With hospitals and emergency rooms overloaded, endodontist offices remain open for dental emergencies for those suffering from extreme tooth pain or other oral health related emergencies such as those that might require root canal treatment.

During the constantly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals and emergency rooms are experiencing extreme surges of patients seeking urgent care, leading to longer wait times for patients in need, shortages of medicine and equipment and clinician and staff overload.

To help reduce the number of ER and Urgent Care admitted patients, it’s important that patients contact an endodontist office first for all dental-related emergencies. If you are experiencing severe dental pain, dental infection symptoms (e.g. bleeding, swelling) or a dental infection-related fever, please contact your endodontist immediately or go to findmyendodontist.com to find a local endodontist.

Endodontists are tooth pain and root canal treatment specialists trained in diagnosing and treating tooth pain. They consider their role during this crisis to alleviate tooth pain, manage oral infections and reduce the need for patients to seek emergency dental care at ERs and Urgent Care facilities.

Please refer to the following for more information:

     • CDC’s COVID-19 webpage - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

     • AAE’s COVID-19 updates - https://www.aae.org/covid

About the American Association of Endodontists: The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) is headquartered in Chicago and represents more than 8,000 members worldwide. Endodontics is one of nine dental specialties formally recognized by the American Dental Association. The AAE, founded in 1943, is dedicated to excellence in the art and science of endodontics and to the highest standard of patient care. The Association inspires its members to pursue professional advancement and personal fulfillment through education, research, advocacy, leadership, communication and service. For more information about the AAE, visit the Association’s website at aae.org. For more patient focused information, visit aae.org/patients.

2019 State of the Industry Survey Shows Persistent Growth Potential

A recent survey of dental professionals conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) reveals that cosmetic procedures continue to boost production in dental practices. The AACD has conducted the biennial State of the Cosmetic Dentistry Industry Survey for the past 13 years, and the data collected is used to determine the size and impact, in terms of procedures and revenues, of the cosmetic dentistry market. While times are tough for dental professionals right now, the 2019 State of the Industry Survey supports earlier data that the field of cosmetic dentistry will continue to thrive and grow. The AACD is encouraged to share the results in preparation for the period of recovery and demand surge post-COVID, which is sure to come.

The 2019 survey conducted between January 13 and January 27, includes a snapshot of current dentist and practice demographics, plus promising findings relating to the growth of cosmetic dentistry as a whole. In fact, the average number of cosmetic procedures of most types increased from 2017. Patients are most frequently electing bonding treatments, crowns or bridgework, and implants – procedure types that survey respondents say have either stayed the same or generated more revenue from the previous year to the present. The expectation held by most respondents is that these procedures will continue to generate the same amount of revenue or more in the coming years.

The 2019 findings also show that material preferences among cosmetic dentists are slowly evolving; the number of practice transitions has remained steady from previous years; and there is a growing belief that the use of digital or CAD/CAM technology will increase in the coming years. The biggest disruptor to the industry as respondents saw it? More corporate dentistry—about 34% are currently concerned with the growth of corporate-owned dental practices.

A consistent finding with each iteration of this survey, AACD Accredited members’ practices average $1.6 million in revenue, compared to $1.2 million for General members and $800,000 for nonmembers. This may suggest that, as more and more general dentists add cosmetic procedures to their repertoire, AACD membership may be the differentiating factor for discerning cosmetic patients.

While we have entered a stressful time to practice dentistry, the AACD is encouraged to share this report as a glimmer of hope of what is to come as soon as we reach the other side. The AACD began conducting the State of the Industry survey in 2007. The survey asks questions about the cosmetic dental practice and the most frequently performed cosmetic procedures. This data is then analyzed and compared to historical survey data to present an overall picture of the cosmetic dentistry industry. The survey findings can then be used to inform decisions you make for your practice.

To download and read the survey results, click here: https://bit.ly/2ThbzG4

About the AACD

The AACD is the world’s largest non-profit member organization dedicated to advancing excellence in comprehensive oral care, combining art and science to optimally improve dental health, esthetics, and function. Comprised of more than 5,000 cosmetic dental professionals in 70 countries worldwide, the AACD fulfills its mission by offering superior educational opportunities, promoting and supporting the respected Accreditation and Fellowship credentials, serving as a user-friendly and inviting forum for the creative exchange of knowledge and ideas, and providing accurate and useful information to the public and the profession.

-Hinman Decides to "Freeze TIme" & Host 108th Meeting on March 11-13, 2021-

The Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting – one of the nation’s largest dental meetings – announced today that it will move the Hinman 2020 educational program, speakers and events to March 11-13, 2021. The 108th Meeting, which was scheduled for March 19-21 at the Georgia World Congress Center and Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta, was forced to cancel on March 11 due to the COVID-19 concerns in the U.S. and abroad.

“We are confident we made the right decision to cancel this year’s meeting and happy to share that we plan to host this outstanding educational program in 2021,” said Dr. Bob O’Donnell, General Chair for Hinman 2020 and 2021. “We’ve worked diligently over the past week to secure our speakers for next year and appreciate the opportunity to host this wonderful ‘Hinman Reunion’ next March. We’ll have an entire year to finalize the details and focus on making it the best Hinman ever for our attendees!”

Following the 2020 Meeting cancellation, Hinman’s officers discussed various options and decided that the educational program was simply too strong to abandon. “In the end, everyone agreed that the program should be moved to the already reserved March 2021 dates, which makes the planning and preparation for next year’s meeting seamless,” Dr. O’Donnell added.

Since the cancellation, Hinman staff have been processing refunds for registration, course and event fees. They also donated all of the supplies purchased for the Participation courses, which included 465 disposable gowns, 137 boxes of gloves, 17 boxes of face masks and 21 bottles of hand sanitizer to a local Atlanta retirement facility. In addition, Hinman is still awarding its annual scholarships to students throughout the Southeast. These scholarships are always presented to the recipients during the Meeting’s Scholars Luncheon.

The Hinman Dental Society, which sponsors the Hinman Meeting, will keep its current slate of officers, who will serve another year. Society President Dr. Sedgie Newsom said, “We are fortunate to have an outstanding membership that is willing to volunteer and help with anything and everything to make the Meeting possible and enjoyable. It’s going to be a great year.”

The Hinman Meeting annually attracts more than 20,000 dentists, hygienists, assistants, students and other dental professionals and industry personnel to Atlanta. In addition, more than 400 companies exhibit at the conference, which is held every March. This was only the third time in its 108-year history that the Meeting has been cancelled. In 1931, the Meeting was cancelled out of respect for the death of its founder, prominent Atlanta dentist Dr. Thomas P. Hinman. And, in 1933, the Meeting was cancelled due to the Great Depression.

For more information on Hinman 2021, refunds or other questions, please visit the Hinman website and its social media channels. Or, contact Hinman at (404) 231-1663.

The Hinman Tradition

The Hinman Dental Meeting is designed with a commitment to quality and professionalism and a high regard for the value of continuing education. The Meeting is sponsored by the Hinman Dental Society, a non-profit organization, and excess revenue is invested and gifted in the form of individual scholarships to dental, hygiene and assisting students and in contributions to institutions that foster dental education. For additional information about the Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting, visit Hinman.org or contact Ms. Sylvia Ratchford, Executive Director, at (404) 231-1663.

Engle Dental, an industry leader in the design and manufacturing of dental operatory equipment, announced today that it has transformed the upholstery department at its production facility in Hillsboro, Oregon, to immediately begin producing face masks for first responders and healthcare workers battling coronavirus (COVID-19).

“I spoke to my sister-in-law who works at a hospital in Oregon and has used the same one time use mask for more than three days,” said Jason Rebitzke, General Manager at Engle. “I knew that this was a problem we could help with. At Engle, we have our own in-house upholstery department and decided to use our resources to make masks for the healthcare workers who so desperately need them.”

All donations will be delivered directly to local healthcare facilities in need.

About Engle:

For the past 50 years, Engle has built its reputation on quality, ingenuity, and integrity. With industry-leading engineering and customer service that dentists rely on, Engle products are American-made, designed and manufactured in Hillsboro, Oregon. Engle Dental is the only company that makes the fully programmable, 10.25″ forward/backward hydraulic Traverse Chair™. In addition to its space-saving design, the patented traverse feature allows for unparalleled ergonomics and easy dental team access. For more information on Engle Dental Systems, please visit www.engledental.com. 

Advisors Will Provide Guidance on Teledentistry-Delivered Urgent Care and Expanding Teledentistry Beyond the Coronavirus Pandemic

MouthWatch, LLC recently announced the formation of a TeleDent COVID-19 Advisory Board. This group of teledentistry thought leaders will help MouthWatch develop best practice protocols for implementing teledentistry in the new reality of urgent care only. The team will also assist the company with creating very timely teledentistry-focused education and training materials. Topics covered will include the following:

·       Establishing Oral Triage Protocols

·       Implementing Proper Coding

·       Coordinating Dental Team Participation

·       Developing Virtual Workflows

·       Conducting Live Consultations

·       Explaining Legal & Regulatory Parameters

According to MouthWatch CEO and Founder, Brant Herman, “Many care providers are trying to figure out how to properly implement teledentistry so they can deliver urgent patient care. Our goal is to fill this information gap and to also ensure that teledentistry adoption and utilization continues long after the pandemic is over. I’m confident that we have the right advisory board in place to help us achieve these goals.”

The TeleDent COVID-19 Advisory Board consists of the following teledentistry thought leaders:

Margaret Scarlett DMD is an infectious and chronic disease prevention specialist, dentist and author.  For thirty years, Dr. Scarlett has provided expert guidance on infectious diseases and infection control as a consultant to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, the United States Agency for International Development, the American Red Cross and many consumer health companies.

Paul Glassman, DDS, MA, MBA: Dr. Glassman is the founder of the Virtual Dental Home Program, whereby he and his team at the University of the Pacific developed a more efficient way to connect patients to dental care through the combination of technology and innovation. This care-delivery model, combined with his efforts in education, in supporting legislative changes that support teledentistry and improve access to care have helped create a landscape where more and more programs and providers are interested in teledentistry and the opportunities it creates.

Dr. Scott Howell, DMD, MPH, FSCD, is an assistant Professor and Director of Teledentistry at A.T. Still University, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health.  He has a strong background in mobile dentistry and innovative care models focused on teledentistry and public health. Dr. Howell developed imaging protocols to implement comprehensive teledentistry assessments and continues to contribute innovative care delivery programs to the ATSU curriculum and dental students.

Scott H. Froum, DDS is a Board-certified periodontist and a clinical associate professor at SUNY Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine in the Department of Periodontics. He is also chief editor of the Perio-Implant Advisory. Dr. Froum has lectured on the national and international level on implant therapy, bone and gum regeneration, and complications. Dr. Froum recently began using teledentistry in his New York City practice to provide his patients with emergency care services.

Patti DiGangi, RDH, BS believes dentistry is no longer just about fixing teeth; dentistry is oral medicine and it’s time we got around to truly practicing it. Patti’s specialty is medically necessary coding. Her efforts have assisted thousands of professionals to code more accurately and efficiently. The American Dental Association recognized her expertise by inviting her to write a chapter in its CDT 2017 Companion book and again for CDT 2018 Companion. Patti holds publishing and speaking licenses with ADA for Current Dental Terminology©2020. She is a strong advocate of teledentistry and is the co-author of Teledentistry: Pathway to Prosperity, Critical Choices.

Michelle Strange, MSDH, RDH, has been a dental clinician since 2000 and is currently a practicing hygienist, speaker, writer, content developer, consultant, and podcast cohost for A Tale of Two Hygienists. With a master's degree in dental hygiene education and a belief in lifelong learning, she hopes to continue to learn and grow within the dental profession and one day see the gap bridged between medicine and dentistry.  Michelle currently uses teledentistry in her volunteer work with a dental clinic in South Carolina.

The dental community will soon be able to gain a deeper understanding of how to use teledentistry during the coronavirus epidemic thanks to white papers, guest blogs, webinars, e-books and articles that will be developed in close collaboration with the TeleDent COVID-19 Advisory Board. In the meantime, visit www.mouthwatch.com for more information.

About MouthWatch LLC

Headquartered in Metuchen, New Jersey, MouthWatch, LLC is a leader in innovative clinician-focused teledentistry solutions, digital case presentation tools and intraoral imaging devices. The company is dedicated to finding new ways to constantly improve the dental health experience for both patient and provider.  The founders and management team of MouthWatch have relevant backgrounds and successful track records in dentistry, consumer products and communications. Since 2012, this team has pioneered the integration of digital imagery and communications technology in the field of dentistry. Their cumulative experience makes it possible for the company to take the lead in introducing the benefits of telemedicine to the world of dentistry. For more information, visit www.MouthWatch.com .

The current American Dental Association (ADA) recommendation for dentists to keep their offices closed to all but emergency care expires on April 6. The new interim recommendation from the ADA is that dentists keep their offices closed to all but urgent and emergency procedures until April 30 at the earliest.

The rate of COVID-19 transmissions is on the rise in most states. The new interim ADA recommendation is in keeping with the recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation to perform only emergency or urgent dental care until April 30, 2020 and must be taken seriously by all dental professionals. The ADA believes individual dentists should exercise professional judgment and carefully consider the risks outlined in the ADA’s interim guidance and weigh those risks against any possible benefit to the patient, the practice employees, the community at large, and the practitioner. Critically important is the availability of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize any risk of transmission during emergency and urgent care. Due to the proximity of individuals during dental procedures, and the generation of aerosols, dentists, staff and patients are at high risk of transmission.

The ADA also recognizes that existing and future local or state government mandates supersede ADA recommendations. In addition, state dental associations may best understand local challenges being faced and make recommendations appropriate to members in their areas.

The PPE required to reduce the risk of transmission during dental treatment to its lowest levels (as noted in algorithm 3), are scarce. Asymptomatic patients cannot be assumed to be COVID-19 free. As of March 31, point of care tests exist, but are extremely difficult to obtain. Unless point of care tests are readily available to the dental practice, no one can be assured that they are treating a non-infected individual. The safety of their patients, staff and themselves should be foremost when dentists exercise their professional judgment, and information regarding the relative risks is available from the ADA, via the Interim Guidance, to assist in making those decisions.

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

As organizations that represent or collaborate with individuals and institutions at the forefront of delivering health care in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are vitally concerned with the shortages of masks, face shields and other personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, swab kits, and testing capacity that are critically needed by frontline caregivers and patients. In the most affected areas, hospitals, other healthcare delivery organizations, physicians, dentists and other caregivers need help now. Many others will need the same help in the coming weeks.

PPE is needed immediately to protect the caregivers who are risking their own health to care for patients in the most need. Shortages of ventilators and intensive care facilities threaten the lives of the sickest patients.

We strongly support emergency efforts at the federal level to dramatically increase the production and distribution of PPE and other necessary medical equipment and supplies. We also support the availability of telehealth services during this time to use less PPE while preventing the spread of infection.

We must all work immediately to remove any impediments anywhere in the supply chain and come together at the federal, state, and local levels to develop an approach for a fair, equitable, and swift distribution across the nation that is based upon evidence of the most need.

The following organizations signed on to this Joint Commission statement:

     • American College of Physicians

     • American College of Surgeons

     • American Dental Association

     • American Hospital Association

     • American Medical Association

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

The New York State Dental Association (NYSDA) is working directly with emergency management leaders across the state to coordinate efforts to collect donated personal protection equipment (PPE). In the first week, dentists across the state have generously donated 320 n95 and level 3 surgical masks, 18,370 level 1 and 2 masks, 858 boxes of gloves, 126 eye shields, 184 gowns, and a number of containers of Caviwipes and hand sanitizer. In addition to NYSDA's efforts, the local dental societies have organized regional drives to collect PPE donations for hospitals in need." data-reactid="12" type="text"> The New York State Dental Association (NYSDA) is working directly with emergency management leaders across the state to coordinate efforts to collect donated personal protection equipment (PPE). In the first week, dentists across the state have generously donated 320 n95 and level 3 surgical masks, 18,370 level 1 and 2 masks, 858 boxes of gloves, 126 eye shields, 184 gowns, and a number of containers of Caviwipes and hand sanitizer. In addition to NYSDA's efforts, the local dental societies have organized regional drives to collect PPE donations for hospitals in need.

"A dentist's first priority is always to help the public. Even as dentists are deemed essential for emergency procedures, and must still have an adequate inventory of PPE to provide patient care, they are donating supplies for front-line healthcare workers across the state. They will continue to help the public in this time of uncertainty and need," said Dr. Payam Goudarzi, DDS, President of the New York State Dental Association.

Inventory may be donated using the donation form found at nysdental.org/ppedonations. Once submitted, donors will be contacted directly in that region with drop off instructions."

The New York State Dental Association, founded in 1868, is one of the largest state constituents of the American Dental Association and represents more than 70 percent of dentists practicing in New York State.

Founded in 1859, the American Dental Association is the oldest and largest national dental society in the world and serves as the leading source of oral health-related information for dentists and their patients.

As your infection control specialist, Coltene SciCan remains committed to providing solutions and sharing knowledge to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

That’s why we have launched a dedicated web page, www.scican.com/corona-virus-resources containing articles on surface disinfection, information on maintaining your stericenter equipment during office closures as well as resources and links to assist healthcare professionals in managing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While we are learning new things about this disease everyday, health authorities are clear on what it is and that the infection control policies and procedures used by dental health professionals around the world are effective and continue to be one of the key strategies to contain the spread of contagion.

We are committed to serving our partners and clients in the ongoing effort to fight this disease and protect front-line dental health care professionals.

As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, we will be updating this web page with the latest information.

A-dec announced today that they are manufacturing personal protective equipment (PPE) in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been working to develop a variety of PPE products that are in critical need by health-care workers.

“For more than 55 years, A-dec has lived by the principle of prioritizing concern for people above all else.” said Scott Parrish, A-dec President and CEO. “As a family-owned, Newberg manufacturer, A-dec is proud to bring much-needed PPE to Oregon’s health-care workers. This is what we should be doing during this unprecedented time: working together to solve problems and take care of communities.”

In the wake of the COVID-19, A-dec launched programs and infection control resources to support health-care professionals practicing dentistry during the crisis. After being contacted by a local health-care worker from Legacy Health with a request for assistance, A-dec employees worked around the clock over a weekend to develop prototypes of needed supplies. Over the course of just over a week, we have converted several of our manufacturing areas to produce PPE for health and emergency responder systems in the local area.

While A-dec and our partners in healthcare have been able to mobilize our efforts, there is a prevalent shortage of the raw materials needed to make these products. We are calling on other product makers, suppliers, and organizations to come alongside us to support these efforts and reduce the continued risk exposure of workers and patients during this global emergency. To learn about how you can contribute, contact us directly at PR@a-dec.com.