Maureen Howes has been promoted to Managing Director of Hygiene Services at Aspen Dental Management Inc., a dental support organization that supports more than 460 Aspen Dental practices in communities across 28 states. Since joining ADMI in 2006 as Manager of Hygiene Services, Howes has been instrumental in the development of ADMI’s Hygiene Orientation program. In her expanded role, she will continue to enhance support systems for hygienists. Howes earned a bachelor and master’s degree in Dental Hygiene from Old Dominion University.

Earth City, Missouri, Nov. 3, 2014 – Young Dental, a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of consumables, instruments and other items used in the dental industry, today announced the acquisition of Oral-B Minute-Foam®, Centrays® and Centwins® trays and SUPATM disposable prophy angles together with the licensing of the Oral-B brand name for select professional oral care products. Oral-B will still continue to market over-the-counter retail products to the dental hygiene community.

“This relationship will allow us to expand the premium product offering available to dental professionals under the Oral-B brand name,” said Dave Sproat, CEO of Young. “We look forward to bringing new and innovative products to market through this relationship, which is core to our long-term growth strategy.”

This transaction combines two widely recognized and respected brands, both with deep expertise in dental products and strong customer relationships, to provide dental professionals with a comprehensive product offering that better equips them to serve their patients. The acquisition and license does not apply to over-the-counter retail dental products, including but not limited to items like toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss and mouth rinse.

Young Dental is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Young Innovations, Inc., which is a portfolio company of Linden Capital Partners. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to Young.

About Young Innovations, Inc.

Young develops, manufactures and markets supplies and equipment used by dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants and consumers. The Company’s consumables product offering includes disposable and metal prophy angles, prophy cups and brushes, dental micro-applicators, moisture control products, infection control products, dental handpieces (drills) and related components, endodontic systems, orthodontic toothbrushes, flavored examination gloves and other products. In addition, the Company offers a line of diagnostic products that includes panoramic X-ray machines and related supplies.

About Linden Capital Partners

Linden Capital Partners is Chicago-based private equity firm focused exclusively on leveraged buyouts in the healthcare and life sciences industries. Linden’s strategy is

based upon three elements: i) healthcare and life science industry specialization, ii) integrated private equity and operating expertise, and iii) strategic relationships with large corporations. Linden invests in middle market platforms in the medical products, specialty distribution, pharmaceutical, and services segments of healthcare.

Current media coverage of Ebola and EnteroVirus has healthcare professionals inquiring on appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

It is important for healthcare providers to obtain information and updates directly from the CDC at CDC. gov. At current the CDC states “use of standard precautions apply”—meaning any healthcare providers encountering Ebola or Marburg hemorrhagic fever or persons and animals suspected of having Ebola or Marburg virus infection follow barrier techniques include wearing protective gowns, gloves, and masks in addition to eye protection (e.g., eye glasses) or face shields.

In regards to EnteroVirus there is no specific treatment for EV-D68 infections, according to the CDC, and there are no antiviral medications available either. To prevent the spread of infection, the CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water, avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, avoiding kissing, hugging and sharing utensils with infected people and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

Crosstex encourages healthcare professionals to carefully consider their PPE selections, especially face mask selection. Common misconceptions include “a mask is a mask” and all face mask protection is the same. This is not true. Although facemasks may look similar each mask has notable differences affecting the quality and level of filtration. This is the reason why standards were developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials—to classify masks by performance Level, or ASTM Levels.

For known encounters with the Ebola and or EV-D68 infections Crosstex recommends an ASTM Level 3 mask. Level 3 is the highest level of Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE) and sub-micron Particulate Filtration Efficiency (PFE) also the highest level of fluid resistance. As face mask BFE, PFE, Fluid Resistance, Delta P and Flame Spread can often be confusing, Crosstex has developed a 7-minute video to help healthcare professionals understand how to select the right mask for various procedure, available at: crosstexlearning.com

In additional to ASTM levels, other considerations for mask selection include fit and safety in manufacturing/ handling. For example, pertaining to fit, the Secure Fit® technology mask line — developed after extensive research at Stony Brook University Hospital in New York — provides up to three times more protection from exposure to infectious particulates (spray/aerosols) than a standard face mask. The increased protection is achieved through a patent-pending design that eliminates gapping at the bottom and sides of the mask. The mask’s design takes into account the opinion of experts in the field: “a face mask is only as good as it fits.”

Crosstex has revolutionized face masks by applying scientific knowledge to the design and manufacture of this everyday medical device and since Crosstex masks are produced in U.S.A manufacturing -plants (corporate office/manufacturing located in Hauppauge, Long Island NY); manufacturing is regulated and masks do not travel through multiple ports-of-call in order to reach American-based clinical offices and universities. Crosstex provides one of the most extensive selections of FDA cleared surgical face masks available from any single company and is relied on by 150 million Healthcare professional worldwide.

Crosstex manufactures more than 25 facemask models; each specifically engineered to protect both the users and their patients. The wide variety of masks provides a design, fit and filtration level to match the protection needed for each type of procedure. Whether users will be engaging in procedures involving high-levels of fluids, spray/splatter and/or aerosols — or engaging in procedures with low-exposure risks — they can be sure they have the right mask. To make mask selection easy and intuitive, Crosstex developed a MaskEnomics® system, which allows users to select the appropriate protection level (filtration-splatters- spray/aerosol) based on the tasks being performed. MaskEnomics conforms to ASTM standards (a well- recognized independent U.S.-based international standards organization) and the European EN Rating Standards. In addition to offering differing protection levels, masks also vary by feature. For example, users can choose FogFree® masks or Ultra®Sensitive masks (designed for sensitive skin and manufactured free of chemicals, inks and dyes). Almost one in every three face masks utilized in the U.S. dental market is a Crosstex mask and Crosstex is one of only 3 manufacturing plants in the United States.

The Crosstex mission to develop and manufacture innovative solutions for infection prevention and control (IP&C) is reflected in its comprehensive IP&C product portfolio. It is imperative that healthcare professionals do not become complacent in both selecting and utilizing PPE. For questions on facemasks, hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes, gloves, etc. as it pertains to recent media stories, and/or appropriate usage and disposal; Crosstex invites users to call the infection control helpline at 1-8558-Sterile, M-F, 8-5pm MST.

About Crosstex International, Inc.

A division of Cantel Medical Corp., Crosstex manufactures a wide array of infection prevention and control products for the healthcare industry. Founded in 1953 and headquartered in Hauppauge, New York, Crosstex sells products including face masks, which are 100% manufactured in its FDA-registered New York facility. Sold in more than 100 countries, Crosstex products include sterilization pouches and accessories, patient towels and bibs, surface disinfectants and deodorizers, germicidal wipes, hand sanitizers, gloves, sponges, cotton products, saliva ejectors and evacuator tips.

Founded by 3 of the largest surgical mask and respirator manufacturers in the United States, the Secure Mask Supply Association (SMSA) was formed to highlight the risk of major supply shortages associated with increased foreign-sourcing dependency.

October 15, 2014 – The Secure Mask Supply Association (SMSA), a collaboration between industry competitors Prestige Ameritech, Crosstex, and Gerson, has announced their formation and their goal of ensuring adequate U.S. mask and respirator supplies during global infectious disease threats through a viable American-based mask manufacturing industry.

Currently, the worldwide mask and respirator manufacturing and distribution business is largely conducted overseas, with 90% of masks being made in foreign countries. While the United States Government has expressed clear concern about the availability of America’s foreign-controlled mask and respirator supply during global emergencies, it currently has no dedicated plans to address the issue.

“In times of major infectious disease threats, as we’ve seen with H1N1, mask and respirator shortages could turn our entire healthcare system on its head. We’ve come very close to that scenario in the past with the H1N1 threat and are certain to come up against it in the future.”, says Mike Bowen of Prestige Ameritech. “The question of whether or not the U.S. is prepared for future epidemics is definitely one of the most pressing issues today and as it stands, we are not prepared as long as this industry has most of its operations on other continents.”

The three founding companies of the Secure Mask Supply Association are entirely American- owned and maintain operations in the U.S.

“Individually, we have spent the past 7 years trying to address the concern brought to us by Federal officials. Together, through the SMSA, we hope to finally move the United States Government into action to better prepare for scenarios that directly threaten the lives and safety of healthcare workers, first responders, and the general public at large. ”, says Bowen. “Surgical masks and respirators seem simple and abundant, but they are neither and we need to make strides to bring more of this essential industry back to the U.S. before we learn the hard way.”

For more information about the SMSA, visit https://www.securemasksupply.org.

Recent events have highlighted the need for vigilance in infection control. In response to the growing number of inquiries from dental professionals, Sultan Healthcare, a supplier of a line of Infection Prevention products, wanted to take this opportunity to respond to those inquiries.

The CDC general infection control recommendations are based on Standard Precautions, including but not limited to hand hygiene and the use of PPE, environmental surface disinfection and instrument processing.

Sultan Healthcare carries soaps and handwashes for hand hygiene, including Moist-Sure Foaming Sanitizer which contains 62% ethyl alcohol and is effective against MRSA in 5 seconds. It may be used as a surgical scrub or as a handwash, in accordance with the instructions for use. Hand hygiene should be performed as recommended by the CDC for routine and surgical procedures.

Appropriate PPE includes the use of gloves, masks, protective eyewear with side shields/face shields, and gowns. These protect skin and mucous membranes from exposure to infective pathogens. The Com-fit Plush masks from Sultan Healthcare are available in ASTM 1-3; those labelled ASTM 3 provide the highest level of protection, with the greatest particulate and bacterial filtration efficiency as well as the highest level of fluid resistance. Masks should be changed out if they are damp, between patients, during longer procedures and in the case of aerosol-generating procedures more frequently.

The CDC recently issued interim guidelines for hospitals with suspected or known Ebola cases, including environmental surface disinfection in rooms of patients with suspected or confirmed Ebola virus infection. Although there is a low likelihood of a contagious (sick) patient visiting the dental office, the CDC interim guidelines on environmental surface disinfection are to use appropriate PPE (which includes heavy-duty utility gloves during clean-up, not medical or surgical gloves), and to disinfect environmental surfaces with an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant with a label claim for a non-enveloped virus. Ebola is an enveloped virus, which is less resistant to disinfection than a non-enveloped virus, however the CDC recommendation is an extra precaution. Sultan Healthcare carries Lysol I.C. which does carry a claim for non-enveloped viruses.

The CDC has issued guidelines, and collaborated on recommendations for dental professionals with the ADA and OSAP, to prevent the spread of Ebola within the United States. We encourage you to visit their websites for more information.

A group of 37 students and seven faculty members from University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry traveled to Jamaica for an oral health mission trip during the school's fall break on September 26 - October 5, 2014. The Pacific Dugoni team stayed in the town of Ocho Rios and visited three rural clinics where they saw 945 patients and performed nearly 1,000 extractions, approximately 300 fillings and more than 200 cleanings.

"Pacific's annual Jamaica trip is truly an incredible experience," said Yige Zhao, DDS Class of 2015. "We learn so much not only about dentistry, but more importantly about humanity. Each year I come back from Jamaica feeling so humbled, fulfilled and excited to be able to use my skills to better the lives of others."

Student dentists had the chance to deliver dental care under supervision of faculty members while learning about the needs of the community and their specific oral health challenges. Two of the areas had not had access to a dentist for more than six years. The clinics visited during the mission trip were set up in a variety of terrains ranging from beaches to mountains.

The Pacific Dugoni mission trip received a generous donation of supplies from Henry Schein Cares, the global corporate social responsibility program of Henry Schein, Inc. The support from Henry Schein Cares has made it possible to continue this service-oriented program and foster a culture of public health service at Pacific Dugoni.

In addition to serving the Bay Area community, Pacific Dugoni participates in many outreach programs outside the U.S., including mission trips to remote or underserved areas. In the past, trips have brought dental care to people in Fiji, Jamaica and other areas.

New York, NY – October 29, 2014 – Colgate®, the global leader in oral care, is pleased to announce the launch of “Science to Cities”, a five-city educational lecture tour led by key industry thought leaders who will present the latest perspectives on evidence-based dentistry.

Entitled, “New Perspectives on Evidence-Based Dentistry,” the lectures will offer timely, applicable and educational information featuring new approaches to the practical application of evidence-based dentistry in clinical practice.

Each lecture will discuss the gum disease epidemic among the U.S. population while helping dental professionals make informed evidence-based recommendations for patient home care of both natural teeth and implants. In addition, the technology behind dentifrice containing triclosan/copolymer will be reviewed in detail along with the mode of action, clinical benefits

and safety.

Participants will learn:

• New advances in periodontology and evidence-based management of disease including treatment protocols

• How evidence-based dentistry can be used in clinical practice to make decisions for patient care

• The fundamentals of systematic reviews – how to interpret results and the role these reviews play in evidence-based dentistry

• New insights on implant maintenance and the role of triclosan with respect to inflammation

• A review of the safety and efficacy of triclosan for use in Colgate Total® toothpaste

“Almost half of American adults have periodontal disease and far too many are living with chronic gingivitis and inflammation,” remarked Dr. Barbara Shearer, Director of Scientific Affairs for Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals. “As part of our efforts to decrease these concerning statistics, Colgate is committed to providing timely, relevant information to the industry in order to increase successful patient outcomes. We are happy to provide this educational tour which spans the nation so that dental professionals have access to these informative lectures and can apply this newfound knowledge to their daily practices immediately.”

-more-

Colgate has enlisted an impressive lineup of distinguished key thought leaders for the presentations. Dates, locations and speakers are as follows:

• Boston – November 19th – John Comisi, DDS & JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, PhD

• Atlanta – November 21st – Angelo Mariotti, DDS & Ann Eshenaur Spolarich, RDH, PhD

• San Francisco – December 3rd – Angelo Mariotti, DDS & JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, PhD

• Houston – December 5th – Angelo Mariotti, DDS & JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, PhD

• Chicago – December 10th – John Comisi, DDS & JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, PhD

While registration for the event is $49, all interested attendees are encouraged to take advantage of an early registration offer of $29.

To register for Colgate’s Science to Cities tour, please call 844-382-5224 or visit www.ScienceToCities.com. These events are open exclusively to all practicing dentists and hygienists.

About Colgate-Palmolive

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Mennen, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom’s of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet. For more information about Colgate’s global business, visit the Company’s website at www.colgatepalmolive.com. To learn more about Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures®, Colgate’s global oral health education program, please visit www.colgatebsbf.com. 

SEATTLE, WA — OCTOBER 29, 2014 — Sesame Communications, the leading provider of cloud-based solutions to help dentists and orthodontists accelerate new patient acquisition and build patient loyalty, today announced the overwhelming success of its #SesameSmiles contest at the 2014 ADA Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. This contest was conducted on the ADA 2014 show floor and demonstrated the power of social media events to engage participants through fun, innovative activities. Over the course of three buzz-filled days, Sesame gave away 3,000 pairs of sunglasses. While wearing the sunglasses, ADA attendees took selfies in and around the San Antonio area. After hundreds of photo submissions, three lucky contest participants took home a free pair of Google Glass.

“According to a recent BI Intelligence report, more time is spent on social media than any other Internet activity and about 60% of people access and interact with these sites on a mobile device, ” said Diana P. Friedman, President and CEO for Sesame Communications. “The amazing response to this event should underscore the power of using social media within the dental practice environment to foster patient loyalty and expand brand reach within the local community.”

To check out the many of the pictures from the #SesameSmiles contest, go to https://www.facebook.com/SesameCommunications/photos_stream

About Sesame Communications

Sesame Communications helps dental and orthodontic practices harness the power of the Internet to accelerate new patient acquisition and transform the patient experience. The company supports thousands of practices in their efforts to grow and increase profitability in the digital age. The Sesame 24-7 platform provides an end-to-end, HIPAA-compliant system tailored to the unique and specific needs of dentistry. A 4-time winner of the Pride “Best of Class” Technology Award, Sesame is a recognized leader in digital marketing and patient engagement solutions for dental care providers. For more information about Sesame, visit https://www.sesamecommunications.com.  

PITTSTON, PA — November 24, 2014 — From operatory to laboratory, a new generation of women is changing dentistry. The Lucy Hobbs Project^®, powered by Benco Dental, aims to recognize these revolutionaries with six awards that celebrate their distinctive talents.

Slated to take place at the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, June 4 - 5, 2015, the Lucy Hobbs Project® Annual Celebration Honoring Exemplary Women in the Dental Community will honor those who are setting new benchmarks in the dental profession and beyond. The annual event, named for the woman who, in 1866, became the first American female to earn a degree in dentistry, will recognize and award industry professionals whose achievements mirror those established by Lucy Hobbs.

Beginning now, through the January 16, 2015 deadline, Benco Dental encourages people across the country to nominate women in dentistry who they view as an inspiration to others. Six categories for consideration include:

·       Woman to Watch: An up-and-coming leader who utilizes her position to create positive change in the industry.

·       Industry Icon: A trailblazer who is consistently recognized and admired for her work in the dental industry.

·       Mentor: An advisor who recognizes the importance of supporting, educating and encouraging others.

·       Innovator: A groundbreaker who demonstrates a willingness to implement new technologies and business processes without fear of potential failure

·       Humanitarian: An altruist who works tirelessly for a charity or cause that benefits the well-being of others.

·       Clinical Expert: A skillful practitioner who embraces advancements and adeptly integrates them into patient care.

Individuals and organizations may submit nominations. Self-nominations are accepted. Contest entrants are directed to the 2015 Lucy Hobbs Project^® Awards Nomination Form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LHP2015

The Lucy Hobbs Project® empowers women in dentistry to drive change and deliver success through networking, innovation and giving back. Named after Hobbs, this project aims to bring women together from all facets of the dental industry – dentists, dental assistants, hygienists, receptionists, sales representatives and others. The project is free to join and offers networking opportunities, education programs and charitable events.

Among the 2014 Lucy Hobbs Award honorees are women whose unwavering professional dedication merits accolades: Joan Austin (1931-2013); Karen Gear, DDS; Mary Hartigan, DDS; Maria Maranga, DDS; Terryl A. Propper, DDS, MS; Katti Webb Simpson, IPDH; and Kaaren G. Vargas, DDS, PhD. Learn about their contributions to the profession in dental lifestyle magazine, Incisal Edge: https://viewer.zmags.com/publication/636592a9 - /636592a9/1

To learn more and sign up for The Lucy Hobbs Project®, visit The Lucy Hobbs Project® website at: www.thelucyhobbsproject.com

Alexandria, Va., USA – Today, the International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) published a special themed issue of the Journal of Dental Research (JDR) centered on novel dental biomaterials and technologies. Although the Associations have published clinical supplements to the JDR, this is the first special themed issue the Associations have published. 

This special themed issue of the JDR contains a collection of timely articles designed to provide the reader with a review of some of the important new material developments, as well as examples of novel, state-of-the-art research work in these critical areas. Thematically this issue covers several areas in materials development. 

This issue will point out both the tremendous promise of current approaches to engineer new materials for the repair and replacement of oral tissues, as well as highlight the significant advances to date. It is no longer sufficient to simply fill spaces with non-offending or biologically inert materials. The drive for the future is the development of materials that influence their biological environment through defined, controllable pathways that yield predictable clinical outcomes to help patients. 

“This special issue also builds on the previously published ‘IADR Dental Materials Innovation Workshop’ (Advances November 2013) and will be valuable for governments, industry and other funders in identifying research priorities to meet the provisions of the Minamata Convention on Mercury in promoting research and development of quality mercury-free materials for dental restorations,” said IADR Executive Director Christopher Fox. 

“The JDR thanks all of the outstanding scientists and researchers for contributing their science for publication in this special themed issue of the Journal,” said JDR Associate Editor Jack Ferracane. “This themed issue includes more than 20 manuscripts—many of them critical reviews and clinical reviews—that we are excited to share with the scientific community to expand our knowledge of novel dental biomaterials and technologies for the dental, oral and craniofacial structures.”