Dental Blog Updates 1

Kennedy Vows a Push to End Fluoridation

Hollis Russinof — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 14:03:17 -0800

If elected, Donald Trump is expected to give Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a leading role in overseeing public health policy. In a message posted November 2 on the platform X, Kennedy suggested one way he would use this authority. He wrote that if Trump prevails, the new administration “will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water.” Kennedy’s message recycles many of the oft-used claims that fluoride is associated with various health harms.

Contrary to Science

According to the Washington Post, Kennedy’s anti-fluoridation views have “puzzled many experts who see little upside in the idea.” Public health and scientific leaders have voiced concern at Kennedy’s vow to encourage an end to fluoridation.

As with vaccines, Kennedy’s beliefs are completely contrary to the scientific evidence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the “safety and benefits of fluoride are well documented” and water fluoridation reduces tooth decay by 25% for children and adults.

Gary Kreps, a professor at George Mason University’s Center for Health and Risk Communication, called Kennedy’s statement “a ridiculous assault on public health.” Lucky Tran, a biomedical scientist and a Director of Science Communication at Columbia University, wrote on X that fluoridation has been praised for decades “because it helped dramatically reduce cavity rates since the 1940s.”

Costly and Counterproductive

Fluoridation is disease prevention, and we have seen the far-reaching impacts of removing it from public water supplies. The city of Calgary, Canada, stopped water fluoridation in 2011. Canadian researchers investigated the impact of that decision by studying the rate of children who were treated for severe decay under general anesthesia (GA). Over an eight-year period, the rate of children receiving treatment under GA jumped by 78% in Calgary. Meanwhile, the rate of GA treatment in Edmonton — a fluoridated city to the north — rose by only 12%.

Stopping fluoridation seriously undermines efforts to promote health equity. In a 2021 report, the National Institutes of Health wrote that reaching more of the U.S. population with water fluoridation “not only benefits the entire population but disproportionally benefits economically vulnerable groups, producing a flatter socioeconomic gradient in dental caries among children.”

For the health care system, the impact of numbers like those in Calgary is fiscally significant. Imagine the dollars saved from those surgeries put to use for public safety, parks, etc. For children, the impact of disease prevention is fewer and less severe cavities and, for many, not having to endure the pain and trauma of extensive oral surgery under general anesthesia. Just as important, though, if the impact on us as a society. Common sense, effective and safe public health measures like fluoridation render us more humane.

Fluoridation laws have been supported and signed by elected officials in both major parties. It is troubling to see this proven strategy used in a blatantly partisan manner. Let’s get back to basics: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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Decision in EPA Case: As Flawed As the Analysis It’s Based On

Hollis Russinof — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 08:48:10 -0700

On Tuesday, September 23, 2024, Judge Edward M. Chen of the US District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must issue new rules related to fluoride levels in tap water.

The court wrote that “this finding does not conclude with certainty that fluoridated water is injurious to public health,” but it found that the plaintiffs had adequately demonstrated an “unreasonable risk” of harm.

This assertion is deeply concerning, for many reasons.

Reliance on a Troubled Report

The lawsuit, brought in April of 2017, took over seven years to conclude, a period that included waiting four years for the recently released NTP Monograph on the State of the Science Concerning Fluoride Exposure and Neurodevelopment and Cognition: A Systematic Review. This is the report that twice failed peer review by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), required additional scientific review by an NTP Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC), and which underwent a significant number of revisions and edits before it was finally released on August 21, 2024.

In concluding its two peer reviews, NASEM cautioned that the NTP “should make it clear that the monograph cannot be used to draw any conclusions regarding low fluoride exposure concentrations, including those typically associated with drinking-water fluoridation.” Why? The monograph’s conclusions applied to water that contained >1.5 mg/L of fluoride — more than twice the amount used to fluoridate water in the U.S.

Legal versus Scientific Expertise

To reach his opinion, the court drew heavily on the widely criticized monograph. In fact, the court did so despite explicit declarations by the NTP that its document was not designed to evaluate a potential risk of harm from drinking water containing fluoride at the optimal US level of 0.7 mg/L.

Experts from around the world have reviewed the same body of research and continue to find that the data support the safety of fluoride in water at recommended levels. While some studies suggest an association between high fluoride exposure and cognitive development, other analyses, some quite recent, show no such association. Organizations that follow the published research carefully, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, and many respected health authorities, continue to attest to and support community water fluoridation and fluoride use to prevent tooth decay.

Inconsistent Findings

Studies on fluoride exposure and neurodevelopment have yielded inconsistent findings, as reported in several recent research reviews. Analyses of data from Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Spain, and Sweden have revealed no association between fluoride and cognitive deficits.

In 2021, a study from Spain found that mothers’ prenatal fluoride exposure was associated with higher cognitive scores in boys at age 4, not lower. There was no difference in girls’ IQ.
A large 2022 study in Australia determined fluoride exposure of boys and girls from birth to age 5, then their emotional / behavioral development was assessed through age 18. Exposure to fluoridated water in the first 5 years was not associated with altered measures of child emotional / behavioral development or executive function.

Confounding Factors

Finally, there are many confounding factors that affect IQ and measuring it, especially in children. Socioeconomic, physical, familial, cultural, genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors are all possible confounders. There has been only one fluoride-IQ study that followed people over a significant period of the lifespan. Published in 2020, this study tested the IQ of people in New Zealand at multiple ages to determine if a link existed. That 30-year study found no link between fluoride and IQ scores.

“There is nothing about the current decision that changes my confidence in the safety of optimally fluoridated water in the U.S.,” said Dr Charlotte Lewis. “Water fluoridation is a public health policy based on a solid foundation of evidence. When new research is published, health experts scrutinize it to make sure it meets high standards for public safety. That’s how it works.”

Dental disease in children continues to be the most common chronic disease, and it has significant effects on a child’s overall health and success.

Based on an enormous body of research and decades of experience, the American Academy of Pediatrics continues to support the use of fluoride and fluoridated drinking water to prevent tooth decay.

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More Australians Benefiting from Fluoridation

Hollis Russinof — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:07:09 -0700

Water fluoridation is even more common in Australia than it is in the United States. A 2023 research review reported that 89% of Australians with access to public water systems receive water that is fluoridated to help prevent tooth decay. And that percentage has recently risen.

This summer, the community water system in Bunbury — a city on Australia’s southwestern coast — began adjusting the natural fluoride in its water to the recommended level for reducing the risk of decay. Nearly 50,000 people live in Bunbury. Several other communities in Australia’s southwest either have begun or will soon begin fluoridation.

As in other countries, efforts to fluoridate drinking water has been propelled by research. A 2016 report found that tooth decay was significantly more common in Bunbury and other non-fluoridated communities than it was in the metropolitan area of Perth, a city which has been fluoridated for decades.

Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council has conducted multiple reviews of the evidence and has concluded each time that water fluoridation is beneficial and safe.

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Troubled Government Report Finally Sees the Light of Day

Hollis Russinof — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 05:13:41 -0700

On August 21, 2024, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) posted the NTP Monograph on the State of the Science Concerning Fluoride Exposure and Neurodevelopment and Cognition: A Systematic Review on its website and concluded “with a moderate degree of confidence” that higher estimated exposure to fluoride is associated with lower IQ in children. The NTP defined this higher exposure as a level of more than 1.5 milligram per liter of fluoride in drinking water. This is double the level used for water fluoridation.

While this report does not evaluate or apply to community water fluoridation (CWF) in the United States, health providers and public health advocates are very concerned about information being taken out of context, undermining public trust and causing unwarranted alarm among pregnant women and parents.

Two Drafts, Two Reviews, Two Rejections

For more than four years, scientists, researchers and health professionals have been following the review and release of this troubled report. The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) conducted peer reviews of the first two drafts (2019 and 2020) and twice rejected them, providing lengthy and detailed lists of “deficiencies” in the work. NASEM wrote that the NTP had not identified “clear and convincing” evidence to support its then-claim that “fluoride is presumed to be a cognitive neurodevelopmental hazard to humans” and suggested “further analysis or reanalysis”. The claim of a “presumed neurotoxin” was removed from the final report.

In delivering comments following its second review, NASEM directed the NTP to “make it clear that the monograph cannot be used to draw any conclusions” about low fluoride exposures, including the levels of exposure from community water fluoridation (CWF).

Publication Again Delayed

Publication of a revised version of the report was scheduled for May 22, 2022, but was abruptly canceled over ongoing concerns about research methods and conclusions. Two more years of review by an NTP Board of Scientific Advisors Working Group, which recommended an additional 93 edits and revisions, has resulted in a report from which the meta-analysis has been removed and submitted for publication elsewhere. NTP also removed its “hazard” designation of fluoride from the report.

Report’s Current Conclusions

The current version of the report concludes “with a moderate degree of confidence” that 1) exposure to fluoride at/above the level of ≥1.5 mg/L is “consistently associated with lower IQ in children” and 2) “more research is needed on the effects of fluoride exposure at levels below 1.5mg/L.”

The Report’s Conclusions in Context

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) welcomes new research and will continue to issue recommendations on the use of fluoride based on expert review of the available evidence in conjunction with recommendations from public health authorities. Fluoride remains a very important component of ensuring optimal child oral and overall health.

The NTP Monograph is a meta-analysis, not a research study. It examines associations and does not constitute research that demonstrates causation.
The report’s conclusions are not applicable to U.S. fluoride levels. The optimal level of fluoride recommended for U.S. water supplies is 0.7mg/L, less than half the level considered by the report.
There are many confounding factors that affect IQ and measuring it, especially in children. Socioeconomic, physical, familial, cultural, genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors are all possible confounders. In addition, it is unclear whether data on children’s IQ extracted from a variety of different studies are accurate, comparable, or generalizable.
Several recent reviews contradict NTP’s conclusions but were not included in its review. Research on fluoride exposure and neurodevelopment is widely heterogenous and to date has yielded inconsistent results.
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease for children and adults, and it creates a disproportionate burden on children with special health care needs, from families with low incomes, and people of color. Fluoride has been proven to prevent and reduce dental disease, and community water fluoridation is both efficient and effective at delivering primary prevention equitably to people of all ages who are served by fluoridated water systems.

Our experts agree. “While additional research to better understand the association and potential biologic mechanisms would be important, there’s nothing about the research that makes me concerned (about) … low levels of fluoride through use of toothpaste and drinking fluoridated water,” said Charlotte W. Lewis, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP, a member of the AAP Section on Oral Health.

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Maternal Urinary Fluoride: Not a Valid Measure for Study’s Conclusion

Hollis Russinof — Tue, 21 May 2024 13:52:37 -0700

A new study in JAMA Network Open (Malin, et al.) claims to have found an association between maternal urinary fluoride (MUF) levels and later deficiencies in children’s executive function. This study used urine “spot samples” to measure a pregnant woman’s overall exposure to fluoride.

Why Spot Samples Are Not Valid for this Study

Experts in assessing exposure to fluoride have determined that MUF can be a valid way to understand exposure on a community level, but not for an individual. Why aren’t spot samples a valid measure of an individual’s overall fluoride exposure? Fluoride levels vary throughout the day — and from day to day, too. If fluoride concentration in urine is measured at only one point in the day, it is just that – a measure of fluoride level at that moment in the day.

Most of our exposure to fluoride comes from food, beverages and dental products. About 50% is excreted from the body within 24 hours of consumption. Say the urine was collected less than 24 hours after someone consumed foods that are naturally high in fluoride. An MUF level would likely be higher than the level usually found in urine. Likewise, if the previous days’ diet was low in these foods and beverages, the level would probably be lower than usual. In either scenario, the information from a spot sample is limited. When medical tests of urine are used for an individual’s results, they show “if a person has been exposed recently to higher-than-normal levels of fluorides.”

Convenience Samples

Urine samples are routinely collected during pregnancy. Conveniently available data are common sources of information for studies like this one, hence the term “convenience sample”. It may seem intuitive that MUF is a sound way to measure a pregnant woman’s exposure to fluoride. It is not. To associate a subsequent outcome in children with an exposure during pregnancy, the all contributing factors must be properly measured. The scientific community is clear on this. A convenience sample cannot be used to infer statistical significance that applies to the general population. Any recommended changes to medical practice or policy should be made based upon statistically significant results.

Strong Evidence of No Association

In 2023, a study of children in Australia (Do, et al.) also explored the question of whether fluoride and children’s executive function were linked. It found no such association. The Australian study measured fluoride exposure using the status of water fluoridation rather than spot samples. The authors also analyzed a much larger data set, one that included 2,682 children. That’s >90% more children than studied by Malin et al, who relied on a sample of only 229 mother-child pairs. Those pairs were from one ethnic group and came from a single city. They were not, therefore, representative of the general population of children. That means that the study’s results describe only a single and small demographic. The findings of the Australian study are more generalizable to a large and diverse population like the U.S. This is important. When public policy recommendations result from research, the data must describe the public.

What comes next?

More research, properly designed, is needed on this important question in order to develop a robust body of evidence. Only then can clinical recommendations and public policy be evidence-based, consistent and sound. As always, we welcome new research to broaden our understanding on the safety of fluoride when the data are valid, sufficient and purposefully derived.

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Fluoride & IQ: Until recently, concerns were rarely raised

Hollis Russinof — Wed, 08 May 2024 06:35:09 -0700

Thanks to fluoride in water, America has been preventing tooth decay for over 75 years. Fluoridation is effective, safe and benefits everyone regardless of age or income. About 3 out of 4 people in U.S. communities enjoy fluoridated water. Until recently, concerns about fluoride and IQ were rare.

Opponents of fluoridation began focusing on IQ when a review of studies was published in 2012. They claimed that it showed that lower IQ scores in children were “caused” by fluoride. Here’s why the evidence does not support the claim.

A review is not an experiment. It does not test cause and effect. The authors looked at 27 dissimilar studies from China, Mongolia and Iran and reported what was observed.
The authors warned that the studies they reviewed “had deficiencies, in some cases rather serious, which limit the conclusions that can be drawn.” They cautioned that more research would be needed to rule out other factors affecting test scores. This can include nutrition, the quality of schools, and exposure to contaminants such as lead.
The studies did not describe the water that American children drink. The fluoride in these countries was in some cases more than 5 times what is used for water fluoridation in the United States.

On the contrary. Studies from New Zealand and Sweden have shown that the IQ scores of teens and adults living in fluoridated communities during infancy and childhood were no different than the scores of people who lived in communities without fluoridated water. These two studies are unique because they followed participants over time and tracked IQs and other possible effects, well into adulthood. As a result, these studies are far more accurate.

The Research Focus Shifts

In recent years, opponents have focused on prenatal exposure to fluoride, with studies from Mexico City and Canada, where fluoride exposure is similar to the U.S. and Canada. These studies reported some differences in the IQ scores of 3 and 4 year olds related to the level of fluoride their mothers were exposed to, using maternal urinary fluoride (MUF) spot samples. However, the Canadian study only showed a significant difference for boys — and only on one of the two tests.

Many criticisms have been raised about the quality of these studies including that the results have not been confirmed by other research teams. Such confirmation is standard practice to test the validity of research methods and results.

The Canadian studies were based on only one data set. Those data were collected in a larger study not originally intended to determine if a mother’s exposure to fluoride might affect their children’s IQ. A recent analysis cites authoritative sources that dismiss the validity of both the measure of the individual mothers’ exposures to fluoride and how the IQs of their children were tested.

Any study of IQ differences must take into account the many factors that can affect intelligence scores. Some of these include breastfeeding, nutrition, and mothers’ IQ. When researchers account for these factors, we can have more confidence that the study’s results are not skewed or otherwise affected.

The studies from Mexico City and Canada accounted for some but not all these factors. They relied on IQ testing that was conducted at only one age. By contrast, the New Zealand study tested IQ several times, starting at age 7 and ending at age 38. The fact that multiple test scores were collected, and over a long period time (31 years), means that we can have more confidence in these results over others.

The National Academies Weighs In

In 2015, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) initiated a large review of studies on fluoride and possible cognitive effects. This review included the studies from Mexico City and Canada. Since then, the NTP has produced several drafts of a report on their findings. As is customary, the NTP sought peer-review of its work, choosing the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. After reviewing, the National Academies concluded that the NTP had not identified “clear and convincing” evidence to support its claim that fluoride “causes” low IQ.

Going one step further, the National Academies instructed NTP to clarify several important points. For example, the studies it reviewed do not address or raise safety concerns about low fluoride exposures, “including those typically associated with drinking-water fluoridation.” Because of this. the NTP removed the classification of fluoride as a “hazard”. The revised draft also presented an opportunity to include research, some contradictory, published through November 2021.

The third draft, entitled NTP Monograph on the State of Science, was never resubmitted to the National Academies. Instead it was given to the NTP’s own Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC). They assessed the adequacy of NTP’s responses to the comments it received from the experts who reviewed it. The BSC recommended an additional 93 revisions to the monograph due to 1) scientific issues, 2) insufficient information, 3) imprecise text, and 4) the need for additional research.

Since the BSC’s recommendations were made, still more concerns have been raised about the monograph, this time about the validity of several studies upon which the report’s conclusions were based. NTP staff are currently making those revisions; a final report has yet to be released.

Other Studies Offer Insights

In 2021, a study from Spain found that mothers’ prenatal fluoride exposure was associated with higher cognitive scores in boys at age 4, not lower. There was no difference in girls’ IQ. This contradicts the findings of the 2019 Canadian study. A much larger 2022 study in Australia followed boys and girls with different lifetime fluoride exposures from birth to age 5. This study assessed the children’s emotional and behavioral development until they reached age 18. Their conclusion? Exposure to fluoridated water during the first five years of life was not associated with altered measures of child emotional and behavioral development or executive functioning.

More than 6,800 studies and research papers have been produced fluoride in water, and the overwhelming evidence shows that fluoride is safe and beneficial. Water fluoridation has been and continues to be thoroughly evaluated to ensure the health of those who are fortunate to live in a fluoridated community.

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Kids know what makes teeth strong – fluoride!

Hollis Russinof — Tue, 07 May 2024 08:28:00 -0700

What did you think about oral health when you were five years old? Chances are you didn’t think about it at all, unless you had a painful cavity. We asked preschoolers to talk about how brushing their teeth keeps them healthy and strong. See what these four, five and six year olds have to say about keeping their teeth shiny and strong.

Many of today’s young parents grew up with the benefits of fluoride. Whether in their toothpaste, drinking water or treatments at the dentist, recent generations of adults have enjoyed better teeth than their parents and grandparents. Remember dentures? Now millions of people keep their teeth, spared the pain, suffering and expense that not long ago were a sad fact of life.

Join the Campaign for Dental Health in working to give all kids a healthy start. Because you can’t be healthy without a healthy mouth. Check out the Share page of the site for these and more videos and great shareable images to help you spread the word about why life is better with teeth.

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Albany Residents Will Benefit from Fluoride in Water

Hollis Russinof — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 14:13:36 -0700

Residents of Albany, the capital city of New York State, will benefit from fluoride in water. The municipality begins to fluoridate its tap water next year. The Common Council in Albany voted 12-0 last month in favor of the proposal, and the mayor has signed the measure. This victory for public health is a long time in coming.

Oral health advocates have tried for decades to convince city officials to initiate water fluoridation. Although the roadblock was often the Common Council, the city’s mayors — one of whom called fluoridation “un-American.” — have opposed this common sense public health practice.

As several advocates in Albany pointed out, there is probably no public health measure that is more American than community water fluoridation. The first fluoridation study took place in the U.S. Today roughly two-thirds of the nation has access to tap water with fluoride.

Dr. Elizabeth Whalen, the former health commissioner of Albany County, was one of the leading advocates for water fluoridation. In remarks to the Common Council, she called Albany “an unfortunate outlier”. It is the only major city in New York that has never provided fluoridated water to its residents.

In conversations with council members, Dr. Whalen highlighted a 2010 study on tooth decay in New York State. This study compared the Medicaid costs of treating tooth decay in counties that were and were not fluoridated. The number of decay-related procedures for children in less fluoridated counties was 33% higher than in predominantly fluoridated counties.

“Our surrounding cities including Troy and Schenectady have the benefit of fluoride in the water supply,” Dr. Whalen said. “And we know that the dental health of children on Medicaid is better in these cities than that of our [Albany] children on Medicaid.”

Although most of the Council’s discussion focused on its benefits to children, it’s worth noting that fluoride reduces tooth decay in adults too. 75+ years of experience in communities all across America has provided evidence of the good that fluoride can do. It is the most cost-effective method of delivering fluoride to all members of the community regardless of age, educational attainment, or income level, and that benefits everyone.

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Exposure to Fluoride in Water: How it’s Measured Really Matters

Hollis Russinof — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 10:24:15 -0700

Opponents of fluoride in water are quick to cite a 2019 Canadian study (Green et al.) to claim that fluoride affects the IQ of 3 and 4 year old children. A new peer-reviewed analysis refutes the validity of this study, showing that the Canadian researchers relied on invalid measures of both fluoride exposure and IQ. For years, opponents have promoted this and other Canadian studies that have misused the same data set.

The new analysis, by Guichon, Cooper, Rugg-Gunn, and Dickinson, details the serious weaknesses in those studies. It cautions that claims about fluoride and IQ based upon them “should be considered unacceptable for legal and policy purposes.”

Significant Flaws

After analyzing data from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study, Green et al said they found an association between fluoride exposure and IQ. The primary outcome of this study was supposed to show whether there are differences in IQ resulting from fluoride exposure. The authors compared the average IQ score between fluoridated and non-fluoridated Canadian cities. They found that the scores were nearly identical but did not highlight this. Instead, they conducted a subsequent analysis that the MIREC study was not designed to support. MIREC gathered “spot urine samples,” which the Green et al. authors claimed could measure fluoride exposure of individual pregnant women.

The Guichon paper point to the conclusions of experts saying spot samples of urinary fluoride are not a valid measure of an individual’s exposure to fluoride. In addition, the measurement of the children’s IQs was viewed as unreliable. The paper questions the reliability of the IQ scores reported for the 3 and 4 year olds in the study. Best practices call for tests to be administered by the same person, known as an examiner. In this instance, the IQ tests in each city were administered by different examiners. That is why Green et al. should have also provided an assessment of the impact of using different test examiners. They did not. For these reasons, the Guichon paper concluded that MIREC data “cannot be used to make claims that fluoride exposure affects IQ.”

Reliability

In addition to Guichon, the authors of this paper include Andrew Rugg-Gunn and Colin Cooper. Rugg-Gunn is a British scientist and international expert in the measurement of fluoride intake. Cooper is a British psychologist who has authored more than a dozen books and scientific articles about human intelligence and related topics. The fourth co-author, James Dickinson, is an epidemiologist and professor of Family Medicine at the University of Calgary, in Canada.

The reliability of fluoride-related studies is a very important issue. Fluoride is widely recognized as a crucial way to prevent tooth decay, the most common chronic disease for both children and adults. Water fluoridation is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dental Association, American Public Health Association, and other leading health, medical and dental organizations.

Research flaws often do not come to light until long after publication. Journals must hold authors to high standards, for example, by following the lead of BMC Public Health which retracted a fluoride-IQ study after examining serious concerns about the methods used in this study.

The Weight of the Evidence

Beyond the new analysis, the safety of fluoridation was further demonstrated by a 2023 meta-analysis of eight. It reported that “fluoride exposure relevant to community water fluoridation is not associated with lower IQ scores in children.”

There has been only one fluoride-IQ study that followed people over a 30-year period, testing their IQs at multiple ages to determine if a link existed. That New Zealand study found no link between fluoride and IQ scores. Analyses of data from Australia, Denmark, Spain, and Sweden also have revealed no association between fluoride and cognitive deficits.

Here in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to report that fluoride in water is safe and effective, reducing tooth decay by 25% for children and adults. Millions of people all around the world receive significant dental health benefits because their tap water contains fluoride at the recommended level to prevent tooth decay.

While new research on fluoride and fluoridation is important, to be considered a sound contribution the study design of that research must include valid measures of exposures and health outcomes.

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School Nurses Voice Concern After County Ends Fluoridation

Hollis Russinof — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 10:28:48 -0800

When officials in Collier County, Florida, recently voted to end fluoridation, dental professionals and pediatricians were disheartened. School nurses were concerned too. Why? They see firsthand the negative impact of tooth decay on children’s ability to attend school, learn and thrive.

After the county’s board of commissioners made its decision, leading voices from the school nursing community took action. They turned to social media to share their professional concerns. Martha Bergren, executive editor of the Journal of School Nursing, called Collier County’s vote the “latest anti-science decision” that will negatively affect children’s health. She reminds us that drinking fluoridated tap water reduces decay by 25%.

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) shared Bergren’s message on social media too. NASN’s message included the hashtag #healthequity, and for good reason. A 2021 report by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) writes that fluoride in water “can especially benefit children in low-income families.”

Collier County includes the city of Naples and other communities with large numbers of retirees. Yet nearly 48,000 school-age children also live in the county — a number of which NASN is well aware. Research shows that children with dental pain are:

3 times more likely to be absent from school
4 times more likely to receive lower grades

Although Collier County is known as the home of affluent communities, about 40,000 of its residents live at or below the poverty line. Families with low incomes have higher rates of tooth decay. At the same time, they have more difficulty getting professional dental care. For many children in low income households, tap water with fluoride is the only disease prevention they receive. Without it, they are at greater risk of cavities which, if left untreated, will only get worse.

The decision to stop adding fluoride to a community’s water is often justified with information that is false, misleading or incomplete. This was true in Collier County. Before the board of commissioners voted, Commissioner Daniel Kowal expressed his reasoning. In his remarks, Kowal cited Australia as one of the countries that do not fluoridate their water. This is false. Fully 89% of the Australians have access to drinking water with fluoride at the recommended level to prevent cavities.

It is laudable that school nurses are doing their part to raise awareness of the need for community-level prevention. And NASN has many excellent resources for its members on its Oral Health Connections web page. School nurses are trusted, vital partners in educating families and the public. We thank them for raising their voices to highlight the effect of public policy decisions on the health of the children and families they serve.

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8 Tried-and-Tested Tips for Excelling at Practice Management for your Dental Clinic

Dr. Chuck Le — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 15:28:28 -0800

According to market research firm Global Industry Analysts, the worldwide market for dental practice management software is expected to reach $2.7 billion by 2026. A rise in dental treatments, as well as interest in or awareness of the significance of oral health, are anticipated to drive the development.

Web-based software is projected to increase at a 7.5 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to $1.3 billion by 2026. Over the next seven years, the cloud-based software sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.5 percent. In 2021, the US market share is expected to be 36.36 percent, with a value of $642.8 million.

Accounting, e-billing, software that enables patients to book appointments online, create reports and assist with insurance claims are all examples of practice management software. Treatment planning and mapping tools, as well as dental imaging software, are available on the market.

The ability to set your practice for success in a world where dental clinics are plentiful is essential in our industry. Every successful dental office begins with effective dental practice management methods.

Being a competent and experienced clinician is no longer enough in today’s competitive dentistry market. You should devote the same amount of time to the business aspect of your practice as you do to your patients.

A well-planned and implemented dental practice management strategy will not only make your day-to-day operations operate more smoothly, but will also help you attract new patients and expand your practice.

The following is the Tried-and-Tested expert advice for excelling at practice management for your dental clinic:

1. Become familiar with your unique selling proposition (USP)

Before you can enhance your dental office management plan, you must first understand what distinguishes your practice from the competition in the first place. Some questions to ask:

What distinguishes your practice from others?
Why should a patient select you over the other options available to them?
What do you have to offer that other practices don’t already have?
What makes your experiences and services superior to those of others in terms of benefiting your patients?

The idea of determining what distinguishes you from the competition is referred to as a unique selling proposition (USP). It will not only assist you in determining how you might compete and win in a crowded market, but it will also serve as a guiding force in the development of a successful business management plan.

Drilling down and creating your unique selling proposition (USP) requires time and thorough study. There are a variety of tools available to assist you as you progress through this process.

2. Upgrade your online scheduling software

It’s all about efficiency in today’s dentistry office administration. Software connections such as online appointments are specifically designed for this purpose.

There are a plethora of online dental scheduling systems to select from, but they all aim to provide your company more flexibility and efficiency through:

Improved patient flow
Increased productivity
Reduced anxiety (for both patients and your staff)
Exceptional patient service

This last element is very significant. You may be losing out on revenue if you don’t use online scheduling tools. According to one research, 31% of clients would consider switching dentists if the other practitioner offered online appointment scheduling.

On the other hand, a dentist who made an investment in an online appointment scheduling system experienced a roughly 400% increase in their appointments.

Competitors are already seeing this trend and incorporating online scheduling systems into their practice management strategies. Allowing patients to go to your rivals because of an obsolete or non-existent online scheduling system is a bad idea.

3. Texting alternatives make communication simple

Nowadays, communication is all about ease. To keep up with fast-paced lifestyles, clients want short and straightforward messages. Stop depending on phone calls or mailings to remind you of appointments. Text messaging must be included into your patient communication plan.

The following are some of the most successful methods for dentists to implement text messaging into their practice management:

Reminders for appointments
Message rescheduling through text
Check-in for post-operative care text billing
Simple two-way communication

According to studies, text messages have a 98 percent open rate, which is much greater than the 14.35 percent average email open rate for the healthcare sector.

“Patient care is always top priority at a dental clinic. Going to the dentist is often not a fun experience for many patients but if you put extra effort into making the patient feel welcome, it goes a long way in making the appointment more pleasant. Having a dental assistant or dental hygienist speak with the patient and provide sunglasses for bright lights helps ease the patient. Dentists should always answer questions or explain how the procedure works before they start it to avoid any surprises. Patients who feel welcome, cared for, and at ease are far more likely to return in the future. Patients want to feel cared for. Open dialogue, and providing extra comfort is an excellent way to maintain a healthy patient base,” Seth Newman, CEO, Sporting Smiles.

Text messaging provides for more efficient and timely communication, which leads to higher patient satisfaction. You’ll see a significant improvement in practice-patient connections if you interact with patients in the very same manner they interact with their family and friends.

4. Simplify financing options

When it comes to choosing a dentist, one of the top concerns for consumers is cost.

Patients may be turned off by costly treatments or concerns about paying for a service. Offering full transparency and contemporary financial alternatives, with this in mind, is a wise step toward practice success.

There are a few financial alternatives to consider:

Billing that is automated
Portal for online payments
Plans for payment
Discounts in cash
Savings plan for employees

We suggest discussing which alternatives are appropriate for your practice with your accountant or financial adviser. However, make things easy and clear for your patients as your objective (and yourself).

The more straightforward a patient’s payment choices are, the more likely they are to accept your treatment recommendations and return for further therapy.

5. Consider putting the billing desk on autopilot.

The billing desk’s activities may also be streamlined using technology. When it comes to making payments, customers don’t want to be kept waiting. It will be easier to handle insurance claims if your billing office is automated. More importantly, it will decrease patient wait times while processing payments.

In a nutshell, adopt technology if you wish to simplify the billing desk’s process. All procedures should be automated. It will be simple to keep track of your patients and keep track of all payments.

6. Leverage technology for dental practice management

You’ve undoubtedly observed that keeping current with technology can help you boost better patient experience. This entails having the finest tools and equipment and incorporating the latest healthcare software that is accessible for dental practitioners.

Beyond that, use a management system that can help your practice operate efficiently such as dental practice management software. Sure, a lot of practice management is available in the market offering you the best practices, that is easy to use and assists you with day-to-day operations.

However, nowadays, dental practitioners are custom developing software too. The practice management software would integrate seamlessly with their imaging system and allow them to track many aspects of practice performance, like how many implant surgeries they accomplish every month, so they always know where they stand.

7. Ensure optimum data security

Patient confidentiality is paramount, as it is with all healthcare services. You’ll have a massive quantity of private information on file that can’t be accessed.

Health data and financial information must be kept in a secure environment. Locked cabinets and password-protected papers are examples of this. If you fail to comply with legal standards such as those outlined in HIPAA, it may be the end of your practice’s prosperity.

A dental practice’s reliability and reputation will be harmed if there is a data breach. It will, however, have financial ramifications. For example, in 2013, Krebs revealed that Adobe had been hacked, and that over three million accounts with encrypted consumer credit card information, as well as login credentials for a variety of accounts, had been taken. Adobe was forced to pay $1.1 million in legal costs and $1 million in compensation to consumers.

The lesson here is that patient confidentiality is not just vital, but also critical. It may be difficult to get it just perfect, but it is critical.

8. Formulate a marketing plan for your practice

What distinguishes your dental practice from others? Why should a patient choose your office over the one across the street?

Because dentistry is such a profitable business, there will be a lot of competition. Patients want the best experience for the least amount of money. Dentist treatments may be pricey, and although patients want the work done well, they may not foresee the necessity for such an expensive procedure at the moment.

Competing with other businesses requires a strong marketing plan. The following strategies may be used by the best practices to attract new patients:

Hosting webinars and creating content: To drive traffic to the website or social media pages, there are a lot of tools available to help you manage, plan and conduct professional webinars.
Email campaigns: Email marketing reminds existing patients of upcoming visits while also attracting new ones.
Social media platforms: Such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
A user-friendly website: This makes it simpler to find a practice.

The finest dental offices are concerned about their patients’ well-being. They push dentistry to new heights. Every aspect of the procedure is simplified, from the receptionists to the waiting room’s aesthetics to the appointment itself. It may seem tough, but dental practice and administration is all about organization and patient comprehension.

Using cloud-based technologies in your dental practice elevates the dental experience and ensures that clients return to your dental office time after time again. The patient experience becomes less frightening and more welcoming with this dental management assistance.

How Can Clear Aligners Correct An Overbite?

Paula Gatti — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 10:11:15 -0800

Overbites are a frequent orthodontic problem. It is a malocclusion in which the upper incisors excessively overlap the lower teeth when the patient is in occlusion. Many factors can contribute to this problem, and as it’s becoming more and more common, many therapies have become available to fix it. Clear aligners are one of them. There’s a wide variety of alternatives to address this malocclusion, and no single option is best. Each one has advantages and disadvantages, and dentists must evaluate them carefully before making a clinical decision. The approach to correct an overbite should be selected based on factors, including the patient’s needs, the cause of the malocclusion and the desired treatment outcome.

The three fundamental methods for overbite correction (without including the surgical option) are the extrusion of molars, flaring of anterior teeth and intrusion of upper and/or lower incisors. Any of these treatment alternatives would have been typically carried out with fixed orthodontic appliances (traditional braces). However, a new option was introduced some time ago: clear aligners. These aligners have been used in the field of orthodontics since 1997, and they marked a new era in orthodontic treatment. At first, clear aligners were only indicated in patients with mild-to-moderate crowding, but as this technology was studied and developed, dentists began to address more severe orthodontic issues with this therapy. The main benefit of clear aligners is the superior esthetics and the fact that the appliances are removable. This makes them an attractive and comfortable alternative for most patients, especially adults who feel reluctant to wear braces. Aligners are discreet, easy to wear and enable patients to maintain perfect oral hygiene. However, there’s a clinical limitation associated with this therapy when applied to correct complex malocclusions: lack of predictability and efficiency in certain teeth movements. These movements, which are crucial in many orthodontic treatments, include molar movements, certain intrusions, extrusions in general and canine rotations.

So how can an overbite be corrected with clear aligners? Studies show that this therapy has little effect on the vertical position of molars if it’s not aided by other procedures. But it can modify the incisor position. A study that included 60 adult patients with overbite and 48 with deep bites analyzed cephalometric measurements of these patients before and after the aligner therapy. Results show that patients with common overbites had a median opening of 0.3 mm, and in patients with deep bites, the median opening was 1.3 mm. As expected changes in incisor position caused all the improvements, and patients had minimal modifications in molars and mandibular plane. Clear aligners have great reception among patients, so orthodontists and dentists should at least consider that this therapy has been constantly studied and improved to correct more complex cases before ruling it out. A mild-to-moderate vertical overlap of incisors can be easily treated with clear aligners. However, it is a fact that more complex cases might still require fixed appliances, or at least the combination of clear aligners with other more sophisticated orthodontics mechanics to aid the procedure.

Innovative Trends in Dentistry

Aaron Smith — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 12:34:48 -0700

Dentists aim at making the world a better place one smile at a time. With the advancement in technology, innovations in dentistry are aiming to improve the patient experience by focusing on comfort, creating a quicker recovery time and performing minimally invasive procedures. These innovations are becoming the talk of the town in the dental world and patients often prefer picking a dentist who is technologically advanced for a better experience. Here are a few innovations in dentistry that have revolutionized the way dental problems are solved.

1. Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is a long way from when it was first formulated and it is slowly making its way into the world of dentistry. The use of AI in dentistry has various advantages. Some of them include:

AI helps find the correct position of dental implants.
It is also used in orthognathic surgery.
AI plays an important role in dental education by teaching budding dentists new techniques.
AI makes learning anatomy easy by using 3-dimensional visualization.

2. Teledentistry

With the current situation, people are reluctant to go anywhere, and even visiting a dentist is difficult for them. There is however good news for everyone out there. Nowadays, dentists are offering teledentistry to patients that cannot reach them needing a checkup. This method helps provide easy access to the top practitioners and there is no contact. This makes it safe for high-risk patients to get their dental checkups on time without risking their health.

3. Dental Laser Techniques

According to Dr. Huamán, “Periodontists are experts at saving teeth that other dentists might not have the expertise or technology to save.” Laser treatments offer the following advantages:

Minimally invasive
Lesser recovery time
Minimal bleeding
No need for anesthesia
Safer for people with high blood pressure and diabetes

4. Upgraded Tooth Repair Procedures

The material used in tooth repair procedures can upgrade the process and change the course of treatment and its durability. The ease of application, strength and durability of the material used for fillings has increased in the past decade. A type of resin is being widely used for bonding teeth. This results in stronger bonds and looks similar to the natural tooth color.

5. 3D Printing and Assistive Computerized Design

The crown preparation procedure is a long and tedious one. With the help of computer-assisted design (CAD) and computer-assisted manufacturing (CAM), including 3D printing, the world of dental treatments is slowly changing. The process is becoming quicker and more affordable. 3D printers help in printing orthodontic models, retainers, surgical guides and dental equipment quickly and accurately. It also helps print clear aligners, which are affordable and aesthetically appealing in comparison to traditional braces.

6. Intraoral Scanner

This is another digital gift to the world of dentistry. As the name suggests, this scanner is used for taking intraoral impressions. It is fast and accurate and delivers a smooth scanning experience. These impressions are used by dentists to prepare crowns, create implant prostheses and do other orthodontic work. It can also be used as a diagnostic tool wherein the scan can be shown to the patient to explain their oral health. It’s also a great way for dentists to visually monitor the progress of a patient and motivates those who need major dental surgery and have to go through months of treatment and therapy to get the desired results.

7. Regenerative Dentistry

A recent innovation in the world of dentistry involves a dental filling that allows the tooth to heal on its own. This removes the need for invasive procedures. It also helps preserve as much of the natural tooth as possible, which in the long run contributes to better oral health. More and more dentists are now embracing this procedure since it is quick, works on all patients and is a great way to naturally restore a smile.

8. Digital X-Rays and 3D Photos

Digital x-rays are one of the best innovations in dentistry. These x-rays can be conducted in the dentist’s chair and take away the need to visit a radiology lab. Patients no longer need to wait for hours before they can get an x-ray of their mouth. Digital x-rays can pop up on the screen within seconds. Since they don’t emit radiation, it is safer for pregnant women and small children. These x-rays can also be stored digitally and can store the dental history of the patient. Dentists just need to click on records or continue adding to the files to track progress.

3D photo options are used for faster and safer gum surgery by periodontists. This technology allows dentists to create a 3D picture of the patient’s face, soft tissues and underlying bone structure. This can be integrated with a CT scan of the bone structure to provide a detailed look at the facial soft tissue, bone and sinuses. This technique helps the dentist provide an effective diagnosis and plan the procedure more effectively. Taly Dental Specialists is the first in the San Diego area to use this effective 3D facial photo system in their clinic.

Benefits

It is faster, safer and comfortable
Helps in the diagnosis of complex dental problems
Provides a detailed 3D image of the face and jaw

Image URL: https://unsplash.com/photos/-m-4tYmtLlI

Innovations in technology are making the process of creating a healthy smile easier for dentists and patients. Many dental specialists are now offering better solutions that help their patients and minimize the risk of health complications. These innovations also provide a quicker recovery time, higher accuracy rates, and most importantly, help patients overcome their fear of visiting a dentist.

Artificial Intelligence and Teledentistry: Breaking Barriers to Dental Care

Dr Maria Kunstadter — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 10:30:52 -0700

When it comes to oral care, there have always been a number of areas and communities in the United States that don’t get the access to care that they deserve. Now, add in the pandemic to this equation. Things only got worse!

One survey report published last year under the title ‘Oral Health in Rural Communities’ states that nearly 60% of America’s dental health professional shortage areas are in the rural landscapes of the country.

This clearly points out that access to dental care is still a challenge there.

In order to prevent adverse risks from developing right at the beginning of the disease life cycle and to promote systemic oral healthcare, the underlying barriers must be addressed in an effective manner first.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Teledentistry are two innovations that can greatly help oral care providers in ameliorating outcomes and improving access to care as a whole. To know how, read on.

1) Giving Individuals a First Look into their Oral Health Status

Oral wellbeing is one of the key measures of how healthy a person is. Research continues to show the impact of oral health on the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, chronic oral pain, etc. Therefore, seeking good quality oral care continues to be critical to good overall health.

Factors such as poor access to dental care providers or having to travel long distances just to be able to see one should definitely not be getting in the way of seeking dental care. So then, what measures can oral health professionals implement to improve accessibility in remote regions?

It’s pretty straightforward: give patients the ability to track their initial oral health status by themselves, under proper guidance of course.

Artificial Intelligence and teledentistry can be of great help here.

Progressive AI-based solutions have surfaced on the healthcare front in the form of ‘self-monitoring’ mobile applications. Also, telehealth integration is advancing oral care in affordable, effective and highly efficient ways to overcome problems related to care access.

An AI-enabled mobile app that embeds telemedicine can assist patients at a distance through self-monitoring by creating what’s called an ‘oral health rating’ which can then be shared with the concerned oral care provider.

A patient can, for instance, take pictures of their gums or teeth, and upload those directly on the app. These images are then scanned and examined by the app’s AI program for gum disease or any form of dental decay. The AI program furnishes ratings of that particular patient’s oral health accordingly, further allowing patients to take a first look at their overall oral health.

Such integrated software solutions can also enable early detection of oral disparities in patients, so that dentists can start treating such individuals right away with less invasive methods.

These two tech solutions, when combined, give dental care providers the ability to increase both case acceptance and oral health awareness at the highest level. Also, such software solutions can greatly improve patient experience and communication by manifolds.

2) Mitigating the Costs of Care for Providers and Patients alike

Telemedicine and AI can aid oral care providers get past the iron triangle of healthcare (triple constraints on Quality, Access and Cost) and deliver effective treatment plans in a way that appeals to their patients and makes the care delivery experience a seamless one for them.

For example, when used in conjunction with a teledentistry platform, AI-triage consultations and medications can help expand providers’ access to patients residing in rural areas, that too at an affordable cost and with quality similar to that of an in-person visit to the dentist’s office.

The data accumulated through such virtual consultations can easily be stored on the facility’s cloud server and accessed remotely at a later time by authorized individuals. Similarly, patients’ electronic health records (EHR) can also be integrated with the teledentistry platform to check their medical history and suggest better treatment options. This boosts data interoperability and speeds up the entire care delivery process.

This results in a win-win situation for both patients as well as their oral care providers!

Patients don’t have to kill time in waiting areas of a dental facility or travel long distances unless there is an emergency.

On the other hand, oral care providers can furnish topnotch care experiences right from the comfort of their own homes or from a remote location of their choice. This can not only reduce feelings of burnout among them, but also increase professional satisfaction.

Therefore, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the adoption of AI-enabled tech and telehealth in dentistry can considerably mitigate added expenses for dentists and patients alike.

3) Helping Make the Shift to Value-Based Care a Seamless One

As dental care providers, we all know that those with the least access to dental treatment and preventive services have a greater likelihood of developing oral diseases such as tooth decay, gum disease and even oral cancer in the worst cases.

Bringing high-quality preventive oral care to the populations in need of it can make seeking help more convenient for patients. This further enhances patient experience and improves outcomes at a macro scale. Value-based care must integrate oral health to improve patients’ total health.

AI-enabled systems can make sense of the vast troves of data available for dental care providers and help them harness it in a better way to enhance outcomes among patient populations exhibiting similar symptoms.

This is especially true since a sophisticated, data-enriched environment allows better clinical decision-making, streamlining the industry’s transition toward a value-based and patient-centric model of care delivery.

Also, such initiatives act as gateways for care providers to furnish better access to preventive care, enable closer integration of infrastructure, enhance patient education and enable risk stratification improvements to target interventions.

What the Future Holds

All in all, addressing barriers of access to care primarily lies within two realms: patients’ ability to access oral health care associated with socioeconomic factors, and the persisting shortage of dental care providers across the nation.Artificial intelligence and teledentistry definitely hold the potential to help the oral health fraternity address both these challenges heads on!

New Dental Technologies You Can Use Now to Transform Smiles

Amanda Duffy — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 10:36:15 -0700

We are living in an age when rapid advances in science and technology are revolutionizing dental care. What seemed like science fiction just a couple of decades ago is now a reality. Dental technologies are transforming smiles—but they are also improving the experience for both dentists and patients.

Self-repairing teeth and the end of plaque bacteria may still be “out there” a bit. However, the technologies available today are paving the way for a new era in dentistry.

Teledentistry

The use of teledentistry has seen huge growth. Its benefits in preventing the spread of disease by minimizing contact during the pandemic are clear. But, as face-to-face consultations come back, will the role of teledentistry still play a part?

Talk of a post-pandemic world might seem premature. Local lockdowns or social distancing measures are still very much part of our lives. With the aim to avoid physical clinical interactions, all indications show that teledentistry will remain important in the future. Additionally, it confers benefits to dentists and patients that complement existing services.

For example, patients can be triaged and offered the appropriate medical advice through a virtual emergency dentist appointment. Consequently, this avoids unnecessary visits to the dental office and improves accessibility, efficiency and waiting times.

Pain-free Injections

Pain-free dentistry is a commonly used term, but it does nothing to alleviate the initial pain associated with an injection. This is caused by the pressure of the liquid being injected, not the needle. However, many patients associate the pain with the needle. Regrettably, just one negative experience with an injection can have an emotional impact on patients for the rest of their lives.

Fortunately, emerging new technologies, such as The Wand^® offer a solution. A small, computerized device that looks like a pen delivers the anesthesia slowly, providing a dental injection that is completely pain-free.

Traditional anesthesia can leave the entire side of the face numb for several hours. This makes talking, drinking and eating difficult. Additionally, there is a greater chance of injury if the patient bites their cheek or tongue. Known as single-tooth anesthesia, it delivers it precisely to the area that needs it. Thus, any numbness is localized without affecting the wider area.

Another advantage of this technology is that it works instantly. Dentists can commence treatment immediately, without waiting for the anesthesia to take effect—and patients spend less time in the chair. This is an advantage in children’s dentistry, since keeping them in the chair can be challenging.

For children and needle-phobic adults, creating confidence is essential. Pain-free injections can play an important role in building trust. And if your patients trust you, they are more likely to return.

Digital Impressions

Conventional dental impressions are made from alginate. This is a glutinous substance that is used to create molds of the teeth. Its application is uncomfortable and unpleasant, often invoking a gag reflex. It can also prove difficult for dentists to get an accurate impression without multiple attempts.

A wide variety of dental procedures need impressions: crowns, dentures, orthodontics and mouthguards alike. A simpler and less uncomfortable way of obtaining accurate impressions would seem to be a win-win situation. Digital impressions offer that solution, benefiting patients and dentists alike.

Using computer technology, the process is comfortable and quicker. A simple scanning process takes 3D images and projects them onto a chairside screen. This allows patients to see and understand the proposed treatment. The technology even demonstrates before and after treatment results. Consequently, patients are fully aware of the processes and expected outcome.

CAD/CAM Technology

CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) is another digital tech solution revolutionizing dentistry. It is computer software used in the production of dental prostheses and restorations. Instead of using an outside laboratory to make restorations, such as crowns, it can be done in-house while the patient waits.

Using digital images of a patient’s mouth, dental restorations are designed and displayed on a computer screen. The software allows changes to the size, shape and color of the restorations. Once complete, the final design is sent to an on-site milling machine. From a block of solid ceramic, the machine produces a tailor-made restoration. This is then fitted by the dentist the usual way, using a bonding process that secures the restoration in place.

1: Tooth preparation

The tooth is prepared by removing decay or structurally unsound portions of the tooth

2: Intraoral scanning

Captures 3D images of the prepared tooth and surrounding teeth

3: Design Restoration

4: Milling

5: Staining, glazing and polishing

The restoration has the finishing touches applied to create a more natural appearance

6: Affix Restoration

The complete process includes:

The restoration is cemented firmly in place, using a special light-activated adhesive that bonds it securely to the tooth

CAD/CAM is a single-visit treatment that can shave 2–3 weeks off treatment times. It is a convenient and more comfortable process for patients, and is easier for dentists. It is not always the best option for every patient, but is a great service to offer alongside traditional restorative dentistry.

The Takeaway

This era of advancing technology is far from over. As patient expectations increase, future advances will offer even more options for clinicians. With enhanced patient care and comfort, a blueprint for better oral healthcare is now here.

Tips to Keep Your Dental Patients Happy and Loyal

Dr. Megan Peterson Boyle — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 07:02:21 -0700

Keeping your dental patients happy is important because it is one way of letting them know that you care for and prioritize them. Once they feel how special they are to you, they will quickly turn to loyal patients. Happy and loyal patients are satisfied clients who will encourage their family and friends to try your services. Also, happy and loyal patients always bring in positive reviews.

Finding ways to keep your patients happy and loyal may seem like a challenge, but it really is not. All it takes is a little extra effort from you and your team. You’ll also have to allot some time into doing this, even during your off-clinic hours. It’s a worthwhile sacrifice, though, as you’re guaranteed to provide your patients the satisfaction they are looking for. Whether they’re visiting your clinic for a regular checkup or a cosmetic dentistry procedure, you have to ensure that you’ll give them the best experience.

If you do not know where or how to start, here are some simple tips to help you out.

1. Make an effort to connect with them.

Let your patients know that they are not just a face and a name to you. Find time to talk to them. Before starting the dental procedure, ask how they are feeling or if they have questions. Listen intently to what they say and interact with them. Once you establish a connection with your patients, they will feel more comfortable and confident. They will also feel important.

2. Call your patients by name.

“Hi, Ms. Laurel” may sound professional, but it can also create a wall between you and your patients. Addressing your patients by their first name will make them feel appreciated, like they were a part of your dental family—like you know them personally. This is another effective way of establishing a connection with your patients.

3. Don’t forget to say thank you.

Just because you’re the dentist doesn’t mean you should forget to be grateful. Thank your patients every time they commend you, or when they give you referrals, when they’ve been loyal to you and your practice, and even when you get to the clinic late. Simple acts like this show how much you appreciate them. Anything that makes them feel good makes them happy. When they’re happy, they’re loyal to you.

4. Make your waiting area pleasing to the senses.

Give your patients a waiting area where they will feel comfortable and welcome. Aside from a couch and some chairs, add simple but aesthetic details such as décor, magazines and other reading materials, a TV and maybe even toys for kiddie patients. Offer free water, tea or coffee as well. You can also add Wi-Fi connectivity to the room’s features, so patients can browse through their social media while waiting for their turn.

Your patients’ comfort and convenience should be your priority.

5. Bring your scheduling and payment services online.

Many of your patients will appreciate it if you create an online scheduling or appointment system for your practice. This will allow them to book their appointments when they’re in the comfort of their home or when they’re on the road. It’s convenient and time efficient. They don’t have to rush to your clinic or call just to finalize their schedule.

Also, a digital payment option is a practical idea. There are several electronic payment and smartphone app options that are proven safe and efficient. This will provide a world of convenience to patients who do not like carrying around too much cash and prefer to pay via online portals.

6. Establish a regular appointment confirmation, reminders and follow-up system.

Many dental clinics now send scheduled text messages to patients to remind them of their dental appointments. You should do this as well, in addition to appointment confirmation and sending out a follow-up message after a procedure or treatment. It doesn’t have to be via SMS only; you can also send emails if it’s easier for you. You can even automate the email messages, so they are sent right on schedule. You and your assistant do not have to run to the computer or laptop to make sure the emails are sent on time.

7. Create a social media account.

Being active in social media is vital. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms are ideal venues for connecting with your patients and promoting your brand. If you post on your page every day, you can reach thousands of audiences in a matter of minutes. All you need to do is share interesting and relevant content that will help make people more aware of your clinic.

You can also come up with social media contests from time to time, such as the best dental adventure photo contest or the best dental clinic experience.

Being on social media is a good way of keeping your patients updated and involved in your practice. It’s also a platform for collecting patients’ feedback.

8. Hold special activities for patients.

Come up with patient-centered activities like a patient appreciation day (or week). You don’t have to close the clinic to do this; it can be an ongoing activity. Just arrange and decorate your clinic according to the theme you chose (ex. hanging a banner sign that reads “Thank you, patients!”). Then add some simple activities like free chocolates and flowers, movie viewing, or free tickets to a movie or concert. Any activity that will make your patients feel special (and part of your dental family) is a good idea.

9. Offer a loyalty program.

Reward your patients by offering a loyalty program that allows them to enjoy perks like special discounts on dental services. Come up with a system for monitoring patient progress and loyalty, then use this as the basis for determining program qualifications.

10. Offer a clean, efficient, and organized dental practice.

Even if you have excellent dental credentials, patients will not flock to your clinic if you do not practice your profession well. Give your patients what they expect from a dental professional: clean, organized, patient-friendly, consistent, and efficient service.

The best way to keep your dental patients happy and loyal is to understand who they are, what they need, and what they want.

7 Tips for Rebranding Your Dental Practice

Amanda Duffy — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 07:35:00 -0700

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/pHPzdEHN6Os

Dental practices change all the time. There are always new techniques, new technology, and new methods to make your practice stand out from the rest. One of the most important things you can do for your dental practice is rebranding it.

There may be a host of reasons why you’d want to rebrand, but the most common include mergers, expansions, negative publicity, and legal issues. Here are 7 tips that will help you get started on improving your dental rebranding efforts.

1. Identify Your Goals

It’s time to play a game of “What if?” What if you could take your practice from the same old, boring look that it has now, and turn it into something fresh and exciting? There are many things to consider before initiating the process, such as what your goals are. Will it be more personable or professional? Do you want to update your logo and colors?

You should also think carefully about the clients you want to appeal to, and co-ordinate your marketing and rebranding efforts to attract them. For example, if you want to be seen as a specialist cosmetic dental clinic, before and after photos can be very effective in demonstrating your expertise.

These considerations can help determine how far you should go with rebranding, so take some time now to think about them before taking any steps towards change.

2. Consider Developmental Trends

Brands often evolve over time, depending on trends that develop within certain industries or demographics. It’s important not only to keep an eye on current changes, but also projections of possible future developments. When you’re looking into rebranding your dental practice, consider the following:

What is the latest in digital design? Do you need a more interactive website to keep up with trends?

How will this project affect marketing for your practice and what are some of the best practices these days when it comes to reaching out to new patients?

3. What’s in a Name?

Every brand needs a name. The name you choose has a huge impact on your patients and your ability to generate business. The name should reflect your business and values, should be easily discernible, and should differentiate you from your competitors.

The brand name is important and must be easy to remember. A memorable brand name will get your foot in the door with those all-important new patients who will help to grow your practice and increase your turnover.

4. Keep Your Staff Informed About the Changes To Come

It is always wise to let staff know about recommended changes before they happen. The last thing you want is for your team to feel confused, blindsided, or uncertain, especially if there could be any impact on their job performance. Consider how creative different members of your team might be—and how they might be able to contribute, too.

If you are serious about rebranding, then every part of your business is part of your brand. That includes your staff. They are a huge asset and can be brand ambassadors if they are involved and understand what you are offering. Educate them, and you will have a team who are knowledgeable and active participants in the process.

5. Logo

A logo is important to your company’s branding and identity. It should be recognizable, as you want potential patients or clients seeing it and immediately knowing who you are even if they can’t quite remember the name of your practice.

There are all sorts of ways to design logos nowadays – with tools like Canva and Adobe Creative Cloud – which means there’s no excuse not to take advantage of this opportunity. If your current logo doesn’t fit in well with your new branding style, start fresh by coming up with something completely different (or if need be, hire an expert). This way your old brand will be history when people see the updated version, and they’ll know immediately that things have changed.

6. Your Website

If you have a professional website that’s outdated, it may be time for an update as well. If your site has been on the Internet since before 2010, and looks like it belongs in the early 2000s, then chances are people aren’t visiting because they won’t know what to expect when they click through.

It can also be difficult to find information if there’s too much clutter or confusing navigation- which is a problem with older websites. You’ll want everything from fresh typography, updated pictures of staff members, even new pages added without sacrificing content quality, so visitors don’t get frustrated trying to navigate around the page. Make sure you use web coding best practices while you’re updating your site, including loading pages faster, making them more responsive, and ensuring you have good quality content that’s SEO friendly.

7. Use Your New Image Wherever You Can

Once you have embarked on your rebranding journey, it is crucial to get your new image out there as soon as possible. You want to be visible to new and existing patients. Make sure you inform your existing patients that you are getting a new look, but reassure them they will still be receiving the same great level of care.

Aside from rebranding your website and office signage, consider rebranding:

Staff business cards
Brochures
Office stationery
Appointment reminder cards
Staff uniforms or scrubs
Patient giveaways, such as free toothbrushes and dental floss

The Takeaway

You can’t underestimate the importance of branding. A brand is a person’s first impression and it reflects how your company will be perceived in the marketplace by potential customers. Do something new, and get your dental office rebranded to stand out from the crowd.

Technologies—The future of dentistry

Alison Mellor — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 08:14:21 -0700

Image Credit: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-woman-technology-faceless-6502029/

Going to the dentist is considered as one of the traumatic childhood experiences anyone has ever had. While everyone knows it is absolutely necessary, most people would rather skip the part where they have to sit for hours with their mouths wide open. What’s even worse is the frightening sound that you hear while the dentist tinkers with your teeth.

How can a dental professional change that? You have been through that. Admittedly, for at least once in your life, you can say that you dreaded going to the dentist, no matter how your mom convinced you it was necessary. The negative feeling was always there. Luckily, the kids of the future do not have to worry about any of these anymore. From the bluelight technology to what CRISPR can do, the revolutionized dental treatments will definitely change a child’s attitude towards dental care.

What dental treatments should you consider investing in? Here are some of them:

Bluetooth/Smart Toothbrush

This technology changed the name of the game. The smart toothbrush has encouraged more people to take better care of their dental health. And how did it change the life of the dentist? It provided them with the opportunity to preach about dental healthcare and the importance of prevention.

Augmented Reality (AR)

This technology is mostly used by social media apps including Snapchat. The filters that you enjoy while taking a groufie is a product of Augmented Reality. Such technology has been applied in the study of dentistry. Augmented Reality works hand-in-hand with a simulator that allows dentistry students to receive immediate feedback as they work on a mannequin as their patient.

The immediate feedback allows the student to learn fast, improve their skill and perhaps provide a better way of dealing with their patients. After all, every good dentist should always have room for improvement and what better way to do it than to get immediate feedback before the worst happens.

Virtual Reality (VR)

While this term is often confused with Augmented Reality, they refer to two different experiences. By simply putting on a headset, aspiring dental surgeons can find themselves inside an OR while comfortably seated on their couch. With a virtual reality camera, surgeons can share their expertise with students around the globe. The same technology can make the experience at the dental chair a little more calming.

This technology does not only teach dentists a new set of skills, but it builds on empathy. The simulations allow them to experience what patients and other dental practitioners experience. It humbles them and makes them into better dental professionals.

Teledentistry

This is perhaps one of the best developments in the dental industry. Not only has it allowed people to gain access to the best dental practitioners, but it has allowed more people to become more aware of their dental needs. A dentist in Maidstone can easily provide cheaper preventive practices and provide the best dental care possible.

CRISPR

This is a process of genome editing gifted by Mother Nature herself. It may be the ultimate weapon that will help fight cancer and all its different forms. Several researches are dedicated to the possibility of the CRISPR technology in fighting off oral cancer. Other studies show how this method can be used to alter the makeup of the bacteria responsible for giving most patients their plaque problem. Endeavors as such will help in preventing periodontal disease.

Regenerative dentistry

A study by Harvard University released new information about how regenerative dentistry could allow patients to heal over time. While dentists know that aging can have its negative effect on patients, regenerative dentistry is a practice that allows dentists to help their patients even more. The process can help them stimulate the growth of stem cells that grow dentin, which then enables the regrowth of what used to be just damaged teeth.

Computer-assisted design and 3D printing

This technology has revolutionized the dental sector by allowing dentists to create permanent fixtures to improve the patient’s dental health. It used to take weeks before dental crowns were completed, but with the CAD/CAM and 3D printing technology, dentists can provide their much-needed assistance at the shortest time possible with a little less risk on the side of the patient.

Intra-oral camera

This technology makes it a little less uncomfortable to be at the dentist’s chair. The intra-oral cameras allow the dentist to get a full picture of the oral health status of the patient; thus, it is easier for them to make recommendations as to what can be done. The clear, well-detailed images leave no room for wondering. Not only does it provide patients with comfort, but it also puts the dentist at ease knowing what’s wrong and drawing a conclusion as to what else can be done.

There is no doubt that dental visits are often the most terrifying. Every child sure looks forward to the ice cream treat that parents give them when they behave. And though it seems as if the torture is over, the dentist then comes to you and tells you to avoid eating your sweet treats and to brush your teeth regularly.

With these advances in dental practice, no patient will ever have to suffer anymore. Dental professionals will be able to pursue their hearts’ desire and that means to provide nothing less than excellent service to their clientele.

Direct-to-Consumer Aligners: The Rise of DTC Clear Aligners

Paula Gatti — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 11:17:34 -0700

The Direct-to-Consumer industry has aroused considerable controversy among dental professionals. It has impacted many dental fields, and Orthodontics is undoubtedly one of them. Nowadays, many companies offer DTC clear aligners as a more affordable alternative to traditional, dentist-supervised alignment treatments.

This new system might not count with the dental community approval, but it is a fact that DTC aligners are here to stay. A survey by Virginia Commonwealth University invited patients interested in getting clear aligners to state their preference in provider type for clear aligner therapy, and the results were impressive. Out of 100 patients, 35 would choose DTC aligners over a supervised treatment by an orthodontist or a qualified general dentist.

DTC aligners companies basically offer the same clear aligners that dentists provide to patients to correct misaligned or crowded teeth. The main difference is that the patient doesn’t need to have regular checkups with a dentist or an orthodontist, so the treatment is practically not supervised. To begin the treatment, patients can either visit a center where they are seen and scanned by a dentist (in some places, x-rays are also taken) or get a DIY impression set delivered to their house (they take their own impressions and post them back to the company). It’s this latter, do-it-yourself option that worries dentists the most.

Although DTC aligners might work in mild to moderate cases, the central problem is that, in many cases, patients don’t even have direct contact with an orthodontist or general dentist. This is a significant inconvenience for two reasons. First and foremost, not all patients are eligible candidates for this type of treatment. Many severe cases still need to be solved with fixed orthodontic appliances. And second, moving teeth without clinical examination and radiographic evaluation can have a detrimental effect on the overall health of teeth and gums. It can even result in permanent tooth loss. Not to mention the fact that several issues need to be solved before orthodontic treatment, as they can severely compromise the final results.

So why are DTC aligners so popular? We need to accept this new reality and reflect on why more and more patients choose unsupervised dental treatment. The survey previously mentioned also revealed the two main reasons why this system is growing in popularity—cost and convenience. People prefer to save time and money rather than undergoing supervised treatment.

In the hectic and complicated times we live in, it’s understandable why people choose DTC aligners. However, we should highlight another problem of this new industry: many don’t have access to trustworthy information that can shed some light on the risks and disadvantages of getting DTC aligners without professional advice. Most websites have low readability scores, which implies that the content in those websites isn’t clear enough. And in many cases, they directly fail to inform patients on certain key aspects that would influence their final decision.

And this is when dentists should step up. We cannot forbid this kind of treatment or deny a more accessible alternative to patients who otherwise wouldn’t get orthodontic treatment. Instead of talking them out of DTC aligners, we can try to honestly explain the risks and benefits of this therapy so that they can make a sensible decision regarding their oral health.

We can even think of alternatives to meet this problem halfway and offer services like a professional diagnosis previous to the aligners or even a professional oversight of the treatment. As health advocates, we should always think about each patient’s possibilities and try to give them dental attention that meets their needs.

References:

https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/5766/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889540619309692

5 Tips to Enhance Productivity in Your Dental Practice

Dr. Megan Peterson Boyle — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 09:48:38 -0700

Every business can surely use a boost in productivity, and your dental practice is no exception. With the challenges facing the dental industry these days, dental practice owners need to boost their productivity and efficiency not only to bring in new patients but to improve the patient experience as well. Whether you’re a general dentist or running a cosmetic dentistry practice, here are some tips that will help enhance your business’ productivity.

1. Don’t Keep Patients Waiting Unnecessarily

Far too many dental patients have waited for their turn only to be told an hour or so later that the dentist could not tend to them for the day for one reason or another. Predictably, the patient will leave disgruntled and won’t probably come into your office ever again. That patient is also likely to post a bad review about your dental practice online.

To avoid situations where patients have to spend unnecessary time in the lobby, your staff needs to give them information about their estimated wait time as soon as they come through your office’s doors. The key word here is “estimated” since wait times can be difficult to predict in a dental office. With proper communication between your staff and patients, the latter can decide whether to wait that long or not. Even when it’s just an estimate, your patients will appreciate the heads up just the same.

2. Train Staff to Become Better Communicators Over the Phone

More often than not, your office’s interaction with patients begins with a phone call. Patients get their first impression of your dental practice by the way your staff answers the phone and communicates with them as they inquire about your dental services. That’s why it’s in your best interest to ensure that your front-liners are trained to answer phones in a professional manner.

To ensure that your staff answers common questions and even complaints from patients over the phone, you would do well to develop a protocol that they can refer to whenever they find themselves grasping for answers. With such a protocol in place, your staff can maintain consistency in their messaging and avoid the guesswork over the phone that could drive potential patients away. Your staff can also use training in interactive listening techniques that allow them to fully concentrate on what a patient is saying over the phone and get their concerns right when taking note of them.

3. Switch to Online Patient Scheduling

It’s okay if most of your patients still book their appointments by phone, but you have the chance to make the entire process quicker and more streamlined if you switch to online patient scheduling. There’s a world of dental appointment scheduling software out there you can use to make booking appointments a breeze not just for clients but for your office personnel as well. With online patient scheduling, you can minimize the risk of your staff manually entering incorrect data. Dental appointment scheduling software also helps you organize all the information and make it easily accessible.

4. Use an Appointment Confirmation Process That Works

The productivity of many dental practices takes a hit when booked patients fail to show up or cancel their appointments at the last minute. These are losses you need to address, and you can do just that by establishing a more effective appointment confirmation process.

Many dental offices remind their patients about their next visit by calling them and leaving voice messages on their home phones. The problem is, not all people check their messages all the time. By the time they do so, it might already be a bit too late. One communication mode that stands a higher chance of getting received and acted upon by patients right away is SMS messaging. Through texting, patients can respond instantly to appointment reminders you send, and that should help you avoid no-shows and last-minute cancellations.

5. Practice Dental Treatment Cost Transparency

There was a time when dental practices avoided being upfront about the costs of their services. Today, it has become essential for dental practices to be transparent about how much procedures are going to cost. Patients need to know how much money they will have to spend on your services or if a specific procedure they need is covered by insurance.

It might seem counter-intuitive, but by providing patients with that information before they come in, you give them the chance to assess whether the procedure fits their budget or not. If it doesn’t, then that will at least spare you and your potential patient from wasting each other’s time. Better yet, your transparency about costs helps your practice avoid situations where a patient gets shocked by a massive dental bill after a procedure and all the potential headaches that come with it. These are just a few of the things that could help boost productivity in your dental practice, but they should help you get started.

Thank you Gina Dorfman for a great conversation about how to implement systems in our practices! Gina runs a great podcast and I was honored to be her guest. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lea…

The Curious Dentist (@CuriousDentist) — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 17:00:00 -0700

Thank you Gina Dorfman for a great conversation about how to implement systems in our practices! Gina runs a great podcast and I was honored to be her guest. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lea…

Learn about the advantage of generating minimal aerosols and droplets when performing non-restorative treatments, and potential dental benefit aspects of adopting such procedures for managing caries in dental practice in a live webinar June 11 at 6pm CT

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 16:05:48 -0700

Learn about the advantage of generating minimal aerosols and droplets when performing non-restorative treatments, and potential dental benefit aspects of adopting such procedures for managing caries in dental practice in a live webinar June 11 at 6pm CT. bit.ly/30wGYYO pic.twitter.com/TfWRiBQPTP

Please e-mail dentalbenefits@ada.org and an expert at the ADA can assist you with this question!

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 15:05:48 -0700

Please e-mail dentalbenefits@ada.org and an expert at the ADA can assist you with this question!

Oral health is an important part of overall health, and regular dental visits help keep people healthy. "The guidance from ADA and @CDCgov give dental professionals the information they need to practice as safely as possible.” –ADA President Chad P. Geh

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 08:05:48 -0700

Oral health is an important part of overall health, and regular dental visits help keep people healthy. "The guidance from ADA and @CDCgov give dental professionals the information they need to practice as safely as possible.” –ADA President Chad P. Gehani bit.ly/2UpS2U3 pic.twitter.com/IxTq32OpDe

@NDA1913 released a statement on June 3rd. We support the NDA. Please read NDA's statement: conta.cc/2BtbiJu Our organizations, the NDA, AAWD, ADA, HDA and SAID stand united on "Together, We Heal" to end racial inequality in America. bit.ly/3dM0AvQ pic.

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 07:05:48 -0700

@NDA1913 released a statement on June 3rd. We support the NDA. Please read NDA's statement: conta.cc/2BtbiJu Our organizations, the NDA, AAWD, ADA, HDA and SAID stand united on "Together, We Heal" to end racial inequality in America. bit.ly/3dM0AvQ pic.twitter.com/9nWeZXjNar

@DrGraceYum was honored to be chosen by the @AmerDentalAssn to be the moderator for their inaugural Accelerated Webinar Series! She had the privilege of interviewing Yale University professor, Laurie Santos, Ph.D! Check it out here! ada.org/en/publica

Mommy Dentists in Business (@mommydibs) — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 17:00:00 -0700

@DrGraceYum was honored to be chosen by the @AmerDentalAssn to be the moderator for their inaugural Accelerated Webinar Series! She had the privilege of interviewing Yale University professor, Laurie Santos, Ph.D! Check it out here! ada.org/en/publication… pic.twitter.com/lBB6xYBKvy

Dentists, as employers, are reopening with new HR challenges in onboarding teams while adjusting to a “new normal.” Receive guidance around these issues in a free, live webinar with CEDR HR Solutions CEO Paul Edwards on June 4 at 1 p.m. CT. Register now

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 17:00:00 -0700

Dentists, as employers, are reopening with new HR challenges in onboarding teams while adjusting to a “new normal.” Receive guidance around these issues in a free, live webinar with CEDR HR Solutions CEO Paul Edwards on June 4 at 1 p.m. CT. Register now: bit.ly/2XpxaOm pic.twitter.com/3nuEM2LnM6

In times of hurt, we each have the individual power to help heal our communities. Please read and share this important statement about recent events in our nation. bit.ly/2ADE4qk pic.twitter.com/BATjVQFl9s

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 17:00:00 -0700

In times of hurt, we each have the individual power to help heal our communities. Please read and share this important statement about recent events in our nation. bit.ly/2ADE4qk pic.twitter.com/BATjVQFl9s

During the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, dentists have had to adjust their safety protocols. With the goal of minimizing transmission of the virus at the forefront, the use of rubber dams is an option. Register now for this webinar: bit.ly/2AyXZ9Q pic.

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 17:00:00 -0700

During the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, dentists have had to adjust their safety protocols. With the goal of minimizing transmission of the virus at the forefront, the use of rubber dams is an option. Register now for this webinar: bit.ly/2AyXZ9Q pic.twitter.com/ZWLclKORlU

Hello, you might find this site helpful: cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Fri, 29 May 2020 17:00:00 -0700

Hello, you might find this site helpful: cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…

65% of dental practices are back open, according to HPI poll data from the week of May 18. See the complete poll results. bit.ly/3ccew0P pic.twitter.com/0rkqAPMqDO

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Wed, 27 May 2020 17:00:00 -0700

65% of dental practices are back open, according to HPI poll data from the week of May 18. See the complete poll results. bit.ly/3ccew0P pic.twitter.com/0rkqAPMqDO

#CallYourPediatricianpic.twitter.com/1nF3lLzXbr

(@ILikeMyTeeth) — Wed, 27 May 2020 07:02:36 -0700

#CallYourPediatrician pic.twitter.com/1nF3lLzXbr

As non-emergency care begins to resume, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released updated infection prevention and control guidance for dental settings. Learn more in a free, CE webinar Thursday, May 28 at 11 a.m. CT. Register no

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Tue, 26 May 2020 17:00:00 -0700

As non-emergency care begins to resume, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released updated infection prevention and control guidance for dental settings. Learn more in a free, CE webinar Thursday, May 28 at 11 a.m. CT. Register now. bit.ly/2zzniZi pic.twitter.com/7CliTUvetm

Evaluate COVID-19 transmission risks in your practice with the COVID-19 Hazard Assessment, a guide and checklist now available for ADA members. bit.ly/3epWEkC pic.twitter.com/58etypcgwA

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Tue, 26 May 2020 17:00:00 -0700

Evaluate COVID-19 transmission risks in your practice with the COVID-19 Hazard Assessment, a guide and checklist now available for ADA members. bit.ly/3epWEkC pic.twitter.com/58etypcgwA

Don’t skip vaccines or checkups, or ignore concerns about your child’s health. Pediatricians are offering options like telehealth and have implemented strict safety measures. #CallYourPediatricianpic.twitter.com/iYFr63P2Xv

(@ILikeMyTeeth) — Tue, 26 May 2020 07:02:05 -0700

Don’t skip vaccines or checkups, or ignore concerns about your child’s health. Pediatricians are offering options like telehealth and have implemented strict safety measures. #CallYourPediatrician pic.twitter.com/iYFr63P2Xv

As dental practices resume operations, the ADA offers continued guidance, including updated recommendations for before, during and after appointments. Read the ADA statement. bit.ly/2Ab2mbf pic.twitter.com/OPmIOss9zY

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Mon, 25 May 2020 17:00:00 -0700

As dental practices resume operations, the ADA offers continued guidance, including updated recommendations for before, during and after appointments. Read the ADA statement. bit.ly/2Ab2mbf pic.twitter.com/OPmIOss9zY

#CallYourPediatricianpic.twitter.com/TnLtS1l8jq

(@ILikeMyTeeth) — Mon, 25 May 2020 08:02:39 -0700

#CallYourPediatrician pic.twitter.com/TnLtS1l8jq

In 42 states, tens thousands of dentists are carefully transitioning to full-time work, with the help of safety and public relations advice from the American Dental Association. abcn.ws/2WWRkiu

ABC News (@ABC) — Sat, 23 May 2020 17:00:00 -0700

In 42 states, tens thousands of dentists are carefully transitioning to full-time work, with the help of safety and public relations advice from the American Dental Association. abcn.ws/2WWRkiu

Hi Isabel, this interactive map has the latest updates on recommendations and mandates in your area: success.ada.org/en/practice-ma…

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Fri, 22 May 2020 17:00:00 -0700

Hi Isabel, this interactive map has the latest updates on recommendations and mandates in your area: success.ada.org/en/practice-ma…

Medicaid Clinics And Doctors Have Been Last In Line For COVID-19 Relief Funding https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/05/18/856888156/medicaid-clinics-and-doctors-have-been-last-in-line-for-covid-19-relief-funding?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_sour

(@ILikeMyTeeth) — Fri, 22 May 2020 12:23:22 -0700

Medicaid Clinics And Doctors Have Been Last In Line For COVID-19 Relief Funding https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/05/18/856888156/medicaid-clinics-and-doctors-have-been-last-in-line-for-covid-19-relief-funding?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social …

Dear parents: We’ll take ‘em off your hands for 20 minutes.  Love, Your pediatrician #CallYourPediatricianpic.twitter.com/Qc72vCRhv8

(@ILikeMyTeeth) — Fri, 22 May 2020 06:40:08 -0700

Dear parents: We’ll take ‘em off your hands for 20 minutes.  Love, Your pediatrician #CallYourPediatrician pic.twitter.com/Qc72vCRhv8

Pediatricians’ offices are open, and safety measures are in place. #CallYourPediatricianpic.twitter.com/ow5IKFABdk

(@ILikeMyTeeth) — Thu, 21 May 2020 06:01:42 -0700

Pediatricians’ offices are open, and safety measures are in place. #CallYourPediatrician pic.twitter.com/ow5IKFABdk

‘Our Goal Was to Reach Out to Patients Who Usually Missed Appointments’ https://services.aap.org/en/news-room/aap-voices/our-goal-was-to-reach-out-to-patients-who-usually-missed-appointments/#.XsZ5wJ0FrfQ.twitter …

(@ILikeMyTeeth) — Thu, 21 May 2020 05:53:24 -0700

‘Our Goal Was to Reach Out to Patients Who Usually Missed Appointments’ https://services.aap.org/en/news-room/aap-voices/our-goal-was-to-reach-out-to-patients-who-usually-missed-appointments/#.XsZ5wJ0FrfQ.twitter …

Is it OK to see my pediatrician during COVID-19? Yes! Please share this important information with parents you know and love. #CallYourPediatrician https://healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/Is-it-OK-to-call-the-pediatrician

(@ILikeMyTeeth) — Wed, 20 May 2020 13:06:24 -0700

Is it OK to see my pediatrician during COVID-19? Yes! Please share this important information with parents you know and love. #CallYourPediatrician https://healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/Is-it-OK-to-call-the-pediatrician-during-COVID-19-even-if-Im-not-sure-my-child-is-sick.aspx#.XsWNkHSWyOc.twitter …

Thank you for your interest in the Crest + Oral-B grant. Programs are in development with guidance of New Dentist Committee, details to be announced via ADA News and Morning Huddle.

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Mon, 18 May 2020 17:00:00 -0700

Thank you for your interest in the Crest + Oral-B grant. Programs are in development with guidance of New Dentist Committee, details to be announced via ADA News and Morning Huddle.

Hello Andres, the money from this grant will help us develop programs and resources to help dentists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Mon, 18 May 2020 17:00:00 -0700

Hello Andres, the money from this grant will help us develop programs and resources to help dentists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here is the current resource on extending the life of N95s: bit.ly/2WMvDBP

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Mon, 18 May 2020 17:00:00 -0700

Here is the current resource on extending the life of N95s: bit.ly/2WMvDBP

Join members of the ADA Dentist Wellness Advisory Committee on Thursday, May 21 at 1 p.m. CT to learn how to help emotionally prepare yourself, your staff and your patients during reopening. Register now. bit.ly/2LGKXtr pic.twitter.com/XSefo48bsw

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Sun, 17 May 2020 17:00:00 -0700

Join members of the ADA Dentist Wellness Advisory Committee on Thursday, May 21 at 1 p.m. CT to learn how to help emotionally prepare yourself, your staff and your patients during reopening. Register now. bit.ly/2LGKXtr pic.twitter.com/XSefo48bsw

Hi there, this is a great question. The answer can sometimes depend on the type of mouthwash you are using. The general rule of thumb is to follow the directions listed on the bottle. Apart from that, you may do what you are most comfortable with.

ADA (@AmerDentalAssn) — Sat, 16 May 2020 17:00:00 -0700

Hi there, this is a great question. The answer can sometimes depend on the type of mouthwash you are using. The general rule of thumb is to follow the directions listed on the bottle. Apart from that, you may do what you are most comfortable with.

Study Published in the Journal of Dental Research Demonstrates That Community Water Fluoridation is not Associated With Increased Risk of Osteosarcoma: http://www.iadr.org/IADR/About-Us/News/ArtMID/132983/ArticleID/869/Study-Published-in-the-Journal-of-De

(@ILikeMyTeeth) — Tue, 12 May 2020 07:29:39 -0700

Study Published in the Journal of Dental Research Demonstrates That Community Water Fluoridation is not Associated With Increased Risk of Osteosarcoma: http://www.iadr.org/IADR/About-Us/News/ArtMID/132983/ArticleID/869/Study-Published-in-the-Journal-of-Dental-Research-Demonstrates-That-Community-Water-Fluoridation-is-not-Associated-With-Increased-Risk-of-Osteosarcoma#.XrqyvXN30Js.twitter …