James Ellison, CDT, will lecture at the Greater New York Dental Meeting on “Case Design For Removable Prosthetics” on Sunday, November 27, and “Implant Overdentures” on Monday, November 28.

Ellison will cover how to choose the best attachment for any patient needing a partial or overdenture, the preparation of the prosthesis for laboratory processing, and the advantages of resilient attachments for removable prosthetics. Various abutment systems will be compared and contrasted.

Participants can earn 3 Scientific Continuing Education credits. To register or for more information on these courses, visit gnydm.com/education-courses/A34cdd8cbff71d1/.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) is seeking nominations for its annual Celebration of Excellence Awards, also known as the Evy.

Since 1988, the AACD has made it a point to publicly recognize dental professionals who make a difference to the academy, the profession, and their communities. Evy award categories include: Outstanding Innovation in Cosmetic Dentistry, Excellence in Cosmetic Dentistry Education, AACD Humanitarian, AACD Rising Star, jCD Award, Outstanding Service to the Academy, and the Lifetime Achievement awards.

To nominate a colleague who is making significant contributions to the field of cosmetic dentistry and/or to the Academy itself, complete the nomination form. The AACD would like to thank and recognize these outstanding individuals who have made a tremendous impact.  

The Evy Awards will be presented during the Celebration of Excellence closing reception at AACD 2017 in Las Vegas. Nominations are due by Friday, January 13, 2017 at 6 PM Eastern.

D&S Dental Laboratory, Inc., announced the addition of Jim Rapp as its new Director of Sales. Rapp will work collaboratively with dentists to understand their evolving needs and identify how the laboratory can help, particularly with the progression into digital dentistry.

Rapp has more than 20 years of sales experience, including 14 in the dental industry. Previously, he was a Sales Specialist for the Argen Corporation. He received his Bachelor of Science from Baker University.

D&S Dental Laboratory, Inc. is a privately-owned, full-service, Certified Dental Laboratory headquartered in Waunakee, Wis.

Patterson Companies (Nasdaq:PDCO) today announced the promotion of two veteran leaders, reflecting the strength of the company’s leadership bench and depth of expertise in the business. Effective Nov. 1, 2016, Dave Misiak will be promoted to president of Patterson Dental North America, and Dave Lardy will be promoted to chief information officer.

Dave Misiak, currently president of Patterson Dental U.S., brings to his new role a breadth of sales and management experience gleaned during more than 20 years with the company. Additionally, he currently serves as president of the Patterson Foundation Board of Directors.

“Dave is the right person to lead our North American Dental operations. He has successfully led significant growth in that segment, in the field and at the corporate level, and we are delighted to have him continue to drive its transformation,” said Scott Anderson, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Patterson Companies. “He has a proven track record of success internally and externally, and we expect him to be a strong addition to our leadership team.”

“As we invest to capitalize on market opportunities, our technology and information systems organization has become an increasingly critical component of our future. Therefore, we are naming Dave Lardy, vice president of Enterprise Business Services, our new chief information officer.”

Lardy also has an impressive tenure at Patterson, and has held key roles in the ongoing evolution of Patterson’s technology capabilities. He has been a leader in the technical execution of the enterprise resource planning initiative and will oversee Patterson’s entire IT organization in his new position.

Added Anderson: “Dave is a well-respected internal candidate, and I am confident that his insight and experience will help us further accelerate our technological capabilities. Both of these promotions are examples of our commitment to talent development as we continue to strengthen our leadership team.”

At the upcoming FormNext event, one of the major trade shows for the additive manufacturing industry, on November 15-18 in Frankfurt, Germany, Prodways, subsidiary of Groupe Gorgé, will announce the signing of a strategic partnership with A. Schulman to strengthen its laser sintering powder range. By focusing their combined R&D efforts on materials, printers, and processes, the companies aim to achieve greater and faster development of new industrial applications.

Serving the markets for laser sintering, Prodways offers premium 3D printers with an open materials platform for a wide range of industrial and technical applications. This strategy aims to facilitate and accelerate innovation and the development of new materials with higher performance and improved mechanical properties. This open materials platform can provide genuine added value to industrial customers. As a contributor to this market, Prodways seeks to actively participate in the development of materials for 3D printing and is thus collaborating with A. Schulman.

Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, A. Schulman is a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and composites that are used as raw materials in a broad variety of markets. The company's principal product lines consist of proprietary and custom-formulated, engineered plastic compounds, composites, masterbatch solutions, color concentrates, and additives that improve the performance and appearance of plastics in a number of specialized applications.

“A. Schulman’s broad understanding of plastics, special technical and manufacturing expertise, and deep experience with all powder additives and modifiers helps optimize the performance, appearance and processability of polymers to meet the most demanding application requirements," says Alban D’Halluin, Prodways Technology CEO. "By partnering with A. Schulman, Prodways will access state-of-the-art compounding know-how to develop materials which are economical, reliable and whose mechanical properties are not yet reachable with 3D printing. “

By joining in this partnership, Prodways and A. Schulman seek to work with industrial and high-value companies to develop customized solutions for their needs in a wide range of markets. Both Prodways and A.Schulman include R&D teams and market specialists who constantly look for technical solutions, identify best manufacturing processes, and propose materials that will enhance industrial growth.

Prodways says this partnership marks another step forward in its innovation strategy: to promote the development of new applications for industrial markets and become a key provider of laser sintering complete solutions.

NEW ORLEANS - That twice-yearly trip to the dentist could do more than keep teeth and gums healthy: It may decrease the risk of pneumonia by reducing bacteria in the mouth, suggests research being presented at IDWeek 2016™.

Nearly one million Americans become ill with the infection every year and 50,000 die. While it is more common among older people and those with conditions such as AIDS or lung disease, anyone can get pneumonia. Based on an analysis of a national database of more than 26,000 people, the new research found that people who never get dental checkups had an 86 percent greater risk of pneumonia than to those who visit the dentist twice a year.

"There is a well-documented connection between oral health and pneumonia, and dental visits are important in maintaining good oral health," said Michelle Doll, MD, lead author of the study and assistant professor of internal medicine in the Division of Infectious Disease at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond. "We can never rid the mouth of bacteria altogether, but good oral hygiene can limit the quanitities of bacteria present."

Researchers analyzed data obtained from the 2013 Medical Expediture Panel Survey, which asks about healthcare utilization (including dental care), costs and patient satisfaction. They found 441 of 26,246 people in the database had bacterial pneumonia (1.68%) and that those who never had dental checkups had an 86% increased risk of pneumonia compared to those who had twice-yearly appointments.

The body contains 10 times as many microbes (bacteria, fungi and viruses) as human cells on or in the body, from the skin to the gastrontestinal system (including the mouth). Some microbes are good and some are bad, but even bad microbes only cause disease under certain circumstances. In some cases, bacteria can be accidentally inhaled or aspirated into the lungs and cause pneumonia. Bacteria that commonly cause pneumonia include streptococcus, haemophilus, staphylococcus, and anaerobic bacteria. Routine dental visits may reduce the amount of bacteria that can be aspirated, said Doll.

"Our study provides further evidence that oral health is linked to overall health, and suggests that it's important to incorporate dental care into routine preventive healthcare," said Doll.

 Journal of Oral Implantology – When a patient’s gums pull away from the space where there should be a tooth, surgeons often feel they need to attach tissue before placing a dental implant—a painful prospect for the patient. The cases presented in a recent study suggest there may be a better option, one that is fast, affordable, less painful and that ultimately improves the patient’s smile.

An article in the current issue of the Journal of Oral Implantology presents two cases in which a simple technique is used to add soft tissue around an implant as it is being placed. The inexpensive procedure takes only a few minutes and improves the look and feel of the implant, and possibly its long-term function.

Researchers do not yet agree on how much tissue is needed around an implant to keep the area healthy. However, it is clear that some tissue improves facial appearance and keeps food from becoming trapped in the space. Unfortunately, rebuilding the gums often requires a second, painful surgery that takes tissue from another part of the patient’s mouth and adds it to the implant space. Other methods can also cause the patient discomfort and increase the risk of disease even when they do not make the tissue in the gum area thicker.

Author William Liang presents two cases that show the vascularized buccal inversion flap (VBIF) technique, which doesn’t require a separate surgery, may be a better option. The VBIF neatly closes the soft tissue around the implant, making the shape of the gums look better as soon as the implant is placed. The author notes that the tidy closure means there is less chance of disease than with other methods used to attach gum tissue to an implant.

Still, because the exact position of the implant isn’t critical, Liang said that what really makes this technique unique is that it gives the surgeon flexibility. “‘The magic is in the magician, not the wand.’ The achievement of clinical excellence is ultimately in the clinician's hands,” he said. “Thoughtful and precise application of surgical techniques may provide a better clinical outcome regardless of the type of dental implant used.”

The article concludes that the numerous advantages of VBIF can improve the results of implant placement. James Rutkowski, the journal’s Editor-in-Chief, agrees: “Doing this relatively simple procedure will take only minutes and greatly improve the esthetic result.”

The full text of the article “Vascularized Buccal Inversion Flap,” Journal of Oral Implantology, Vol. 42, No. 5, 2016, is now available at https://joionline.org/doi/full/10.1563/aaid-joi-D-16-00043.

NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures (BSBF) global oral health program wrapped up "25 Days of Smiles" – its 25^th Anniversary celebration – in Manhattan, hosting oral health festivities that brought New York Giants standouts Rashad Jennings and Victor Cruz, and more than 250 students at P.S./I.S. 76 in Harlem together for free dental screenings, games, activities and a mass card stunt – all of which raised awareness about the importance of dental health.

Bright Smiles, Bright Futures has been reaching children in urban and rural areas across the country since 1991. A Bright Smiles, Bright Futures mobile dental van dedicated to the New York metropolitan area has been providing free dental screenings, oral health education and treatment referrals to underserved children for more than two decades. Colgate maintains a fleet of nine mobile dental vans visit more than 1,000 U.S. cities and towns each year, reaching millions of children.

"Our children deserve every opportunity to thrive and succeed, and helping to ensure that their dental health needs are addressed is at the heart of the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program," said Dr. Marsha Butler, Colgate's Vice President, Global Oral Health.  "Untreated decay can cause pain and infection that may lead to difficulty eating, speaking, socializing, and sleeping and to poor overall health. Dental problems also negatively affect school attendance and performance.ⁱ

"When we launched the Bright Smiles, Bright Futures initiative in 1991, our goal was to screen and provide oral health education to underserved children in two cities – Philadelphia, PA and Oakland, CA. Over the past 25 years, BSBF has reached more than 100 million children in the U.S. and more than 850 million in 80 countries."

"Educating today's youth means bringing school and the community together in ways that support the physical, social and academic development of all students," Charles DeBerry, Principal of P.S./I.S. 76, said in his welcoming remarks. "Our school is delighted to be a part of the Bright Smiles, Bright Futures celebration and to reaffirm to our students the importance of maintaining their overall health and well- being."

"When I look at you, I see rising stars," Rashad Jennings told the students, "and your teachers, parents and all of us here are counting on you to do great things. A toothache and tooth decay can get in your way, though, making it difficult to think about anything else. The Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program has been educating children and their families about oral health for 25 years. They are here with you today because they want you to take good care of your teeth and gums so that you can come to school ready to learn, grow and, someday soon, live the dreams that you have for yourselves."

Added Victor Cruz: "There are a lot of programs out there aimed at helping people, but serving children for 25 years, in communities where there is a real need, that's something we all can celebrate."

Colgate kicked-off BSBF's "25 Days of Smiles" campaign in September, donating 500,000 oral care products to the Kids In Need Foundation (KINF), a 501(3)(c) charitable organization that prepares children to learn and succeed by providing free school supplies to students most in need. The celebration continued with oral health celebrations and van visits to cities across the U.S. It also includes a #SmileforPictureDay challenge that encourages individuals to help drive awareness about the importance of children's oral health by following @ColgateBSBF on Twitter and sharing their #TBT school picture using #SmileforPictureDay. For every photo shared between September 22 and October 31, 2016, Colgate will donate $1 to KINF¹.

Follow @ColgateBSBF on Twitter to learn more about the BSBF oral health festivals, get new and #throwback BSBF facts and photos, and oral health tips.

For more information on the Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, or to request that a BSBF dental van visit a community near you, please visit www.colgatebsbf.com.

ⁱ Newacheck, P. W., Hughes, D. C., Hung, Y. Y., Wong, S., & Stoddard, J. J. (2000). The unmet health needs of America's children. Pediatrics, 105(4 Pt 2), 989–997.

¹ For every photo shared on Twitter between September 22 through October 31 using the hashtag #SmileforPictureDay, Colgate will donate $1.00 to KINF, for a minimum donation of $15, 000 and a maximum donation of $25,000

CHICAGO – Children who require both dental and non-dental medical procedures should have them completed under one general anesthesia session whenever possible, which is ideal for both the patient and family, suggests research being presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2016 annual meeting.

“While surgery and anesthesia are safer than they’ve ever been, limiting exposure is preferable, especially in children, because there may be sensitivities or a greater risk of anesthesia-related complications,” said Vidya T. Raman, MD, lead author of the study and director of pre-admission testing at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and clinical associate professor at The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus. ”In addition to improving patient safety, we believe combining procedures decreases costs and improves patient satisfaction.”

Every year, millions of children require surgery for dental and non-dental medical procedures. Some children require general anesthesia when undergoing restorative dental procedures, such as teeth extraction or capping. The researchers say that, when possible, these procedures should be performed in combination with other surgical interventions requiring general anesthesia, such as tonsil removal, insertion of ear tubes and diagnostic tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which requires sedation to ensure the child doesn’t move. This enables the child to undergo multiple procedures in one visit rather than over several weeks or months.

In the study, 55 children had a dental procedure combined with another non-dental medical procedure under one anesthetic. Nearly nine in 10 (87%) did not experience any complications. Seven (13%) had complications such as vomiting, pain, fever and pneumonia and of those, four (7%) required unplanned admission to the hospital. Most of those patients were at increased risk of hospitalization because of severe systemic disease, said Raman. Additionally, combining procedures saved an average of 30%, leading to a savings of approximately $165,000 for 60 cases, researchers determined.

Electronic medical records house all of a patient’s health information and help doctors identify the various recommended procedures that can safely be performed at the same time, Raman said. It is important that everyone involved – dentists, physicians, and parents – be aware of all upcoming surgeries a child is scheduled for and communicate this with all parties. Some procedures are more urgent or vital, and should be performed first and should not be combined for safety reasons, such as procedures with an increased infection risk, spinal fusion and heart surgeries, she said.

“It can be logistically complex to schedule several procedures at once, but combining them can decrease costs and pleases parents because their children don’t have to undergo multiple recoveries, and can return to school and activities faster,” said Raman.

Source: https://asahq.org/about-asa/newsroom/news-releases/2016/10/combining-procedures-may-safely-limit-children-anesthesia.