A new technology, which could increase protection against antibacterial and antifungal infection for weeks, months, or years, has been developed by researchers at the University of Bristol.

The technology is likely to have significant impact across a number of areas including dentistry, where one in seven composite fillings fail within seven years and 86 percent of these failures are caused by bacterial infection.

Developed by Dr. Michele Barbour and her research group in the University's School of Oral and Dental Sciences, Pertinax is a new formulation of chlorhexidine. Chlorhexidine is a proven antimicrobial agent, used widely to prevent and treat a range of infections, but in its traditional formulation is effective for only a very short length of time.

Pertinax increases chlorhexidine's uses by improving its persistence where it is applied. This innovation has won Dr Barbour and Pertinax the £25,000 Materials Science Venture Prize awarded by The Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers.

'Pertinax can greatly extend the active lifetime of chlorhexidine, enabling it to provide reliable protection against infection for very much longer than was previously possible. This opens up a range of new potential applications, as well as the opportunity to make existing products more effective,' said Barbour, Senior Lecturer in Biomaterials in the School of Oral and Dental Sciences.

'Our initial focus will be in the dental market,' explained Barbour. 'Research shows there is a clear need for long-acting antimicrobial products used in fillings and cements for crowns, bridges and orthodontic braces which will treat and prevent persistent bacterial infections over a much longer time frame than is currently possible.'

As a result of its novel formulation, Pertinax has an unusually low solubility which can provide a continuous slow release over a controlled period of time.

'This is a significant development which should help prevent some hard to treat infections affecting millions of people,' said Professor Bill Bonfield, chairman of the Armourers and Brasiers Venture Prize judging panel. 'Our prize looks to encourage scientific entrepreneurship in the UK and provide funding, which is often difficult to source, to help bring new developments like this to market.'

Pertinax has brought in Ashley Cooper, an experienced life sciences chief executive to guide the development of the technology and the company.

He said: 'Aside from dentistry there are a number of other areas where Pertinax could have a key role. This includes catheters and wound care products, which are especially prone to infection by antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA.'

'We will be using the Venture Prize award money to help us develop a robust and scalable manufacturing process,' said Barbour. 'At the moment we are working with gram quantities and we need to scale this to kilogram and beyond for commercial application.'

Source: EurekAlert! 

OAK BROOK, Ill., June 16, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Oral health may not be top of mind when preparing for a new baby, but it should be. A new survey out today from Delta Dental finds that 42.5 percent of expecting moms in the United States aren't visiting their dentist, a step that can help identify key health issues appearing specifically during pregnancy.

On the heels of Pregnancy Awareness Month, Delta Dental is reminding women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant to visit a dentist for routine examination, cleanings and guidance about specific oral health issues that may occur during pregnancy. When visiting the dentist, expecting women should ask about the following issues and concerns:

Why do my gums bleed more easily?

- "Pregnancy gingivitis" may affect women during pregnancy due to increased hormones.

- To help prevent a build-up of plaque, brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and floss at least daily, paying special attention to cleaning along and just below the gum line.

What is the red lump that has developed along my gumline?

- "Pregnancy tumors" are somewhat rare red growths of gum tissue that can form on the gums between the teeth as a result of excess plaque, usually during the second trimester of pregnancy.

- Don't worry too much, although they may bleed when irritated, these are benign and harmless, and usually subside on their own after the baby is born.

Can I receive routine or emergency dental care during my pregnancy?

- Yes, be sure to get an examination and cleaning, but try to avoid routine dental care during the first trimester and later part of the third trimester.

- If a dental emergency arises, be sure to let your dentist know that you are pregnant. He or she will know what precautions need to be taken to resolve your dental problem.

- If you need cavities filled or other necessary procedures, the second trimester is the best time. Elective procedures like tooth whitening or other cosmetic work should be delayed until after the baby is delivered.

"We know expecting mothers have a lot going on during this exciting time in their lives, making a routine trip to the dentist is one step that shouldn't be skipped," said Dr. Bill Kohn, Delta Dental Plans Association's vice president of dental science and policy. "There are oral health issues that have a heightened risk of occurring during pregnancy, being aware and on top of these is key."

Adults who suffer from severe dental anxiety (DA) are often dissatisfied with their appearance. The dissatisfaction may be associated with poorer oral health, depression and anxiety. A doctoral thesis at Sahlgrenska Academy found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) help patients with severe DA.

Severe DA is associated with major health-related problems. The various studies conducted in connection with a doctoral thesis at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, included more than 3,500 subjects.

According to the findings, DA is generally associated with avoidance of dental care, as well as poorer quality of life related to oral health. The studies also demonstrated that adults with severe DA are often dissatisfied with the appearance of their mouth, teeth and face.

The dissatisfaction may be associated with poorer oral health, along with depression and general anxiety.

"People with severe DA are often trapped in a vicious cycle that begins with avoidance of dental care," says Viktor Carlsson at Sahlgrenska Academy. "The next stage is poorer oral health, often followed by a sense of shame and withdrawal from social intercourse."

The studies also concluded that the occurrence of ADHD was greater among subjects with severe DA.

"Patients who reported that they suffered from ADHD and who were identified with a screening instrument were among those with the most severe DA and very low self-rated oral health," Dr. Carlsson says.

The thesis presented a systematic review and meta-analysis in support of the hypothesis that CBT is effective in treating severe DA. According to Dr. Carlsson, however, additional studies are needed to evaluate the therapeutic effects with any degree of certainty.

Dr. Carlsson defended Dental Anxiety in Adults—Psychosocial Aspects, Oral Health and Psychological Treatment on May 29.

Source: University of Gothenburg

Chicago (June 16, 2015) – On June 19, 2015, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), in partnership with 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, will launch the new ADHA/Henry Schein Innovation Center during the CLL Exhibits portion of the 2015 ADHA Center for Lifelong Learning at the 92nd Annual Session (CLL/AS). The Innovation Center will be open during exhibit hours on June 19-20 as part of this year’s CLL/AS, which takes place in Nashville, Tenn., from June 17-23, 2015. The center will feature a wide range of technologies, products and equipment introduced to the market during the last 18 months from various companies in the dental industry. 

“The ADHA and Henry Schein Dental have had a long standing partnership to bring our meeting attendees the ADHA/Henry Schein Dream Center,” said ADHA Executive Director Ann Battrell, MSDH. ”This year, the dream has become reality with the brand-new ADHA/Henry Schein Innovation Center. We are excited to showcase technological advancements in the oral health industry within the Innovation Center for the benefit of dental hygienists and their patients.” 

The ADHA/Henry Schein Innovation Center is free and open to all attendees throughout the Friday and Saturday Exhibits. Those attending will be able to enjoy hands-on interactivity with products and representatives from companies such as Henry Schein, Philips, PH2OH, DentalEZ, Crest Oral-B and Orapharma. 

“Henry Schein is proud to unveil the ADHA/Henry Schein Innovation Center, the latest in our efforts to serve the dental hygienist community, whose members are crucial practitioners within the oral health team,” said Michele Penrose, Director of Global Professional Relations & Development Henry Schein. “The Center exemplifies our company’s ongoing commitment to our long-term strategic partner, the ADHA, and to forging and strengthening our relationships with our dental hygienist customers, exposing them to the widest possible range of innovative technologies and solutions.” 

Alexandria, Va., USA – Today, the International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) published a study titled "Spectrum of Dental Phenotypes in Nonsyndromic Orofacial Clefting," which is the largest international cohort to date of children with nonsyndromic clefts, their relatives and controls. This study is published in the OnlineFirst portion of the Journal of Dental Research: the journal for dental, oral and craniofacial research and a companion podcast is also available for download. This paper is an Editor’s Choice paper that provides limited 30 day free access. 

Children with oral clefts show a wide range of dental anomalies, adding complexity to understanding the phenotypic spectrum of orofacial clefting. The evidence is mixed however on whether the prevalence of dental anomalies is elevated in unaffected relatives, and is mostly based on small samples. This study by researchers Brian J. Howe, Margaret E. Cooper, Alexandre R. Vieira, Seth M. Weinberg, Judith Resick, Nichole Nidey, George L. Wehby, Mary L. Marazita and Lina Moreno Uribe characterizes the spectrum of cleft-related dental anomalies and evaluates whether families with clefting have a significantly higher risk for such anomalies compared to the general population. A total of 3,811 individuals were included with the breakdown being 660 cases with clefts, 1,922 unaffected relatives and 1,229 controls. 

Dental anomalies were identified from in-person dental exams or intraoral photographs, and case-control differences were tested using Chi Square statistics. Cases had higher rates of dental anomalies in the maxillary arch than controls for primary and permanent dentitions but not in the mandible. Dental anomalies were more prevalent in cleft lip with cleft palate than other cleft types. 

More anomalies were seen on the same side of the cleft. Failure of tooth formation and tooth displacements were the most common dental anomalies found in cases. Compared to controls, unaffected siblings and parents showed a trend for increased anomalies of the maxillary permanent dentition. Yet, these differences were non-significant after multiple-testing correction, suggesting genetic heterogeneity in some families carrying susceptibility to both overt clefts and dental anomalies. 

Collectively, the findings suggest that most affected families do not have higher genetic risk for dental anomalies than the general population and that the higher prevalence of anomalies in cases is primarily a physical consequence of the cleft and surgical interventions. 

This study is available online at https://jdr.sagepub.com/content/early/recent. Please visit https://jdr.sagepub.com/site//misc/Index/Podcasts.xhtml to listen to the companion podcast with JDR Editor-in-Chief William Giannobile and JDR Associate Editor Joy Richman conducting an interview with Lina Moreno Uribe. Reporters and writers may contact Ingrid L. Thomas at ithomas@iadr.org to request a PDF of the study. 

Boston, Mass. (June 1, 2015) – Peggy Timothé, MPH02, an instructor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM), senior tutor and director of the Office of Diversity Inclusion at HSDM, has been named the recipient of the 2015 Michael Shannon, MD, MPH Excellence in Mentoring Award. The award recognizes the efforts of individuals who have made significant contributions to mentoring socioeconomically disadvantaged students.

The award’s namesake, Michael Shannon, MD, MPH, was the first African American to become a full professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School (HMS). Dr. Shannon, who died in March 2009, was a pediatrician for more than 25 years, as well as a mentor and teacher. In addition to his accomplishments as a physician, he was also a well-known professional dancer.

"I am extremely honored to receive this award named for Dr. Michael W. Shannon. I learned that he was a good friend, colleague, husband, father, teacher, dancer and mentor,” stated Dr. Timothé. “Mentorship means someone will provide support and guidance, as well as listen. Dr. Shannon's grace was seen externally due to his dance moves but also internally because he was gentle and caring. I recognize that I have some dancing shoes to fill," she said.

Dr. Peggy Timothé was born in New York City. She attended New York University as an undergraduate and received her DDS from New York University College of Dentistry in 1994. She completed a postgraduate residency program at the Lutheran Medical Center (Brooklyn, N.Y.) in 1995. In 2002, Timothé received an MPH degree from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and in 2003 completed a dental public health residency at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Ga.).  She has practiced dentistry in a variety of clinical settings, including community health centers, correctional health centers, and private practice.

“Peggy Timothe has proven to be the right choice for this task,” stated Bruce Donoff, Dean of HSDM. “She has brought amazing energy and dedication to our application process and the Office of Diversity Inclusion. She epitomizes the Michael Shannon Mentoring Award.”

Michael Shannon, MD, MPH Excellence in Mentoring Awardis co-sponsored by the Harvard Medical School Office of Recruitment and Multicultural Affairs; Massachusetts General Hospital Multicultural Affairs Office; Brigham and Women's Hospital Office for Multicultural Faculty Careers in the Office for Faculty Development and Diversity; Children's Hospital (Boston, Mass.) Diversity and Cultural Competency Council; and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Office of Multicultural Affairs.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation’s Give Back a Smile (GBAS) program was recently awarded a 2015 Power of A Gold Award by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Power of A Awards showcase how associations leverage their unique resources to solve problems, advance industry/professional performance, kick start innovation, and improve world conditions. This year, GBAS was one of 30 programs selected for a Gold Award from among 140 entries. GBAS is now contending for the Summit Award, the ASAE’s highest honor for association work.

GBAS applied for an award in the Power to Make a Better World category, as the program’s mission is to assist in rebuilding the smiles and lives of adults who have suffered dental injuries from domestic and sexual violence. According the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence, and 75% of battering is to the face. This type of abuse results in a tremendous number of dental injuries. GBAS works to heal some of the most devastating effects of domestic and sexual violence by restoring the smiles of these survivors through compassionate cosmetic dental services and support programs.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Density Charitable Foundation (AACDCF) launched the Give Back a Smile program May 27, 1999, recognizing that its members have the unique skills to restore damaged smiles due to domestic and sexual violence. Since the program’s 1999 inception, members of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry have volunteered their time and expertise pro bono to restore the damaged smiles of more than 1,400 survivors of domestic violence for a total dollar value of more than $14 million. Just last year, 68 member dentists located in 20 different states, completed smile restorations valuing more than $800,000, at no cost to qualifying applicants.

A smile restoration not only improves the recipient’s physical appearance but also has intangible benefits. GBAS smile restorations increase self-esteem, self-confidence, chances of securing employment, and often can bring a sense of closure to the past abuse. The AACDCF also provides educational scholarships for GBAS program recipients enrolled in college – scholarships totaling $20,000 this year.

Members of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry have many opportunities to support their Charitable Foundation—support that ultimately leverages the dental profession, spreads goodwill within their local communities, and benefits their dental practices, all while supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence. One of these volunteer opportunities is through the GBAS Whitening Fundraiser. Member dental offices pledge to whiten their patients’ teeth with whitening materials donated by an AACD partner, so that all whitening proceeds can going directly to the Give Back a Smile program. This is just one example of how the AACDCF has leveraged its unique resources to improve world conditions – patients getting brighter whiter smiles, dental offices benefit through cause marketing, and the Give Back a Smile program receives sustainable funding to help carry out its mission.  

One GBAS recipient described it best: “It’s hard to put into words how much this opportunity has changed my life. Even after completion of my new smile, it took time to realize that I no longer needed to place my hand in front of my mouth when speaking or laughing. I am so thankful. Not only did these people give me back my smile, but they also gave me back my life.”  

Click here to find out how you can help Give Back a Smile.

In the newly released :DentalPlans SmileIndex™, an annual survey* on oral care access and affordability, 62 percent of the nationwide respondents were found to have dental insurance. Respondents with dental insurance tend to be younger, married with children, have a Bachelor's degree, and make $50,000+ (75 percent of respondents with dental insurance make between $50,000 -$99,000 and 85 percent of those with incomes greater than $100,000). Only 39 percent of those making less than $25,000 have dental insurance. The survey was conducted on behalf of :DentalPlans by an independent research agency, Infosurv Research.

"Our annual :DP SmileIndex survey confirms a big gap in the affordability of dental insurance," says Bill Chase, vice president of marketing for :DentalPlans, the leading provider of dental savings plans. "Cost was the biggest reason cited by respondents and remains a barrier to many."

According to the :DP SmileIndex, of the respondents without dental insurance 58 percent stated it was not affordable, while 21 percent said it was not offered through their employer, and 15 percent said it was not necessary. Only 23 percent of respondents would seek out other low or no cost alternatives to dental insurance.

"If you are not receiving dental insurance as part of your employer's benefits package, it is very likely you don't have coverage," adds Chase. "The survey also revealed to us that only about 50 percent of respondents are somewhat or very familiar with dental savings plans. It also concerns us that 15 percent of the respondents did not feel dental insurance was worth it. For us, that means we need to do a better job of educating people about the importance of oral care to your overall health and the affordability and ease of access dental savings plans offer."

Dental savings plans are affordable, easy, and offer quality access to dental services. Savings range from 10%-60% of what you might pay out-of-pocket without a plan.

Example savings:

Plan: Aetna Vital Savings

Scenario: Two Adults and Two Dependent Children

Annual Family Membership Fee: $179.95

	Typical Dentist Fee	Sample Discounted Fee	Total Savings
8 Routine 6 Month Check-ups	$488	$256	$232
4 Adult Teeth Cleaning	$452	$248	$204
4 Child Teeth Cleaning	$328	$180	$148
4 Four Bitewing X-Rays	$600	$320	$280
Total Savings			$864*

Using the Aetna Vital Savings plan, which costs a low annual fee of $179.95, a family of four could save $864 on their annual ADA recommended treatments alone. That's $684.05 in savings, when including the cost of the plan. And the savings can really add up when additional dental care is factored in, like sealants for children's teeth, crowns, braces, and other procedures.

Dental savings plans are not dental insurance. Participating dentists have agreed to accept a reduced fee from dental savings plan members as payment in-full for dental services performed. Dental savings plans are available to individuals and families, as well as businesses.

For more information on dental savings plans and the importance of oral care, visit :DentalPlans' Dental Information Center.

Williston Park, New York. June 3, 2015 - On June 15th, 2015, Dr. Howard Golan will Live Tweet a cavity preparation using the WaterLase iPlus 2.0. This step-by-step live tweet can be followed using the Twitter handle @biolaseinc. Dentists are invited to follow the procedure on Twitter, which will begin at 5pm Eastern Standard Time.

This is the first ever live tweet dental procedure, which will give practitioners a step-by-step look into a WaterLase iPlus cavity preparation, and will include patient reactions before and after the procedure.  

"The WaterLase iPlus 2.0 laser by BIOLASE provides us with meaningful technology designed to help both patients and dentists. The unique combination of water and laser energy significantly reduces the use of the drills and the dreaded dental shot," says Dr. Golan. "Procedures done with a WaterLase iPlus 2.0 tend to be less painful and our patients have been routinely delighted by the results." 

WaterLase is intended for soft tissue, hard tissue and bone use, expanding the clinical versatility and delivering remarkable outcomes and exceptional value to patients and dentists, respectively. Because the unique wavelength of the Er,Cr:YSGG, developed specifically for dentistry by BIOLASE, excites the water molecules found in tissue and enamel, they vaporize and cut the enamel. Because there is no heat generated in this case, as is typical with the friction of a dental drill or with other laser wavelengths, the patient feels virtually no pain, and more often than not does not need to leave the dentist's office numb and swollen. 

With applications spanning from periodontal solutions to quick cosmetic procedures, to previously complicated surgeries, WaterLase lasers have increased efficiency, benefits and growth potential for dentists worldwide.

"The new BIOLASE is focused on customer care, quality and innovation. By hosting the first ever live tweet of a dental procedure, we can help clinicians understand the simplicity and opportunity that WaterLase brings to the practice of dentistry. The value of WaterLase is clearly demonstrated in patient attraction and retention," says Rachel Moody, Director of Marketing at BIOLASE. "So many patients continue to put off or even refuse treatment due to fear- our dental customers are changing that with the benefits delivered by WaterLase. We’re excited to add the 27,300,001^st smile to our count after Dr. Golan’s cavity prep!" 

The procedure will take place on June 15th at 5:00pm EST, and will go out via @biolaseinc and @drhenamlesaver. Before and after photos will be available on the BIOLASE facebook account, and homepage at https://www.biolase.com. Dental practitioners can view clinical videos and request more information including a laser demo, on the website or by calling 888-424-6527. 

The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP), the advocate for The Safest Dental Visit, announced its leadership awards’ recipients during its annual symposium May 28-30 in Baltimore. Therese Long, executive director of OSAP, was recognized with the 18^th Annual Dr. James J. Crawford Award, which is given for lifetime achievement in the field of dental infection control. Henry Schein Dental and Patterson Dental were co-recipients of the 14^th Annual Dr. Milton Schaefer Award for their superior service and ongoing contributions to OSAP.

The Dr. James J. Crawford Award is named in honor of one of the founding fathers of dental infection control. Awardees have made major contributions in science, education, or public policy related to OSAP’s core competencies of infection control and patient and provider safety. The boards of directors of OSAP and the OSAP Foundation chose to recognize Therese Long for her long service as executive director (she was the organization’s first full-time director). “For 20 years, as ‘the heart and soul of OSAP,’ Therese Long has been a tireless and passionate advocate for patient and provider safety in oral health care,” said Dr. John O’Keefe, chairman of the OSAP Board of Directors. “The members of the OSAP Board were unanimous in their delight at being able to recognize Therese’s work by conferring the 2015 James J. Crawford Award on her.” Over the past two decades, Long has become the international face for the organization and through her advocacy, OSAP has developed into a respected organization dedicated to advancing safe oral health care. Under her guidance the organization obtained IRS recognition, launched the OSAP Foundation, formed valuable partnerships that expanded the organization’s reach, and created innovative, memorable, and effective programs and campaigns. She has served OSAP members with passion and a deep commitment to the organization’s mission.

The Dr. Milton Schaefer Award recognizes nominees whose efforts have resulted in tangible benefits to the continuing advancement of OSAP’s mission to be the world’s leading advocate for the safe and infection-free delivery of oral healthcare. Henry Schein Dental and Patterson Dental have conducted social responsibility campaigns that generated funding for OSAP dental safety initiatives and provided additional value to OSAP corporate members. Both companies have donated advertising and in-kind services, supported key executives serving on OSAP boards, and have elevated their level of commitment to OSAP and dental safety by becoming organizational Super Sponsors. While the companies are key competitors, they come together under the banner of infection control to collaborate on every OSAP initiative including, most recently, the Safest Dental Visit campaign.

The 13^th Annual Bette & Paul Schwarz Award was given to Jill Hunt. The award honors volunteer spirit and is named for a couple who for many years managed all of the volunteer activities associated with the annual symposium. Jill Hunt is well known for her participation and contributions to the OSAP auction, and has been very involved in making international symposium participants feel welcome. She was singled out for her high energy, infectious sense of humor, and positive attitude.

This year, OSAP introduced a new award: Emerging Infection Control Leader. The goal for the award is to help develop and promote the next generation of stars in the field of dental infection prevention and safety by identifying outstanding new infection control advocates. The 1^st Emerging Infection Control Lead Award was given to Jessica Wilson, a national speaker, trainer, and educator who focuses on infection prevention and compliance. Wilson is employed by Hu-Friedy as an Instrument Management and Infection Prevention Specialist and has worked with hundreds of dental practices to help them understand compliance regulations and best practices.

The OSAP Symposium features nationally and internationally known authorities discussing current and emerging issues relating to infection prevention and safety in oral healthcare settings. This year’s symposium opened with a welcome from Katherine Weno, DDS, JD, director of the Division of Oral Health at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She provided an update on the strategic direction for that CDC division. The Dr. John S. Zapp Memorial Lecture was given by L. Clifford McDonald, MD, FACP, FSHEA, the Chief of the Prevention and Response Branch in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion at the CDC. He discussed the challenges of emerging and re-emerging diseases, Clostridium difficile, and antibiotic resistance. Other highlights included a global HIV update; a review of the Dental Patient Safety Initiative; new information on cleaning and sterilization of instruments, waterlines, and handpieces; special interest group breakout sessions, and a presentation on what dental practitioners should know about post-exposure management.

Key content from the symposium will be summarized in the OSAP Symposium Proceedings, which will be available from the OSAP website soon. The Proceedings document provides summaries of the presentations and essential resources for further study. It is useful both for attendees who want to reinforce and revisit the content presented and for people who were unable to attend this year’s symposium.

The annual OSAP Symposium is the premier infection control education and networking event in the dental industry. Experts from leading research and educational facilities, government agencies, industry, and clinical practice lead workshops, give talks, and provide hands-on exercises for attendees. The OSAP Symposium provides a unique opportunity to mingle with and learn from the leading authorities in the critical and rapidly changing field of infection prevention and safety in oral healthcare. Next year’s symposium will be held June 2-4 in San Diego, CA. Prospective participants are encouraged to save the date and watch the OSAP website for updates and early-bird registration. Call 800- 298-OSAP (6727) or 410-571-0003 or visit www.osap.org for additional information.

Celebrating over 30 years of service to the worldwide dental community, OSAP is a growing community of clinicians, educators, students, policy-makers, and industry representatives who advocate for safe and infection-free delivery of oral healthcare. OSAP focuses on strategies to improve compliance with safe practices and on building a strong network of recognized infection control experts. OSAP offers an extensive online collection of resources, publications, FAQs, checklists and toolkits to help dental professionals ensure that every visit is The Safest Dental Visit™ for patients and the dental team.

Caption: Mike Smurr, Director of Marketing, Merchandise, for Patterson Dental and Marguerite Walsh, Vice President, Product Merchandising for Henry Schein Dental accept their awards.