may not have been adequately exposed to during clinical training. 

DeRouen has more than 40 years of experience consulting and teaching in biomedical applications of statistics, especially in clinical medicine and dentistry. He has particular interests in the design and analysis of studies of periodontal disease. 

He has served on numerous IADR and AADR committees, and has been an IADR/AADR member since 1988. 

“Dr. DeRouen has been an active IADR/AADR member since 1988, and is widely recognized for his scientific contributions and mentoring,” said AADR Executive Director Christopher Fox. “I look forward to working with him to strengthen AADR’s mission of advancing research and increasing knowledge for the improvement of oral health.” 

Alexandria, Va., USA – The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) will announce Rafael “Ray” Bowen as the 2014 recipient of the AADR Distinguished Scientist Award during the Opening Ceremonies of the AADR 43^rd Annual Meeting & Exhibition, March 19, 2014, in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. This meeting will be held in conjunction with the 38^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research. 

Bowen is a distinguished scientist at the American Dental Association Foundation’s Dr. Anthony Volpe Research Center. He is credited as the inventor of resin composites and dentin adhesives, and is an internationally recognized authority on composite materials. 

His research began in the 1950s and produced the first commercial products in the early 1960s. His formula is generally known in literature as “Bowen’s resin.” He has been a mentor to hundreds of students and scientists. Bowen is a past recipient of the IADR Distinguished Scientist Wilmer Souder Award. 

“AADR is pleased to present Dr. Bowen with the 2014 AADR Distinguished Scientist Award,” said AADR President Peter Polverini. “His commitment to dental and oral health research has led to advances in restorative dentistry and dental care, and he is to be applauded for his achievements. There are few individuals in health research who have such a long and distinguished list of publications, patents and licensed products as Dr. Bowen.” 

Every two years, AADR recognizes a distinguished scientist who has contributed outstanding research of particular significance in any of the fields related to oral science. The award recipient receives a monetary award of $5,000, which is generously supported by GlaxoSmithKline. 

Geneva, 20th March 2014 – World Oral Health Day will be celebrated through more than 150 activities worldwide today. National Dental Associations (NDA), practicing dentists, students, governments, oral care companies and members of the public have come together to celebrate healthy smiles, promote worldwide awareness of oral health and educate about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene.

Amongst the highlights this year will be an attempt to break a national record for the highest number of people brushing simultaneously in Malaysia, free restorative treatments for children in Rwanda, and flash mobs in Malta and Moldova. To see which organizations have joined this year’s World Oral Health Day, visit the map created in the new WOHD website which pinpoints all the activities around the world: www.wohd.org/get-involved.

“This year we are focusing on the importance of our teeth and mouth in our everyday lives. Eating, chewing, kissing, these are all everyday actions for which we need to maintain good oral health.” stated Dr. Tin Chun Wong, FDI President. “National Dental Associations, students, governments, and independent dentists and hygienists, and members of the public have done an outstanding job in bringing this message to everyone on such an important day, and we are extremely grateful for their efforts to make this day a success.”

This year, FDI World Dental Federation has also marked World Oral Health Day with the publication of ‘The Tooth Thief’, an illustrated story for children which includes oral health tips. This book highlights the importance of good oral health to children to instil good oral care habits from a young age.

BOCA RATON, FL – In an in depth look at new dental technology, 21st Century Television host Jackie Bales interviewed NSK Dental Executive Corporate Officer and President Jeff Imada, CEO Ellchi Nakanishi, and Director of Sales and Marketing Rob Gochoel.  NSK Dental was founded in 1930 by Mr. Nakanishi’s grandfather, a Japanese inventor who saw the value in developing high-quality precision tools that focused on cutting edge technology.  At a time when technology was still very new to the dental industry, he had the vision to see beyond the present and anticipate what it could do for his customers.

In the interview, Mr. Nakanishi states, "We work hard to achieve our corporate mission by contributing to the health and well-being of our customers with affordable, high-quality products." He also stated that his goal was to deliver an innovative product that would set the standard for positive change in the industry and that their primary concern was with the welfare of the individual consumer. He noted that NSK has made substantial improvements in their production facilities over the past few years with over 150 computer-operated machines and an extensive testing facility now fully operational. He emphasized that 90 percent of their production was now done "in house," which helps guarantee the quality of their operations.

The program focuses on the fact that one of the biggest challenges in modern dentistry is that consumers are looking for ways to cut spending due to the present economy, and that dental care is often the first to go. NSK hopes to change that by offering dental practices cutting-edge but affordable products that can help make dental care more affordable.

J.L. Haber, Vice President of Programming for 21st Century Television states, "This program reveals the cutting edge technology behind the scenes by a brilliant Japanese company, NSK Dental, which promises to revolutionize the dental industry and improve quality dental care for years to come. We’re excited to have them join us on 21^st Century Television"

See the interview here. 

Alexandria, Va., USA – The International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) have announced the 2014 recipients of the IADR/AADR William J. Gies Awards for Biological Research. The award for Biological Research will be presented at the AADR Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, March 19, and the Biomaterials & Bioengineering Research and Clinical Research categories at the IADR General Session & Exhibition in Cape Town, South Africa, in June 2014. 

These awards, for the best papers published in the IADR/AADR Journal of Dental Research, are presented in three categories: Biological, Biomaterials & Bioengineering and Clinical. The award is named for William J. Gies, the founder of the Journal of Dental Research. Nominations may be made by any person, and the papers to be chosen must describe work which has very significantly advanced knowledge in some aspect of dental research. Papers eligible for consideration are those published during the 12-month period (July-June) immediately preceding the AADR Annual Meeting and IADR General Session. The award consists of a monetary award of $1,000 and a plaque. The Gies Award is open to anyone who publishes in the Journal of Dental Research, the official publication of the IADR/AADR. 

The award in the Biological Research category is being presented to Richard P. Darveau, George Hajishengallis and Michael A. Curtis for the paper, “Porphyromonas gingivalis as a Potential Community Activist for Disease,” J Dent Res. 91: 816-820. An extensive analysis of dental plaque samples over the years has led to the identification of “red” complex oral bacteria that have a strong association with each other and with disease. Consequently, these bacteria have been labeled ‘periopathogens’. Studies with one of these bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), have revealed that it contains several different mechanisms that either impede or modulate periodontal protective mechanisms. In a mouse model of periodontitis, it has been shown that modulation of complement function by P. gingivalis facilitates a significant change in both the amount and composition of the normal oral microbiotia. This altered oral commensal microbiota is responsible for pathologic bone loss in the mouse. Thus, P. gingivalis creates a dysbiosis between the host and dental plaque, and this may represent one mechanism by which periodontitis can be initiated. The authors of this study therefore termed P. gingivalis a keystone pathogen. 

The William J. Gies Awards, sponsored by J. Morita, is named for William J. Gies, the founder of the IADR/AADR Journal of Dental Research. The award consists of a monetary prize and a plaque. The Gies Award is open to anyone who publishes in the Journal of Dental Research, the official publication of the IADR/AADR. 

The 43^rd Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) will be held in conjunction with the 38^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research (CADR), March 19-22, 2014, in Charlotte, North Carolina. This meeting promises to be an excellent event with more than 2,500 attendees, who will learn the latest in dental, oral and craniofacial research.

To enhance the meeting experience for delegates, AADR/CADR are offering a mobile app for the Annual Meeting & Exhibition. In addition to being able to receive important meeting updates, the app will give attendees access to the most up-to-date schedule of events, exhibitor listing, floor plans and more. Using your mobile device, visit www.aadr.org/2014app to download the app to your device or to view the Web version.

Following is the Distinguished Lecture Series line-up:

Thursday, March 20, 9:45 – 10:30 a.m.

Pamela Robey

National Institutes of Health - National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Bethesda, Maryland, USA

“Stem Cells in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine"

Friday, March 21, 9:45 – 10:30 a.m.

Ronald Dubner

University of Maryland Dental School

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

“The Transition From Acute to Persistent Pain After Orofacial Nerve Injury”

Saturday, March 22, 10:45 – 11:30 a.m.

Lawrence Appel

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

“Dietary Approaches to Prevent and Treat Elevated Blood Pressure”

To see the complete scientific program, please visit www.aadr.org/aaam. Photos from the meeting will be available the week of March 31.  

The American College of Prosthodontists advocates for the valuable role that prosthodontists play on the dental team. National Prosthodontics Awareness Week focuses on raising public awareness about the critical importance of a healthy mouth. 

A memorable and effective National Prosthodontics Awareness Weekbegins with a solid plan to inform the public that a healthy mouth and replacing missing teeth are necessary for overall health. Additionally, prosthodontists can provide expert care and are well prepared to work with assisting patients in considering the most appropriate options for replacing any number of missing teeth.

The ACP invites you to join colleagues across the country in celebrating NPAW in your local community. Your activities will enhance visibility of the specialty and the more than 3,400 ACP members!

Download the 2014 Awareness Toolkit here. 

GOLDEN, Colo., March 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Pain Foundation's survey of over 300 people who suffer in chronic pain unveiled an important, but little-known truth about chronic pain sufferers; their feelings about how they will be treated by their healthcare providers.

The survey found that pain patients are uncomfortable when they visit their pharmacy.

More than half (52%) stated that they "are concerned that they will be treated like a drug addict by their pharmacist".  An additional 29% stated that they "are concerned that they will be embarrassed by their pharmacist".

"This comes as no surprise given the plethora of media attention on prescription pain medicine abuse, addiction and death," said The National Pain Foundation Chair, Daniel Bennett, MD. "The problem is that the vast majority of people who use pain medicine need those medicines, and they should not   be treated any differently than someone fulfilling a prescription for an antibiotic or an antidepressant," Dr. Bennett added.

Nearly 1 in 5 respondents (17%) said they were "treated poorly or very poorly" by their pharmacist, 17% replied they had.

To see all results from "I'm Treated Like A…" survey, please visit here.

Open comments from the survey included:

I'm left feeling like my pain is all in my head and am not taken seriously. Very frustrating!

I have been degraded, humiliated, called a drug addict, told I take enough meds to kill an elephant.

I have a wonderful team of doctors, but it took 10 years of being treated poorly before I was diagnosed.

Most treat me with suspicion and assume I'm a drug-seeking addict.

Sometimes I don't feel like they understand.

My doctor is more worried about the DEA, than about treating me.

Of all the doctors I've seen, only two heard me and understood. The rest assumed I was there for drugs.

The National Pain Foundation is conducting a series of surveys of people in pain to "give voice" to the 1.5 billion people who suffer in chronic pain globally. According to the Institutes of Medicine, 100 million American adults suffer in pain, costing $635 billion in medical treatment and lost productivity. Pain affects more people than cancer, diabetes and heart disease combined.

CHICAGO - Fewer Americans fear root canal treatment, according to a recent survey by the American Association of Endodontists. Just over half of those surveyed, 54 percent, said root canals make them apprehensive, down from 60 percent in 2013 — the lowest numbers reported since the AAE began its annual survey in 2011. In addition, more than three-quarters of Americans, 76 percent, say they would want to avoid losing a permanent tooth, something root canal treatment can help prevent.

During its eighth annual Root Canal Awareness Week, March 30 – April 5, the AAE wants to dispel myths surrounding root canal treatment and encourage general dentists to involve endodontists in case assessment and treatment planning to save patients’ natural teeth.

“Endodontists and general dentists enjoy strong working relationships,” said AAE President Dr. Gary R. Hartwell. “Together we provide patients with comfortable treatment and positive experiences resulting in high-quality care and optimal outcomes to help them save their natural teeth.”

A recent AAE study found that 94 percent of general practitioners have a positive or very positive perception of endodontists, and the same percentage agree that endodontists are partners in delivering quality dental care. By partnering with endodontists, general dentists can help patients feel less anxious while delivering the highest quality of care. In fact, 89 percent of patients report being satisfied after root canal treatment by an endodontist.

“Thanks to advancements like modern anesthesia, digital imaging and operating microscopes, today’s root canal treatments are often quick and painless,” said AAE President Dr. Gary R. Hartwell. “The root canal doesn’t deserve its bad reputation. Millions of root canal treatments are performed successfully every year, saving natural teeth and helping patients keep their smiles.”

To encourage collaboration between general dentists and endodontists, the AAE has several free resources available for download.

• Treatment Options for the Compromised Tooth: A Decision Guide includes case examples with radiographs of successful endodontic treatment in difficult cases and encourages general dentists to assess all possible endodontic treatment options to save the natural detention.

• The Case Difficulty Assessment and Referral Form offers guidance to help evaluate a patient’s condition and assess risk factors that may affect the outcome of treatment.

• The ENDODONTICS: Colleagues for Excellence newsletter highlights clinical topics of interest to dentists who perform their own endodontic treatment and benefit from coverage of best practices and the latest advancements in the specialty.

• Endodontists: Partners in Patient Care is a video that explains what an endodontist is and how specialists work with general dentists to provide the highest levels of patient care. It is a great resource to show patients when a referral to a specialist is needed.

By using these tools during Root Canal Awareness Week and throughout the year, general dentists ensure they are developing the best treatment plans to save natural teeth and keep patients satisfied.

To help promote Root Canal Awareness Week, print the AAE poster to share in your offices or clinics. For more information, visit www.aae.org/rcaw, follow the AAE on Twitter at @savingyourteeth or search #rootcanal.