ADA Develops Guidance on Dental Emergency, Non-Emergency Care
The ADA provided its members and their patients detailed guidance on March 18 on what to consider dental emergencies and nonemergency dental care as part of an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease, COVID-19, and alleviate the burden on hospital and emergency departments. The guide is meant to provide additional guidance following an Association recommendation that dentists nationwide postpone elective procedures to do their part to “mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”
ADA Recommends Dentists Postpone Elective Procedures
The ADA is recommending that dentists nationwide postpone elective procedures in response to the spread of the coronavirus disease, COVID-19, across the country. “The American Dental Association recognizes the unprecedented and extraordinary circumstances dentists and all health care professionals face related to growing concern about COVID-19,” according to the March 16 statement from the ADA President Chad P. Gehani.
Washington State Passes Registration Bill
The state of Washington passed a bill in its senate “creating the dental laboratory registry within the department of health and establishing minimum standards for dental laboratories serving dentists in Washington state.” According to National Association of Dental Laboratories Chief Staff Executive Bennett Napier, this was the first new laboratory standards bill on registration passed by any state legislature in more than 30 years.
Insurance Industry
Spin & Hype
There is no question that dental insurance has had a positive influence in availing the public to dental healthcare services. Unfortunately for dental consumers, the insurance industry’s primary responsibility is profit generation for shareholders. This is in direct contrast to a doctor’s primary obligation of placing patient interests to the fore.
Working Together, Profiting Together
If dentists are the architects of the mouth, then it does us well to work with the best “interior designers.” In dentistry, as in life, our reputations precede us and can also reflect on our business associates. For example, Pinhas is widely known as a world-class technician, making not “just teeth” but using his expertise and craftsmanship to create works of art for each patient.
FDA Abutment/Implant Regulation FAQs
At NADL’s V21 conference there was much discussion and many questions related to FDA’s rules for CAD/CAM milling of implant abutments. As a follow-up to JDT’s January article the following are answers to the most common questions that were asked.
NADL to Push Tech Awareness
According to research by the National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL), only four states in the U.S. require dental technicians to be certified or obtain continuing education. In order to increase awareness of the lack of standards in the dental industry, NADL created the “What’s In Your Mouth?” campaign to inform patients that their dentists might use technicians that lack the skills and knowledge they should have.
FDA Says No To CAD/CAM In-Lab Milling
When FDA began studying the use of CAD/CAM in dental laboratory technology, the FDA’s initial focus was on angulation and the implant/abutment interface. FDA ultimately made clear statements that anyone making the implant/abutment interface is a “manufacturer” as such must obtain 510(k) clearance to do so…
Implant Abutment Material: Which is Best?
The recent advancement of zirconia abutments has offered an esthetic choice for the restoration of dental implants. The number one concern offered with this type of abutment material is strength. A recent study published in the Christianson Report had some interesting conclusions…
My Dad’s Hands:
Some Reflections
Once I was done with college, I did what every independent young man would do; I went to work for my dad. I had the privilege to work side by side with my dad for almost 15 years. I was trained by a true master in the art of dental technology. We discussed many topics over those years and to this day…
