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Dental News
Technology is improving dentistry in every way except getting people to go to the dentist more often. Now even that is going to change because of Teledentistry which is --at least for the moment-- the process by which either a dental hygienist or dental assistant visits a school, nursing home or community center and then have a dentist review patients' dental records remotely at the office.
"This couldn't have been done five years ago, because the technology wasn't there yet," said Dr. Paul Glassman, professor of dental practice at Pacific's Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco and director of the Virtual Dental Home project which is using teledentistry to provide dental care to underserved communities throughout California.
Teledentistry Pilot Project
The goal of this four-year pilot project is to demonstrate that less costly teledentistry can be with registered dental hygienists using portable X-rays and specialized digital cameras to take images of the patient's teeth as a way to improve the dental health of the community by providing education, preventive care, interim therapeutic restorations triage and case management.
After reviewing the patients' records within 48 hours, dentists will then be able to recommend a plan for providing care. The dental hygienists and dental assistants can then perform some preventive and restorative treatments for patients in the community setting. Patients needing further treatment by a dentist will be provided assistance in getting to a dentist's office or clinic for completion of the recommended treatment.
"There are large numbers of people that are not getting good access to dental care. As we age, the number is getting larger and we're getting further behind. And more people are keeping their teeth as they get older," Glassman said. "The solution is not going to be doing the same things we've always done in the future. We need to build a bridge between the traditional model and future services. This can become a mainstream part of the way we do things."
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Thursday, March 25, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Tooth Fairy Payouts at an All-Time High?
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Dental News
In the fairy world, the economy is apparently just fine, thank you.
According to Delta Dental of Minnesota which polls 200,000 people across the country, nationally the tooth fairy is leaving $2.13 per tooth. That’s a 13% increase over last year’s average of $1.88. Some have said that if you look at how much the tooth fairy is leaving children it tends to match the trend of the economy.
So how much does the tooth fairy leave at your home? Add your thoughts below by taking part in the tooth fairy poll.
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Dental News
In the fairy world, the economy is apparently just fine, thank you.
According to Delta Dental of Minnesota which polls 200,000 people across the country, nationally the tooth fairy is leaving $2.13 per tooth. That’s a 13% increase over last year’s average of $1.88. Some have said that if you look at how much the tooth fairy is leaving children it tends to match the trend of the economy.
So how much does the tooth fairy leave at your home? Add your thoughts below by taking part in the tooth fairy poll.
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The Tooth Fairy: A History ( November 21, 2009 )
Friday, March 12, 2010
ADA Trying To Improve Access To Dental Care
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Dental News
Earlier this month, American Dental Association (ADA) President Dr Ronald Tankersley testified before the Institute of Medicine Committee on Oral Health Access to Services (IOM), explaining the ways that the organization is working to improve access to dental care for underserved populations.
Before outlining the ADA's new initiatives, Tankersley heavily criticized the IOM for its recent decision to exclude private practice dentists from two U.S. Department of Health and Human Services panels put together to study the nation's oral health delivery system.
"The nation's 167,000 private practice dentists represent some 92% of professionally active dentists in the United States," he stated. "Without them, there can be no significant impact on access to oral health care, regardless of the delivery system."
Tankersley recommended that the IOM create a public health advisory committee to study dental health policy as well as implement an association-wide initiative to address dental health needs of the vulnerable elderly as well as lobbying the committee to support federal programs that could effectively improve access to dental care for the underprivileged.
Another way for underserved populations to have better access to dental care is to make it less expensive such as with a "discount dental plan" rather than the much more expensive dental insurance policy. For more information on the differences between dental insurance and discount plans, call DentalPlans.com at 1-888-571-3856.
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ADA Hosts Summit On Access To Dental Care ( March 28, 2009 )
Dental News
Earlier this month, American Dental Association (ADA) President Dr Ronald Tankersley testified before the Institute of Medicine Committee on Oral Health Access to Services (IOM), explaining the ways that the organization is working to improve access to dental care for underserved populations.
Before outlining the ADA's new initiatives, Tankersley heavily criticized the IOM for its recent decision to exclude private practice dentists from two U.S. Department of Health and Human Services panels put together to study the nation's oral health delivery system.
"The nation's 167,000 private practice dentists represent some 92% of professionally active dentists in the United States," he stated. "Without them, there can be no significant impact on access to oral health care, regardless of the delivery system."
Tankersley recommended that the IOM create a public health advisory committee to study dental health policy as well as implement an association-wide initiative to address dental health needs of the vulnerable elderly as well as lobbying the committee to support federal programs that could effectively improve access to dental care for the underprivileged.
Another way for underserved populations to have better access to dental care is to make it less expensive such as with a "discount dental plan" rather than the much more expensive dental insurance policy. For more information on the differences between dental insurance and discount plans, call DentalPlans.com at 1-888-571-3856.
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ADA Hosts Summit On Access To Dental Care ( March 28, 2009 )
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Does Your Dental Work Taste Funny Lately?
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Dental News
Did you know that according to the American Dental Association, 20% of all dental implant devices are manufactured outside the United States and that an increasing number of dental bridges and crowns are being manufactured in countries with little or no laws to restrict the materials they are he used in their manufacture?
Chances are, you didn't.
"This is very dangerous in my opinion and we don't have any idea of the ramifications and we won't for many years from now," says Dr. Craig Spodak of Delray Beach, FL. "A lot of these crowns have nickel and beryllium, two caustic, potentially cancer-causing metals."
Dr. Spodak's Delray Beach office is one of the few left in the country, he says, where customized lab-work is still being done on the premises. That, he says, gives him control over the materials being used.
The US Food and Drug Administration and the ADA are both investigating reports that materials used by some of those foreign manufacturers may contain high levels of lead and other dangerous metals. Although the FDA says it does not believe imported crowns pose a significant public health risk, the head of the ADA says he's actually worried that the growing number of reports on the topic may cause some patients to skip treatment that they really need.
The best advice is to speak with your dentist, and if you have concerns, ask where your dental work is being manufactured. Dr. Spodak believes more patients must be informed they have that right and urges all dental patients to ask your dentist the following question; "What lab are you using and where it's located?"
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Dental News
Did you know that according to the American Dental Association, 20% of all dental implant devices are manufactured outside the United States and that an increasing number of dental bridges and crowns are being manufactured in countries with little or no laws to restrict the materials they are he used in their manufacture?
Chances are, you didn't.
"This is very dangerous in my opinion and we don't have any idea of the ramifications and we won't for many years from now," says Dr. Craig Spodak of Delray Beach, FL. "A lot of these crowns have nickel and beryllium, two caustic, potentially cancer-causing metals."
Dr. Spodak's Delray Beach office is one of the few left in the country, he says, where customized lab-work is still being done on the premises. That, he says, gives him control over the materials being used.
The US Food and Drug Administration and the ADA are both investigating reports that materials used by some of those foreign manufacturers may contain high levels of lead and other dangerous metals. Although the FDA says it does not believe imported crowns pose a significant public health risk, the head of the ADA says he's actually worried that the growing number of reports on the topic may cause some patients to skip treatment that they really need.
The best advice is to speak with your dentist, and if you have concerns, ask where your dental work is being manufactured. Dr. Spodak believes more patients must be informed they have that right and urges all dental patients to ask your dentist the following question; "What lab are you using and where it's located?"
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Dental Tourism: More Costly Than Going To Your Dentist? ( January 10, 2010 )
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