We’re now into the second year of this pandemic and if we’ve learned anything about this time in our lives, it’s that we need to take good care of ourselves and the ones we love. And that kind of special attention shouldn’t stop at your mouth. We all know that brushing our teeth twice a … Read more
From virtual lectures to increased infection control procedures in clinical classes, dental students experienced a multitude of changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ADA News asked current students and recent graduates about how the pandemic affected their dental school courses and which changes they think are here to stay. View the full story. View more … Read more
Dentists could significantly increase the number of patients they see during the pandemic by switching the drills they use, according to new research. The study investigated whether different drill types increased or reduced the spread of aerosol spray in a dental surgery. Reducing aerosol spray results in a safer environment for patients and the dental … Read more
The RCDSO has updated its guidance for managing infection risks during in-person dental care. This update reflects collaboration between Ontario’s four oral health Colleges to ensure consistent expectations for delivery of oral health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific updates outline some preliminary steps to ease precautions for dentistry in compliance with the direction of … Read more
In a (post) pandemic world, where the population is more aware of the risks of airborne transmission and “work from anywhere” has become de rigueur, some patients will prefer to avoid commuting to the dental practice as often. But that doesn’t mean a dental practice should give up on the relationship it has built with … Read more
In our world that has rapidly changed over the past 18 months, we have had the choice to either evolve proactively, beyond all of the extreme changes, or we could become paralyzed, stuck and increasingly diminished by them. Today, confidence and focus are the most important human abilities. Without confidence and focus, embracing change and … Read more
The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) urges its member institutions and programs to advise and strongly encourage their faculty, staff, students and residents to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. They exist as a patient care/education entity and must consider the health and safety of those they employ, educate and serve. ADEA is concerned about the well-being of its … Read more
Two students in Missouri have successfully convinced their local dental school to allow them to attend classes without taking a COVID-19 vaccine. Sharon Murza and Ashley Swanson are students at A.T. Still University School of Dentistry and Oral Health. Both of these women believe that receiving the vaccine is a violation of their religious beliefs. … Read more
Ontario moved into Step 3 of the Provincial Roadmap to Reopen at 12:01 am today, July 16, 2021. While the situation with COVID-19 continues to improve, dentists must continue to adhere to the enhanced precautions outlined in the College’s COVID-19: Managing infection risks during in-person dental care guidance for the in-person provision of dental care. View the full story. … Read more
Millions of rural residents have not seen a dentist in over a year, a recent CDC report reveals. In 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic forced dentists to shut down, 42 percent of adults in rural areas did not receive dental care, according to the survey. In urban areas, roughly a third of adults did not see a … Read more
Vaccine incentives are less likely to convince Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine than a visit to their primary care physician, new research suggests. A recent survey of 2,005 respondents reveals that 88% who went to a primary care physician before getting the vaccine (1,202 respondents) said their doctor’s advice was an instrumental factor in … Read more
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its COVID-19 Guidance for Dental Settings to remove language stating that dental health care personnel should avoid aerosol-generating procedures for all patients, regardless of their COVID-19 status. Instead, the CDC states to avoid aerosol-generating procedures in a typical dental operatory only for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, … Read more
In recent history, in situations when the world was facing global calamity, our leaders countered with great initiative and unflagging hope. The Lincolns, Churchills and Roosevelts rose to the challenges and overcame extreme odds. In the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic that originated in Wuhan, China, hope, positivity and confidence have largely been absent. … Read more
COVID-19 has raised new concerns about respiratory viral infections (RVI). This virus can reproduce within the cells that line the human respiratory tract and the resulting infections cause respiratory issues and may infect multiple other sites. At this time, there are more than 200 known viral strains that cause respiratory infection, including the coronavirus, influenza … Read more
Practicing dentistry at a distance, utilizing instantaneous virtual mobile technology, was the stuff of science fiction just a few decades ago. We were taught in dental school that our capacity to diagnose disease and to perform dentistry relied entirely upon our hand instruments and our clinical abilities. Thus, the stereotype of the dentist holding a … Read more
Nearly two-thirds of adults have had a dental visit within the past 12 months, according to a July data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics. Amy E. Cha, Ph.D., and Robin A. Cohen, Ph.D., from the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Maryland, used … Read more
An Ontario-based biotechnology company and researchers from McMaster University have teamed up to develop a potential new method for delivering COVID-19 vaccines that would use an oral strip instead of a needle. The thin strips, which would be infused with COVID-19 vaccine, would dissolve in the recipient’s mouth in approximately 11 seconds – much like … Read more
Dental hygienist Jeannette Diaz’s patients sometimes cry. Lately, she’s been crying with them. It’s not just because so many people refrained from getting dental work during much of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving her to scrape off more than a year’s worth of tartar and plaque. It’s not just because the labor of cleaning teeth can … Read more
A dental hygienist has been doing treatments in gardens amid a backlog of demand for her services due to the coronavirus pandemic. Fiona Perry, 56, from Comrie Perthshire, has been cycling between clients homes with her equipment on a cargo bike. She started the initiative, called Flying Smiles, in March 2020, but was hampered by … Read more
So that’s it! Board exams are done and passed, the stress of studying endlessly for weeks at a time is behind you, and you can finally celebrate the joys of being an educated professional. Any new career can cause a mix of emotions, as you are closing one door and boldly stepping into another; you … Read more