Isabel Garcia, DDS, MPH, has been named dean of the University of Florida College of Dentistry.

Garcia, currently the deputy director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, or NIDCR — a part of the National Institutes of Health — will officially begin her new job in February, when she will become the college’s seventh permanent dean. She will stepping down from her position with NIDCR.

“Dr. Garcia brings a great depth of leadership experience to all the core activities of the UF College of Dentistry and UF Health, from education to public health to research and technology transfer,” said UF President Bernie Machen. “She is the ideal choice to lead the college as UF continues its drive to rise among the nation’s top public universities.”

Garcia said, “ I am delighted and honored by the opportunity to lead the college and look forward to working with its superb faculty, staff, students and alumni in furthering the college’s tradition of excellence in all fronts — education, patient care and research.”

Garcia’s career spans 34 years in public health, clinical practice, research, teaching and administration at the local, state and national levels. As deputy director of the NIDCR, she has shared responsibility for the oversight and management of programs and functions within the institute — which includes a staff of more than 400 scientists and administrators dedicated to research, training, science policy, health education, communications and financial management.

“After a thorough national search that attracted many top-notch candidates, Dr. Garcia was recognized as the individual who could best lead the UF College of Dentistry to preeminence,” said David S. Guzick, MD, PhD, senior vice president for health affairs at UF and president of UF Health. “I am confident that under her leadership, our nationally prominent College of Dentistry will gain even greater recognition by expanding the breadth and depth of our research programs and clinical practices while developing innovative and forward-looking approaches to dental education and community partnerships in oral health care.”

Garcia was chosen after a nationwide search led by chair Michael L. Good, M.D., dean of the UF College of Medicine.

“Dr. Garcia’s record of proven and effective leadership in a large and complex organization was a differentiating characteristic of her candidacy,” said Good. “She brings great insight, vision and unique perspectives to UF that will help our dental faculty and students advance their professional careers.”

A rear admiral lower half in the U.S. Public Health Service, Garcia joined the NIDCR in 1995 and has held multiple leadership roles since. She led NIDCR’s science transfer efforts, directed the Institute’s Office of Science Policy and Analysis, and served as acting NIDCR director from 2010-2011. Garcia also served as the institute’s coordinator for global health and took over as director of NIDCR’s Residency in Dental Public Health program in 2005. Since 1995, she has been a faculty adviser and mentor for more than 30 dental public health residents.

“Having spent most of my career in the public sector, I am particularly drawn to UF’s origins as a public land-grant university and its founding mission of service to the community,” said Garcia. “I hope to work with colleagues across the university and join forces with interested organizations, communities and others to achieve the common goal of improving oral health for all people through the college’s teaching, research and service missions.”

Before joining NIDCR, Garcia was a health scientist administrator at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, where she managed a portfolio of health services and primary care research. Prior to her career in the U.S. Public Health Service, she held local and state health management positions in Virginia and Ohio and practiced dentistry in Virginia.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Survey data from women of childbearing age in the US show that certain groups of pregnant women aren't getting appropriate dental care.

Younger pregnant women, as well as non-Hispanic black and Mexican American women, and women with low family income or low education are not getting dental care as often as others, researchers found.

Experts say dental care is especially important during pregnancy.

“In general pregnant women should not have infections that might compromise the success of their pregnancy or their own health,” said Peter Milgrom, professor of Dental Public Health Sciences and Pediatric Dentistry in the School of Dentistry at the University of Washington in Seattle.

To read the full article from Reuters Health, click here.

“Demystifying the Options for the Compromised Maxilla with a Fixed Prosthesis” will discuss the critical factors necessary to provide a fixed implant-supported restoration for patients with limited residual maxillary alveolus. This CE program sponsored by Nobel Biocare will be held November 7-8 in Philadelphia, PA.

The program, offering 14 CE credits, will focus on the systematic treatment protocol for decision-making as to grafting or to adopt the graftless approaches using the tilted-implant or Zygoma concept. Alternative options for treatment of complications and catastrophic failures will be demonstrated, including the “rescue concept” and a “Quad-Zygoma” approach.

A short video in which the presenters, Drs. Edmond Bedrossian, Peter Wöhrle, and Oded Bahat, provide a brief overview of the program can be viewed at https://youtu.be/DAUum5HQmSc.

For more information and to register, visit https://cdeworld.com/nobel-biocare/events/113.

BOSTON (October 1, 2014) — Despite a policy focus on expanding access to care for adults with developmental disabilities, this vulnerable population continues to have significant dental disease. In this month's issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association, researchers from Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine report on the first large-scale survey to investigate factors influencing at-home oral care provided by caregivers to adults with developmental disabilities. The study findings suggest that, in addition to addressing access to care, policy initiatives must improve support for caregivers.

"While access to dental care is a necessary component of good oral health, it is not enough to guarantee positive oral health outcomes in this vulnerable population. Our findings highlight the need for additional training and support for caregivers in promoting oral health," said principal investigator and corresponding author Paula M. Minihan, PhD, MPH, an assistant professor in the department of public health and community medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.

The research team's landmark 2012 study found that access to specialized dental care alone was not sufficient to meet the substantial oral health needs of adults with developmental disabilities. People with developmental disabilities have a high prevalence of cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss. If a person with a developmental disability cannot independently brush or floss, caregivers provide assistance and support.

In the new study, the researchers surveyed 808 caregivers (family caregivers as well as paid caregivers) with extensive experience providing care to adults with developmental disabilities (DD) in either family homes or supervised residences in Massachusetts.

Survey results revealed that:

• 85% of adults with DD received assistance with teeth cleaning

• 79% brushed twice daily as recommended by the American Dental Association

• 22% flossed daily as recommended by the American Dental Association

• 45% never flossed

More caregivers (63%) reported that behavioral problems interfered with oral health care routines than any other factor.

Although the frequency of brushing and flossing among the adults with DD in this study was higher than reported in previous studies, many still did not meet American Dental Association recommendations regarding brushing and flossing. Flossing in particular presented substantial challenges. The researchers commented that innovative strategies are necessary to ensure adults with DD are benefitting optimally from at-home oral care to prevent dental disease.

"Oral health disparities among people with developmental disabilities are a significant public health issue," said senior author Aviva Must, PhD, professor and chair of the department of public health and community medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. "We were surprised to find that, while 71.6% of paid caregivers who participated in our study reported having received formal group training in oral health care, only 6.4% of family caregivers reported the same. Given the vital role that caregivers play in promoting good oral health in this population, we need to ensure that all receive the guidance and support they need to be effective."

Co-principal investigator John Morgan, DDS, an associate professor in the department of public health and community service at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, added, "In addition to the effective use of fluoridated toothpaste and the application of topical fluorides, policy makers should also consider establishing an organized system that provides caregivers, including family caregivers, with information and support."

The caregivers who participated in this study visited the Tufts Dental Facilities for Persons with Special Needs (TDF), a network of clinics that have provided comprehensive oral health care to adults and children with developmental disabilities throughout Massachusetts since 1976. Through a partnership between Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and the state's Department of Developmental Services and Department of Public Health, this nationally recognized program serves more than 7,000 patients annually and supports education and research to improve the oral health of this population, which is at high risk for oral disease.

The authors acknowledged certain limitations in their study. The TDF clinics are designed for and financially accessible to people with developmental disabilities in Massachusetts, and many caregivers and patients have developed long-term relationships with dental professionals at the clinics. The study authors recognize that caregivers in this survey may not represent the experiences of caregivers more broadly. Caregivers who participated in the survey may also be particularly interested in oral home care and the information they provided reflects self-reports. In addition, the survey's focus was on the occurrence of oral home care practices and not on their quality.

Caregivers who would like tips on how to help people with developmental disabilities with oral care can visit "Dental Care Every Day: A Caregiver's Guide," a resource published by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

###

Additional study authors are Angel Park, M.S., M.P.H., research analyst in the department of public health and community service at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM); Konstantina Yantsides, M.P.H., research assistant in the department of public health and community medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM); Carrie Nobles, M.P.H., former research assistant in the department of public health and community medicine at TUSM; Matthew Finkelman, Ph.D., formerly an assistant professor at TUSDM; and Paul Stark, Sc.D., M.S., professor in the department of public health and community service at TUSDM.

Minihan PM, Morgan JP, Park A, Yantsides KE, Nobles CJ, Finkelman MD, Stark PC, Must A. (2014). "At-home oral care for adults with developmental disabilities: A survey of caregivers."The Journal of the American Dental Association, 145(10), 1018-1025. DOI: 10.14219/jada.2014.64

This research was supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health, under award number 1RC1DE020396.

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 30, 2014 – Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine have been awarded a $11.8 million, 5-year grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, part of the National Institutes of Health, to continue their exploration of the genetic roots of cleft lip and cleft palate and to expand the effort to include populations in Colombia, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Pennsylvania.

Orofacial clefts (OFCs), which are small gaps in the lip or palate that can form when a baby’s mouth doesn’t develop properly during pregnancy, occurs in 1 out of 700 live births worldwide, said Mary L. Marazita, Ph.D., professor and vice chair, Department of Oral Biology, and director of the Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics (CCDG).

“Orofacial clefts present a significant public health challenge as these patients typically require surgical, nutritional, dental, speech and behavioral treatments for years,” Dr. Marazita said. “We hope to build on the progress we’ve made in our previous studies by identifying genetic susceptibility not only for the overt defects, but also for more subtle features such as changes in facial structure that we have found in relatives of participants with OFCs.”

Dr. Marazita and Seth M. Weinberg, PhD, assistant professor of oral biology, and director of the CCDG Imaging and Morphometrics Lab, lead the coordinating center for the project, which includes researchers from the University of Iowa, the Newborn Screening Foundation in the Philippines, the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic, Nigeria’s University of Lagos, Colombia’s Foundation Clinica Noel, and KU Leuven University in Belgium.

For the work’s next phase, the team will recruit for genetic studies about 6,100 individuals from more than 1,500 families with a history of cleft lip with or without cleft palate, or cleft palate alone, from a low-risk population in Nigeria; high-risk populations in the Philippines and Colombia; and mid-risk populations in Pittsburgh and Lancaster, Pa., as well as 2,000 unrelated individuals with no history of OFC.

“Recent studies indicate different genes seem to be involved in different ethnic groups, so we must broaden our perspective to understand the factors that lead to clefts,” Dr. Weinberg said. “We have limited information about the development of cleft palate alone, for example. This research effort will greatly add to our knowledge.”

The team also will assess participants for subclinical manifestations of genetic predisposition for OFCs with high-resolution ultrasound scanning of mouth muscles, lip print patterns, 3-D imaging of facial surfaces and more. Their previously published studies have shown that relatives of OFC patients are more likely to have subtle defects in the orbicularis oris muscle around the mouth, and facial differences such as mid-face retrusion and wider faces. OFC patients also report a family history of cancer more often than unaffected individuals, noted Dr. Marazita.

“Minor dental abnormalities, facial shape differences, altered speech patterns and other less obvious changes in the mouth could all be part of a spectrum of defects that have the same genetic causes as cleft lip and palate,” she said. “If we can unravel those relationships and identify the biological pathways that cause them, we will gain insights that may lead to better treatments and better long-term outcomes for affected individuals.”

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- ACT for NIH: Advancing Cures Todayannounced a national, non-partisan effort to seek an immediate, significant funding increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to enhance life-saving medical research for patients around the world. 

ACT for NIH brings together patients, scientists, advocates, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to restore NIH's budget and renew America's commitment to medical innovation and cutting-edge scientific research. 

NIH is the nation's medical research agency and largest funder of basic biomedical research in the world. But, adjusted for inflation, NIH receives nearly 25% less funding than it did in 2003. In the best of times, 1-in-3 NIH research proposals is funded. Today, that rate has fallen to its lowest level in history – about 1-in-6. In some research areas, it is as low as 1-in-10. Thousands of promising research ideas that are proposed every year are never funded. 

"Medical research in the United States is in crisis," said Pat White, President of ACT for NIH and former Associate Director for Legislative Policy and Analysis at NIH. "Basic scientific discovery funded by NIH leads to new treatments for patients facing life-threatening illnesses. We are missing critical opportunities to discover cures and therapies for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease, diabetes, and countless other conditions."

Many issues are at stake:

• Advancing Cures: Diseases like cancer, stroke, and mental illness touch each of us. Half of all men and a third of all women in the U.S. will develop cancer in their lifetimes. Without NIH funding, critical research to cure diseases and save lives will stall or end.

• Economic Impact: NIH directly supports more than 400,000 jobs across the country, and 83% of its budget goes directly to research institutions and small businesses in every state. Every $1 of NIH funding generates more than double that in local economic growth.

• National Security: NIH research defends us against bioterrorism, new and emerging diseases, flu pandemics, and deadly outbreaks of diseases such as Ebola and SARS. National security includes safeguarding our public health.

• Global Leadership: The U.S. has long been the global leader in medical research, but other countries are catching up. If current trends continue, China will outspend the U.S. on research and development by the year 2022.

"There is an important role for government in fostering basic science. NIH research since the 1970s has greatly improved survival rates for many life-threatening diseases and given survivors a greatly improved quality of life," said medical research philanthropist, NIH funding advocate, and ACT for NIH Advisory Committee member Michael Milken. "Bioscience in particular provides sustained long-term benefits through job creation, increased productivity, lower health care costs, longer working lives, and process efficiencies."

To learn more about ACT for NIH, visit ACTforNIH.org, or connect with the campaign online through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using #ACT4NIH to join the conversation.

SAN FRANCISCO — High resolution, variable-field cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides for exquisite anatomical detail and 3D visualization that is revolutionizing periodontal diagnosis and treatment and implant dentistry.At the 100th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), doctors can gain a better understanding of how this technology can improve surgical outcomes during a corporate forum sponsored by Carestream Dental.  “Improve Your Surgical Outcomes with CBCT Technology,” presented by Bradley McAllister, DDS, PhD, takes a look at how cases are enhanced with CBCT technology and reviews surgical steps and radiographic evaluations.

Cases will be shared regarding periodontal defect diagnostics; buccal plate evaluation; identification of periodontal and endodontic involvement; and guided surgery. The forum takes place Friday, Sept. 19, 3:00-3:45 p.m. and again at 4:00-4:45 p.m., Moscone West Center, Level 3, Room 3011.
 “CBCT technology can significantly improve your outcomes with immediate implant placement and in cases involving complex bone grafting,” McAllister said. CBCT scanning offers doctors high-resolution, 3D images for detecting minute anatomical details; multiple planes of view, including axial, coronal and sagittal; fast acquisition times, which reduce the chance for patient movement and retakes; lower radiation; and even user-friendly software.

The use of CBCT in periodontology has also proven to be useful in analyzing furcation involvements and intrabony defect patterns; diagnosing the extent and significance of tooth and alveolar fractures; evaluating bone loss patterns with periodontal disease and associated regenerative potential of defect morphology; evaluating pre- and postoperative bone grafting sites; and identifying exact location of vital structures such as the inferior mandibular nerve and nasopalatine canal, to name just a few benefits of the technology.

McAllister received his DDS from the University of Washington and completed his periodontal specialty training and PhD in San Antonio at the University of Texas. He is both a board certified Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and of the International Congress of Oral Implantology. He is a part-time faculty member in the department of periodontology at the Oregon Health Sciences University. McAllister’s research for the past 20 years has focused on bone grafting for implant reconstruction, wound healing and innovative implant designs. He has published over 25 manuscripts and book chapters in these areas of research.

The AAP is celebrating its 100^th Annual Meeting in San Francisco, Calif., Sept. 19-22. In addition to sponsoring the corporate forum, Carestream Dental is exhibiting in booth #607, Sept. 20-22, Moscone West Convention Center. The booth will feature new CBCT imaging systems that are redefining the field of periodontology.  

For more information on CBCT technology or any of Carestream Dental’s innovative solutions, please call 800.944.6365 or visit www.carestreamdental.com.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Children need smaller portions – this is true when it comes to eating meals, and when addressing topics such as imaging. It is under this premise that the profession of dentistry is joining the Image Gently campaign to raise awareness about special considerations needed for pediatric dental radiology, and to promote radiation safety.

William C. Scarfe, BDS, FRACDS, MS, professor and director, Radiology and Imaging Science, Department of Surgical and Hospital Dentistry, University of Louisville School of Dentistry, along with an international team of dental and medical radiologists and dental specialists discuss the implications of the campaign in an article published in Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology.

Radiation protection can be a safety issue. Radiation-associated risk to children is often greater than for adults due to their longer life expectancy for the effects of radiation exposure to manifest and increased radiosensitivity of developing organs and tissues, Scarfe said.

“This campaign is designed to change practice by increasing awareness of opportunities to improve radiation protection when imaging children in dental practices,” Scarfe said. “Six practical steps underline the principle that one size does not fit all, especially when it comes to using radiography during pediatric dental procedures. When we image children, we should image gently – more is often not better.”

The six-step plan includes:

- Select x-rays for a patient’s individual needs, not as routine.

- Use the fastest image receptor possible, E- or F-speed film or digital sensors

- Aim the x-ray beam to expose only the area of interest.

- Use thyroid collars

- Child-size the exposure

- Use cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) only when necessary

“We are pleased that our UofL School of Dentistry’s radiation policy supports these principles,” Scarfe said.

Image Gently started in 2007 as an effort involving physicians, radiologists, technologists and physicists. Since then more than 80 organizations, medical societies and agencies have joined the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging. The Image Gently in Dentistry campaign will launch September 24, coinciding with the 65^th Annual Session of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology in Orlando, Fla. Sept. 24-27 and the annual meeting of the American Dental Association in San Antonio, Texas October 9-14.