The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes the unprecedented and extraordinary circumstances dentists and all health care professionals face related to growing concern about COVID-19. The ADA is deeply concerned for the health and well-being of the public and the dental team.

In order for dentistry to do its part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the ADA recommends dentists nationwide postpone elective procedures for the next three weeks. Concentrating on emergency dental care will allow us to care for our emergency patients and alleviate the burden that dental emergencies would place on hospital emergency departments.

As health care professionals, it is up to dentists to make well-informed decisions about their patients and practices. The ADA is committed to providing the latest information to the profession in a useful and timely manner.

The ADA is continually evaluating and will update its recommendation on an ongoing basis as new information becomes available. Please visit ADA.org/virus for the latest information.

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

Online Hub Provides Dental and Medical Professionals with Critical Information Regarding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus

Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) released today the COVID-19 Resource Center, a web-based hub that provides industry-specific information to help office-based dental and medical practitioners navigate the COVID-19 outbreak.

Located on Henry Schein’s global website, the resource center features a collection of links and downloadable infographics to help health care professionals prepare and effectively communicate with their staff and patients as the outbreak continues to evolve. Information available on the resource center includes:

   ·         A COVID-19 check list for practice owners with suggested steps to keep practices running smoothly;

   ·         Links to educational videos to share with patients from key sources, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC);

   ·         A downloadable infographic defining COVID-19, its symptoms, and how people can prevent the spread of the virus;

   ·         Links to CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) web pages with critical information for dental and medical practice owners and their staff, including a “What Clinicians Need to Know” webinar.

“As the COVID-19 outbreak evolves, we at Henry Schein are committed to helping health care professionals effectively communicate to their staff and patients,” said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein. “We take our role as a valuable business partner to health care professionals seriously, and we’ll continue to update the COVID-19 Resource Center with the latest information that our customers can rely on to run their practices efficiently and deliver quality patient care.”

Visit www.henryschein.com/COVID19update for important information about what Henry Schein is doing to address this unprecedented situation and the actions the Company is taking to get more product into the hands of those who need it most—health care professionals.

About  Henry Schein, Inc.

Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is a solutions company for health care professionals powered by a network of people and technology. With more than 19,000  Team Schein Members worldwide, the Company's network of trusted advisors provides more than 1 million customers globally with more than 300 valued solutions that improve operational success and clinical outcomes. Our Business, Clinical, Technology, and Supply Chain solutions help office-based dental and  medical practitioners work more efficiently so they can provide quality care more effectively. These solutions also support  dental laboratories,  government and institutional healthcare clinics, as well as other alternate care sites.

Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 120,000 branded products and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 180,000 additional products available as special-order items.

A FORTUNE 500 Company and a member of the S&P 500® index, Henry Schein is headquartered in Melville, N.Y., and has operations or affiliates in 31 countries. The Company's sales from continuing operations reached $10.0 billion in 2019, and have grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 13 percent since Henry Schein became a public company in 1995.

For more information, visit Henry Schein at  www.henryschein.com, Facebook.com/HenrySchein, and  @HenrySchein on Twitter.

The Dental Trade Alliance (DTA), an association of companies that provide dental equipment, supplies, materials and services to dental professionals, announced that its board of directors has appointed Gregory Chavez as chief executive officer. The organization’s previous chief executive officer, Gary Price, retired on January 31, 2020. Chavez brings more than 25 years of association management experience to the position and most recently served as executive vice president of operations and membership at The Vision Council.

Speaking on behalf of the recruitment committee, Robert Savage, Vice President and CFO of Drake Precision Laboratories and Immediate Past DTA Chair said, “We are fortunate to have appointed someone with a proven track record of execution and leadership with a unique background that helps intersect healthcare and manufacturing industries within the association management space.“

Dave Steck, current DTA Chair and General Manager at Henry Schein stated, “We believe Greg brings a unique set of experiences and skills to the DTA. He is well versed in many of the issues facing our industry and association. Greg will be a great cultural fit and a strong strategic partner for our membership.”

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Dental Trade Alliance in my new role,” said Chavez. “I believe my experience in market research, government affairs and industry growth initiatives in the healthcare association industry will translate well and help to take DTA programs to the next level.”

Dental Trade Alliance

The Dental Trade Alliance (DTA) is an association of companies that provide dental equipment, supplies, materials and services to dentists and other oral care professionals. Our member companies include distributors, dental laboratories and manufacturers, located in the United States, Canada and Mexico. By providing the best equipment, materials and services to dentists and oral care professionals, we are partners in improving the oral health of everyone.

Every year, Philadelphia Magazine issues an award to the top dental professional in the area for outstanding quality of care. This year, the magazine named local practitioner, Dr. I. Stephen Brown "Top Dentist in the Field of Periodontics," which is now the eleventh year in a row that he has received this accolade.

No popularity contest, Philadelphia Magazine uses a robust process for determining those it names as top-raking professionals in the field of dentistry. First, it polls dentists in the city of Philadelphia and seven surrounding counties for nominations. It then asks them to vote on whom they think are the most respected practitioners currently operating in the region. After collecting the results, the magazine sends a shortlist of names to a panel of distinguished dental professionals from the local area who then use their expertise to make the final adjudication.

Dr. Brown’s success in 2020 is not only a reflection of his skills as a periodontist, but also his role as a leading opinion-maker and educator in the dental community. Professionals from across the area hold him in high regard because of his contributions to the field, which include sponsorship of a variety of ongoing educational programs, his role as the Director of The Albert Einstein Dental Implant Center, and his teaching roles at Temple Dental School and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.

Those who know Dr. Brown celebrate him as an innovator. He was, for instance, the first practitioner in the area to be trained to use the minimally-invasive LANAP procedure, a technique designed to help reduce the symptoms of gum disease. He is also one of the few periodontists in Philadelphia to use phase-contrast microscope technology to identify bacterial risk markers associated with periodontal disease.

Dr. Brown’s 2020 Philadelphia Magazine Top Dentist Award is a reflection of his prominence across the dental world, as well as an indication of the impact he has had on his community. He is intensely concerned about the quality of patient care, and has pioneered a range of novel scanning techniques, including dental implant CT imaging, which reduces radiation exposure.

This latest achievement of Dr. Brown signals a man at the top of his professions, continuing to provide significant value to the community he serves. This year, the competition from aspiring dentists in the Philadelphia area was intense, which underscores the esteem in which Dr. Brown is held by his peers, and cements him as one of the most celebrated oral health practitioners in the metropolitan area.

For those considering periodontal care, Dr. Brown is clearly a leader in the field, as judged by a panel of his peers. He uses the very latest techniques to enhance the quality of the patient experience, while also reducing the risk that people face every time they visit their dentist. Dr. Brown is currently accepting new patients and enjoys getting to know all those patients who come to see him because of his expertise, skill and judgment.

For more information, please call Dr. Brown’s office at 215-735-3660 or by visiting https://www.theperiogroup.com

Bennett Napier, Chief Staff Executive of the National Association of Dental Laboratories, shared that the Florida Legislature just passed Legislation that included language on “authorization of dental laboratory technicians to be onsite for chairside services.” This is the first language of its kind in the US that takes into account that dentists are seeking the dental laboratory technician to be onsite for complex cases such as full mouth reconstructions, immediate loads, All-on-4, training for IOS systems, etc.

This legislation was introduced in 2019, but the language died as part of a bill that did not get passed. This year, the Florida Dental Laboratory Association, with the support of the National Association of Dental Laboratories, lobbied for the language again, and it passed as part of House Bill 713, which did pass both chambers. It is expected the Governor will sign this bill.

The Florida Dental Association (Drew Eason and Jo Anne Hart) were supportive of FDLA’s efforts.

Align Technology has been one of the partner companies of exocad since 2017. On March 4, 2020, the company announced the acquisition of exocad. On March 12, 2020, representatives of both companies shared some insights at a press conference: Novica Savic, exocad CCO, Christophe Dorian, Director GPM Restoratives Align Technology, Larry Bodony, President exocad America, Tillmann Steinbrecher, CEO and co-founder of exocad, and Vianne Battle, Senior Director EMEA, Align Technology, (from left).

Align and exocad held their first joint press conference in Darmstadt/Germany on March 12, 2020. One of the main topics was the acquisition of exocad by Align Technology. 

Novica Savic, exocad CCO, Christophe Dorian, Director GPM Restoratives Align Technology, Larry Bodony, President exocad America, Tillmann Steinbrecher, CEO and co-founder of exocad, and Vianne Battle, Senior Director EMEA, Align Technology, (from left) sent clear messages during the press conference: The philosophy of the open software architecture of exocad will continue and exocad will remain independent. 

The exocad management remains on board. "We will continue our way as before and remain completely independent,” stated Tillmann Steinbrecher, CEO and co-founder of exocad.

"The distribution of our software will continue to be handled by partner companies in the future. exocad remains an OEM manufacturer," was the message of Novica Savic, exocad CCO. Currently, exocad distributes its software solutions through more than 200 partner companies worldwide. 

Tillmann Steinbrecher (l), exocad CEO, sees Align Technology as the ideal partner with which to grow successfully as part of the global dental company, with Vianne Battle, Senior Director EMEA, Align Technology (r). Both see great potential for a successful future with the merger.

Partner companies and users can continue to rely one hundred percent on the robustness and unlimited usability of new software modules and features. Tillmann Steinbrecher (r) presented the innovations of the current DentalCAD 2.4 Plovdiv release. There will continue to be a comprehensive release once a year. Users of the open implant planning software can already look forward to the exoplan 3.0 Galway release, which Tillmann Steinbrecher (r) announced.

Christophe Dorian, Director GPM Restoratives Align Technology, in a press conference. Currently, about eight million patients rely on Invisalign, the world's most advanced aligner technology.

In the darmstadtium press lounge, representatives of Align and exocad management appeared in person and via livestream to the dental trade press for the first time: Novica Savic, exocad CCO, Christophe Dorian, Director GPM Restoratives Align Technology, Larry Bodony, President exocad America, Tillmann Steinbrecher, CEO and co-founder of exocad, and Vianne Battle, Senior Director EMEA, Align Technology, (from left).

Align Technology and exocad held their first joint press conference in Darmstadt on March 12, 2020. In exocad's home town, representatives from both companies explained the great potential of the acquisition for future digital dentistry.

Of the 10 countries surveyed, the United States ranks second last with less than a third of parents limiting sugar levels in their children´s diet.

The UK ranks highest with just over half of parents indicating they restrict sugar levels.

Less than half of parents take their children at least once a year for a dental check-up.

Less than half of parents proactively limit the intake of sugary food and drinks such as candy, soda drinks and juice to their children as a means of protecting their teeth, according to a YouGov survey of 10 developed and developing countries commissioned by FDI World Dental Federation (FDI).

Released ahead of World Oral Health Day (WOHD) on 20 March, the survey asked parents with children aged under 18 years "which, if any, of the following have you EVER done to ensure your child(ren) has good oral health?". The results indicate that less than a third of parents in the United States of America (USA) limit their child´s sugar intake while parents in the United Kingdom (UK) are the most proactive with just over half of parents indicating they restrict sugar levels. Parents in the UK were also top ranked for taking their children at least once a year for a dental check-up whereas less than half of parents in the other nine countries did so.

"Oral disease is a big part of a largely preventable disease burden and these survey results demonstrate that we´re just not doing enough to avoid oral health problems at an early age," said Dr Gerhard K. Seeberger, president of FDI.

Oral disease shares common risk factors with other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) including tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diets, especially those high in sugar. It also typifies the kind of health inequities that are so linked to the NCD burden.

"The oral health profession has largely existed as a separate specialty divorced from medicine and medicine's education system but the intense debate around sugar over the past few years only illustrates the fallacy of working in silos. It is simply unproductive to be discussing sugary drinks and their link to the obesity epidemic without factoring in the obvious impact they have on the oral health of children," said Seeberger.

Oral health continues to be one of the most neglected areas of global health. The tragedy is that oral disease is a silent epidemic afflicting some 3.58 billion people—more than half the world's population—but it's largely preventable. Oral diseases, such as dental caries (tooth decay), gum disease and oral cancer, are the most common forms of preventable NCDs and affect people throughout their lifetime, causing pain, discomfort, disfigurement and even death. The collective failure to prevent oral disease costs the world economy some US$442 billion.

Much of the neglect is down to one main barrier: high treatment costs. Oral diseases are the fourth most expensive out-of-pocket diseases to treat. Furthermore, political impetus to change this scenario has been largely absent due in part to the fact, that historically, the "mouth" has been treated separately from the "body" in healthcare policy making.

The survey reports that parents from the USA rank second to last when asked if they limit(ed) sugary food and drinks in their child(ren)'s diet (e.g. candy, soda, juice), with 32 per cent of respondents saying that this was the case. The remaining countries' results included the United Kingdom (52 per cent), Sweden (44 per cent),  (Australia (41 per cent), China (41 per cent), Morocco (40 per cent), France (37 per cent), Philippines (36 per cent), Egypt (32 per cent) and  Argentina (30 per cent).

Forty-one percent of parents in the USA took their child for a dental check-up at least once a year The remaining countries' results included the United Kingdom (63 per cent), Argentina (47 per cent), France ( 42 per cent), Sweden (41 per cent), Australia (37 percent), Philippines (31 per cent), China (18  per cent),  Morocco (12 per cent) and Egypt (11 per cent).

This year World Oral Health Day is featuring pledges to inspire the general public, policymakers, healthcare professionals and other key stakeholders to Unite for Mouth Health.

About the Survey

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 11,552 adults, of which 4,056 were parents with children aged 18 and under. Fieldwork was undertaken between 30 January–8 February 2018. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and our nationally representative of all adults aged 18+. The breakdown of those that were parents with children aged 18 and under were as follows: UK (468), Australia (311), Egypt (463), Philippines (506), France (357), USA (295), Morocco (386), Sweden (272), China (529), and Argentina (469).

About World Oral Health Day

Celebrated annually on 20 March, World Oral Health Day (WOHD) was launched by FDI World Dental Federation to raise global awareness on the prevention and control of oral diseases. www.worldoralhealthday.org; #WOHD20 #UniteForMouthHealth

WOHD Global Partners: Unilever; WOHD Supporters: 3M, Planmeca, Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program

About FDI World Dental Federation

FDI World Dental Federation serves as the principal representative body for over 1 million dentists worldwide. Its membership includes some 200 national dental associations and specialist groups in over 130 countries. FDI has the vision of leading the world to optimal oral health. https://www.fdiworlddental.org/; facebook.com/FDIWorldDentalFederation; twitter.com/FDIWorldDental

The Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD), recently announced that the 27^th annual conference and exhibition, which was scheduled to take place April 2-4 at the Paradise Point Resort in San Diego, cannot be held due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to ALD Executive Director, Gail Siminovsky, CAE, “Our annual conference is international in scope and in light of the global pandemic, international travel bans and President Trump’s recent declaration of a national emergency, the ALD Board of Directors made this difficult decision.  Adhering to CDC and WHO recommendations and supporting the health and safety of our members and guests is our top priority.”

Despite this unfortunate situation, the ALD is moving swiftly in its preparations for Dentistry’s Laser Meeting in 2021, scheduled for April 8-10 in Alexandria, Virginia. Preliminary information will be available on the ALD website, www.LaserDentistry.org during the next few weeks.

In the meantime, the ALD is making every effort to accommodate everyone registered to participate in this year’s conference. For example:

     ·       This year’s attendees will have the option for a full refund or to apply ALD 2020 tuition to next year’s conference.

     ·       ALD 2020 speakers will have an opportunity to present during ALD 2021 and participate in a webinar in 2020.

     ·       Exhibitors for ALD 2020 will have the option of exhibiting at ALD 2021 at no additional charge.

“Not holding this year’s conference was a difficult decision for the ALD Board of Directors,” explained Siminovsky. “So many people worked incredibly hard to develop and plan for ALD’s global meeting this year.  We are all confident that ALD 2021 will raise the bar of laser education and training.”

About the Academy of Laser Dentistry

The Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD) is the only independent and unbiased non-profit association devoted to laser dentistry and includes clinicians, academicians and researchers in all laser wavelengths.  The Academy is devoted to clinical education, research, and the development of standards and guidelines for the safe and effective use of dental laser technology.  ALD was founded in 1993, with the merging of the International Academy of Laser Dentistry, the North American Academy of Laser Dentistry and the American Academy of Laser Dentistry.  For more information, visit www.LaserDentistry.org.

Millennium Dental Technologies, Inc., announces limited-time dynamic pricing on the PerioLase^® Periodontal Package™ for the LANAP^® protocol, LAPIP™ protocol, and VAPs™. The economic stimulus pricing represents a $50,000 price reduction, or 42% compared to a current 25% stock price decline. New financing options will also be available.

This limited-time dynamic pricing opportunity is unprecedented and an extraordinary opportunity for clinicians who have been waiting to adopt LANAP treatment and for younger dentists to generate patient flow and practice income.

Dynamic pricing for the PerioLase Periodontal Package is structured to support the private practice clinicians, stimulating practice growth with a new revenue stream, increased case acceptance, laser-based vs. aerosol-based treatments and maintaining financial stability with a high hourly production. This 1^st ever emergency stimulus pricing allows those clinicians, young and seasoned, to integrate the patient-preferred LANAP and LAPIP treatments with this extremely limited-time rollback pricing not seen since 2008.

The PerioLase Periodontal Package includes:

     • Full training and licensing for the patented LANAP and LAPIP protocols

     • Five star, hands-on, live patient training

     • PerioLase MVP-7 dental laser, LANAP Piezo Scaler and proprietary tips, and all intellectual property needed to perform the LANAP and LAPIP protocols

     • 6 months Money-back clinical results guarantee

     • Ongoing technical and clinical support

Take control of your practice's financial future. Contact Millennium Dental Technologies to take advantage of the limited-time rollback pricing.

ABOUT MILLENNIUM DENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.:

Millennium Dental Technologies, Inc., is the developer of the LANAP protocol for the treatment of gum disease, the LAPIP protocol for ailing dental implants, and the manufacturer of the PerioLase MVP-7 dental laser. By providing a simple and comfortable experience with unique bone-building clinical results, MDT's FDA-cleared LANAP protocol removes the fear from gum disease treatment, offering a vastly less painful and less invasive regenerative treatment alternative to conventional surgery. The company's founding clinician, Robert H. Gregg II, continues to operate the company with the vision: To create better clinical outcomes in periodontal disease patients—remaining true to the guiding principle—"It's all about the patient."

The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) has been awarded a five-year grant of more than $1.3 million by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) in response to FOA RFA-DE-19-007: NIDCR Mentoring Network to Support a Diverse Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research Workforce. The grant project dates are March 2020 through February 2025 (Grant No. 1UE5DE029439-01). Principal Investigators for the grant are David Drake, Professor of Microbiology, University of Iowa and the Iowa Institute for Oral Health Research; Christopher H. Fox, CEO, American Association for Dental Research and Effie Ioannidou, Director, University of Connecticut Dental Clinical Research Center.

The NIH recognizes a unique and compelling need to promote diversity in the NIH funded biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences workforce. The primary goal of this NIDCR program is to establish a mentoring network that will enable a diverse pool of early career investigators, including those from groups identified as underrepresented in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences, (see NOT-OD-20-031), to develop professional career skills; to enhance professional career advancement and transition from one career stage to the next, such as postdoctoral scientists transitioning to junior faculty positions, or junior faculty achieving tenure; and to develop a high quality independently funded research program.

The AADR Mentoring an Inclusive Network for a Diverse Workforce of the Future (AADR MIND the Future) is expected to build a vibrant and inclusive community of investigators whose participation is vital to advancing dental, oral and craniofacial research and improving the oral health of our nation. Ten new mentees will be funded per year for the five funding years; and once the mentees complete the program, they will become alumni. The program will offer educational activities and interactive opportunities across the network, between mentors and mentees to support the development of a diverse cadre of dental, oral and craniofacial researchers.

“AADR is committed to increasing diversity and inclusion within the organization and within the broader dental, oral and craniofacial research workforce,” said Timothy Wright, AADR President. “This grant allows us to connect 50 mentees and mentors, several universities and three reputable organizations to advance diversity and inclusion. It’s an outstanding opportunity that we are proud to lead.”

The program includes a national network of 11 universities and three organizations which will be intricately involved in the program. The universities are organized into Eastern, Western, Southern and Midwest Hubs and include the two dental schools based in Historically Black Universities and Colleges, recognizing the importance of diversity and inclusion for both mentees and mentors, as well as one institution well-funded by the NIDCR, but without a dental school.

The universities include:

·      Columbia University

·      Howard University

·      Meharry Dental College

·      Stanford University

·      University of California, Los Angeles

·      University of Connecticut

·      University of Florida

·      University of Iowa

·      University of Minnesota

·      University of Oklahoma

·      UT Health Science Center at Houston

The organizations include:

·      Oklahoma Center for Mentoring Excellence will conduct a workshop for mentor training each year of the grant.

·      The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science will offer one full-day Workshop in Science Communication during the AADR Annual Meeting each year for the five grant years.

·      The NIH National Research Mentoring Network is an NIH-funded and supported, nationwide consortium of biomedical faculty and scientists across universities and institutions. AADR plans to integrate the program with key programs within the NRMN. This is an important integration that will significantly benefit both NIH-supported programs but most importantly, provide mentees with a comprehensive mentoring experience that will lead to their success in academia.

About the American Association for Dental Research

The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) is a nonprofit organization with over 3,300 individual members in the United States, dedicated to driving dental, oral and craniofacial research to advance health and well-being through discovery and dissemination. The AADR is the largest Division of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) with over 10,000 members. The AADR also manages the activities of FNIDCR. To learn more, visit www.iadr.org/aadr.