Dental therapists should start drilling and filling patients’ teeth to tackle the country's waiting lists for dental treatment, says England's Chief dental officer, Dr. Barry Cockcroft

Read full story here. 

In commemoration of National Minority Health Month, the Office of Minority Health (OMH) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) invites you to attend a stakeholder call announcing the launch of a new Cultural Competency Program for Oral Health Professionals. This oral health e-learning program is the first Think Cultural Health e-learning program based on the enhanced National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (National CLAS Standards) designed specifically for oral health professionals. What: Stakeholder call announcing new Cultural Competency Program for Oral Health Professionals Date: Thursday, April 17, 2014 Time: 2:00 pm (EDT) Duration: 1 hour Dial-In: 888-455-1840, passcode: 5780103. No pre-registration is needed. Speakers: J. Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health and Director, Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Mayra E. Alvarez, MHA, Associate Director, Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)   Rear Admiral William Bailey, Assistant Surgeon General and Chief Dental Officer, U.S. Public Health Service (HHS) National experts and leaders in the field of oral health will also participate on the call.

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Obama Administration's proposal to fund the Indian Health Service's (IHS) Division of Oral Health for fiscal year 2015 at approximately $175 million, while adequate to maintain current programs and staff new facilities, won't address the increasing rates of oral disease in tribal areas, American Dental Association (ADA) President Dr. Charles H. Norman told members of a House panel.

"The proposed 2015 budget for the IHS dental program allows only $83 in dental care for each of the 2.1 million people served by the IHS," he said, testifying before the House Interior Subcommittee on Appropriations. "That amount doesn't even cover one dental visit a year." Dental care expenditures in the United States as a whole amounted to $353 per capita, he added.

Dr. Norman told lawmakers that tooth decay in Indian Country had reached epidemic proportions.  According to data from the Navajo nation, tooth decay is present in 48 percent of 1-year-olds and up to 94 percent of 4-year-olds. The decay rate of pre-school Navajo children is the highest in the nation. The decay rate in 4-year-olds nationally is approximately 35 percent.

While the ADA accepts that Congress is not likely to fund IHS's Division of Oral Health to the level the agency truly needs to fulfill its mission, Dr. Norman said, the ADA does urge lawmakers to appropriate an additional $4 million for projects that can have real and immediate impact, like improving dental record keeping and implementing preventive measures.

Further, he stressed the importance of reducing the amount of paperwork dentists must submit in order to volunteer in Indian Country.

Dr. Norman outlined several initiatives of the Native American Oral Health Care Project, a joint ADA-state dental society initiative to improve dental health among Native Americans. The recently launched project facilitates cooperative efforts between tribes and state dental associations in Arizona, New Mexico, North Dakota and South Dakota to reduce the incidence of oral disease in underserved areas.

He also explained how Community Dental Health Coordinators (CDHCs) can dramatically improve dental health education, as well as access to dental health care.  

The CDHC focuses on dental health education and disease prevention, and on connecting people with dentists, Dr. Norman said.  "They work in the communities to educate people about diet, dental hygiene and how good oral health results in better overall health.  Today, eight American Indian CDHCs are serving at 15 sites." 

"The ADA is committed to working with you, the IHS and the tribes to aggressively reduce the disparity of oral disease and to increase the level of dental care that currently exists in Indian Country," Dr. Norman told the subcommittee. He added that oral disease is preventable especially if individual and community-based prevention programs are in place, along with an oral health literacy program supporting all other efforts.

ADA News - The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research will unveil a five-year strategic plan for dental research late this spring.

Read the full story at ADA News here. 

A Statement by Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Howard Koh

National Public Health Week is a time to recognize progress we have made in strengthening and protecting the public health and to rededicate ourselves to the work of improving the health and well-being of Americans by preventing disease, supporting medical research, and promoting safer and healthier communities.

This year, one of the main themes of National Public Health Week, “Be Healthy from the Start,”  is particularly appropriate, as we have just marked the end of the first open enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act.

The Affordable Care Act’s focus on prevention and expanding access to quality care is rooted in the concept of “being healthy from the start.” Because of the law, millions more Americans have quality affordable coverage, including preventive services, through the Marketplace or Medicaid. Not only can they get the care they need when they need it, but they can get preventive care as well, many for the first time. Already more than 100 million Americans with private insurance and Medicare have benefitted from expanded coverage of preventive services such as recommended cancer screenings without paying coinsurance or deductibles.

The Affordable Care Act also establishes the National Prevention Council, which, through the National Prevention Strategy, strives to move the nation from a focus on sickness and disease to one based on wellness and prevention across all sectors. The Council works in conjunction with the Prevention and Public Health Fund and other efforts to prevent heart attacks, strokes and cancer, reduce tobacco use, prevent obesity, combat health disparities and improve the nation’s health.     

To help gauge advancements in America’s public health, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services tracks leading health indicators via the Healthy People initiative, which provides science-based 10-year national objectives for improving the health of all Americans. (www.healthypeople.gov)

National Public Health Week is an opportunity to recognize not only the important work of public health workers in communities across our country, but also the role every citizen plays in the effort to "Be Healthy from the Start."

By taking better care of ourselves, and supporting friends and family in their efforts to lead healthier lives, we can all play an important role in National Public Health Week.

Via ADA News - The Golden Apple Awards program recognizes excellence in leadership and dental society activities and programs (produced between June 1, 2013, and May 31, 2014).

Showcase your dental society's outstanding programs and initiatives, and the team behind each activity, by submitting nominations - open May 1 through June 1.

Full story here. 

Alsip, IL - April 2014 – GC Corporation, a manufacturer of over 600 different quality products marketed in over 100 countries, announced the creation of GC Orthodontics America Inc. (GCOA). 

GC Orthodontics America is based in Alsip, Illinois and is a wholly owned subsidiary of GC Corporation. In support of best satisfying the needs of the orthodontic market, GC has partnered with the manufacturing excellence of Tomy Inc. For close to 50 years, Tomy has served as a world class producer of high quality, precision orthodontic products including: brackets, archwires, bands, buccal tubes, and supplies. GCOA will market and service the United States, Canada and Latin American territories, and will operate as a direct business with separate product lines, sales organization and distribution from GC America Inc. 

Tom Macari, Executive Director and General Manager with over 20 years of orthodontic management experience, will lead GCOA. Tom’s team of associates whose global expertise and commitment to best-in-class products and customer service will continue to drive a patient-centered focus towards the advancement of the orthodontic specialty. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), every year, more than 30,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed, resulting in over 8,000 deaths. The Seattle Mariners and DenMat in partnership with LED Medical Diagnostics – manufacturers of the VELscope Vx Enhanced Oral Assessment System – are well aware of these statistics and the importance of advanced technological oral cancer screening tools. With a strong commitment to education, prevention and annual oral cancer screenings during spring training, the Mariners have set the bar for Major League Baseball(R) (MLB) teams as the leader in the fight against oral cancer.

For decades, tobacco use was the leading cause of oral cancer and while the U.S. has seen a decrease in tobacco use today, the number one cause of oral cancer is HPV16 (Human Papilloma Virus) – one of approximately 130 strands of the virus that is responsible for the majority of cervical cancers in women. The fastest growing segment of the oral cancer population, are non-smokers, aged 25-50 with approximately 60% of newly diagnosed patients having HPV16.

“The Seattle Mariners are one of only a few MLB clubs utilizing this innovative technology to screen their players for oral tissue abnormalities,” said Robert Levine D.D.S., Assistant Professor, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ASDOH); Director of Laser Sciences, A.T. Still University and Clinical Director, Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD).“One of our primary missions at ASDOH is to educate the public about the seriousness of the increase in oral cancer worldwide. Education and early detection through routine screening plays a critical role in saving the lives of those who are diagnosed with this insidious disease.”

Early detection of soft tissue abnormalities is particularly important in the fight against oral cancer. The VELscope Vx is the most powerful tool available to assist dental professionals and clinicians in the discovery of a wide variety of soft tissue oral abnormalities — often before they become visible to the unassisted eye. It has the ability to detect oral abnormalities early, before they have had time to spread, potentially saving lives by means of a less invasive, more effective treatment when compared to other available screening devices on the market.

“DenMat is proud to be theworldwide leader in discovering oral tissue abnormalities,” said Brenton Lively, VELscope Senior Product Manager, DenMat. "Giving clinicians the power to see potentially life-threatening abnormalities brings a new dimension to patient care, one that we are committed to advancing on a global scale.”

“Thanks to DenMat and their advanced screening technology, our athletes and staff are receiving topnotch oral exams,” said Mariners Senior Director of Athletic Training, Rick Griffin. “We strongly encourage all Major League Baseball clubs to step up their fight against oral cancer through education and annual use of advanced oral cancer screening tools such as the VELscope.”

The VELscope's distinctive blue-spectrum light causes the soft tissues of the mouth to naturally fluoresce. Healthy tissues fluoresce in distinctive patterns — patterns that are visibly disrupted by trauma or disease. The VELscope's proprietary filter makes fluorescence visualization possible, by blocking reflected blue light and enhancing the contrast between normal and abnormal tissue.

While the VELscope should not be used as a stand-alone diagnostic aid, when used in conjunction with the standard oral soft tissue exam, it provides visual information that cannot be acquired any other way. This simple to use, cordless, compact device provides a safe and affordable screening tool for multiple operatories, allowing practices to aspire to an advanced level of patient care.

PITTSTON, PA — April 2, 2014 – Benco Dental, the nation’s fastest-growing distributor of dental products and equipment, today announces plans to acquire Burbank-based Valley Dental Supply, Inc. in May, 2014.  This marks Benco Dental’s fourth acquisition in the California market in the past three years.

Headquartered in Burbank, Ca., Valley Dental Supply, Inc. is a full-service distributor. Twenty percent of its employees will be retained by Benco Dental to serve the Southern California market.

“As part of the Benco difference, we strive to deliver an innovative customer experience and focus on seeking out companies who do the same,” said Chuck Cohen, managing director of Benco Dental. “As with each company acquired, our goal is to combine Valley Dental’s success with Benco Dental’s passion for excellence and wide breadth of customer-centric services.”

Valley Dental Supply, Inc. has been serving the Southern California area since 1927, and under current ownership since 1987.

“Our mission at Valley Dental has been to support each practice and act as an asset to their team,” said Valley Dental Vice President Tim Easton, with the company since 1981. “Benco Dental’s emphasis on customer service demonstrates their commitment to helping our customers.”

MELVILLE, N.Y., April 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC), the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners, today announced the availability of Dentrix Ascend, its first cloud-based practice management system.

Having completed beta testing, Dentrix Ascend features a web-based practice management system that enhances dental practice efficiency by providing the benefits of the cloud, including automatic data backup, upgrades delivered in small, easily learned modules, and round-the-clock access from any model of computer—Personal Computer, Macintosh or tablet.

"Dentrix Ascend provides a completely new experience in dental practice management," said Kevin Bunker, President, Henry Schein North American Dental Practice Solutions.  "Not only is it cloud-based, but it also improves workflow and practice efficiency with an entirely new, easy-to-learn interface that we created based on hundreds of hours of usability research."

Recognized by Dental Products Report (DPR) as one of the five Top Upgrades and Innovations of 2013, Dentrix Ascend offers a unique approach to managing office workflow in the way it delivers real-time information. "While most software systems provide reports that look back at data from the month before, Dentrix Ascend provides a dashboard of real-time information to ensure dental team members focus on the most important tasks, right away. In addition, it streamlines the path for completing those tasks," Bunker added.

Customers can subscribe to Dentrix Ascend on a month-to-month basis, offering dentists greater flexibility than long-term service contracts. In addition, Dentrix Ascend includes many features that are typically costly add-on modules in other systems—such as patient reminder services and electronic insurance claim submission — all for a single monthly price.   

For more information about Dentrix Ascend, visit www.DentrixAscend.com.