For its commitment to service, PDS was honored for being one of the most community-minded companies.

Leading dental support organization Pacific Dental Services^® (PDS) is wrapping up 2021 by reflecting on all the philanthropy, donated dentistry and financial support that its 13,000 supported clinicians and team members have contributed to this year – something it likes to call the “We Serve” movement.

Since its founding in 1994, PDS has a long tradition and culture of service, supporting communities locally, regionally and internationally. Beyond donated dentistry and providing for underserved and special needs populations, PDS-supported practices regularly host drives to collect goods, support charity partnerships, and provide team members paid volunteer time to serve with an organization of their choice. Additionally, through their partnership with the PDS Foundation, PDS-supported clinicians and team members travel to Guatemala to provide dental treatment at the PDS Foundation’s Clinica Dental in Xenacoj.

PDS-supported practices provided a total of $8 million in donated dentistry, 53,584 volunteer hours and $648,369 in donations this year. For its efforts, Pacific Dental Services was honored in California as one of Orange County’s Most Community-Minded Companies by OneOC and Points of Light for the third time and was recognized by the Orange County Business Journal as a 2021 Companies that Care honoree.

“2021 has been an incredible year for Pacific Dental Services including the many ways in which our supported practices and team members have been able to serve our communities,” said Stephen E. Thorne IV, Founder and CEO of Pacific Dental Services. “We will continue to support our practices as they care for those in need who have difficulty accessing oral care and whole-heartedly support our team members as they donate their time and talents. We hope our movement grows as we continue to be a force for good in 2022.”

Here are just some of the ways in which Pacific Dental Services has increased access to dental care and strengthened communities in 2021:

PARTNERSHIPS

• Since 2019, Pacific Dental Services has partnered with Special Olympics to support athletes by providing access to oral care and creating educational resources on the link between oral health and overall health, something PDS refers to as The Mouth-Body Connection^®. The partnership is also about bridging the gap that patients with disabilities have in receiving comprehensive dental care.

• Since 2009, PDS has partnered with charity: water to bring access to clean drinking water to more than 215,000 people across the globe. This year alone, more than 19,000 benefitted from safe drinking water through this partnership. To date, PDS-supported offices have raised more than $6.6 million for charity: water.

• The PDS Foundation was established in 2012 to improve overall health by improving oral health through local, national and international service. The organization focuses on three main programs: special needs dentistry, dental assistant scholarships and international service trips.

DONATED DENTISTRY

• Pacific Dental Services served during the 11th annual Smile Generation Serve Day in 2021, where more than 650 of its supported dental practices throughout the U.S. provided over 2,000 patients with more than $4 million of donated dental care. This included life-changing procedures for military veterans and patients working with After Innocence, a nonprofit organization that helps those who have been exonerated from a wrongful conviction. Since its inception in 2011, more than 21,000 patients have received donated dentistry during Smile Generation Serve Day, totaling more than $39 million in oral health care.

• PDS-supported dental practices across the country provide donated dentistry to thousands of patients through special events throughout the year.

DONATED FUNDS

• The PDS Foundation helps patients with disabilities find the care they need through a one-of-a-kind dental office in Phoenix, Arizona dedicated to serving people with special needs. Dentists for Special Needs features specially trained clinicians and team members who are uniquely equipped with behavioral and environmental techniques to ensure a successful visit. The practice also offers a family-friendly, sensory-integrated dental experience that supports patients’ needs within a calm and relaxing environment.

o One of the biggest fundraising efforts for 2021 was the first annual “Smiles for Special Needs” campaign, which raised money to help increase access to care and expand services for those with disabilities or special needs. PDS-supported dental practices raised $225,622 for the PDS Foundation’s special needs dentistry program.

o The PDS Foundation hosted its second annual virtual 5K fundraiser, “Stroll for Special Needs,” which raised over $210,000 for the special needs dentistry program. PDS team members across the country walked more than 2,402 miles to advocate for inclusive oral health care.

VOLUNTEERING

• Volunteers from PDS-supported offices partnered with KABOOM! to build a brand-new playground in one day for the YMCA of West San Gabriel Valley in Alhambra, California. This was the 16th playground that PDS and KABOOM! have built together since 2010.

• Because of its commitment to service, PDS offers team members eight hours of paid time off each year to volunteer with charities and organizations of their choice. In 2021, PDS team members donated 53,584 hours of volunteer time within their local communities.

Kyle Guerin, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and the PDS Foundation, reflected on the organization’s achievements through service. “We always say that service is at the core of what Pacific Dental Services does, and this year was reflective of that,” he said. “Whether it’s volunteering, providing much-needed dentistry for no cost or serving in other countries, we’re proud to be making a difference in the communities we serve.”

Forward Science has officially released BioStōmTM, the newest product in the Professional Use Product Line. BioStōmTM is a non-opioid oral pain relief gel. This all-natural, oral wound dressing is now available to clinical professionals as of December 2021.

Forward Science is an innovative MedTech company and worldwide leader in the oral healthcare industry. Using a vertically-integrated approach, Forward Science conducts all research and development, quality/regulatory, manufacturing, commercialization and sales/support at the company headquarters located in Houston, TX. The Forward Science team has launched dozens of products to address oral health issues spanning from oral cancer screenings to therapeutic mouth rinses. Forward Science received feedback from dental professionals across the globe regarding the need for an oral hydrogel wound dressing that could be used and provided by professionals in their practices. Armed with this feedback and determined to make an impact on the minacious opioid crisis, Forward Science created BioStōmTM for professional use.

“At Forward Science our mission is to provide clinicians worldwide with high quality products that, in turn, allow them to provide the highest standard of care to their patients,” says Forward Science CEO, Robert Whitman. “Our Research and Development team designed BioStōmTM not only to meet market demands, but also to exceed clinical expectations. By making this product available for professional use, we have created a trusted non-opioid pain-relief option for clinicians to utilize readily, catapulting our efforts against the opioid epidemic to new levels.”

With the recent concerns surrounding opioid prescription in the dental industry, Forward Science has been working on a non-drug option to manage oral pain, and BioStōmTM will do just that. Studies show that dentists and oral surgeons are by far the majority of prescribers for opioids to people ages 10-19. This is a critical age range in which the still developing brain is particularly susceptible to addiction. (Journal of American Medical Association, 2011). “The opioid epidemic has forced the dental industry to re-evaluate our approach to pain management to ensure we're providing holistic care to our patients and preventing adverse outcomes from our prescribing habits,” explains Forward Science’s Director of Training and Education, Ellen Myers, RDH, BS. “We are extremely proud to release this all-natural, non-opioid product that provides patients with adequate pain relief and protection. We truly believe this product will change lives, and we look forward to hearing further feedback from professionals worldwide.”

If you are interested in learning more about BioStōmTM, you can visit the Forward Science website at www.ForwardScience.com for more information.

FDA Indications for BioStōmTM:

BioStōmTM Oral Pain Gel manages the pain of oral wounds, mouth sores, injuries and ulcers of the oral mucosa. It adheres to the oral tissue and forms a protective barrier between the wound and further prevents irritation and contamination. BioStōmTM Oral Pain Gel also maintains a moist wound environment.

General Catalyst and Insight Partners lead financing

Financing to accelerate hiring and product development driven by strong demand for Overjet’s dental AI from insurers and clinicians

Amid accelerated demand for its dental artificial intelligence (AI) software, Overjet (www.overjet.ai) today announced it has raised $42.5 million in Series B financing led by General Catalyst and Insight Partners with participation from existing investors Crosslink Capital and the MIT-affiliated E14 Fund in an oversubscribed round. Following the $27 million Series A round announced, just four months ago, in August 2021, Overjet has raised nearly $80 million in total financing to date.

“Overjet’s cutting-edge software has seen incredible demand from clinicians and insurers alike who see our dental AI as a transformational technology to advance patient oral healthcare,” said Dr. Wardah Inam, PhD, CEO and co-founder of Overjet. “The new financing will accelerate our next chapter of growth to support our customers, grow the team, and invest in the next generation of technology to support patient care.”

Overjet’s dental AI technology encodes dentist-level understanding of disease identification and progression into software, supporting dentists to deliver the best patient care and insurers to operate more accurately and efficiently. Earlier this year, Overjet secured FDA clearance for its Dental AssistTM product, the first-ever dental AI company to receive such a clearance. The company is working with both large dental organizations and single-site clinics to roll out Dental Assist. In October, Overjet and New England Family Dentistry announced a partnership to bring dental AI to the organization’s 50 clinic network.

“As evidenced by its pace of adoption by both insurers and providers, customers love Overjet’s highly differentiated and powerful AI software,” said Lonne Jaffe, Managing Director at Insight Partners. “As we’re seeing with some AI-powered ScaleUps in other domains, Overjet has the potential to transform the oral healthcare industry, and we couldn’t be more delighted to partner with Wardah and her team on the next phase of Overjet’s growth journey.”

On the insurance side, Overjet has emerged as the leading AI company with dental insurers, counting 16 major carriers as customers for coverage of over 73 million Americans. Overjet’s Claim Intelligence Platform supports consistency in dental claims review and improved operating efficiency for insurers.

“When we first met Overjet, we were immediately impressed by Wardah Inam’s vision to build the intelligence layer for dentistry,” said Chris Bischoff, Managing Director of General Catalyst. “The market traction the team has achieved in such a short time attests to the value of their software solutions. We are delighted to again lead their funding round as they partner with clinicians and insurers to transform patient dental health.”

The company is growing rapidly, topping 60 employees in December, and expects to double headcount in the next 6 months. While headquartered in Boston, the company switched to remote-first operations to attract top talent. “The Overjet team is committed to improving oral healthcare for all,” said Dr. Chris Balaban, DMD, Clinical Director at Overjet. “We’re working towards a dental care future with more diagnostic consistency, accuracy, and trust.” 

Figure: Overjet’s Clinical Intelligence Platform displays a radiograph with dental artificial intelligence findings.

Team Schein Members Donate Clothing, Gift Cards, Toys, and More to Participating Children and Their Families

Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) and Team Schein Members (TSMs) from around the world joined more than 1,500 underserved children and their families to celebrate the Company’s 23rd annual “Holiday Cheer for Children” program, a flagship corporate initiative that helps participating families enjoy a fun and festive holiday season.

TSMs from more than 17 Company locations participated in the program, spreading holiday cheer in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Spain. “Holiday Cheer for Children” takes different forms depending on the location, with TSMs often collecting and donating gifts and food to local nonprofit organizations. The team also provides gift cards to families in need to help alleviate some of the financial burden many individuals face during the holidays. Henry Schein partners with local social service agencies to identify children and families who would most benefit from participating in the program.

“Team Schein looks forward to the ‘Holiday Cheer for Children’ program each year, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only reinforced our commitment to helping children and their families in need,” said Gerry Benjamin, Henry Schein’s Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. “Everyone deserves a fun and festive holiday season, and we are pleased that we can help by giving back to the communities in which we live and work.”

To see Team Schein in action and past examples of the program’s benefit to children and their families, please watch this video celebrating 23 years of the “Holiday Cheer for Children” program.

Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year TSMs from Henry Schein’s global headquarters in Melville, New York, donated gift cards to 600 local families. The gift cards will be used to purchase holiday gifts or the ingredients for a holiday meal and were purchased through support from the Henry Schein Cares Foundation and contributions from TSMs.

The Company partnered with 10 Long Island-based social service organizations to pre-identify participating children and their families, including: Bethany House; Espoir Youth Program, Inc.; Family and Children's Association; Family Service League; Hispanic Counseling Center; Madonna Heights; Nassau County Department of Social Services; The Raymar Children's Fund; WellLife Network; and YES Community Counseling Center.

“Many families continue to struggle with the impact of the pandemic, along with other pressures that are exacerbated during the holiday season,” said Claudia Boyle, Chief Executive Officer of the Hispanic Counseling Center, Inc. “We thank all the Team Schein Members around the world for their generosity in helping many children enjoy the holidays.”

“Holiday Cheer for Children” is an initiative of Henry Schein Cares, the company’s global corporate social responsibility program, and is supported by the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization that works to foster, support, and promote oral health and overall health by helping to increase access to care for communities around the world.

Over 35 years ago, a new invention revolutionized dentistry for years to come: CEREC. The inventor of this method for ceramic restorations, Prof. em. Dr. Dr. Werner Mörmann, recently celebrated his 80th birthday. Having continuously worked to develop the system since its launch, Dentsply Sirona sends its best wishes to the CEREC pioneer. The latest CEREC software upgrade builds on the history of digital dentistry and offers enhancements for the entire CEREC workflow.

Approximately every four seconds, an impression is taken with an intraoral scanner from Dentsply Sirona. Digital dentistry is currently thriving, but it started from humble beginnings.

More than 35 years ago, when Prof. Dr. Dr. Werner H. Mörmann and electrical engineer Dr. Marco Brandestini were looking for an alternative to amalgam fillings, the idea of a machine for computer-assisted production of ceramic restorations was born – marking the beginning of digitalization in dentistry. Together, they designed an intraoral scanner for taking optical impressions of the preparation, a milling unit for the computer-aided fabrication of restorations, and an according software, known today as CEREC (CEramic REConstruction).

The all-new CEREC impresses with cutting-edge technology

With the intraoral scanner Primescan, CEREC Primemill for the fabrication of restorations, the sintering furnace CEREC SpeedFire and the latest CEREC Software 5.2, the combined system has reached a new level of accuracy and speed. It also continues to be easy to operate and can be used for a wide range of indications.

The latest 5.2 upgrade of the Connect and CEREC software, as well as improved firmware, allow Primescan and CEREC users to implement various treatment concepts with digital workflows more efficiently, quickly and comfortably. Up to 1.5 million 3D data points are captured during scanning with Primescan intraoral scanners. This makes the scanning process much smoother and twice as fast*. The software is now even easier to use and optimizes the workflow. The mode "Full Range Dynamic Occlusion" was introduced for the articulation calculation. This includes a wider range of lower jaw movement in the calculations, thereby helping to detect more functional occlusal interferences.

CEREC Primemill users also benefit from the software upgrade. Extra Fine Grinding is now available for many materials and substantially faster than with Dentsply Sirona’s MC XL milling unit. The Fast Grinding option is also now available for more materials. Dr. Andreas Bindl, dentist from Zurich who himself worked as senior physician under Prof. Dr. Dr. Mörmann, was particularly impressed by the filigree crown margin after using the Extra Fine Grinding mode: "The high level of accuracy achieved through the new milling modes makes post-processing virtually redundant. And that is indeed an important and new quality."

CEREC system continues to open the door to new possibilities in digital dentistry

Today, CEREC is the key to numerous integrated workflows – in restorative dentistry, as well as implant dentistry and orthodontics. The potential applications of Prof. Dr. Dr. Werner H. Mörmann's pioneering achievement are still being discovered. The CEREC system is constantly being further developed in close cooperation with users, scientists and Dentsply Sirona engineers. As Prof. Dr. Dr. Werner H. Mörmann already said on the occasion of CEREC’s 35th anniversary: "35 years ago, people laughed at our idea for digital dentistry, but today it has become a standard in treatment and documentation. And I stand by my prediction that by the 50th anniversary of CEREC, if not sooner, every practice will have CEREC or at least an intraoral scanner.”

Dentsply Sirona would like to offer Prof. Dr. Dr. Werner Mörmann its sincere congratulations on his 80th birthday, wishes him all the best and promises to keep up the enthusiasm, pioneering spirit and development momentum he initiated.

If you want to learn more about CEREC, visit www.dentsplysirona.com/cerec.

This one-year fellowship program focuses on advanced training in providing care for people with special needs, particular those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

“This gap we are seeing in dentistry and dental education is widespread,” said Jonathan Teyan, Chief Operating Officer for NYSADC. “New York’s State’s six public and private academic dental centers, including Touro College of Dental Medicine, want to ensure that we are doing everything we can to fill these holes and that begins with providing new dentists with the skills they need to properly care for these patients.”

The fellowship’s educational program, which was made possible by generous support from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, aims to begin bridging the gap between specialized dentists, who can effectively treat adult patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a population that is often left behind, with general dentists.

“Training the next generation of dentists who can provide high-quality, compassionate care to all patient populations is the cornerstone of our educational approach at Touro College of Dental Medicine,” said Ronnie Myers, DDS, Dean at TCDM. “Those with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve access to dentists who can meet their needs in an affordable manner. By equipping more dentists with the skills needed to serve this population, patients can hopefully avoid the unnecessary costs and wait times that come with having care done in the operating room, a standard practice for many patients who lack access to this unique care. This fellowship will unlock the door to start growing the much-needed network of general dentists who can provide for patients with special needs.”

While many pediatric dentists work well with the special needs population, as these patients become adults, their needs shift away from the care pediatric dentists are able to provide. Because many cannot find a general dentist who can offer them treatment effectively in-office, these patients end up on operating room waitlists for months at a time and eventually, their dental care becomes deprioritized.

The hope is that, as more dentists complete this fellowship program, a network of advocates and dentists who can train students to work with these patients will be built, thus beginning to fill the disparities in the quality, cost, and the frequency of care this patient population receives.

“The launch of this fellowship is as much about providing a greater awareness of these shortcomings we see in dental care and a creating a better source of advocacy for these patients as it is about training new dentists with these important skills,” said Susan DiSenso-Brown DDS, Assistant Professor & Course Director for the Oral Healthcare for Patients with Special Needs at TCDM. “Having a TCDM graduate like Dr. Dorrough be the first to participate in this important fellowship is a wonderful first step in creating the system needed to close the gap in quality of care for this patient population.”

DiSenso, along with Raquel Rozdolski, DMD, Assistant Clinical Professor and Director of Anesthesia and Pain Control, are the program directors for the fellowship curriculum at TCDM, coordinating with the NYSADC in the overall conceptualization of the program.

After graduating from TCDM in 2020, Dorrough was originally set to spend his general practice residency at Helen Hayes Hospital. However, his plans were complicated by COVID when the funding for his program was no longer available and it closed.

After spending a year as a resident at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and shifting his plans, Dorrough, who had always aspired to work with special needs patients through a pediatrics track, applied to this newly available fellowship and was placed at TCDM to begin the training and serve as a resource for other students and dentists.

“COVID changed my plans and residency at the last minute. However, we’ve gotten through it, and I have been very fortunate.,” Dorrough said. “When I was approached about applying to this unique opportunity, I realized that my life experiences and demeanor have actually been preparing me to uplift and edify the lives of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. My number one goal while training in the fellowship is to build the skills needed to ensure each unique patient has a positive experience receiving care.”

In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Dorrough will devote 20 percent of his fellowship year to teaching and/or research in partnership with TCDM. He has also committed to at least one-year post-fellowship, providing care to patients with special needs and continuing his teaching and research responsibilities. Outside of the fellowship, Dorrough will also continue working at the Westchester Institute for Human Development.

“I would love to help this program grow, not only here at TCDM but for other dental schools to start their own programs,” Dorrough said. “It’s not an easy undertaking, but this fellowship is absolutely a step in the right direction. Anyone who is interested in applying is welcome to talk to me; I’m more than happy to tell you what change this fellowship will enable you to make in the world.”

Study Shows a Single Dose of Over-The-Counter Naproxen Sodium (440 mg) is as Effective, Lasts Longer, and was Better Tolerated Than a Single Dose of a Commonly Prescribed Opioid

Bayer Consumer Health Division announced today its clinical research study, "Analgesic efficacy of naproxen sodium versus hydrocodone/acetaminophen in acute postsurgical dental pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial" was published online in the Postgraduate Medicine journal.

Aleve® is an over the counter (OTC) pain reliever indicated for temporary relief of minor aches and pains including minor arthritis pain, headache, muscular aches and toothache. The single dose study found that in treating moderate-to-severe postsurgical dental pain, a single dose of non-prescription naproxen sodium 440 mg (NapS) was at least as effective at hours 0-4 and better tolerated than a single dose of an opioid combination of hydrocodone plus acetaminophen 10/650 mg (HYD+APAP). This class of medication is known to lead to the potential for misuse and addiction.¹

Overall, in a single dose study, NapS was as effective as HYD+APAP during hours 0-4, and longer lasting. NapS was found to meet the endpoints of reducing pain intensity over 12 hours (primary endpoint; p=0.01), total pain relief over 6 and 12 hours (p<0.05), time to rescue medication (p<0.001), and duration of pain at least half gone over 12 hours (p<0.001). The HYD+APAP treatment was not statistically superior to NapS for any endpoint. Additionally, more treatment-related adverse events were reported with HYD+APAP (n=63) than NapS (n=2) and placebo (n=20), including nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Results showed NapS to be statistically superior to HYD+APAP for the primary and key secondary endpoints and to have a lower incidence of adverse events (14.4% vs. 39.1%).

"We set out to understand how NapS compares with a common opioid combination in dental pain. We were pleased that the results showed that NapS performed as well as it did in the study," said Charlene Ng, Interim Head of North America Medical Affairs, Bayer Consumer Health. "Knowing NSAIDs are commonly recommended as a first line of defense following dental procedures, we wanted to see how one dose of NapS directly compares to one dose of a commonly prescribed opioid combination. The study yielded positive findings that can serve as valuable information for dental professionals when determining the appropriate treatment for their patients."

One of the most common reasons patients seek medical attention is for pain relief.² Fast and effective management of acute pain is critical to minimize negative side-effects and current treatment guidelines worldwide recommend that first-line therapy in all mild-to-moderate pain conditions in adults should be oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and/or acetaminophen (APAP).^3-5 Opioids, however, alone or in combination with other analgesics, continue to be prescribed for pain relief. Overprescribing opioids has led to unprecedented levels of relief which have the potential for addiction.²

The results of this single dose study demonstrate that NapS provides the same levels of pain relief from hours 0-4 as a commonly prescribed opioid combination for acute postoperative pain and can be considered by clinicians when recommending appropriate analgesics for minor pain.

"This study comes at a key time, as opioid addiction and overdose deaths have been declared a public health emergency in the United States²," said Dr. M. Ted Wong, DDS, MHA, oral healthcare and dental medical integration consultant. "In reviewing the results, the study shows that NapS may be an effective non-addictive treatment option for those undergoing dental procedures. Data like this is key in the ongoing effort to mitigate the use of opioid combinations as a first line of defense for relieving minor pain after dental procedures. It is my hope that other dentists find the results as compelling as I do."

About the Study

The study titled, "Analgesic efficacy of naproxen sodium versus hydrocodone/acetaminophen in acute postsurgical dental pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial," was a single center, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study in moderate or severe postoperative pain after the surgical removal of impacted third molars. Patients (n=212) received either a single dose of NapS (Aleve®, Bayer Bitterfeld, Germany; 220 mg x two tablets), HYD+APAP (Norco®, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, NY, USA; 5+325 mg x two tablets), or a placebo within 4.5 hours post-surgery and were assessed over the course of 12 hours. The primary endpoint was the summed pain intensity difference from zero to 12 hours (SPID0-12) with secondary endpoints identified as pain intensity, pain relief, time to rescue medication (additional pain relief medication taken, if needed), and duration of pain at least half gone. Additional endpoints assessed include onset of pain relief, global assessment of treatment, and adverse events.

There were no serious adverse events (AEs) or treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) that led to study discontinuation. A total of 85 TEAEs were reported (NapS, n=2; HYD+APAP, n=63; PBO, n=20). Most AEs were classified as mild, but moderate in 21.8% HYD+APAP patients and 13.6% of PBO patients. Results demonstrated that NapS was better tolerated than HYD+APAP with only one AE that was considered treatment related (somnolence) compared to 18 with HYD+APAP (mostly nausea, vomiting and dizziness) and compared to 1 with PBO (vomiting).

¹ American Dental Association. ADA Dental Drug Handbook: A Quick Reference. Chicago, IL: American Dental Association; 2019.

² Kuehn B. Opioid Emergency Declared. JAMA. 2017;318:2418-2418. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.19014.

³ Morlion B, Coluzzi F, Aldington D, et al. Pain chronification: what should a non-pain medicine specialist know? Curr. Med. Res. Opin. 2018;34:1169-1178. doi: 10.1080/03007995.2018.1449738.

⁴ Sinatra R. Causes and consequences of inadequate management of acute pain. Pain Med. 2010;11:1859-1871. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2010.00983.x.

⁵ Hagen M, Alchin J. Nonprescription drugs recommended in guidelines for common pain conditions. Pain Management. 2019;10:117-129. doi: 10.2217/pmt-2019-0057. 

Polaroid HealthCare announced that it’s Polaroid DDS Dental Imaging Software has just gone over 150,000 users! Sold worldwide under various brand names in over 50 countries, it is available in over 25 languages. Polaroid HealthCare just recently introduced this premium Dental Imaging Suite to the USA Dental market under the names Polaroid DDS lite, and Polaroid DDS Pro.

Polaroid DDS Pro is much more than a Dental X-ray capture software. DDS Pro is designed to provide a quick and simple, yet complete case presentation to your patients. Your patients become better educated and involved, and you look more professional while closing more cases.

DDS Pro incorporates the latest in medical and dental imaging algorithms and filters to get the most out of any brand of 2D imaging products, such as Intraoral Sensors, PSP Plates, Film, Intraoral Camera’s, Digital Extraoral cameras, and Pan/ Cephs, all via direct integration. No need for Twain drivers with most brands, since they have provided their direct integration drivers.

DDS Pro links to most Practice Management programs via connections created by the major PM software companies. Universal Name and Data grabbers are not required.

For further information, or to schedule a demo, contact your authorized Polaroid HealthCare Dealer, or visit www.polaroidhealth.com 844-789-5050

Organizations Highlight Need to Expand Access, Improve Care for Veterans

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health and American Institute of Dental Public Health (AIDPH) issued several strategic recommendations to improve veteran oral health, highlighting a worrying gap in care and access.

Compared to nonveterans, veterans are more likely to experience worse oral health outcomes, including higher rates of tooth decay, higher rates of gum disease, and an increased need for restorative dental care.

The recommendations are part of a new white paper from CareQuest Institute and AIDPH — Veteran Oral Health: Expanding Access and Equity — that focuses on the need to better understand the significant deficits surrounding veteran oral health.

“This announcement is meant to shed light on the struggles veterans can face with oral health care and offer potential solutions,” said Sean G. Boynes, DMD, MS, vice president of health improvement at CareQuest Institute. “We are proud to partner with veteran organizations and AIDPH to galvanize community stakeholders and care teams to help close these gaps.”

According to the white paper, which includes a review of the latest research on veteran oral health:

● Approximately 42% of veterans report having had gum treatment or bone loss around their teeth as compared to 27% of nonveterans

● Roughly two in five, or 8 million veterans, describe their oral health as fair or poor

● Nearly 24% of veterans live in rural areas, where consistent access to care can be challenging

The white paper details the coverage and benefits for dental services available to veterans, analyzes data to evaluate veteran oral health, and provides strategic recommendations to support equitable oral health for veterans.

“AIDPH, in collaboration with CareQuest Institute, is dedicated to centering the veteran voice in our research, advocacy, and education as we improve the oral health and well-being of the veteran community,” said Annaliese Cothron, DHSc, MS, CPH, executive director of AIDPH. “Veterans deserve equitable oral health. Our community of veteran advocates is committed to pursuing strategic initiatives that innovate in the veteran oral health space.”

The white paper identifies several strategic recommendations that improve access to and quality of care, including:

● Expanding eligibility criteria for veterans to receive oral health services

● Expanding the role of Federally Qualified Health Centers and rural health clinics

● Advancing medical-dental integration in veteran health care

View the Executive Summary or read the full white paper. 

The Hands OnLine LIVE dental continuing education platform announced a holiday giveaway contest for a complimentary continuing education course. Entrants into the Gift of Learning contest will have the chance to win a course of their choice from either the Hands-OnLine LIVE courses or the Hands-On Demand courses that allow 30-days on-demand access and unlimited viewing. The courses are presented by world-renown dentists, and include a course technique kit with model, materials, and instruments for the participant to keep.

To enter the Gift of Learning contest, participants must tag 2 dental friends/colleagues on Instagram who enjoy hands-on continuing education, Like the Gift of Learning Instagram post (share it to your story for a bonus entry tagging @handsonlinelive), and follow the @handsonlinelive Instagram page.

*Contest closes December 24, 2021 at midnight. Winner will be announced in the new year. Open to US and Canadian residents only. Giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by Instagram.

For more information about Hands-OnLine LIVE and to see the selection of courses offered, visit the Hands-OnLine LIVE website.