I write this article so that my profession can take an introspective look at what exactly we are doing. I’ve practiced since 2002, mainly in pediatric dentistry, but before dental school I studied public health. Public health is a focus that is unbiased, as the discipline forces us to use all the available tools, such as epidemiology and biostatistics, in combination to improve health through evidence. The last word is
Children may be picking up on their parents’ fear of visiting the dentist, according to newly released findings from a Delta Dental survey. However, dental practices can take certain steps to make both children and parents feel more at ease. Between December 2014 and January 2015, Delta Dental polled more than 1,300 parents of children ages 12 and younger. The findings showed that nearly half (48%) of parents say they
Howard Pollick, BDS, MPH, an expert on community water fluoridation, was chosen to receive the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry’s 2015 Chancellor Award for Public Service in the faculty category. George Taylor, DMD, MPH, DrPH, chair of the department of preventive and restorative dental sciences, lauded Dr. Pollick’s public health efforts, including providing care to migrant farm workers and nursing home residents and also his advocacy of
The New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD) has received a $335,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop an automated test that can simultaneously detect HIV/AIDS antibodies and viral RNA from the AIDS virus in a single specimen. A $1.5 million grant was awarded to Rheonix, a medical technology company that makes automated and customizable molecular diagnostic devices, and a portion of that grant will go to
If you were told that half of your patients could lose 40% of their total bone mass, putting them at risk for losing teeth, you would no doubt do everything in your power to reverse these clinical changes. As Joan Otomo-Corgel, DDS, MPH, president of the American Academy of Periodontology, points out, this can happen to half your patients: women. And the cause is menopause and its related effects. Joan
Dear DrBicuspid Member, With baseball season starting up, now is a great time to ask yourself an important question: Is your practice batting in the majors or is it stuck in the minors? In their latest column, the Madow Brothers compare the differences between major league and minor league practices. In today’s economy, consumers often conduct thorough research, ask their friends and families for recommendations, and consult social media before
Every day we see changes, for example: an apple turns brown, meat becomes rancid, or a cut on our skin becomes raw and inflamed. All these are examples of oxidation, this is a natural process and as it happens in nature it can happen in our body. Just like oxidation affects living tissue, free radical molecules (molecules that have oxidized) can affect our body in many ways. Free Radicals: Cell
The state of New York could save $50 million and improve young children’s oral health by educating parents about early childhood caries (ECC), according to a new study with national and practice implications. Early childhood caries accounts for a disproportionate share of dental expenditures in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, according to the report authors. Current treatment options repair caries damage but do not target the underlying causes
Patients with facial pain usually see two or more physicians and wait more than 17 months before being referred to a specialist, according to a new study. This delay can cause the pain to escalate from acute to chronic, the authors noted. Researchers from Case Western Reserve University gathered data from American Academy of Oral Medicine members on the current state of facial pain and oral medicine in the U.S.,
You recently visit and receive a dental cleaning either Deep Cleaning, Laser Treatment or LANAP. After the procedure is done you might feel pain or have questions, to better assist you during the month of April we will give you a few post-surgery steps you should take to avoid oral discomfort. To relieve pain; you can take pain killers this will relieve the pain and are sold without a prescription.
Danville Materials has acquired Perioscopy, which manufactures minimally invasive dental endoscope technology. Perioscopy’s technology focuses on diagnosing, viewing, and treating the subgingival pocket environment in a nonsurgical manner. The company’s endoscope includes video, lighting, and increased magnification. Danville Materials designs and manufactures products for clinical dentists. “Our team is looking forward to bringing aboard the unique and innovative technology that Perioscopy brings,” stated Craig Bruns, president of Danville Materials, in
When treating special needs patients who need to be sedated, do you understand the drug interactions that may impair the effectiveness of sedation? Do you know how the medications a patient is taking might interact with propofol and how this changes your treatment strategy? Treating patients with autism, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disability can be a challenge, even more so when these patients also have epilepsy. Now, a new study