Individuals with physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities now have a dedicated treatment center in New York City for dental care: NYU College of Dentistry’s Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities.

The 8,000-square-foot center, located in the NYU College of Dentistry’s Weissman Building at 1^st Avenue and 24^th Street, provides much-needed comprehensive care for patients whose disabilities or medical conditions prevent them from receiving care in a conventional dental setting.  

“The NYU Dentistry Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities addresses a major public health challenge by providing comprehensive, compassionate dental care for people with a full range of disabilities who experience significant barriers to accessing care,” said Charles N. Bertolami, DDS, DMedSc, the Herman Robert Fox Dean of the NYU College of Dentistry. “Equally important, care at the center is ongoing. By providing dental care across each patient’s lifespan, the center aims to break the vicious cycle of neglect and repeated hospitalization.”

The need 

In New York City alone, an estimated 950,000 people—in a city of 8.5 million—have some form of disability, including 99,000 who use wheelchairs. Research shows that people with disabilities have worse oral health than the general population and are less likely to have access to dental care services.

People with disabilities face many barriers to receiving dental care, including physically accessing dentists’ offices, which may not be able to accommodate wheelchairs or other assistive devices. In addition, some dentists lack confidence in their ability to meet the needs of people with disabilities, so may not be prepared or willing to welcome disabled patients.

As a result, patients with disabilities are often referred to hospitals for dental care because of the need for sedation and may wait as long as six months to get an appointment to be seen in an operating room. These visits are often one-off emergencies without follow-up or continuous preventive care, which can trigger a cycle of recurring dental problems. 

“Numerous studies have shown generally poor access to vital health services for both children and adults with disabilities,” said Marco Damiani, chief executive officer of AHRC New York City, one of the largest nonprofits supporting people with disabilities in New York State. “The NYU Dentistry Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities will promote greatly improved access, but it exceeds basic expectations by enabling access to a welcoming state-of-the art facility, dental treatment services from highly experienced and engaged faculty, and a service vision that underscores dignity, respect, and coordination of care.”

Designed for patients with disabilities

The new Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities was designed to meet the unique and diverse needs of people with a range of disabilities. The center was completed through a $12 million renovation by Henningson, Durham & Richardson Architecture and Engineering, P.C. (HDR).

The center features nine spacious patient treatment rooms. In addition, there are two fully equipped sedation suites to provide both inhaled and intravenous sedation administered under the supervision of anesthesiologists. 

“Our on-site sedation options eliminate the need for most patients to be referred to hospitals,” said Ronald Kosinski, DMD, clinical director of the Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities and clinical associate professor at NYU College of Dentistry. “In cases where general anesthesia is required, patients can be treated by specially trained NYU Dentistry faculty at one of our hospital affiliates—NYU Langone Health or Bellevue Hospital Center—but remain patients of record at the NYU College of Dentistry.” 

A multisensory room, located off of the waiting area, will soon offer patients an immersive environment to reduce their anxiety, help them relax, and engage their senses. The room is being developed in partnership with the NYU Ability Project, an interdisciplinary team of health specialists, engineers, and artists working at the intersection of disability and technology.

Led by Kosinski—a pediatric dentist and specialist in dental anesthesia—the center is staffed by multidisciplinary faculty, a nurse practitioner, a nurse, a social worker, three patient-service representatives, a clinic manager, and a patient care coordinator. Patients are cared for by faculty at NYU College of Dentistry with particular interest and expertise in treating people with disabilities. Senior dental students provide basic dental care not requiring sedation. 

In planning for the facility, NYU College of Dentistry collaborated with a number of healthcare and advocacy groups that provide general healthcare and support for people with disabilities, including Cerebral Associations of New York State, Metro Community Health Centers, Family Health Centers at NYU Langone, NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, NYU Langone Health, and the Viscardi Center. In addition, focus groups of people with disabilities were conducted in cooperation with the NYU Ability Project, a collaboration of the Tandon School of Engineering; the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development; and the Tisch School of the Arts. 

Training the next generation of dentists specializing in treating people with disabilities

The center builds upon NYU’s long history of educating dental students to care for patients with special needs. NYU College of Dentistry was one of 11 schools funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in the 1970s to train dental students in caring for people with disabilities.

Since 1971, NYU College of Dentistry has run a successful Special Patient Care Program, an honors program for a small group of exceptional dental students to gain experience working with people with disabilities. Over time, the new center will expand these educational opportunities to all NYU dental students and residents, thereby expanding patient-care delivery. 

“The Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities not only offers much-needed clinical services to patients, but also a unique training opportunity for our students. Our goal is to create the next generation of dentists who will practice with competence, confidence, and compassion in providing quality dental care for people with disabilities,” said Bertolami.

About NYU College of Dentistry

Founded in 1865, New York University College of Dentistry (NYU Dentistry) is the third oldest and the largest dental school in the US, educating nearly 10 percent of the nation’s dentists. NYU Dentistry has a significant global reach with a highly diverse student body. Visit https://dental.nyu.edu for more.

University at Buffalo researchers have received part of a $1.5 million grant to investigate light therapy as a replacement for prescription opioids in treating oral mucositis, painful ulcers and swelling in the mouth that result from chemotherapy and radiation treatment for cancer.

Funded by the National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research Small Business Innovation Research program, the grant will help researchers determine the effectiveness of photobiomodulation, a form of low-dose light therapy, in prevention and treatment of oral mucositis after cancer treatment.

The grant was awarded to Cleveland-based MuReva Phototherapy, a spin-off company of lighting solutions manufacturer Lumitex, to further develop the light technology. UB received $511,000 of the award to test the technology.

Video: https://bit.ly/2RPwFaq.

The research, led by Praveen Arany, DDS, PhD, assistant professor in the UB School of Dental Medicine, will be performed in collaboration with faculty from the Departments of Radiation Medicine and Oral Oncology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“The current epidemic of opioids has impacted cancer care, especially for cancer pain relief. This treatment offers a simple, non-drug, non-invasive treatment approach to relieve pain and improve quality of life for cancer patients,” says Arany.

“The striking lab and clinical evidence for photobiomodulation treatments in supportive cancer care has demonstrated tremendous promise and is becoming popular.”

The worst side effect of cancer

Oral mucositis is caused by damage to mucous tissue from chemotherapy or radiation treatment, or stem cell transplant. The condition occurs in close to 40 percent of patients receiving chemotherapy and nearly 80 percent of patients receiving radiation therapy for cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Nearly 70 percent of those receiving stem cell transplants develop mucositis, adds Arany.

Multiple studies have found that patients report oral mucositis as the worst side effect of their cancer treatment. Pain from the condition can slow or delay treatment, and in severe cases require hospitalization and feeding tubes.

“In addition to the pain, it compromises a patient’s ability to eat and swallow, and may even interfere with their planned treatment,” says Mukund Seshadri, DDS, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Oral Oncology at Roswell Park.

“Given these significant adverse effects on the quality of life in our patients, it is a high priority for us to find new and better ways to prevent or treat this condition.”

“Right now, opioids are the most commonly prescribed drugs to address those symptoms, but they come with a whole host of problematic side effects of their own, including the potential for addiction and abuse,” adds Anurag Singh, MD, professor of oncology and director of radiation research at Roswell Park and professor of medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB.

“So we have been looking at a number of ways to treat those symptoms while limiting the need for opioids, including photobiomodulation.”

Light as a solution

Light therapies have existed for decades, but improvements in the technology have made the treatment more affordable for wider use, says Arany.

At a high power, light, often in the form of a laser, is used in medicine to cut or destroy tissue. But at a low level, it has the ability to relieve pain and promote healing.

The effectiveness of photobiomodulation in treating pain and stimulating healing has been documented in hundreds of clinical trials and thousands of academic papers. The treatment is used widely across Europe, Canada, Australia and several other nations. Consensus has not, however, been reached on the proper dosage for the treatment, says Arany.

Using the technology developed by MuReva Phototherapy, UB and Roswell Park researchers will examine the effectiveness of photobiomodulation treatments for oral mucositis, as well as determine the proper dosage to limit pain and stimulate healing in tissues damaged by cancer treatment.

“Current approaches for delivering a photobiomodulation-utilizing laser for oral mucositis requires a physician to spend 30 minutes per patient, per day, and is too impractical an approach for mass adoption,” says Vedang Kothari president and CEO of MuReva Phototherapy.

“MuReva’s innovative mouthpiece that can be self-administered, simultaneously targets a much larger portion of the oral cavity and delivers a full treatment in six minutes or less. We believe this technology has the potential to revolutionize the treatment for oral mucositis and finally present a market-ready solution to this debilitating side-effect.

“We are excited to partner with the University at Buffalo and esteemed clinician and professor Dr. Praveen Arany on this cutting-edge research. We believe that strong industry and academic relationships are important to advance innovative technologies to the marketplace.”

Arany, also president of the World Association for Photobiomodulation Therapy and co-chair of the committee on light therapy for supportive oncology care of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, is an advocate for wider use of photobiomodulation in the United States.

He recently took part in the first Congressional briefing on photobiomodulation before the House Science, Space and Technology Committee in Washington, D.C. The briefing, held on Oct. 11, 2018, invited a panel of international experts on the therapy to discuss the potential of photobiomodulation to improve health care and lower dependence on opioids.

“The ability of low-dose light therapy to promote healing has been established since the 1960s,” says Arany.

“A major obstacle with its wide spread use has been a lack of understanding of its precise biological mechanism. Recent work from our group has outlined both therapeutic and dose-limiting molecular pathways that are aiding development of safe and efficacious clinical protocols.”

Newport Beach, CA:  The ALPHAEON CREDIT card, offered through Comenity Capital Bank, has become one of the fastest growing patient financing solutions for plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and ophthalmologists over the last five years.

Starting in 2019, ALPHAEON CREDIT is pleased to announce they are now adding dentists to their rapidly expanding network of offices.

ALPHAEON CREDIT offers patients a revolving line of credit with promotional financing including no interest if paid in full and equal payment plans. In comparison to other patient financing options, dental offices will appreciateALPHAEON CREDIT’s ability to provide:

• Stronger approval rates so more patients can move forward with the treatments dentists recommend and patients want

• Superior credit limitsup to $25,000 so patients can finance the full cost of their treatment and reuse their line of credit for additional services

• Stress-free service with an intuitive platform, less paperwork, and an exceptional support team committed to answering all calls from an office immediately

Dental offices can trust ALPHAEON CREDIT. Their leadership team has twenty-five years of experience in dentistry and seventy-five years of experience in patient financing. They understand the unique needs of dentists and built a patient financing solution that will help the most patients.

For more information on ALPHAEON CREDIT for dentists, please all Anne Haines, Director of Dental Financing, at (724) 216-3733 or at anne.haines@alphaeon.com.

The February 2019 issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association discusses the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and other smoking trends. Cessation aids for dental professionals are highlighted with the goal to help their patients stop their tobacco use. Other topics featured in the issue include the use of probiotics in the treatment of peri-implant diseases and the benefits of using cone beam computed tomography in orthodontics.

“This issue highlights the health effects of e-cigarettes and emphasizes the major role dental professionals play in educating patients about tobacco’s impact on their overall and oral health,” said Kerry K. Carney, DDS, editor-in-chief of the Journal.

The article “Electronic Cigarettes: Trends, Health Effects and Advising Patients Amid Uncertainty” reviews the harms of e-cigarettes and urges clinicians to educate patients about the dangers of tobacco and nicotine in smoking devices. “Tobacco Counseling in Dental Settings” discusses the effectiveness of tobacco-cessation interventions by dental professionals and the impact they have on a patient’s likelihood of quitting.

“Smoking and Tooth Loss in California: The Role of Dental Professionals in Promoting Tobacco Cessation” analyzes the association between smoking and severe tooth loss in California in 2014 and 2016. Additionally, the article recommends intervention to reduce the use of cigarettes. The article “Efficacy of Probiotics in the Treatment of Peri-implant Diseases: A Systematic Review” evaluates the need for ongoing studies on the role of probiotics as an alternative treatment strategy for the resolution of peri-implant diseases.

“Considerations for Use of CBCT in Orthodontics” discusses clinical scenarios in which cone beam computed tomography may benefit both patient and orthodontist.

The Journal is an award-winning peer-reviewed scientific publication that keeps dentists up to date about scientific advances, business management strategies and new products.

About the California Dental Association

The California Dental Association is the non-profit organization representing organized dentistry in California. Founded in 1870, CDA is committed to the success of our members in service to their patients and the public. CDA also contributes to the oral health of Californians through various comprehensive programs and advocacy. CDA’s membership consists of more than 27,000 dentists, making it the largest constituent of the American Dental Association. For more information, visit cda.org. 

GC America Inc. introduces brand new shades for GC Initial® LiSi Press LT. A revolutionary new pressable ceramic, it combines unparalleled strength and amazing aesthetics. GC Initial® LiSi Press is suitable for ultra-thin veneers as well as single tooth restorations and small bridges, in both the anterior and posterior and on implants.

Perfect for even your most demanding esthetic indirect restorations, GC Initial® LiSi Press is the first lithium disilicate ceramic ingot with High Density Micronization (HDM), a technology unique to GC that provides exceptional physical properties and aesthetics. HDM uses equally dispersed lithium disilicate micro-crystals to fill the entire glass matrix rather than using traditional larger size crystals that do not take full advantage of the matrix structure. The result is the ultimate combination of strength and aesthetics, making GC Initial® LiSi Press perfectly suitable for all types of restorations through all levels of transparency. Most importantly, HDM technology helps ensure the product remains extremely stable, without distortion or drop in value.

GC Initial® LiSi Press has vibrant and warm color tones with excellent florescence, similar to natural teeth, for very lifelike restorations under any light source. GC Initial® LiSi Press reverses the issues occasionally experienced with other lithium disilicate systems, such as color stability, surface imperfections, low-value results, and distortions. GC Initial® LiSi Press delivers a stunning, resilient final restoration.

Product will be available to ship in the US and Canada on or after February 25, 2019

The American Dental Association (ADA) is pleased that Sen. Steve Daines (R-Montana) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), introduced S. 350, the “Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act.” This bipartisan legislation would help ensure more competition in the health insurance marketplace by reestablishing federal antitrust enforcement over the health insurance industry.

“If health insurance companies had to follow the antitrust laws when setting rates and designing coverage, it would increase competition among the companies that insure both individual customers and purchasers of large group policies,” said Jeffrey M. Cole, D.D.S., ADA president. “Currently, when health insurers take advantage of providers or consumers, the only recourse is to file a complaint with their state’s insurance commissioner who often has very limited resources. Consumers deserve the right to pursue alternative ways to remedy the drawbacks to the current law.”

This bill is narrowly drawn to apply only to the business of health insurance, including dental insurance. It outlines how the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department would help to enforce the federal antitrust laws against health insurance companies engaged in anticompetitive conduct but they will not interfere with the states’ ability to enforce their own regulations, antitrust statutes and consumer protection laws. The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to introduce a companion bill soon.

This legislation, if enacted, will amend a section of the McCarran-Ferguson Act of 1945, which exempted the insurance industry from important provisions of the Sherman Act and the Clayton Act – acts that have the purpose of ensuring fair competition. If passed, this legislation will help level the playing field between health insurers, providers, and consumers. It may also help to make health insurance more affordable for all Americans.

The ADA applauds this bipartisan effort of Congress to deal with this important issue of health care insurance reform.

For more information, visit Actioncenter.ADA.org.

About the ADA

The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing 163,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The monthly The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit ADA.org. For more information on oral health, including prevention, care and treatment of dental disease, visit the ADA's consumer website MouthHealthy.org

Ivoclar Vivadent announces the introduction of the new Bluephase® G4, the first intelligent LED curing light. Bluephase G4 automated assistance system detects if the handpiece moved during the curing process and the restoration can no longer be cured reliably. Depending on the extent of movement, the Bluephase G4 Polyvision™ either emits a vibration alert to inform the operator of the error and, if necessary, automatically extends the curing time by 10%, or—if the handpiece moves too much (e.g., slips off the tooth)—interrupts the curing cycle by automatically shutting off so the cycle can be repeated correctly.

Like its Bluephase Style predecessor—the top-rated LED curing light for the last six years—the new Bluephase G4 features Polywave™ technology to enable curing of all dental materials. With the addition of innovative Polyvision™ technology, the uniquely stylish, user-friendly, and efficient Bluephase G4 facilitates reliable and complete curing during polymerization procedures.

Reliable, Efficient Curing

The Bluephase G4 features a light output of 1200 mW/cm2, Polywave LED technology in a broadband spectrum of 385 to 515 nm, and a 10-mm wide light guide with a homogeneous beam profile. Additionally, the curing light is also equipped with anti-glare protection to prevent activation in open space. Combined, these capabilities contribute to exceptionally efficient use, high-quality results, and short procedure time.

Overall, the new Bluephase G4 LED curing light promotes easy handling and discreet assistance for reliable curing results and satisfied patients.

About Ivoclar Vivadent

Ivoclar Vivadent is a global leader in innovative materials and processes for quality, esthetic dentistry. The company employs over 3200 people and operates in over 120 countries throughout the world. Ivoclar Vivadent is headquartered in Schaan, Liechtenstein. Its North American headquarters is based in Amherst, NY. For more information, call 1-800-533-6825 in the U.S., 1-800-263-8182 in Canada.

The Top Employers Institute has once again recognized Dentsply Sirona as "Top Employer" in Germany and Switzerland. This award honors the world's largest manufacturer of dental products for its exemplary personnel management and strategy and its exceptional personnel programs. Since 1991, the Top Employer Institute, which is based in the Netherlands, has been examining participating companies from all over the world for this award according to standard criteria. In order to achieve certification, companies must meet the Institute's requirements of an above-average standard. 

The awards will be presented during the traditional Certification Dinner at the Areal Böhler, Düsseldorf, on February 12, 2019. 

Double audit process reaffirms Dentsply Sirona as a Top Employer 

In addition to the thorough assessment by the Top Employers Institute, all of the results are also subjected to an external examination and audit. The external audit noted Dentsply Sirona’s extraordinary performance with regard to employee orientation – which is why the company was certified as Top Employer. 

Employees as the company's greatest asset 

"We are very pleased to have received the Top Employer Award once again this year. This reaffirms our personnel strategy, because at Dentsply Sirona our employees are our greatest asset," says Maureen MacInnis, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Communications. 

Through its Dentsply Sirona University, the Company offers a variety of courses in which employees can participate to strengthen their skills and develop their careers. 

Dentsply Sirona also fosters diversity and inclusion throughout the organization. For example, one program, known as the Women Inspired Network (WIN), provides a platform for women leaders at Dentsply Sirona to support the acceleration of their career development by building key leadership competencies and developing stronger networks. Now in its fourth year, the current cohort includes 27 participants, who join the more than 75 who are already part of the Network. 

Dr. Wig delivers highly sought-after lectures and conducts comprehensive workshops the world over. She has been trained at Pulpdent’s headquarters in Watertown, MA, and has worked intensively with Pulpdent materials for several years. Dr Rumpa Wig has extensive experience explaining the clinical nuances and the practical techniques involved in using Pulpdent materials to their utmost pitch of excellence.

“Dr. Wig’s enthusiasm for teaching and practicing dentistry is infectious,” says Christie Bailey, Professional Relations & International Sales Manager at Pulpdent. “People are drawn in by her caring, patient-centered approach and impressed by her technical prowess. We are delighted that she has joined Pulpdent’s global education team.”

As the Global and ASEAN-Pacific Key Opinion Leader for several leading international companies, Dr. Rumpa Wig has delivered over 600 presentations and hands-on workshops on restorative and esthetic dentistry in over a dozen countries. A passionate and devoted clinician, Dr. Rumpa Wig maintains two private practices in Bhopal, India, where she focuses on esthetic, restorative, adhesive and minimally-invasive dentistry.

Dr. Rumpa Wig holds a BDS from the Government College of Dentistry in Indore and a post-graduate certificate in esthetic dentistry from New York University. She also has a degree in classical Indian vocal music.

About Pulpdent Corporation 

Pulpdent Corporation is a family-owned dental research, manufacturing company and leader in bioactive dental materials. ACTIVA BioACTIVE, developed by Pulpdent, is a bioactive restorative material that behaves much like natural teeth and stimulates the formation of apatite (the building blocks of teeth), chemically bonds to teeth and helps protect against decay. For over 70 years Pulpdent has been committed to product innovation, clinical education and patient-centered care. 

Roland DGA Corporation, a provider of advanced milling machines and 3D devices for the dental market, has received the National Association of Dental Laboratories’ (NADL) Supplier of the Year Award for 2019. This prestigious award is presented annually to a company that has made significant contributions to and demonstrated leadership in the dental laboratory industry. NADL presented the award to Roland DGA during an evening ceremony at the recent NADL Vision 21 Meeting in Las Vegas. 

“Roland DGA has earned the 2019 NADL Supplier of the Year Award not only for bringing innovative products to the market, but also for its very strong customer service culture,” said NADL President Travis Zick. “The company embodies high standards in terms of its own workforce, the education and support it provides to the industry, and its social responsibility within their community.”

In addition to advancing digital dentistry with its cutting-edge DGSHAPE DWX dental mills and 3D devices, Roland DGA is renowned for its best-in-class customer service and support, which includes a dedicated in-house support team as well as a channel of certified technicians. The company is a leader when it comes to education as well, offering online resources, regularly scheduled webinars, continuing education clinics, instructional workshops, and more.

Supplying labs with state-of-the-art dental equipment is just part of Roland DGA’s overall operation. The company is also a top supplier of wide-format inkjet printers for the sign and graphics industry, rotary engravers and impact printers for gifts, awards, ADA signs and part marking, and 3D milling machines for industrial design and engineering.

“Being recognized by the NADL as the industry’s top vendor for 2019 is a great honor,” said Roland DGA president, Andrew Oransky. “At Roland DGA, we are committed to providing products and services that enable the success of our customers and the industry as a whole. We’re equally committed to the wellbeing of our employees, our partners and our community.”

According to Oransky, all these factors have made it possible for Roland DGA’s dental business to grow from virtually non-existent just eight years ago into a leading provider of dental mills today. “Roland DGA isn’t the type of company that rests on its laurels,” added Oransky,  “We are constantly working on improving our products, developing new technologies, and coming up with ways to deliver more value to users and the industry.”