DCI, a family owned company for two generations, has announced a new partnership with America’s Dentists Care Foundation, the charitable organization who facilitates Mission of Mercy free oral health care events for the underserved. Since 2000, ADCF Mission of Mercy events have helped more than 222,000 patients and provided $142 million in free oral health care. 

Recently ADCF lost a trailer containing mobile dental equipment to an accident and fire in East St. Louis. The ADCF Mission of Mercy operations utilizes only two 100 unit trailers to serve missions across the United States. According to Gerry Murphy, ADCF Program Manager, “Fortunately, ADCF has managed to form new relationships and strengthen old relationships because of this mishap. Among the new relationships to transpire, DCI has agreed to step up in a big way. Donating over $22,000 in dental parts alone will go a long way to helping ADCF replace all that was lost back on the side of I-70.” Murphy added, “With DCI’s rapid response and delivery, ADCF has managed to get back on the road to recovery in a short amount of time. ADCF appreciates the gracious donation and looks forward to an ongoing partnership with DCI.” 

In addition to this donation, DCI and ADCF have formed a partnership whereby DCI will provide the organization with all of the dental replacement parts needed to keep equipment in working order to facilitate the delivery of care through the Mission of Mercy program. John Spencer, CEO, said, “Since DCI started over 30 years ago, one of our guiding principles has always been to provide dental care for those in need. So, when we got the call about the accident, it was natural to jump in to help get the ADCF back up and running. It’s not just a one-time donation. We’re honored to continue to support America’s Dentists Care Foundation with the parts they need to provide care to the underserved through the Mission of Mercy program.” 

For more information on the ADCF and Mission of Mercy program, please visit adcfmom.org. 

To learn more about DCI, its new line of DCI Edge dental equipment, and the world’s largest selection of dental replacement parts, please visit DCIonline.com. 

Affordable Dentures & Implants announced today the release of its new Premier Dentist Referral Program, which will pay up to $25,000 in incentive rewards for dentist affiliations. Under the new program, anyone who refers a dentist to Affordable Care and Affordable Dentures & Implants is eligible to earn up to $25,000 should their referral dentist eventually affiliate as a practice owner or be hired as an associate dentist.

To qualify for a reward, referred dentist candidates must have properly applied and been hired or affiliated for an award-eligible position. To submit a dentist referral, visit https://info.affordabledentures.com/referrals.

The referral program arrives as the Affordable Dentures & Implants affiliated network enters new communities across the U.S. to give patients more value when they seek out tooth replacement care. As more affiliates now choose to offer dentures, implants and extractions from a single tooth to a whole mouth, more of the 178 million Americans missing one or more teeth are discovering broader options within their budget range.

“Many of our most successful affiliated practice owners have found us through a referral,” said Matt McCallum, Affordable Care senior director of recruiting. “By helping us to identify suitable candidates for affiliation, referrers are playing an active role in helping more people get life-changing dental care. We want to share our gratitude with them through this new referral program.”

Visit careers.affordabledentures.com to learn more about dental practice ownership within the Affordable Dentures & Implants network.

October 13, 2016 (ATLANTA, GA) — The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP), a growing community of clinicians, educators, policy makers, consultants and industry representatives who advocate for the Safest Dental Visit™has announced the speakers for its 2017 Dental Infection Control Boot Camp™ and the list includes some of the most respected names in the field. This year’s lecturers will include Drs. John Molinari, Shannon Mills and Hudson Garrett, Eve Cuny MS, Kathy Eklund RDH MHP and Karen Gregory RN, as well as experts from key federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Air Force and Veterans Administration.

The OSAP Dental Infection Control Boot Camp will be held January 9-11, 2017, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia. The “basic training” program will cover core infection prevention and safety fundamentals for dental practitioners, and offer up to 24 continuing education (CE) hours. Space is limited, so it is important to register early. A special early bird registration discount is available until October 31, 2016.

The boot camp curriculum will include “boots on the ground” sessions that have small groups of participants rotating through a series of interactive sessions on hot topics in infection control. Participants will have the opportunity to try new products/procedures, ask questions relevant to their own settings, and experience entertaining educational displays such as “the operatory from Hell.”

The OSAP Boot Camp is a crucial building block for every dental professional with infection control responsibilities. The program features national and international experts in infection prevention and safety, presenting a fast-paced, comprehensive curriculum. Attendees receive an extensive resource binder, checklists, tools, and much more.

Although anyone involved with infection control in dentistry would benefit from this course, Boot Camp is targeted to dental personnel who desire a strong foundation in infection control, infection control coordinators, educators, compliance officers, federal service employees with infection control responsibilities, federally qualified health center personnel, consultants, and sales representatives.

For additional information, go to www.osap.org/page/2017bootcamp.

In the United States from 2013 to 2014, there were substantial unmet needs for ancillary services among Latinos receiving outpatient HIV medical care. The most common unmet needs were for services that support retention in HIV medical care and assist with day-to-day living, including dental and vision care, food and nutrition services, transportation, and shelter or housing. Ancillary services – such as non-HIV medical care, subsistence services, and HIV support services – can improve the health of people living with HIV and help them achieve viral suppression.

An analysis of Medical Monitoring Project data found an estimated 24% of Latinos receiving outpatient HIV medical care reported unmet needs for dental care and 21% reported unmet needs for eye or vision care. Additionally, 15% of Latinos reported unmet needs for food or nutrition services; 9% had an unmet need for transportation assistance; and 8% reported unmet needs for shelter or housing services. The analysis also identified the highest prevalence of unmet needs of Latinos by age group, with some unmet needs, such as shelter and housing services and HIV peer group support, being higher for those ages 18 to 39 than those age 50 or older. Many of the reasons Latinos have unmet needs for ancillary services reflect not knowing how to get the services, perceived ineligibility for obtaining services, and denial of services. HIV case managers can play an important role in connecting Latinos living with HIV to needed services and resources.

The American Dental Association (ADA) wishes to assure the public that patient health and safety are top priorities for the Association. Every day, hundreds of thousands of procedures are performed safely and effectively thanks to the dentists who follow standard infection control precautions developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

All practicing dentists, dental team members and dental laboratories are required to use standard precautions as described in the CDC’sGuidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health Care-Settings. In March 2016, the CDC issued the “CDC Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care,” which combines the guidelines with an updated CDC summary. The guidelines and summary are a comprehensive and evidence-based source for infection control practices relevant to the dental office and help protect patients and health care workers by helping to prevent the spread of diseases.

Patients who have questions about infection control in the dental setting should talk with their dentists, who can explain or demonstrate their procedures. Examples of infection control in the dental office include the use of masks, gloves, surface disinfectants and sterilizing reusable dental devices. In addition, dental health care providers are expected to follow procedures as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to protect themselves.

Before a patient enters the examining room, all surfaces, such as the dental chair, dental light, instrument tray, drawer handles and countertops, are required to be cleaned and decontaminated. Some offices may cover this equipment with protective covers, which are replaced after each patient.

Non-disposable items like dental instruments are cleaned and sterilized between patients. Disposable dental instruments and needles are not to be re-used. In addition, CDC recommendations include guidance on best practices for water treatment and monitoring of dental unit waterlines (the tubes that connect dental instruments to the water supply).

Infection control precautions also require all dental staff involved in patient care to use appropriate protective wear such as gloves, masks, gowns and eyewear. After each patient, disposable wear, such as gloves, are discarded. Before seeing the next patient, the members of the treatment team cleanse their hands and put on new pairs of gloves.

For more information on infection control in a dental setting, please visit the ADA consumer website Mouthhealthy.org.

Whip Mix Corporation held its 5th Annual Digital Forum, titled “Perfecting Production and Profits in the Digital Age,” on September 29-30 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Featured speakers were Gary Iocco, President of Dimension Dental Design as well as Apex Dental Laboratory Group; Al Fillastre, CDT, of Ceram-O-Arts Dental Laboratory; Michael Webb, President of CIMsystem USA; and Mark Larson of PTC.

Additional speakers were Evan Kemper, CDT, Technical Representative, Whip Mix Corporation; Sarah Brom-Criscola, MBA, Sr. Marketing Specialist, Whip Mix Corporation; Chris Frye, Sales Manager DTS Division, Whip Mix Corporation; and James Babbi, National Sales Manager, Roland Dental Products.

Attendees learned digital production techniques to better utilize their CAD/CAM equipment and software to increase profits.

For information regarding future programs visit www.whipmix.com.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers that homeopathic teething tablets and gels may pose a risk to infants and children. The FDA recommends that consumers stop using these products and dispose of any in their possession.

Homeopathic teething tablets and gels are distributed by CVS, Hyland’s, and possibly others, and are sold in retail stores and online.

Consumers should seek medical care immediately if their child experiences seizures, difficulty breathing, lethargy, excessive sleepiness, muscle weakness, skin flushing, constipation, difficulty urinating, or agitation after using homeopathic teething tablets or gels.

“Teething can be managed without prescription or over-the-counter remedies,” said Janet Woodcock, MD, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “We recommend parents and caregivers not give homeopathic teething tablets and gels to children and seek advice from their health care professional for safe alternatives.”

The FDA is analyzing adverse events reported to the agency regarding homeopathic teething tablets and gels, including seizures in infants and children who were given these products, since a 2010 safety alert about homeopathic teething tablets. The FDA is currently investigating this issue, including testing product samples. The agency will continue to communicate with the public as more information is available.

Homeopathic teething tablets and gels have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA for safety or efficacy. The agency is also not aware of any proven health benefit of the products, which are labeled to relieve teething symptoms in children.

The FDA encourages health care professionals and consumers to report adverse events or quality problems experienced with the use of homeopathic teething tablets or gels to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program:

• Complete and submit the report online at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm; or 

• Download and complete the form, then submit it via fax at 1-800-FDA-0178.

CHICAGO—Researchers have found that frequent recreational cannabis use—including marijuana, hashish, and hash oil—may be associated with elevated risk of periodontal disease (also known as gum disease). When compared to study participants who used cannabis less regularly, those who had used it at least once a month for a year demonstrated increased indicators of mild, moderate, and severe periodontal disease. The study is featured in the Journal of Periodontology, which is published by the American Academy of Periodontology.

In the report, titled “Relationship Between Frequent Recreational Cannabis (Marijuana and Hashish) Use and Periodontitis in Adults in the United States: NHANES 2011-2012,” participants who identified as frequent users of recreational cannabis demonstrated an average of 29.2 sites around the teeth with periodontal pocket depths of greater than or equal to four millimeters; 24.8 sites with pocket depth of greater than or equal to six millimeters; and 24.5 sites with at least eight millimeters of pocket depth. Study participants who reported to less frequent cannabis use indicated an average of 22.3, 19.2, and 18.9 sites respectively.

Pocket depths are critical indicators of periodontal disease, measuring the space between a tooth and surrounding gum tissue. Healthy attachment of gum tissue, which should fit snuggly around a tooth, measures between one to three millimeters in depth. Pocket depth measurements indicative of disease can range between three to five millimeters deep (mild periodontal disease) to more than seven millimeters deep (severe periodontal disease).

“At a time when the decriminalization of marijuana use is becoming more common in the United States, users should be made aware of the impact that any form of cannabis can have on the health of their gums,” says Dr. Terrence J. Griffin, president of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). “There are a number of risk factors that contribute to the development of periodontal disease, and this report suggests that cannabis use may be one of them. Patients should notify their periodontists of all known risk factors to ensure timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.”

Data for this report—which assessed a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults between age 30 and 59—were collected as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2012), administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with the AAP. The AAP and the CDC have worked together since 2003 to determine periodontitis prevalence in the United States, finding that nearly half of all U.S. adults age 30 and above have some form of periodontal disease.

“Those who suspect they have gum disease should schedule an appointment with a local periodontist,” Griffin says.

There is strong evidence of the importance of oral health for seniors. However, every day, thousands of Americans wake up on their first day of retirement with no dental health benefits. How do we ensure that all seniors get access to needed dental care?

The Santa Fe Group and its partners are looking for answers. Their recent salon, Expanding Oral Healthcare for America’s Seniors, brought leaders together to develop initiatives to improve the understanding on aging and oral health. 

In this interview, Mary Foley, Executive Director for Medicaid/Medicare/CHIP Services Dental Association, discusses the importance of this meeting in helping identify the types of benefits that would best serve the aging population.

At their recent salon, Expanding Oral Healthcare for America’s Seniors, the Santa Fe Group and a diverse group of leaders came together to develop initiatives to improve the understanding on aging and oral health.

In this interview with Compendium, Dr. Teresa Dolan, Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer for Dentsply Sirona, speaks on the need to convince policy makers that oral health is in fact important to the overall health of seniors and to demonstrate the value of dental benefits in Medicare.