The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) is proud to announce its partnership with Colgate® Oral Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for its National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM) “Faces of Courage” campaign.

ADHA established NDHM to promote good oral health and celebrate the dedication of dental hygienists across the country. This October, ADHA advances that message through its partnership with Colgate® Oral Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and their newly launched technology platform, Colgate Professional Direct. This innovative new website allows dental hygienists to make recommendations and send discounted Colgate products right to patients’ homes.

“At Colgate, we believe everyone deserves a future they can smile about,” says Phyllis Martina, RDH, MBA, senior professional education manager, Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “We are committed to supporting dental hygienists as they strive to improve the oral health of their patients with proven oral care therapies. We couldn’t be happier to join forces with ADHA to celebrate the courage and dedication of dental hygienists this October and always.”

Lisa Moravec, RDH, MSDH, ADHA president adds, “The global health crisis has been a challenge for all of us, and particularly difficult for our dental hygiene community. ADHA takes great pride in celebrating their incredible work and resiliency in the face of adversity. We are aligned with Colgate’s passion for oral health and grateful to have them as a partner and first-time sponsor for NDHM."

To celebrate NDHM, ADHA is launching a campaign that honors the Faces of Courage of dental hygienists. This includes submissions from dental hygienists nationwide who are showcasing how they are courageously meeting each day during this global health crisis. Whether they are wearing their PPE with pride or navigating the path to return to work safely, these photos will be featured in social media and tagged with #NDHM2020. For more, visit https://www.adha.org/national-dental-hygiene-month.

About the American Dental Hygienists' Association

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

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has awarded NYU College of Dentistry researchers Nigel Bunnett, PhD, and Brian Schmidt, DDS, MD, PhD, a $3.9 million grant (R01 DE029951-01) to study targeting endosomal receptors for the treatment of chronic pain.

The five-year grant will support Bunnett and Schmidt’s collaborative research, which aims to ultimately yield improved pain management without the need for opioids.

The grant is funded through the NIH HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative, an effort to speed scientific research that enhances pain management and offers solutions for the national opioid crisis. Although opioids are widely used to treat chronic pain, their efficacy is limited and their side effects are notorious; use of these drugs often leads to misuse and addiction. Approximately 500,000 Americans died from opioid overdose over the last two decades. While many of these deaths are caused by opiates such as heroin, the cycle of addiction and death is often initiated by the use of prescription drugs that were diverted from their intended purpose.

Bunnett, who is currently the chair of the Department of Molecular Pathobiology at NYU College of Dentistry, and Schmidt, who directs the NYU Bluestone Center for Clinical Research, have collaborated since 2009 when they were colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco. In recent years, they have jointly received three NIH grants and one grant from the Department of Defense to fund their research on pain. The current NIH HEAL grant is the first time that Bunnett and Schmidt have secured collaborative funding as colleagues at NYU.

Their research explores exploring signaling mechanisms related to a family of proteins called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which control most disordered physiological processes, including pain, and are the target of one third of clinically used drugs. While GPCRs are thought to function at the surface of the cell, they can be subsumed within cellular organelles called endosomes. Once a GCPR enters an endosome, it is called an endosomal GPCR (eGPCR).

eGPCRs may be critical mediators of sustained neuronal excitability in the context of chronic pain. Accordingly, Bunnett and Schmidt seek to validate eGPCRs as therapeutic targets for chronic inflammatory, neuropathic, and cancer pain. As part of this work they will test the hypothesis that eGPCRs generate signals in subcellular compartments of neurons that are responsible for persistent excitation and chronic pain.

“Our hypothesis—that signaling continues after a GCPR enters an endosome—breaks with the currently accepted interpretation that this process squelches signaling,” said Bunnett. “Many GPCR-targeted drugs have failed clinical trials, but perhaps this is because drugs should be targeting eGPCRs inside the endosome instead.”

To test this eGPCR signaling hypothesis, the investigators will design nanoparticles that deliver antagonists and agonists of GPCRs into endosomes within neurons; the nanoparticles will selectively target neurons, promote GPCRs entering endosomes, and release eGPCR antagonist and agonists in the acidic environment within an endosome. In this way the nanoparticles will be used to experimentally probe the mechanisms by which eGPCRs generate signals that control neuronal excitation and pain. This nanoparticle delivery method will also enable the investigators to validate that eGPCRs are a viable and superior target for the treatment of chronic pain.

If their hypothesis is correct, eGPCRs may be suitable targets for the treatment of chronic pain, generating a pathway for new therapies without the side effects and addiction potential of opioids.

“Our aim is to lay the foundation for the development of new types of medication beyond opioids that alleviate chronic pain including inflammatory, neuropathic and cancer pain,” said Schmidt.

About the Bluestone Center for Clinical Research

The Bluestone Center for Clinical Research, in conjunction with the NYU Oral Cancer Center, is an academic research organization located at the NYU College of Dentistry. Bluestone's mission is to take a creative scientific approach to transform world health. Investigators at Bluestone Center conduct research on oral cancer, cancer symptomatology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, emerging biotechnology, periodontics, implants, and oral health products.

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 all dentists. NYU Dentistry has a significant global reach with a highly diverse student body. Visit https://dental.nyu.edu for more.

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaders from across the dental industry today announced the formation of the Dental AI Council (DAIC), an organization devoted to helping define the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in dentistry through research and education. DAIC members represent all major industry constituencies, including practitioners, dental service organizations, equipment manufacturers, practice management software providers, insurance carriers, laboratories and universities. As AI begins to yield increased efficiency, accuracy, consistency and insight in a variety of dental applications, the DAIC will seek to stimulate greater industry-wide understanding of the technology.

The DAIC's primary function is to lead independent research to ascertain where and how AI will prove most valuable to dentistry, empirically validate its functional capabilities and performance, and answer fundamental questions related to AI's role in the oral healthcare ecosystem of tomorrow. In addition to research, the DAIC will facilitate AI-related educational programming, thought leadership content and public advocacy initiatives.

"Diagnosis, treatment, prosthetics, practice management, claims review, FWA oversight––the list of areas where AI can improve performance in our industry is long," said Dr. Linda Vidone, Chief Clinical Officer at Delta Dental of Massachusetts. "To see that performance boost soon, we'll need to buck a trend where innovation in dental lags behind other medical fields. The DAIC will be a reputable information source and guide to encourage AI's early adoption and mindful deployment in dentistry."

The DAIC membership is composed of clinicians, professors and senior executives of leading companies, including Cigna, Delta Dental, DSG, Heartland, Henry Schein, NDX and Walmart.

"The various dental stakeholders usually have distinct appetites when it comes to fruits of technological progress, but AI is a rare example of a technology that can serve all," explained Dr. Markus Blatz, Chair and Professor of Restorative Dentistry, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. "The range of representatives joining the table here reflects AI's broad utility and ensures that DAIC research will attend to the whole gamut of industry interests."

Indeed, Dr. Roshan Parikh, Head of Dentistry at Walmart, described the opportunity to engage with leaders across industry constituencies as a key benefit to DAIC membership.

"We need productive interchange of ideas and expertise, cross-pollinated with a best practices-focused mindset to foster advancement in dental AI," Parikh said. "Simply by bringing such a wide range of perspectives to bear on the topic, the DAIC can deliver tremendous value."

Parikh's sentiments echo those of other AI proponents who have cited the importance of inter-professional coordination in dental AI development. The DAIC's first and foremost purpose, however, will be to answer calls for greater industry-wide AI literacy.

"At present, the excitement about AI's enormous value potential in dental is attenuated by misconceptions and even some fear," said the DAIC's lead organizer. Ophir Tanz, CEO of the dental AI company Pearl. "To chart a path forward for AI, the dental community needs to understand the science and recognize common fallacies surrounding AI. It's the DAIC's mandate to provide that education."

The first DAIC study is scheduled to be released later this year. For more information or to sign up for the DAIC newsletter, please visit: www.dentalaicouncil.org.

The Dental AI Council's 15 founding members are:

• Ashish Tholia, Director of Strategy, Delta Dental

• Dr. Bruce Lieberthal, Chief Innovation Officer, Henry Schein

• Dr. Kyle Stanley, Chief Clinical Officer, Pearl

• Dr. Linda Vidone, Chief Clinical Officer, Delta Dental of Massachusetts

• Lou Azzara, Chief Executive Officer, Dental Services Group Laboratory

• Dr. Markus Blatz, Chair and Professor of Restorative Dentistry, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine

• Merrit Dake, Chief Executive Officer, Rock Dental

• Mischa Reis, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development, Envista

• Ophir Tanz, Chief Executive Officer, Pearl

• Dr. Robert Mongrain, Director of Clinical Advisors, Heartland Dental

• Ronald Bolden, Vice President of Dental Market Insight, Cigna

• Dr. Roshan Parikh, Head of Dentistry, Walmart

• Dr. Sanjay Mallya, Chair & Associate Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, UCLA School of Dentistry

• Steve Bilt, CEO, Smile Brands

• Tom Daulton, CEO & President, National Dentex Laboratories

About the Dental AI Council

The Dental AI Council (DAIC) is a trade organization devoted to helping define the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in dentistry. It brings together leaders from across the dental category to advance research, education, and thought leadership on AI and its dental applications. Organized by the AI company Pearl, its members represent every dental industry constituency, including practitioners, DSOs, insurance carriers, OEMs, PMS providers, laboratories, and universities. For more information, please visit www.dentalaicouncil.org. 

Part of our role in protecting patients is to regularly evaluate, monitor and update scientific evidence on the risks from medical devices—including issues related to the materials used in devices, such as metals. In the case of implanted and inserted medical devices, where materials may be in contact with the body for extended periods of time, we evaluate safety issues involved with, among other things, the body’s long-term exposure to certain materials, taking into account that sometimes uncertainties remain and more research is needed.

Today, the FDA is issuing updated recommendations concerning dental amalgam and potential risks to certain high-risk individuals that may be associated with these mercury-containing fillings used to restore the missing structure and surfaces of a decayed tooth.

The FDA has found that certain groups may be at greater risk for potential harmful health effects of mercury vapor released from the device. As a result, the agency is recommending certain high-risk groups avoid getting dental amalgam whenever possible and appropriate.

These groups that may be at a greater risk for potential harmful health effects include:

Pregnant women and their developing fetuses;

Women who are planning to become pregnant;

Nursing women and their newborns and infants;

Children, especially those younger than six years of age;

People with pre-existing neurological disease such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease

People with impaired kidney function; and

People with known heightened sensitivity (allergy) to mercury or other components of dental amalgam.

For over 20 years, the FDA has been reviewing scientific literature, monitoring reports and holding public discussions regarding the public health effects of dental amalgam and amalgam-related mercury vapor. Dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury and a powdered alloy made up of silver, tin and copper. The amalgam releases small amounts of mercury vapor over time. While low-levels of inhaled mercury vapor are generally not harmful to most people, these high-risk individuals may be at increased risk of adverse health outcomes. How much vapor is released can also depend on the age of the filling as well as a person’s habits such as teeth grinding.

These uncertainties in the most vulnerable patients are why today we are recommending people who may be at high risk for adverse health effects of mercury exposure use non-mercury alternatives to dental amalgam, such as composite resins and glass ionomer cement fillings. Dental amalgam-related mercury vapor release may be highest during placement or removal of the filling. The FDA is not recommending anyone remove or replace existing amalgam fillings in good condition unless it is considered medically necessary because removing intact amalgam fillings can cause a temporary increase in exposure to mercury vapor and the potential loss of healthy tooth structure, potentially resulting in more risks than benefits. While the available evidence suggests that dental amalgam use has generally declined over recent years, due to more alternative products being offered and used effectively for dental restorations, high-risk individuals, as noted in our recommendations, should discuss alternative products for restoring teeth with their dentist.

Our reviews and discussions have generally arrived at the same conclusion: while the majority of evidence suggests exposure to mercury vapor from dental amalgam fillings doesn’t lead to harmful health effects for most people, there may be some effects in people with certain health issues such as those who are hypersensitive to mercury. Uncertainties remain about: the effects that long-term exposure to dental amalgam may have on the specific high-risk groups we’ve listed above; the potential for mercury in dental amalgam to convert to other mercury compounds in the body; and whether the accumulation of mercury in some body fluids and tissues results in other unintended health outcomes.

We have made these recommendations after hearing from health care professionals, evaluating published literature and considering the public’s comments about dental amalgam and other metal-containing implants. During the November 2019 meeting of the Immunology Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee, which discussed immunological responses to metal-containing implants and dental amalgam, we heard from several speakers, including those representing underserved communities, who expressed concern about the cumulative effect of mercury vapor exposure from dental amalgam, as well as from other (dietary and environmental) sources.

The FDA continues to believe that the benefits of materials in FDA-approved or cleared implantable and insertable medical devices outweigh their risks for most patients. However, we recognize that it is critical to closely monitor and evaluate new benefit-risk related data as biomedical science is always evolving. We continue to gather input from patients, device manufacturers, researchers and physicians to learn more about their experiences, ideas and feedback related to materials in medical devices, such as dental amalgam. We’re committed to advancing new initiatives that are rooted in sound science with a focus on patient safety remaining at the forefront.

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

Cumming, GA, September 29, 2020 - SafeLink Consulting, Inc., a premier provider of OSHA and FDA regulatory compliance services for dental practices and dental laboratories, announces the newest member of the SafeLink Consulting team, Cathy Ranger. She joins SafeLink Consulting as a Compliance Advisor. For the past 30 years, Cathy has dedicated herself in support of the dental industry. She began her career in the administrative field, serving as both an office and human resources manager for a national dental device manufacturer. Through her responsibilities for facility and employee safety and health, she was inspired to pursue a career in the compliance field. Most recently, she served the dental device manufacturer as Regulatory Compliance Coordinator. Since 2013, she has been working to create, implement and train to relatable policies and programs to decrease risk and improve workplace health conditions that supported the quality efforts of the company. She is passionate about inspiring personal accountability by encouraging active learning, which she believes lends to a culture committed to safety.

Cathy holds an Associate of Science in Business Administration from New Hampshire College and a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health from Columbia Southern University. She is currently seeking her designation as a safety professional.

Since 1991, SafeLink Consulting has been educating the dental industry by preparing them with the day-to-day health & safety requirements needed to meet OSHA standards, HIPAA requirements, CDC guidance, and quality assurance consulting and quality systems required by the FDA. SafeLink Consulting is nationally recognized for providing virtual & onsite training and assessments, seminars, and live webinars to diverse audiences with a commitment to helping businesses succeed. SafeLink Consulting has successfully trained thousands of clients’ employees on safety and quality management. Choosing to partner with SafeLink Consulting means a customized, industry-specific, continuous solution for all stages of safety and/or quality assurance programs, focused on client needs, backed by excellent service and support. 

Dental Services Group (DSG®), one of the largest US based dental laboratory networks, has announced its fall line-up of complimentary CE webinars for dental practitioners.

An exciting change is happening in the world of education, and every industry professional knows it has been a long time coming. The advancement of virtual learning delivers excellent results while maintaining continuing education credits to level-up every dental industry professional in both career development and practice growth.

DSG launched their virtual education platform at the start of 2020. The unique educational content is facilitated through their extensive strategic partnerships, thought-leading key opinion leaders, and internal experts. The content is a dental community involved program, joining to bring the best of all worlds to the engaging practitioner. From implants to removables, digital scanning to practice management, DSG Education is now available in all sectors of the dental educational society.

To date the fall line-up of CE education includes:

• 4-Part Series, “Smiling thru the Barriers,” presented by Tracy Butler, CRDH, MFT, journeys through improving patient case acceptance by leveraging employee reach

• Carbon® Speakers Jamie Stover, CDT, and Iain McFarlane, CDT, presenting on Splints and Digital Dentures

• Monthly virtual Practice Management Study Club presented by: Sandie Baillargeon

• 4-Part Practice Management Workflow series presented by: Konica Minolta® experts

• Scanner clinical training on both 3Shape® Trios® and iTero® by Align Technology

• Dr. John Viviano from Sleep Disorders Dentistry Research and Learning Centre presenting a 2-Part Series on Sleep

To learn more and register for an upcoming education event visit www.dentalservices.net/edu.

CloroxPro is proud to announce that their disinfectants received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for kill claims against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The following CloroxPro products are now officially EPA-registered to kill SARS-CoV-2:

Clorox Healthcare® Fuzion Cleaner & Disinfectant

CloroxPro™ PineSol® Multi-Surface Cleaner

Previously, all of these products were included on the EPA’s List N, which represents products that meet the EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2 per the Emerging Viral Pathogen Policy, or they have a claim against the Human Coronavirus. Numerous CloroxPro products have met these criteria and can continued to be used against SARS-CoV-2.

For a full list of products eligible for use against COVID-19, visit CloroxPro.com. CloroxPro is testing additional products and CloroxPro.com will be updated as additional claims are approved.

Solmetex, LLC. announced today that it has received additional patent protection for its industry-leading NXT Hg5™ amalgam separator collection technology. Solmetex newest patent (US Utility Patent No. 10,779.923) covers the design and use of NXT Hg5™-compatible amalgam separation collection containers. The ‘923 Patent is in addition to Solmetex’s already issued design and utility patent portfolio covering the NXT Hg5™ product line.

“Solmetex is recognized as the leading technology provider in dental waste management with over 70,000 systems installed worldwide,” stated Kevin Danahy, President of Solmetex. “With the recently enacted EPA Dental Amalgam Rule regarding the handling of dental waste water, our newest patent is a testament to our unique technology, continuously evolving product offering, passion for environmental responsibility, and on-going partnership with our dental partners and their commitment to improving the communities they live in”.

The EPA Dental Amalgam Rule states that as of July 14,2020 dental practices are required to install either a ISO 11143:2008 certified amalgam separator or a certified ANSI/ADA Standard No.108 amalgam separator, both at a separation rate of 95%, such as the NXT Hg5 Amalgam Separator System.

About Solmetex, LLC

Solmetex provides waste management products and services through a series of specialized processes and systems that cost-effectively remove mercury from the waste stream and offers additional dental waste solutions. The company’s NXT Hg5™ Series of Amalgam Separators and recycling program, which treat dental wastewater, is highly regarded as the best solution for regulatory compliance. Solmetex is widely recognized as the single trusted source for comprehensive environmental solutions for dental waste needs.

For further information, visit www.solmetex.com

AUSTIN (September 28, 2020) – ClearCorrect, a Straumann Group brand and a leading manufacturer of clear aligners is proud to launch a new digital treatment design tool called ClearPilot that gives providers enhanced visibility, and responsive control as they review and approve their ClearCorrect clear aligner cases. This advanced platform is convenient, easy to use and will save clinicians time as they create effective treatment plans for their patients.

The upgraded web-based platform expands on the tools that providers can utilize to create personalized treatment plans for patients. ClearPilot is an evolution in ClearCorrect’s design tools that features easy-to-access comments and technician notes, prescription details all in one place for side-by-side comparison, treatment overview, movement table, superimposition, millimeter grids and more.

“ClearPilot is an innovative advancement in ClearCorrect clear aligner treatment, offering enhanced convenience and tools that meet providers’ needs,” said Artem Borovinskikh, Global Head of Ortho Software Technology for Straumann Group Orthodontics. “We’re proud to offer an enhanced web-based functionality that ensures our providers receive the latest updates without having to download or upgrade patches.”

This platform was developed by prioritizing feedback from clinicians, and ClearCorrect is committed to continuing to improve their experience by providing the tools they need to move their practices forward. Designed to be both advanced and accessible, ClearPilot gives providers the option to easily share the treatment animation directly with their patients to enhance patient communication.

“The platform has made it easy to see so many case details in one place,” said Dr. Mark Lowe, ClearCorrect Provider and Orthodontist, who has been part of the user testing. “I’m glad that ClearCorrect prioritized the needs of clinicians in the development of ClearPilot, and the fact that it is oriented towards making our jobs easier is evident in every aspect of the program.”

To learn more please visit: https://nam.clearcorrect.com/clearpilot

About ClearCorrect

ClearCorrect, a Straumann Group brand, is a leading clear aligner manufacturer that has provided best-in-class support and quality, clinically driven products for doctors since 2006. Manufactured in the U.S., its aligners are administered with doctor supervision, placing more power in the hands of those most qualified to develop safe and effective treatment plans customized to each patient’s specific needs. Today, ClearCorrect serves tens of thousands of trusted Providers around the world. To find a ClearCorrect provider near you, visit www.clearcorrect.us.

About Straumann

The Straumann Group (SIX: STMN) is a global leader in tooth replacement and orthodontic solutions that restore smiles and confidence. It unites global and international brands that stand for excellence, innovation and quality in replacement, corrective and digital dentistry, including Anthogyr, ClearCorrect, Dental Wings, Medentika, Neodent, Straumann and other fully/partly owned companies and partners. In collaboration with leading clinics, institutes and universities, the Group researches, develops, manufactures and supplies dental implants, instruments, CADCAM prosthetics, biomaterials and digital solutions for use in tooth replacement and restoration or to prevent tooth loss.

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, the Group currently employs more than 7200 people worldwide and its products, solutions and services are available in more than 100 countries through a broad network of distribution subsidiaries and partners.

CHICAGO, Sept. 24, 2020 – The American Dental Association (ADA) supports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) statement that all dental restorative decisions and treatment options should be made by the patient and the dentist and that the existing evidence shows that dental amalgam is not harmful to the general population. The ADA reaffirms its position that dental amalgam is a durable, safe and effective cavity-filling option.

According to the FDA statement, “If you need a filling, discuss all treatment options with your dental provider, including the benefits and risks of using dental amalgam and other dental restorative materials, to help you make an informed decision.”

The ADA supports the FDA’s recommendation that existing amalgam fillings in good condition should not be removed or replaced unless it is considered medically necessary by a health care professional.

While the FDA cites certain groups that may be at greater risk for potential negative effects from exposure to mercury, the agency states that “little to no information” is known about the effects dental amalgam may have on these specific groups. There was no new scientific evidence cited as part of the FDA recommendation.

Patients should consult with their dentists to decide which filling material is best for them based on a number of factors, such as size and location of the cavity, patient history, cosmetic concerns and cost. The American Dental Association offers information about all dental filling materials at MouthHealthy.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