NSK Americas, the world’s largest manufacturer of rotary instruments, including air-driven and electric handpieces for dental professionals, has officially launched NSK LIVE: a virtual platform that helps NSK Representatives provide constant support to customers.

“As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a renewed focus on infection control and prevention is necessary,” said Colan Rogers, President of NSK America. “Given that NSK has been a steadfast leader in handpiece infection control, it was important for us to support dental professionals and dealers during this time. Understanding the demand for enhanced safety and protection, we want to provide our customers with fast, easy and more accessible communication, and the NSK LIVE portal helps us do it.”

NSK LIVE gives dental professionals the safe option of connecting with NSK Representatives virtually—“anytime, anywhere”—to ensure practice needs are met. NSK Representatives are available on the platform to help with in-services, troubleshooting, questions, custom requests and more. They will also continue with on-site visits.

Dental professionals and dealers can go to www.nsktech-us.com/LIVE to schedule a virtual or in-person appointment with their local NSK Representative today.

About NSK

Founded in 1930, Nakanishi (NSK) is the world’s largest manufacturer of rotary instruments for the dental profession which includes air-driven and electric handpieces, specialty handpieces (endo, surgical, hygiene), electric motors and handpiece maintenance systems. NSK is passionate about creating innovative products that deliver outstanding value. Almost all parts are manufactured in-house to guarantee the highest precision, reliability and performance. The Ti-Max Z contra-angle and air turbine series and the NLZ micromotors resulted from NSK’s constant quest to make the impossible possible.

ADEA President and CEO Karen P. West, D.M.D., M.P.H., issued the following statement in response to the recent tragedies and protests in the United States

During these painful times for our nation, it seems appropriate to highlight and share ADEA’s values, especially as they relate to our unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion.

ADEA’s value of diversity is embedded in respect and appreciation of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability or handicap, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information and perspectives of each individual.

We are struggling to make sense of the recent tragedies in our country that leave us feeling overcome with sadness. The events of this past week have only served to highlight the discriminatory treatment communities of color have suffered for far too long. This latest painful episode comes on top of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionately hurt communities of color, both in terms of lives lost and economic cost.

The challenge for all of us is to remain calm during this storm, hold on to a ray of light, and believe that sensibilities and justice will ultimately win. At ADEA, we know that racism has no place in our society—ever. At ADEA, we work toward decreasing health inequalities every day. While we do not have all the answers, we resolve to use compassion and mutual feelings of humanity to ensure we are fostering a culture that acknowledges access, diversity and inclusion—and we encourage all ADEA member institutions and individuals to do the same.

As a profession, and as a nation, we grow stronger the more we embrace diversity and the more we treat all people with the dignity and respect they deserve. ADEA wishes all its members and the communities we serve peace and comfort during these difficult times, and we pledge to work with you to help achieve a society free of discrimination and full of opportunity for all.

Please read the full ADEA Statement on Diversity and Inclusion.

Graduate level program designed to improve overall patient outcomes

The University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) is proud to announce an innovative new program for nurses, physician assistants, and other non-dental healthcare providers seeking advanced training in oral health and dental medicine. The curriculum is designed to help clinicians recognize and manage oral health infections, diseases, and systemic conditions to more effectively and efficiently improve overall health for their patients.

“By equipping health care professionals to detect oral conditions, particularly common oral diseases, such as periodontal (gum) diseases, we are equipping them to improve patient outcomes,” says Mary Beth Aichelmann-Reidy, DDS, chief of UMSOD’s Periodontics Division in the Department of Advanced Oral Sciences and Therapeutics. “The recognition of oral diseases and oral manifestations of systemic diseases is integral to health promotion and disease prevention.”

“It’s an exciting time,” adds Mark A. Reynolds, DDS, PhD, dean and professor, UMSOD. “There is a growing recognition that chronic oral infections can contribute to poorer systemic health and to inferior patient health care outcomes.  This training will help bridge the gap in management of oral diseases and general medical healthcare, providing an important opportunity to advance overall health and well-being”

UMSOD’s new Certificate in Oral Health Science Program is designed as a post-baccalaureate program for non-dental healthcare professionals. The five course, 13-credit curriculum blends online instruction with face-to-face clinical experiences at the Universities of Shady Grove, in Rockville, MD. Designed for the working professional, the course can be completed part-time in less than two years.

Because professionals with expertise in oral and dental medicine will play an increasingly greater role on healthcare teams in advancing improved patient care outcomes, health practitioners will be trained in competencies central to the management of prevalent infections, diseases, and systemic conditions affecting the oral cavity. The training prepares practitioners to become leaders in emerging healthcare delivery models building on multi-disciplinary treatment paradigms; promotes knowledge and expertise, and provides participants with the communication and management tools needed within the integrative scope of interprofessional health care management.

Highlights of UMSOD’s innovative Certificate in Oral Health Science Program include:

• Designed for the working health care professional, the program can be completed part-time and within 18 months.

• The student will learn how to incorporate oral health services into care management.

• Participants will learn how to evaluate and recognize acute and chronic oral conditions and diseases.

• Enrollees will gain an understanding of the impact of oral disease on health care delivery and the overall well-being and health of patients.

• Students will be trained in oral dental radiology and will be prepared for dental radiology certification.

• This graduate certificate program will provide trained healthcare professionals with the tools necessary for better communication and collaboration within healthcare teams and improve patient care outcomes through oral health care management.

The program includes five courses:

• Oral Infection and Disease: Foundations for Recognition

• Contemporary Oral Therapeutics in Oral Medicine and Dentistry

• Complex Interplay: The Relationship between Oral Health and Systemic Disease

• Prevention and Oral Health Promotion

• Clinical Practicum in Oral Health Care Delivery and Oral Dental Radiology

About University of Maryland School of Dentistry

The University of Maryland School of Dentistry, the world’s first dental college, offers superlative educational programs in oral health. As one of six professional schools and an interdisciplinary Graduate School on the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s 71-acre campus, it is part of a thriving academic health center that combines groundbreaking biomedical research and exceptional patient care. The school is Maryland’s predominant provider of comprehensive and emergency oral health services. For more information, visit www.dental.umaryland.edu.

New Version of Industry-Leading Software Provides Enhanced Usability with Additional Tools and Features

Planmeca USA, a leading manufacturer of dental imaging and CAD/CAM equipment, today announced the launch of Planmeca Romexis 6.0, the latest version of the highly-successful all-in-one dental imaging software, Planmeca Romexis. The new version provides clinicians enhanced usability and offers a wide variety of tools and functions seen for the first time.

The newly-redesigned Planmeca Romexis 6.0 software features an intuitive navigation with fewer clicks and a customizable user interface to allow for a streamlined workflow. In addition, the software introduces flexible Workflow Wizards that take the guesswork out of complicated workflows such as implant training and smile design. The software guides the user to perform tasks through buttons, actions and tutorial videos to achieve treatment planning success.

The new version offers advantages like eliminating the border between 2D and 3D imaging, giving users access to all 2D, 3D and CAD/CAM images and videos in a unified interface and database. Romexis 6.0 now allows for the dual-screen viewing of 2D images and 3D images with detachable pop-up windows, and all images captured or scanned can be started from the same view with one simple click. This makes the importing and exporting data process even more efficient and effortless.

“Romexis 6.0 is unlike any other software on the market. With new features and improved functionality, clinicians can manage their workflows more seamlessly than ever before,” said Ed McDonough, president at Planmeca USA. “By being an open software platform, Romexis 6.0 offers versatility and flexibility for practices worldwide, giving them the tools they need to provide their patients with premium care.”

Planmeca Romexis^® Smile Design, the digital smile design software, now features AI-based automatic image cropping and orientation in addition to enhanced photorealistic simulations. The upgraded Planmeca Romexis^®Implant Guide now offers a virtual tooth extraction feature, and the unique Romexis^® Dental PACS module allows image archiving from 3rd party devices and treatment planning features to support multi-site clinic operations.

The open software platform is compatible with both Mac and Window devices and provides user scalability options for a stand-alone to larger enterprise installations. The software releases May 26, 2020.

To learn more about Romexis 6.0 and its capabilities, visit info.planmecausa.com/romexis6.

About Planmeca USA

Planmeca USA is a subsidiary of Planmeca, the largest privately held company in the dental equipment market and one of the industry’s leading manufacturers of dental X-rays and core equipment. With a North American office located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and international headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, Planmeca is well established in high-tech dental markets and currently serves 120 countries worldwide. For more information, visit planmeca.com/na.

Organizations Recommend How to Move Forward With Dental Care During Pandemic

The American Dental Association (ADA) welcomes the release of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s recently updated Guidance for Dental Settings, noting it is very similar to science-based guidance issued a month ago by the ADA. Both guidances describe how dental professionals, building upon existing infection control measures, can help protect patients and the dental team when re-engaging in providing the full range of oral health care.

“Oral health is an important part of overall health,” according to ADA President Chad Gehani, D.D.S. “Resuming regular dental visits are important because treatment, as well as prevention of dental disease, helps keep people healthy. The guidances from the ADA and the CDC give dental professionals the information they need to practice as safely as possible.”

The CDC guidance provides detailed patient management and facility consideration information for before, during and after dental appointments, which is in close alignment with the ADA’s Return to Work Interim Guidance Toolkit. CDC and ADA recommendations include:

     • Request that dental staff call patients prior to the scheduled appointment to ask questions about their current health status.

     • Advise patients to wear a face covering when entering the dental practice.

     • Limit the number of people who accompany a patient to the appointment. If possible, the patient should make the visit alone.

     • Assess all patients upon arrival; temperature checks may be completed.

     • Remove items in office waiting rooms such as toys or reading material to limit potential transmission through high touch surfaces.

     • Encourage social distancing practices by minimizing the number of patients in the waiting room by spacing appointments thoughtfully and perhaps by asking patients to wait in their car until the dental staff is ready to treat the patient.

     • Advise dental staff members to wear additional personal protective equipment (PPE) as appropriate, such as surgical masks or N95 masks, full face shields or goggles with side shields to ensure an environment that is as safe and healthy as possible for patients and the dental team.

     • Place hand sanitizer generously around the office for use, and ensure surfaces are cleaned regularly.

The CDC’s updated dental settings guidance offers additional recommendations such as how patients can be positioned in the dental chair during appointments and waiting 15 minutes before disinfecting patient treatment rooms after use.

The ADA guidance also includes ways dentists and hygienists can reduce aerosols such as:

     • hand scaling when cleaning teeth rather than using ultrasonic scaling,

     • use of high velocity suction whenever possible and

     • use of rubber dental dams whenever possible

It is important to note that both the CDC and ADA guidances are science-based recommendations and not regulations. States control what procedures are allowed to be provided, largely through their licensing boards. For example, in Ohio, the state dental board has chosen to refer dentists to the CDC and ADA for Personal Protection Equipment and infection control recommendations, but not what procedures can be provided in Ohio’s dental practices.

According to the CDC’s guidance, “Dental health care professionals should regularly consult their state dental boards and state or local health departments for current local information for requirements specific to their jurisdictions.”

“I am pleased to see dental practices reopening to provide patients with the dental care they need,“ Dr. Gehani said. “The longer patients go without preventive care and treatment for early forms of dental disease, the more likely their untreated disease will progress. The safety of patients, dentists and dental team members has been and always will be ADA’s utmost concern.”

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.