Today, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association installed Michele Braerman, RDH, BSDH, of Fallston, Maryland, as the organization’s 2018-19 president, along with ADHA’s new slate of officers for the upcoming year. “With a rapidly changing oral care environment, there is no better time for ADHA to be united and to foster growth and change for our profession,” said Braerman. “I am privileged to collaborate with this great leadership team to move the organization and profession forward.”

A member of ADHA since her graduation in 1992, Braerman has served the Association in a wide range of positions, including most recently as president-elect of ADHA, District III trustee, a member of the executive and finance committee, a 2-year board coach, chair of Council on Public Relations, a MDHA delegate and reference committee chair. She also served her constituent and component in numerous leadership roles which include: secretary, vice president and president. MDHA honored her with the Symbol of Excellence Award in 2010. Braerman holds a BS degree in dental hygiene from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in Baltimore. She currently works as a clinician in a private practice and previously as clinical faculty at the Community College of Baltimore County. Braerman succeeds Tammy Filipiak, RDH, MS, of Mosinee, Wisconsin, as president. Filipiak will remain on the Board of Trustees serving both as ADHA immediate past-president as well as the 2018-19 chair of the ADHA Institute for Oral Health.

Additional ADHA officers newly installed at the ADHA’s House of Delegates Meeting include: Matt Crespin, RDH, MPH, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as president-elect; Lisa Moravec, RDH, MS, of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, as vice president; and Donnella Miller, RDH, BS, MPS, of Des Moines, Iowa, as treasurer.

The newly installed district trustees for 2018-2019 are: Becky Smith, CRDH, EdD, of Miami, District IV (Fla., Ga., N.C., S.C.) Erin Haley-Hitz, RDH, MS, PhRDH, Om of Lincoln, Nebraska, District VIII (Ill., Iowa, Kan., Mo., Neb.); Crystal Spring, RDH, BS, of Bozeman, Montana, District X (Colo. Mont., Utah, Wyo.).

District trustees returning in 2018-2019 include: Peter Gangi, RDH, BS Ed, of Methuen, Massachusetts, District I (Maine, Mass., N.H., R.I., Vt.); Donna Lee Hickey, RDH, of Bethpage, New York, District II (Conn., N.J., N.Y., Pa.); Dawn Ann Dean, RDH, MSDH, of Wheeling, West Virginia, District III (Del., District of Columbia., Md., Va., W.Va.); Sharlee Burch, BSDH, MPH, EdD, of Lexington, Kentucky, District V (Ind., Ky., Mich., Ohio); Danielle Victoriano, RDH, BS, MHS, of Slidell, Louisiana, District VI (Ala., Ark., La., Miss., Tenn.); Rachelle Gustafson, RDH, of Thompson, North Dakota, District VII (Minn., N.D., S.D., Wis.); Cynthia Baty, RDH, BS, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, District IX (N.M., Okla., Texas); Trinity Cleveland, RDH, of Chandler, Arizona, District XI (Ariz., Calif.); Annette Lincicome, RDH, MSDH, of Las Vegas, Nevada, District XII (Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Nev., Ore., Wash.)

Dental professionals can now add a splash of life to their treatment portfolio with NobelPearl ceramic implants launched by Nobel Biocare during EuroPerio9, June 20-23, in Amsterdam. Recent trends in the dental implant market indicate that patients increasingly prefer metal-free solutions for the look and feel of natural teeth. With NobelPearl, dental professionals can now give them the esthetics they desire, as the two-piece ceramic implant with a cement-free internal connection supports a natural soft-tissue appearance.

An alternative to titanium implants, the 100% metal-free NobelPearl was designed for excellent soft-tissue attachment and low inflammatory response¹. Its zirconia material especially benefits patients with a thin mucosal biotype.² Studies have shown that microcirculatory dynamics in peri-implant mucosa around zirconia are comparable with those around natural teeth.³ Furthermore, it has demonstrated low affinity to plaque.^1,4,5

NobelPearl offers greater restorative flexibility compared with one-piece or cemented ceramic implants, owing to the two-piece, reversible cement-free internal connection. The Inter-X internal connection is specifically designed for ceramic implants. While the very strong ATZ ceramic absorbs compressive forces, the VICARBO® screw made of carbon fiber reinforced PEEK withstands tensile forces thanks to its continuous longitudinal carbon fibers. Risks of excess cement during intraoral cementation, often associated with soft-tissue inflammation and the development of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis, can be avoided.⁶

Combined with the tapered drill protocol, the thread design and tapered implant shape of NobelPearl have been designed to achieve high primary stability. Osseointegration is achieved with help of the hydrophilic sand-blasted and acid-etched ZERAFIL™ surface as well as the partially machined collar.⁷ As no sintering or finishing takes place during the final shaping of the implant, a high level of dimensional precision and accuracy can be achieved.

The continuous development of ceramic implants by Nobel Biocare’s manufacturing partner, Dentalpoint AG, has seen an increase in survival rate over time. With NobelPearl, dental professionals now have everything they need for a successful start in ceramic implantology. It is available for a broad range of indications, from single to multiple unit, and follows established workflows for two-piece implants. It will also be integrated into Nobel Biocare’s digital workflow that includes treatment planning with the NobelClinician Software and guided implant surgery with NobelGuide pilot drilling. Additionally, clinicians will be able to offer patients the NobelPearl Ceramic Base CAD/CAM solution using DTX Studio design software later this year. Hans Geiselhöringer, President Nobel Biocare, said: “The demand by patients for ceramic implants has been steadily growing. With NobelPearl, we are proud to finally bring the first completely metal-free screw-retained two-piece implant system to the market. The result of many years of active research in ceramic dental implant technology, it adds an exciting full-ceramic metal-free dental implant option to Nobel Biocare’s leading range of titanium dental implants with the clinically proven TiUnite surface.”

More information about NobelPearl is available at nobelbiocare.com/pearl.

References

1. Cionca N, Hashim D, Mombelli A. Zirconia dental implants: where we are now, and where are we heading? Periodontol 2000 2017; 73(1):241-258

2. Cosgarea R, Gasparik C, Dudea D, et al. Peri-implant soft tissue colour around titanium and zirconia abutments: a prospective

randomized controlled clinical study. Clin Oral Implants Res 2015;26(5):537-544

3. Kajiwara N, Masaki C, Mukaibo T, et al. Soft tissue biological response to zirconia and metal implant abutments compared with

natural tooth: microcirculation monitoring as a novel bioindicator. Implant Dent 2015;24(1):37-41

4. Scarano A, Piattelli M, Caputi S, et al. Bacterial adhesion on commercially pure titanium and zirconium oxide disks: an in vivo

human study. J Periodontol 2004;75(2):292–296

5. Rimondini L, Cerroni L, Carrassi A, et al. Bacterial colonization of zirconia ceramic surfaces: an in vitro and in vivo study. Int J

OralMaxillofac Implants 2002;17(6):793–798

6. Wilson TG Jr. The positive relationship between excess cement and peri-implant disease: a prospective clinical endoscopic

study. J Periodontol 2009;80(9):1388-1392

7. Chappuis V, Cavusoglu Y, Gruber R, et al. Osseointegration of zirconia in the presence of multinucleated giant cells. Clin Implant

Dent Relat Res 2016;18(4):686–698

Nobel Biocare is a world leader in the field of innovative implant-based dental restorations. The company’s portfolio offers

solutions from single tooth to fully edentulous indications with dental implant systems (including key brands NobelActive®,

NobelParallel®, Brånemark System® and NobelReplace®), a comprehensive range of high-precision individualized prosthetics and

CAD/CAM systems (NobelProcera®), treatment planning and guided surgery solutions (NobelClinician® and NobelGuide®) and

biomaterials (creos™). Nobel Biocare supports its customers through all phases of professional development, offering world-class

training and education along with practice support and patient information materials. The company is headquartered in Zurich,

Switzerland. Production takes place at five sites located in the United States, Sweden, Japan and Israel. Products and services are

available in over 80 countries through subsidiaries and distributors.

DenMat Holdings, LLC (“DenMat”) announced today the recent issuance of a new patent by the US Patent & Trademark Office for its line of Snap-On Smile removable dental appliances.

United States Patent No. 9,901,429 is for an appliance fabricated to enhance the appearance of a patient’s smile, including a plurality of simulated teeth, resulting in an improved smile without any need to alter the structure of a patient’s existing dentition.

“This latest patent broadens DenMat’s existing intellectual property assets covering Snap-On Smile,” said David Casper, CEO of DenMat. “The newly-issued patent recites, among other things, the use of acetyl resin, the ability for the appliance to be removed, and the tooth-borne retentive nature of the design,” he said.

The patent claims an invention in which an appliance is designed and fabricated to change the appearance of a patient’s smile without needing to alter the existing structure of the teeth. One embodiment of the invention may be fabricated from an acetyl resin material, has a continuous wall with an inner surface that adapts and conforms to the facial and lingual aspects of the existing teeth, an outer wall that has the desired visible appearance, and retentive points without utilizing any dental adhesive or cement.

This latest patent strengthens DenMat’s patent portfolio for its Snap-On Smile product line, which includes U.S. Patent Nos. 8,449,296 and 7,357,637, as well as one or more pending patent applications.

"The DenMat laboratory has been a key area of focus for our Company,” said Mr. Casper. “That focus has included a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening our intellectual property assets covering the innovative technologies that we employ to deliver unique and esthetic solutions for our customers,” he said.

DenMat operates one of dentistry’s most recognized dental laboratories, producing esthetic solutions for dentists such as Lumineers® and Snap-On Smile appliances. Recently, the Company expanded its laboratory product offering to include its LumiZir® full contour zirconia restorations and its A.R.T (Additive Reductive Template) system for case design and presentation.

About DenMat 

Since 1974, DenMat has been a leader in high-quality dental products for dental professionals in more than 100 countries around the world. DenMat makes and assembles most of its products at its world headquarters on the Central Coast of California. DenMat offers three main product categories: Consumables, Small Equipment, and a full-service Dental Laboratory. DenMat's consumables include brands that are known and trusted, including Geristore®, Core Paste®, Tenure®, Ultra-Bond®, Infinity®, SplashMax®, Precision®, Perfectemp®, Atridox® and LumiSmile White®. DenMat's small equipment offering includes a broad range of products, including NV® PRO3 and SOL™ soft-tissue diode lasers, the Rotadent® power toothbrush, PeriOptix® magnification loupes and lights, Flashlite™ curing lights, Vizilite® and Vizilite® Pro for oral lesion screening, and a full line of high-quality Hartzell hand instruments. DenMat is also home to Lumineers®, the world's #1 patient-requested thin veneer, and Snap-On Smile, the life-changing removable appliance.

DC Clinical, a DC Dental company founded to help bring excellent post-graduate learning to progressive dentists. DC Clinical focuses on helping dental professionals through enriching and skill-building continuing education (CE) topics via webinars that help them learn about ways to increase revenue and grow their practices. Today, DC Clinical announces its next free webinar event, “Innovations for Minimally Invasive Esthetic Implant Surgery,” to take place at 8pm ET on June 28, 2018.

Led by renowned dental industry expert, Dr. Marc Nevins, DMD, the session will focus on delivering a clinical update on technological advances within the Esthetic Implant Site Development area. Other points to be addressed include:

• The utilization of recombinantly engineered platelet-derived growth factor-BB (rhPDGF-BB) that has accelerated the trend toward minimally invasive surgical procedures to preserve and enhance the esthetic foundation for dental implant supported restorations

• Guidelines for incremental levels of flap elevation from flapless to open procedures for implant site development

• How the use of growth factors has increased the ability for optimal hard and soft tissue regeneration with less invasive techniques

• The presentation and review of a decision matrix for how to manage extraction site defects including whether to raise a flap and how to sequence soft tissue grafting

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. Nevins is a recognized expert across the dental industry space, and serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry, among other professional affiliations. He is in the private practice of Periodontics and Implant Dentistry in Boston, Massachusetts, and is Assistant Clinical Professor of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

“We are looking forward to welcoming Dr. Nevins back to lead the type of cutting-edge session that DC Clinical is well-known for,” said Dr. Lisa Germain, Clinical Director, DC Dental. “As the ‘brain-trust’ and educational hub of DC Dental, DC Clinical extends our commitment to keep the customer always top of mind, and help independent dental practitioners keep their operations running at peak efficiency.”

To register for the upcoming “Innovations for Minimally Invasive Esthetic Implant Surgery” webinar, click here: To learn more about DC Clinical upcoming webinars and events, please visit: https://dcdentalclinical.com/courses/.

At EuroPerio9 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Nobel Biocare is announcing a global exclusive partnership agreement with GalvoSurge Dental AG, a Swiss-based manufacturer of dental devices. The two companies intend to bring to market a new and innovative cleaning system for long-term implant maintenance on all major implant brands.

GalvoSurge® Dental Implant Cleaning System’s provides a unique protocol for decontamination of dental implants by removing the bacterial biofilm attachment directly from the implant surface. Most other methods available today attempt to clean implants from the outside in, which might be challenging due to the macro and micro geometry of the implant.

The GalvoSurge® Dental Implant Cleaning System is based on an electrolytic process that activates the production of hydrogen, which lifts off the bacterial film. The groundbreaking process aims to be atraumatic and pain free, only take 2-3 minutes per implant and maintain the implant surface integrity.

The GalvoSurge® Dental Implant Cleaning System has been under development since 2012 and will be available in 2019.

Nobel Biocare and GalvoSurge® are currently engaging with leading universities and researchers to establish treatment protocols for implant care and long-term maintenance.

Hans Geiselhöringer, President, Nobel Biocare said: “With the increasing number of patients receiving dental implant treatment, the importance of long-term maintenance is becoming more important. Following an intensive collaboration with leading clinicians who developed GalvoSurge, customers of all major implant brands will soon have additional means to provide lasting implant care for their patients. With this new partnership, we are again at the forefront of innovation in the dental industry.”

GalvoSurge inventors and internationally renowned clinicians and researchers commented:

Dr. Markus Schlee explained: “This innovative technology is unique, fascinating and one step ahead of other technologies and protocols.”

Dr. Urs Brodbeck added: “Finally, there is strong indications that we have developed a better cleaning technique for infected implant surfaces than commonly used methods.”

More information is available at nobelbiocare.com and galvosurge.com.

GalvoSurge Dental AG is a Swiss-based manufacturer for design, development and distribution of dental devices. The company was founded in April 2015 and has its headquarters in Widnau, Switzerland.

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) has published the official proceedings from the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions. These proceedings provide a comprehensive update to the previous disease classification established at the 1999 International Workshop for a Classification of Periodontal Diseases and Conditions. Highlights from the 2017 proceedings include a recategorization of various forms of periodontitis, the development of a novel staging and grading system for periodontitis, and the inaugural classification for peri-implant diseases and conditions. The complete suite of review papers and consensus reports from the Workshop, which was co-presented by the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP), is available in the June 2018 print and online issues of the Journal of Periodontology. 

The multi-dimensional staging and grading framework for periodontitis classification is among the 2017 Workshop’s major features. Staging levels indicate the severity of the disease and the complexity of disease management, while the grading structure considers supplemental biologic characteristics of the patient in estimating the rate and likelihood of periodontitis progression. This framework builds upon a notable change: Forms of periodontal disease are now defined as one of three distinct forms which include periodontitis (formerly aggressive and chronic), necrotizing periodontitis, and periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic conditions.

The four categories of periodontitis staging are determined by a number of variables and range from the least severe Stage I to most severe Stage IV. The three levels of periodontitis grading—which consider a patient’s overall health status and risk factors such as smoking and metabolic control of diabetes—indicate low risk of progression (Grade A), moderate risk of progression (Grade B), and high risk of progression (Grade C).

“The new staging and grading system provides a structure for treatment planning and for monitoring a patient’s response to therapy,” says Kenneth Kornman, DDS, PhD, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Periodontology and member of the Workshop’s organizing committee. “A personalized approach to patient care is essential for effective periodontal case management. The staging and grading system guides a clinician’s assessment of several dimensions beyond severity of past destruction, including specific elements that contribute to complexity of managing their patient’s case and the risk for future disease progression. The new classification system provides a paradigm similar to what is used in some fields of medicine, from which clinicians can develop a well-rounded treatment strategy based on a patient’s specific needs.”

The Workshop proceedings also include, for the first time, a new classification for peri-implant diseases and conditions. Peri-implant mucositis is characterized by bleeding on probing and visual signs of inflammation and peri-implantitis, a plaque-associated condition occurring in the tissue around dental implants, is indicated by inflammation of mucosal tissue and subsequent progressive loss of supporting bone. Peri-implant health is identified by the absence of visible inflammation and bleeding on probing.

“Implant dentistry has become a major component of patient treatment planning and care since the last Workshop in 1999. And just like tissues that support natural teeth, the bone and soft tissues surrounding dental implants are susceptible to inflammation-driven complications without proper care and management,” Dr. Kornman says. “The 2017 Workshop proceedings outline definitions of health and disease in this particular context, acknowledging that with a growing number of implant cases comes an increased need to identify and treat implant-related conditions.”

Hard and soft tissue implant site deficiencies (associated with healing after tooth loss, extraction trauma, endodontic infections, injury, and other causes) are also included within the implant condition classification.

“The updated proceedings align with what scientific literature has revealed about disease progression in the last 20 years. As greater understanding emerges, the Academy is committed to revisiting and modifying the classification as evidence dictates,” says Steven R. Daniel, DDS, president of the AAP. “The new classification will also lay the foundation for future research.”

Held Nov. 9-11, 2017, at Chicago’s Gleacher Center, the Workshop welcomed more than 100 experts from Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas who conducted literature reviews, established case definitions, and deliberated diagnostic considerations for the classification’s primary topic areas. “We assembled periodontal scholars whose commitment to evidence-based practice would inform their contributions,” Dr. Daniel says. “Because of its inclusion of international researchers, educators, and clinicians, the Workshop created a global consensus by which care can be standardized and modernized for patients and practitioners everywhere.”

Planning for the event began in 2015 with oversight from an organizing committee composed of AAP and EFP members. The Workshop proceedings are also published in the EFP’s Journal of Clinical Periodontology.

“The experts involved in this effort recognize the classification’s clinical salience and its likely influence on the improvement of patient outcomes around the world,” Dr. Daniel says. “Although its widespread adoption will take time, we hope that the updated classification model will be the primary paradigm for patient care around the globe.”

The AAP plans to develop resources that guide the integration of the updated classification within various facets of dentistry, including dental education, dental hygiene, third-party reimbursement, and general clinical practice.

The Workshop was presented with support from the AAP Foundation, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Johnson and Johnson Consumer Inc., Geistlich Biomaterials, SUNSTAR, and Procter and Gamble Professional Oral Health.

Visit perio.org/2017wwdc for the Workshop proceedings and more information.

About the American Academy of Periodontology

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) represents over 8,000 periodontists—specialists in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of inflammatory diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth, and in the placement of dental implants. Periodontics is one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. Learn more at perio.org. 

DentalEZ is pleased to announce the availability of the NEW Simplicity LED Operatory Light. LED lights last much longer than halogen, operate at a cooler temperature and reduce energy costs. Unleash the power of simplicity with this new Simplicity LED!

LED Lighting Made Easy:

• High, medium and low settings for flexibility from 36,000, 27,000 and 18,000 lux

• Smooth rotation for easy adjustment and small footprint

• Ergonomic handles for comfort of operator

• Rectangular light pattern measures 6 1/2” x 3 1/2”

• Color temperature ranges from 5000 to 5700 Kelvin

• Control manually or with a hands‐free sensor

DentalEZ is offering Simplicity LED as a stand‐alone light or a retrofit kit to easily upgrade from the Simplicity Halogen to the new Simplicity LED. Visit www.dentalez.com/SimplicityLED to learn more or reach out to your local PSA representative.

Bad breath, stained teeth, loss of taste and smell, mouth (canker) sores, failure of dental implants and oral cancer are just some of the tobacco-related oral care issues dental hygienists see every day. As frontline patient caregivers, dental hygienists are in a unique and trusted position to discuss the overall health implications of continued tobacco use. To help support dental hygienists in these efforts, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association is pleased to partner with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on its Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®) campaign.

“We are honored that the CDC invited ADHA to partner on their 2018 Tips campaign,” says ADHA Chief Executive Officer Ann Battrell, MSDH. “Dental hygienists see the direct impact of smoking and can play a key role in educating patients and caregivers about tobacco use.”

Tobacco smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States. In addition to the oral care issues noted above, tobacco use has also been implicated in the gum recession, bone loss and tooth loss associated with periodontal (gum) disease. Smoking also weakens a person’s immune system, which makes it harder to fight off a gum infection. Smokers are twice as likely as a nonsmoker to have gum disease.

The centerpiece of the CDC’s Tips campaign is a series of public service announcements featuring real former smokers talking about how smoking has impacted their lives and how smoking-related illnesses have forever changed the lives of everyday people. In addition to these commercials, ADHA will be working with CDC to share specific materials for dental hygienists that AHDA members can use with their patients. CDC has already established a web page for dental professionals and ADHA will be adding additional materials to this site and to ADHA.org throughout the campaign.

About the American Dental Hygienists’ Association 

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) is the largest national organization representing the professional interests of more than 185,000 dental hygienists across the country. Dental hygienists are preventive oral health professionals, licensed in dental hygiene, who provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services that support total health through the promotion of optimal oral health. For more information about the ADHA, dental hygiene or the link between oral health and general health, visit the ADHA at www.adha.org.

Evident, North America's leading breakout dental technology company, today announced a strategic Collaboration Agreement with The Kois Center, the leading continuing education program in North America conducting and publishing independent research and the world's leading training facility for advanced education in dentistry.

Under the Agreement, the companies will collaborate to launch the new Kois-Evident Digital Program for dentists. This program helps dentists leverage and integrate digital technology into their everyday workflow.

"We're excited to be a part of the transformation happening in digital dentistry through this strategic relationship with The Kois Center," said Paolo Kalaw, Founder & CEO of Evident. "There's a broad digital transformation happening across the dental industry lead by esthetic demands of consumers. Evident is positioned at the heart of this disruption as we continue to build out our digital offering and partner with forward-moving companies such as the Kois Center, a world-class contributor in the dental profession."

The agreement provides Evident access to a highly valuable customer base of the leading dental innovators and leverages Evident's expertise in digital technology program developments.

"Technology is disrupting dentistry at lightning speed," said Johnny Kois, CEO of The Kois Center. "The innovations happening now are creating new opportunities to elevate the quality of dentistry produced by everyone, and our collaboration with Evident will help increase the implementation of digital technologies in the dental practice."

About Evident

Evident is a global company focused on taking the dental industry from traditional to digital by leveraging technology to bring a new level of convenience, simplicity and value to the dental industry. Our vision is to be the "go-to" platform for integrating a digital workflow.

About The Kois Center

The Kois Center is a self-funded learning center providing advanced graduate level training for practicing dentists. The curriculum is taught almost exclusively by Dr. John C. Kois, using the Kois Research Center research. The Kois Center is the only continuing education program in the country conducting and publishing independent research. Every course is updated each year based on new scientific evidence. The Kois Center does not accept sponsorship funding and are not swayed by the agenda or message of sponsors.

Bad breath, stained teeth, loss of taste and smell, mouth (canker) sores, failure of dental implants and oral cancer are just some of the tobacco-related oral care issues dental hygienists see every day. As frontline patient caregivers, dental hygienists are in a unique and trusted position to discuss the overall health implications of continued tobacco use.

To help support dental hygienists in these efforts, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association is pleased to partner with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on its Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®) campaign. “We are honored that the CDC invited ADHA to partner on their 2018 Tips campaign,” says ADHA Chief Executive Officer Ann Battrell, MSDH. “Dental hygienists see the direct impact of smoking and can play a key role in educating patients and caregivers about tobacco use.” Tobacco smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States. In addition to the oral care issues noted above, tobacco use has also been implicated in the gum recession, bone loss and tooth loss associated with periodontal (gum) disease. Smoking also weakens a person’s immune system, which makes it harder to fight off a gum infection. Smokers are twice as likely as a nonsmoker to have gum disease.

The centerpiece of the CDC’s Tips campaign is a series of public service announcements featuring real former smokers talking about how smoking has impacted their lives and how smoking-related illnesses have forever changed the lives of everyday people. In addition to these commercials, ADHA will be working with CDC to share specific materials for dental hygienists that AHDA members can use with their patients. CDC has already established a web page for dental professionals and ADHA will be adding additional materials to this site and to ADHA.org throughout the campaign.