Tammy Hinojos

Always a lover of words well written, Tammy Hinojos is an experienced and award-winning copywriter/editor making a difference in the healthcare marketing, public relations and communications industries for more than 20 years. She has a BA in English from Texas Christian University (Go Frogs!). Equal parts creative and technical, she is a seasoned and diverse medical writer who knows how to execute like a journalist, think like a marketer and write like a storyteller.

Articles by Tammy Hinojos

• Study reveals surprising connection between asthma, oral health

  Friday, June 19, 2020

  What in the world could asthma have to do with gum disease? Apparently, a lot. A recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology reveals that people with asthma are one-fifth more likely to experience gum disease than people who do not have asthma.

• Fitbit races to help COVID-19 patients by developing an emergency ventilator

  Thursday, June 11, 2020

  Fitbit has secured an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA for a new device, the Fitbit Flow. It will be a low-cost emergency ventilator that can be used to help with patient needs surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Fitbit said that after seeing the tremendous need for ventilators across the nation and, indeed, around the world, it pivoted and applied its in-house brainpower in advanced sensor development and hardware design to create the Fitbit Flow.

• ADA Humanitarian Award deadline extended to September

  Friday, June 05, 2020

  Nominations for the 2021 ADA Humanitarian Award can be made through Sept. 15, 2020. This year’s focus will be on domestic service and will come with $10,000 to be given to the dental charity or project of the recipient's choice. For 2021, the ADA Board of Trustees is modifying the award just a little to highlight volunteer participation in care programs within the U.S., with the change prioritizing sustainable dental health programs that benefit communities stateside, not anywhere in the world.

• Finnish researchers create pendant necklace can detect abnormal heart rhythms

  Friday, May 29, 2020

  It’s not uncommon to see health-related devices and detectors housed in accessories that can be worn. From wearable insulin pumps to balance bracelets, the convenience of a wearable health aid is a great idea. But a necklace that can spot atrial fibrillation (AFib) in under 30 seconds? That's something new. A team of Finnish researchers has developed a necklace outfitted with a pendant that patients can easily and discreetly use to screen themselves for signs of an abnormal heart rhythm.

• Webinar for new dentists examines what makes humans happy

  Friday, May 22, 2020

  Raise your hand if you want to take a break from the heavy stuff and talk about something happy for just a little while. Right, me too. New dentists who wish to increase their own happiness, especially while living in the days of attempting to build their dental practice during a world health pandemic, can soon log into an American Dental Association webinar about building more productive habits and working through strategies for taking control of their own happiness.

• AR, VR show promise as innovative ways to control pain, reduce opioid prescriptions

  Thursday, May 14, 2020

  Pain management is a major sector in healthcare. The problem has always been there, and it always will be. As long as we have diseases, injuries and major surgeries, pain management will be an area healthcare providers grapple with. But unlike disease, which can be cured in some cases, pain can only be managed. And the opioid crisis that was making headlines before the world health pandemic took center stage has spotlighted the need for alternative means of effectively treating pain.

• Dentists urge aid for dental practices in next round of federal stimulus

  Thursday, May 07, 2020

  Dental practices across the nation are just one category of small businesses that have suffered, both economically and logistically, due to the near-national shutdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. And as lawmakers are working on the next relief package, the American Dental Association, on behalf of its 163,000 members, is urging Congress to include language to assist the dental industry in the process of recovery. The ADA is making a few key recommendations to legislators.

• Tips to protect data, devices when conducting remote healthcare services

  Friday, May 01, 2020

  The global health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic has pushed millions of healthcare practices to move into the virtual medicine lane. For some, it will be temporary. Others were already doing it and will continue to offer this convenient, forward-thinking option to patients who prefer to have appointments from the comfort of their own surroundings. Whether a medical practice is just beginning to dip its toes into the telemedicine pool or is a seasoned expert, there are some important data security measures you must have in place for your patients, your practice, and your workers.

• ADA updates PPE recommendations for dental practices

  Friday, April 24, 2020

  To help assist and guide dentists across the nation who are reopening their practices as state mandates are lifted, the ADA issued an updated statement and interim guidance April 18 on the specific personal protective equipment recommended in order to practice during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as guidance on ways to minimize the risk of virus transmission. The ADA is regularly communicating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other relevant organizations to advocate that dentists should be prioritized for PPE as essential healthcare workers.

• Telehealth is keeping doctors, patients connected in the days of COVID-19

  Friday, April 17, 2020

  As the world grapples with the mitigation efforts required to navigate a global pandemic, healthcare practices of every type are getting up to speed and rolling out telehealth services, online chat, virtual appointments and all kinds of remote services. If telehealth is new to your practice and you’re concerned about complicated billing processes, tricky reimbursement issues and even technology challenges, don’t be! The transition is not as difficult as it might appear to be.

• With dental practices seeing ‘emergency cases only,’ what constitutes a dental emergency?

  Monday, April 13, 2020

  As with most medical practices in America today, the vast majority of dental practices are limiting care to urgent and emergency cases to limit exposure to COVID-19, preserve personal protection equipment (PPE) and reduce the burden on the healthcare system at large. But as these recommendations and restrictions are put in place, some dental practices might not be sure about what qualifies as urgent and emergency treatment — or what to do once these patients come into their offices.

• Can AI predict which COVID-19 patients are at greatest risk of severe complications?

  Monday, April 06, 2020

  From news anchors to medical experts put on camera every evening, it seems everyone has an interest in identifying the profile of who will and won't become extremely ill (or worse) if infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. At present, no one knows for sure. But more information is becoming available daily and researchers are working hard to find answers. An international research team has designed a computer program that can predict, with up to 80% accuracy, which COVID-19 patients will develop serious respiratory disease.

• COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress has implications for dentists

  Thursday, March 26, 2020

  In a month otherwise filled with tough news, Congress passed a $2 trillion stimulus package that is designed to help people, states and businesses all across the country that are devastated by the coronavirus pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act — or CARES Act — passed the Senate on March 25 and the House on March 27. Following the Senate vote, the American Dental Association reached out to member dentists.

• As COVID-19 spreads, the future of medicine is quickly becoming the medicine of today

  Monday, March 23, 2020

  As the world continues its collective efforts at waging war against the rapidly spreading coronavirus, a handful of health tech devices and telemedicine tools are in the spotlight like never before. Many are being fast-tracked and called up to the front lines to be the tip of the spear in the coronavirus pandemic. For example, MedWand can listen to your heart and lungs, measure respiratory rates and blood oxygen levels. Originally forecast to receive FDA approval in late summer, the device is now under consideration for emergency use authorization by the FDA.

• Ranking of world’s best dental schools features significant international representation

  Monday, March 16, 2020

  Is America still the superpower it was in years past? We'll let world leaders and political commentators battle that one out. But in the field of dental education, America doesn't seem to be shining as brightly as some of our global neighbors. This year's QS World University Rankings shows a clear message that some of the world's best dental education can be found in other parts of the globe.

• How technology can help to contain COVID-19 — and how it can’t

  Friday, March 06, 2020

  As the world navigates the coronavirus outbreak, a few key technologically advanced tools are front and center in the fight to contain COVID-19. Digital tools like telehealth, consumer-facing AI-based chatbots and remote patient monitoring could play a key role in assisting with containing the virus and helping people who think they might have been exposed. Some experts warn that these tools are not a total solution, but they could be helpful as one part of a large, comprehensive and integrated plan.

• ADA produces one-sheet handout on coronavirus for dentists

  Thursday, February 27, 2020

  Coronavirus, now named COVID-19, is making headlines around the world, and this illness is at the top of most news reports. The American Dental Association has now released an informational handout regarding the virus for dentists. The handout, which can be downloaded here, covers strategies for helping prevent the transmission of suspected respiratory disease in the dental healthcare setting and also answers frequently asked questions related to the virus, based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Why AI in healthcare may be a lifesaver

  Tuesday, February 25, 2020

  As advances in artificial intelligence continue to make headlines in healthcare, many experts agree that this technology holds great potential to make the industry more efficient and more accessible. AI has already made an impact on many other fields, including education and even marketing, so why not healthcare? One of AI's biggest potential benefits is the early detection and prevention of deadly diseases.

• Spotlight on fluoridation with National Children’s Dental Health Month underway

  Thursday, February 13, 2020

  2020 is a big year. A big decade. Plus, it just sounds cool, right? In the world of dentistry, 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of community water fluoridation in America. And since February is National Children's Dental Health Month, it's as good a time as any to take a look at the history of water fluoridation, why it's important and how it helps everyone have a healthier mouth.

• ADA amends policy in recognition of religious diversity in dentistry

  Tuesday, February 04, 2020

  Diversity and inclusivity are increasingly top of mind for industries and corporations across the globe. Those are good things. American dentistry’s governing body, the American Dental Association (ADA), is no different in that regard. The organization recently made a move to be more inclusive to dental professionals with different religious beliefs and those with no religious affiliation at all. The ADA House of Delegates voted at its meeting last September to rescind the policy used by some state and local dental societies during their meetings.

• Volunteer dentists needed for aid in Puerto Rico

  Friday, January 24, 2020

  A nonprofit medical organization called International Medical Relief is sponsoring outreach trips to Puerto Rico in response to the recent earthquakes that have devastated the region. The U.S.-based nonprofit provides mobile medical clinics and sustainable health education to underserved communities in 70 countries around the world. Puerto Rico and other islands sprinkled throughout the Caribbean were struck by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake and several aftershocks early in the morning on Jan. 7.

• Dentist moves to No. 2 spot on best jobs list, per U.S. News & World Report

  Thursday, January 16, 2020

  There is no single job out there that would be best for every person in the workforce. But many of the best professions do have some attributes in common. A few of those commonalities: they pay well, challenge us over time, complement our talents and skills, aren't too stressful, offer room for advancement throughout our careers and offer a positive work-life balance. Whether or not the position is in demand by job seekers is also a consideration in selection. The job of dentist moved from No. 4 to No. 2 in U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings of the 100 Best Jobs, the magazine revealed on its website on Jan. 7.

• International College of Dentists celebrates centennial in 2020

  Monday, January 06, 2020

  The International College of Dentists has a big reason to celebrate the new year. 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the organization, which was founded in 1920 in Nagoya, Japan. When Drs. Louis Ottofy and Tsurukichi Okumura first birthed the idea to create the International College of Dentists, they likely never imagined that the inaugural number of 250 fellows would grow to more than 12,000 fellows in 122 countries. The ICD will celebrate that growth in 2020 with 100th anniversary celebrations all over the world and throughout the year.

• ADA looks for moonlighting dentists who secretly like to write

  Wednesday, December 18, 2019

  Remember Hermey, the elf who wanted to be a dentist? It’s safe to say you could easily find that beloved, stop-motion TV classic "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" on just about any channel this month. Well, the American Dental Association’s award-winning blog New Dentists Now is looking for a few good...OK, not elves. But writers! Specifically, the New Dentist Now blog is seeking contributors interested in writing about their experiences and insights on the unique challenges facing dentists who graduated from dental school fewer than 10 years ago.

• Sodas found to be common denominator between obesity, tooth wear in adults

  Wednesday, December 04, 2019

  We all know they're bad for us. But most of us indulge in sugary soft drinks at least occasionally. All things in moderation, right? Well, a recent study published in the journal Clinical Oral Investigations may give us one more good reason to cut back on (or even eliminate) soda consumption. Drawing on survey data, the study has found that sugar-sweetened acidic drinks, such as soft drinks, are the common factor between obesity and tooth wear among adults.

• Award-winning Austin, Texas, dental practice sets a standard for innovation

  Thursday, November 14, 2019

  Massage chairs and a technology bar? It sounds like a sleek and modern hotel lounge, but it’s not. It's Toothbar, a new dental practice in a trendy area of downtown Austin, Texas, that recently won first place in the "new build" category in the inaugural Design Innovation Awards by the American Dental Association. The practice, which was built from the ground up by Dr. Lauren Jacobsen and Dr. Kimberley Barclay, was designed to appeal to young, professional Austinites.

• Congress may give dental coverage to millions of Medicare recipients

  Friday, November 01, 2019

  Did you know around 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 each day and can sign up for Medicare? While the program’s 60 million beneficiaries can access dental, vision and hearing through supplemental options such as Advantage plans or standalone insurance policies, original Medicare — Part A and Part B — excludes dental, vision and hearing coverage except in very limited circumstances. But Medicare recipients might just see better coverage and more services in the new year. Several bills now before Congress would give Medicare participants access to dental, vision and even hearing coverage if passed.

• Enamel: The body part that lasts a lifetime and doesn’t wear out

  Friday, October 18, 2019

  Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. But, until recently, no one knew how it managed to last an entire lifetime. The authors of a recent study concluded that enamel's secret lies in the imperfect alignment of crystals. With help from researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Pittsburgh, the research team, led by Dr. Pupa Gilbert, took a close and detailed look at the structure of tooth enamel. The team of scientists published the results of their study in the journal Nature Communications. Here’s the gist of what they found.

• A curious case of ‘lost’ dentures after surgery

  Thursday, October 03, 2019

  If you’re scheduled to have surgery, there are lots of things you’re likely thinking about. From the seriousness of the procedure and recovery time to hospital bills and who will take care of your home and loved ones while you’re recovering, there is no shortage of things to plan for. But one thing you may not have put on your list of items to take care of? Taking out your dentures before going under anesthesia. According to a new report, one 72-year-old man who had abdominal surgery in England actually swallowed his dentures during a procedure.

• September is Healthy Aging Month: Proper oral care helps seniors age well

  Friday, September 20, 2019

  How essential is having a healthy mouth to your physical health? According to many medical experts, you really can’t be in peak physical condition if your oral health isn't what it should be. Dentists who are aware of this correlation tell their patients to think about their mouths as the "gateway to wellness." For seniors, maintaining oral health becomes even more important. This is because as people age, they become more susceptible to diseases.

• New tooth sheriff in town: ADA names new president

  Tuesday, September 17, 2019

  The American Dental Association (ADA) recently installed its 156th president. The position was awarded to Dr. Chad P. Gehani of Queens, New York. During his first address to the association's House of Delegates, Dr. Gehani told members it is his "responsibility to ensure that the ADA remains the guardian of your lifetime commitment to the profession — and I am not just talking about your dues dollars. The ADA must be a responsible custodian of your time as volunteers and of your talents as clinicians, researchers and educators. The ADA must be relevant to all of us," he concluded.

• To dental groups’ chagrin, federal sealant measure might be removed

  Friday, September 06, 2019

  Sealants prevent cavities in kids. Science says so. So why is the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) proposing a watered-down measure, titled "Primary Caries Prevention Intervention as Offered by Primary Care Providers, Including Dentists," that would take the place of current recommendations on sealants for kids? That's what the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) would like to know!

• Diversity in dentistry: Women researchers leading the way in dental advances

  Thursday, August 29, 2019

  Volpe Research Center has been famous for developing materials, tools and technologies used in the field of dentistry for the last 90 years and counting. It's kind of a big deal. More than 200 products used in dental practices all over the world have come out of the Volpe labs. Some of science's brightest minds work there. Today, of the Volpe Research Center’s six principal investigators — those who manage and direct all the projects and research — four are women. That’s some serious girl power.

• Can stem cells help teeth heal? Scientists say yes

  Friday, August 23, 2019

  It is generally accepted in the medical community that stem cells play an important role in wound healing. They can develop into specialized cell types throughout the body, aiding in all kinds of tissue regeneration. A new study led by Dr. Bing Hu from the University of Plymouth's Peninsula Dental School, with collaboration from researchers worldwide, asserts that certain stem cell tissue regeneration extends to teeth. This finding offers up a new and novel potential solution to tooth repair and may inform the way dentists treat teeth in the future.

• Study: Fluoride may decrease liver, kidney function in adolescents

  Thursday, August 15, 2019

  No one debates the many dental benefits of fluoride. They are widely established and scientifically backed. But in recent years, concerns have been raised regarding the appropriateness of the widespread addition of fluoride to drinking water and salt in North America. Now, a study published by Mount Sinai researchers in Environment International asserts that fluoride exposure may lead to a reduction in kidney and liver function among adolescents. The group of young people was participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a group of studies that assess health and nutritional well-being in the United States.

• SmileDirectClub under fire for flouting federal regulations

  Thursday, August 08, 2019

  You may have seen ads for SmileDirectClub, a direct-to-consumer business model that sells plastic aligners to members for straightening teeth. At first pass, it may seem like a good idea. Straighten your teeth without so much as one visit to the orthodontist? But not everyone is a fan. The American Dental Association recently sent a complaint letter to the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, citing concerns over aspects of SmileDirectClub’s marketing and direct-to-consumer sales of plastic teeth aligners.

• Dentistry of the future? An army of miniature robots could wipe out tooth decay

  Friday, August 02, 2019

  What if, with one marching order, a swarm of micro-robots (directed by magnets!) could break apart and remove dental plaque from a tooth? A cross-disciplinary partnership among dentists, biologists and engineers agree that it’s possible in the very near future. A team of scientists from the three fields at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a microscopic robotic cleaning crew. With two types of robotic systems the scientists showed that robots could ably destroy biofilms, the sticky amalgamations of bacteria enmeshed in a protective scaffolding.

• Dental students in Costa Rica design metal saliva ejector to reduce waste

  Thursday, July 25, 2019

  A group of dental students has engineered a solution to the wastefulness of one-time use plastic saliva ejectors that most U.S. dentists use daily. Dentists must dispose of plastic saliva ejectors after each patient in accordance with infection control protocols. But thanks to the ingenuity of these conservation-minded dental students, this could become a thing of the past. The four students at the University of Costa Rica have developed a metallic saliva ejector that can be cleaned in the autoclave and reused again and again.

• ADA CareerCenter upgrades online tools for job-seeking dentists

  Monday, July 22, 2019

  Are you a recently graduated dental professional looking for the perfect place to start your career? Or an experienced dentist looking to make a move to another practice? Your job search may have just gotten a whole lot easier. Dental professionals looking for the right job could always turn to the American Dental Association’s CareerCenter, the ADA’s official online job board. But on July 17, the ADA CareerCenter debuted its upgraded website, which now offers even more tools to improve the user experience and personalization of job searches.

• Kissing can help ward off tooth decay

  Friday, July 12, 2019

  Pucker up! It turns out kissing is good for you in more ways than you might think. Most people know that kissing comes with loads of mental and physical benefits that make getting your smooch on totally worth it. But science has even more to say about the benefits of a kiss. It turns out kissing can also help prevent cavities. No, really. It’s true.

• Managing acute pain amidst America’s opioid epidemic

  Thursday, June 27, 2019

  Congress has responded in a big way to the opioid crisis making headlines across the nation. The American Dental Association (ADA) has been very involved in pushing this important issue forward and continues to urge the federal government to place a greater emphasis on managing acute pain in its prevention efforts. In a recent letter, ADA President Jeffrey M. Cole and Kathleen T. O'Loughlin thanked lawmakers for holding a June 19 hearing, "Medical Experts: Inadequate Federal Approach to Opioid Treatment and the Need to Expand Care."

• Study: Mouth bacteria found in brain clots of stroke victims

  Friday, June 21, 2019

  A study performed in Finland found trace amounts of mouth bacteria present in brain clots of patients who suffered strokes. The takeaway? Good oral hygiene does more than prevent cavities. It could help to prevent a stroke. This was what the scientists proposed after finding DNA traces of oral bacteria in samples of blood clots that had caused strokes. Of the study population, 69.3% were men and 30.7% were women.

• Dental professionals support raising legal age for purchasing tobacco to 21

  Friday, June 14, 2019

  The American Dental Association (ADA) recently announced its support for a new bill that would raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21. The ADA praised lawmakers for introducing Senate Bill 1541, the Tobacco-Free Youth Act. "Preventing oral cancer and other tobacco-related diseases has been a longstanding priority for the ADA," said ADA President Jeffrey M. Cole and Executive Director Kathleen T. O’Loughlin.

• How dentists should treat patients’ keto breath

  Thursday, June 06, 2019

  With the ever-increasing popularity of the keto diet, dentists are fielding questions from patients about the notorious "keto breath" and what can be done about it. A ketogenic diet involves eating a diet made up of foods that are high in fat and protein but very low in carbohydrates. One unpleasant side effect is what people call keto breath, often described as fruity or sweet. If you have patients who ask what they can do about their keto breath, here are some tips.

• Can dentists help with the opioid epidemic? Webinar set for June 19

  Thursday, May 30, 2019

  With the nation’s first opioid lawsuit by a state (Oklahoma) against big pharma underway last week and expected to last through the summer, even more light is being cast on the country’s growing opioid epidemic. The American Dental Association is doing its part to educate and equip dentists in a variety of ways. On June 19, the ADA is hosting a webinar on opioid use disorder and how dentists can help prevent patients from developing it. Perhaps most importantly, participants will also learn how to treat acute dental-related pain without using opioids.

• Dentists invited to donate services to veterans

  Thursday, May 23, 2019

  There is more than one way to serve your country. If you’re a dental professional, you have the opportunity to use your unique skills and training to serve those who served our country. In honor of the Memorial Day holiday, an organization called Dental Lifeline Network announced on May 14 that it is launching a volunteer recruitment campaign encouraging dentists to provide dental care to veterans, specifically those with special needs.

• Orofacial pain could become dentistry’s newest specialty

  Friday, May 17, 2019

  For starters, let’s define orofacial pain. It will be helpful in understanding how (and whether) it might become dentistry’s newest specialty as recognized by the National Commission for Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards' review committee. Orofacial pain is a broad term used to describe symptoms of pain and/or dysfunction in the head and neck region. Think headaches, jaw pain and much, much more. According to the American Academy of Orofacial Pain, orofacial pain is evolving and the scope of the field is enlarging.

• AI makes its way to dentistry

  Thursday, May 09, 2019

  Dentistry is a field that evolves by leaps and bounds. For example, new materials mean fillings last longer, resist decay better and act and feel more like a real tooth. But one advancement is blowing those others out of the water. The field of artificial intelligence (AI) is making its way into the dentistry and may be featured at an office near you in the very near future. Pearl, a Santa Monica, California-based startup applying AI to dentistry, recently announced that it has raised $11 million in funding, led by Craft Ventures and unnamed strategic dental industry partners.

• Oral health improving for most Americans, but economic and ethnic disparities still exist

  Thursday, May 02, 2019

  There’s some good news and some bad news from the Centers for Disease Control regarding the oral health of the nation. According to a report, there have been significant improvements in oral health for Americans of all ages. That’s the good news. Yet the report, based on data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics — which represents the most comprehensive assessment of oral health data available for the U.S. population to date — reconfirms a hard truth: economic and racial/ethnic disparities in oral health persist.

• Study: Orthodontic treatment doesn’t guarantee future oral health

  Thursday, April 25, 2019

  Orthodontic treatment can straighten your teeth, but it can’t protect those choppers from developing tooth decay in the future. When polled, many people think that orthodontic treatment will prevent future tooth decay. But new research out of the University of Adelaide in South Australia has found that this is not the case. Published in the journal Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, the study, conducted by Dr. Esma J. Dogramaci and co-author Professor David Brennan from the University's Adelaide Dental School, assessed the long-term dental health of 448 people from South Australia.

• Study: Teeth whitening products may do more harm than good

  Wednesday, April 17, 2019

  Home teeth whitening kits are a popular and easy way to brighten your smile. You can buy a variety of teeth whitening strips at the grocery store and you can get more potent, faster-working formulations from your dentist. You place the strips over your teeth and leave them in place for a few hours. A few days or weeks later? Voila! Brighter, whiter choppers. Americans spend more than a billion dollars a year on these teeth whitening products. But a new study shows that while these products do whiten teeth, they may also be damaging them.

• Alexa went to school, and now she’s HIPAA-compliant

  Thursday, April 11, 2019

  "Alexa, ask my dentist if my prescription is ready." No, really. You can do that now. Amazon announced on April 4 that its Alexa Skills Kit now enables select covered entities subject to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations to build Alexa skills that allow it to transmit and receive protected health information as part of an invite-only program. Cool. But what does that actually mean? It means soon you could be using your Alexa for more than weather and traffic updates and turning on music.

• Sleep disorders on the rise in the US; World Dental Congress responds

  Wednesday, April 03, 2019

  Sleep apnea, a potentially serious sleep disorder, is defined by breathing that repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. With the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine estimating that about 30 million adults in the U.S. have obstructive sleep apnea (the most common type), this September’s American Dental Association’s FDI World Dental Congress will shine a spotlight on what presenters are calling a hot topic.The ADA Dental Sleep Medicine Conference, in partnership with the ADA Council on Dental Practice, will be held Sept. 4-5, with 14 hours of continuing education credit offered.

• Diversity in dentistry on the rise

  Friday, March 29, 2019

  Think about your dentist when you were a child. Can you remember? If you can, I’d be willing to bet your dentist was a man. Am I right? According to the ADA Health Policy Institute (HPI), 49 percent of U.S. dental school graduates in 2017 were women. That's up from 37 percent in 1997. Forty years ago, only 7 percent of graduates were women. "The increase in diversity in our profession is fantastic," said Dr. Jennifer Enos, Arizona Dental Association president-elect. "It allows many opportunities for growth and innovation with the varying backgrounds and perspectives."

• Dementia risk linked to severe gum disease

  Monday, March 25, 2019

  Could taking great care of your teeth and gums throughout your lifetime also help protect your brain as you age? A new study published in The American Geriatrics Society seems to think so. The extensive study performed by investigators from Seoul National University in South Korea has added to growing evidence of a link between severe gum disease, or periodontitis, and a raised risk of dementia.

• Anesthesiology recognized as 10th dental specialty

  Thursday, March 21, 2019

  About 175 years ago, a dentist in Hartford, Connecticut, extracted one of his own third molars to test the analgesic properties of nitrous oxide. It was risky. But it paid off. That's a commitment to science right there. It was Dr. Horace Wells' introduction of nitrous oxide, and the demonstration of anesthetic properties of ether by Dr. William Morton, a student of Dr. Wells, that gave the gift of anesthesia to medicine and dentistry. And now, in 2019, dental anesthesiology has become the 10th dental specialty as recognized by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards.

• World Oral Health Day spotlights awareness about good oral hygiene

  Friday, March 15, 2019

  Move over, St. Paddy. It’s time for World Oral Health Day, which is celebrated globally every year on March 20. It may not come with green beer and four-leafed clover cookies, but the day is organized by the FDI World Dental Federation and is the most extensive global awareness campaign on oral health. The observance spreads the word about the importance of good oral hygiene practices to adults and children alike and demonstrates the importance of optimal oral health in maintaining general health and well-being.

• ADA partners with National Institutes of Health for opioids webinar

  Thursday, March 07, 2019

  Prescription opioid abuse remains a dangerous and growing problem in America. Every day, more than 115 Americans die after overdosing on opioids, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The ADA is hosting an opioids webinar on Wednesday, April 3, featuring the National Institutes of Health. Called "NIH Response to the Opioid Crisis from a Research Perspective," the webinar will take place from 3-4 p.m. EST.

• Physician-only social network surveys how physicians really feel about anti-vaccine movement

  Tuesday, March 05, 2019

  Several social media platforms are facing public scrutiny over their role in promoting misleading health information, especially relating to the anti-vaccination movement, which many experts say has contributed to the outbreak of contagious illnesses, like measles, in areas around the country. At a time where it seems everyone (who wants one) has a platform, there is a global need for medically and scientifically accurate information from reliable sources to help inform public health knowledge. SERMO is a leading social network for over 800,000 fully verified and licensed physicians around the world. When it comes to the anti-vaccination movement, SERMO surveyed its community to find out how physicians really feel.

• Funding available for overseas dental care efforts

  Wednesday, February 27, 2019

  If you're involved with a U.S.-based nonprofit organization working to improve access to oral health care in underserved communities outside the U.S., funding is available for your work. You have until April 26 to apply for the American Dental Association (ADA) Foundation Grant for International Dental Volunteer Projects. The most successful dentists stay dedicated to the profession by exploring other opportunities in the field. Volunteering your time, skills, and services for the betterment of others is one way to revitalize, strengthen, and sustain enthusiasm in your career.

• Who to refer your young patient to if he or she has a lazy eye

  Friday, February 22, 2019

  Primary care physicians (and especially pediatricians) are often the first to see conditions in patients that ultimately need to be referred out to a specialist for treatment. If your patient has amblyopia (lazy eye), the specialist he or she will need is a pediatric ophthalmologist. And even though amblyopia affects about 2-4 percent of children in the U.S., it’s likely your young patient’s caregiver has never heard of this pediatric vision condition. If you are familiar at all with amblyopia, you probably know this eye condition by its more common name of lazy eye; not to be confused with crossed eyes (strabismus).

• Private patient advocates can help dentists, too

  Thursday, February 21, 2019

  Every dentist knows there are certain types of patients who tend to have trouble managing their oral healthcare. The largest group is aging seniors. As the aging population in America continues to grow, the term "senior orphans" has come to describe elderly patients without family. To meet this growing need, a segment of the healthcare population is growing as well. Private patient advocates exist to help patients navigate an increasingly complicated (and ever-changing) healthcare system by providing the extra support they need. But they also offer many benefits to dentists, too.

• Upcoming webinar shows how to handle awkward patient situations successfully

  Thursday, February 14, 2019

  If you've ever wondered if there were resources out there for dentists and practice administrators who find themselves sideways with a patient for one reason or another, wonder no more! A March 12 American Dental Association webinar will offer dentists and dental practice team members real-life solutions for managing…umm…let’s say delicate patient situations. Things like addressing cancellations and no-shows, tips for fielding phone calls from prospective patients and even guidance on the right way to dismiss patients from the practice will be covered.

• Study: Female brains may age more slowly

  Thursday, February 07, 2019

  "Anything you can do, I can do better! I can do anything better than you…" It's an oldie for sure, but it turns out, the catchy tune by Irving Berlin from "Annie Get Your Gun" might just have been on to something. It turns out that female brains tend to age more slowly than those of men, researchers report. Women's brains appear to be about three years younger than those of men at the same chronological age on average. This finding could provide one clue to why women tend to stay mentally sharp longer than men, the authors noted.

• Top tips for taking care of your child’s dental health

  Tuesday, February 05, 2019

  Many people don't know it but, believe it or not, cavity prevention starts at birth. And given that more than 40 percent of children have cavities by the time they reach kindergarten, there are simple things parents can do to ensure healthy oral development for their children during pregnancy and after the big delivery. February is recognized as National Children’s Dental Health Month. Dr. Lynse Briney, a Chicago Dental Society pediatric dentist, has offered her top tips for taking care of dental health for young children.

• What dentists need to know for tax season

  Thursday, January 31, 2019

  The very most important thing dentists need to tell their young patients who are losing their baby teeth? Pay your taxes on your tooth fairy income. OK, maybe not. But a little humor never hurt anyone — especially when talking about taxes. And dentists. Jokes aside, down to business. Dentists who own and operate their own practices who have purchased or financed equipment during the 2018 calendar year, may elect to take the Section 179 deduction when filing their taxes in order to maximize their savings.

• Study supports fasting as a means of improving overall health

  Thursday, January 24, 2019

  It's the new year. Many people are integrating new habits into their lives to help them reach their health and wellness goals. The rise in popularity of intermittent fasting as part of an overall wellness plan has people researching, Googling and seeking out information on fasting more than ever before. In a University of California, Irvine-led study, researchers found evidence that fasting affects circadian clocks in the liver and skeletal muscles, causing them to rewire their metabolism, which can ultimately lead to improved health and protection against aging-associated diseases.

• ADA annual meeting to be held in San Francisco in conjunction with FDI World Dental Federation

  Wednesday, January 23, 2019

  If you left your heart in San Francisco, no worries. You can get it back this September when you attend the American Dental Association’s annual meeting. For the first time since 1996, the ADA annual meeting will be held in conjunction with the annual congress of the FDI World Dental Federation. The ADA FDI World Dental Congress will take place Sept. 4-8 at the newly renovated and expanded Moscone Center in San Francisco. The meeting, which is typically held in October, is about six weeks earlier than typical ADA annual meeting dates, so registration will begin earlier as well: Feb. 13.

• ADA partners with PBS Kids to make sure children are ready for the dentist

  Friday, January 18, 2019

  If you haven’t heard of Daniel Tiger, you likely don’t hang out with preschoolers much. In a recent episode of "Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood," Daniel felt a little nervous about visiting a new dentist for a cleaning and exam. But with some help from the American Dental Association, Daniel’s visit was smooth sailing! Dr. Jonathan Shenkin, an ADA spokesperson and former ADA vice president, worked closely with producers of the show, which is an American-Canadian animated children's television series on PBS Kids, to shape the content of the episode.

• New study: Flavored tobacco use increasing in young people

  Thursday, January 10, 2019

  According to a new study by Reuters Health, the growing popularity of e-cigarettes among U.S. youth may be associated with increased use of potentially dangerous (but wildly popular) flavored tobacco products. There is some good news in this: Tobacco use overall appears to be decreasing among American middle and high school students. The number of students using any tobacco products declined from 17.3 percent in 2014 to 13.6 percent in 2017. But it’s a completely different picture when you factor in flavored tobacco products.

• Study affirms that fluoridation prevents tooth decay

  Tuesday, January 08, 2019

  Researchers had to go all the way to chilly Alaska to reprove what they already believed to be true; water fluoridation does decrease the incidence of tooth decay and dental caries in growing children. The study, which was published in BMC Oral Health this month, reported that children with Medicaid in Juneau, Alaska, with no access to optimally fluoridated water had more dental caries-related procedures than young people who grew up before the Alaskan capital stopped its fluoridation program.

• FDA condemns use of teething jewelry for infants with teething pain

  Friday, January 04, 2019

  For anyone who has raised a child, I think we can all agree that the teething season is awful! The crying, the fussing, the drooling. Then there’s the baby! Just kidding. Teething is no joke and most babies go through some level of discomfort during the season of time that baby teeth are erupting along the gum line. As a dental professional, you may have had patients ask you for your advice on how to deal with their baby’s teething.

• Breakthrough in food poisoning research could save lives

  Wednesday, December 19, 2018

  Don’t eat the flavor-blasted Goldfish crackers. Um, or the romaine lettuce. Put down the peanut butter. Oh and remember when we had to stop eating Blue Bell Ice Cream that one summer? Heaven help us. Food poisoning is no joke. One of the most common causes of food poisoning is a bacterium called Bacillus cereus, a nasty little sucker that secretes the toxins that cause vomiting and diarrhea. A team of researchers at the Australian National University has made an important discovery about how Bacillus cereus works that could help save the lives of patients with serious bacterial infections, particularly those suffering from food poisoning.

• Congress passes Action for Dental Health Act

  Tuesday, December 18, 2018

  All Americans deserve good dental health. Washington, D.C., agrees. Legislation aimed at improving oral health as well as access to oral health care — called the Action for Dental Health Act — is now law. President Donald Trump signed the bill on Dec. 11 after it was passed by Congress in November. The American Dental Association, which has led the Action for Dental Health initiative since 2014, approved of the bill’s passage.

• Study shows link between opioid prescription and later use, abuse by young people

  Thursday, December 13, 2018

  The abuse of opioids is a public health crisis in the United States. Dentists continue to be a leading source of opioid prescriptions for children and adolescents aged 10 to 19 years, primarily due to third molar extractions (wisdom teeth). Young people who develop opioid abuse problems may be first exposed to the drug while receiving dental treatment. This, according to a new study released earlier this month by JAMA Internal Medicine.

• Health IT receiving much-needed attention from the government

  Monday, December 10, 2018

  Technological advances are by definition supposed to advance that portion of an industry they exist to serve. To make things easier, more intuitive, less burdensome. But all too often, it seems, just the opposite is true. Healthcare providers know all about the hurdles associated with electronic health records (EHRs). The cumbersome system — one that should be designed to streamline the information-gathering process — is broken, in the opinion of many American healthcare providers.

• Have an elf give you the gift of patient resources this season

  Thursday, December 06, 2018

  Hermey the Elf is a beloved character from the 1964 classic television special "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." He dreamed about becoming a dentist for more than 50 years! Hermey encountered some resistance, some prejudices, some doubts and challenges along the way. He was named a Dental Do Gooder by the American Dental Association in 2014 and is back for another round this holiday season to make improving oral health more merry and bright. Hermey will be featured in patient resources, including coloring pages and brushing charts. Downloads are available at MouthHealthy.org.

• Dentists are getting busier

  Thursday, November 29, 2018

  It looks like more people are taking care of their pearly whites, according to recent findings. The American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute reported that more than a third of dentists experienced an increase in patient volume in 2017 compared to 2016. But if you’re a patient, you may wait a little longer to be seen. HPI also found that the average wait times for appointments are trending in the same direction, increasing from 4.5 days in 2012 to 5.4 days in 2017 for patients of record and from 5.3 days to 7 for new patients.

• Strength training comes out on top over cardio for heart health

  Wednesday, November 21, 2018

  It has long been accepted and taught that regular cardiovascular workouts are good for cardiovascular health. And they are. But a new study asserts that regular strength training is even better for your heart than more aerobic activities like walking and cycling. A survey of 4,000 adults revealed that static activity, such as strength training, had stronger links to reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases than dynamic activity, such as walking and cycling. But before you tell your patients to hang up their walking shoes and park their bikes in favor of free weights and dumbbells, keep reading.

• FDA to strengthen compliance for electronic nicotine products

  Monday, November 19, 2018

  Teens are more likely to use e-cigarettes than traditional cigarettes, according to a recent report put out by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. This probably does not come as a surprise to anyone with decent youth culture awareness. Perhaps the more telling statistic — and certainly more alarming one — states that teen e-cigarette users are much more likely to start smoking. In fact, 30.7 percent of e-cigarette users will start smoking within six months versus only 8.1 percent of non-users. The Food and Drug Administration is responding to this alarming trend.

• Direct-to-consumer company wrongly claims ADA approval in recent social media post

  Thursday, November 15, 2018

  No one was smiling last week when an Instagram post attributed to SmileDirectClub — a direct-to-consumer clear aligner company — falsely claimed approval by the American Dental Association (ADA). Oops. Cue the frowns. Lots of serious, brooding frowns. Especially over at SmileDirectClub. And a few at the ADA. The incorrect statement was made in an Instagram post the week of Nov. 5. Only trouble was, the ADA was watching.

• 5 ADA member dentists elected to Congress

  Thursday, November 08, 2018

  Who’s glad midterm election season is over? Many of us. No more campaign commercials. No more clusters of yard signs on every corner. No more robocalls during dinner. No more talk of waves of either red or blue. As of Election Day, Washington, D.C., better watch its collective mouth because five elected Congress members are card-carrying members of another organization: the American Dental Association. And they’re ready to fix more than cavities!

• FDA warns of EpiPens getting stuck in their carrier tubes

  Wednesday, November 07, 2018

  In a medical emergency, every second matters. For people with life-threatening allergies, quick and easy access to treatment can have life or death consequences. One common epinephrine auto-injector for allergic reactions is having some trouble. Some EpiPen, EpiPen Jr. and authorized generic versions of the product may not easily slide out of their carrier tubes, which could block quick access to the life-saving device in an emergency. This, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a letter to healthcare professionals on Nov. 2.

• To tell the ‘tooth,’ I think we should talk about it

  Thursday, November 01, 2018

  Dentistry may not be the most exciting topic to discuss...even for dentists. But a new podcast developed by the American Dental Society and launched in October is making tooth talk fun! OK, well, fun might be a stretch. But definitely interesting. The series, "Tooth Talk," was originally conceptualized and designed to keep dentists and other dental professionals informed on all the latest happenings in Washington with regard to the dental industry.

• Cardiologists may benefit from augmented reality

  Thursday, October 25, 2018

  It may seem more like an episode of "Grey’s Anatomy" in the year 2050 but it’s not; it’s real. Soon cardiologists and possibly other medical specialists will be able to plan and perform complex medical interventions and procedures with the help of augmented reality (AR). AR is an amazing technology that superimposes computer-generated information on the user’s view of the real world. And it offers a new platform to help doctors better visualize complex medical information, especially before and during complicated medical procedures.

• HPV vaccine gains support of ADA

  Wednesday, October 24, 2018

  The American Cancer Society estimates there will be more than 50,000 new cases of oral cancer in 2018. And between 70 to 80 percent of these cases will be attributed to the human papillomavirus virus (HPV), a virus that has types associated with oropharyngeal cancer. These staggering numbers call for action; action the American Dental Society is willing to take. Why? Because the HPV vaccine could prevent the vast majority of these new cases, but compared to other vaccines in the U.S., it is underutilized.

• ADA shares vision for the future in oral health with surgeon general

  Wednesday, October 17, 2018

  The American Dental Association has many roles, but one of the main ones is advocacy on behalf of member dentists around the nation. Recently, ADA President Joseph P. Crowley and President-elect Jeffrey Cole met with U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, M.D., in Washington to discuss the state of oral health in the U.S. among other important issues. During their meeting with the surgeon general, the ADA leaders and staff discussed the forthcoming update to the Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health.

• Researchers discover genetic risk for erectile dysfunction

  Tuesday, October 16, 2018

  Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to develop and maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse. The disease is linked to many causes, such as neurological, hormonal and vascular factors. Some of the most reliable ED stats come from a large data collection effort called the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. Genetics are also suspected as a factor in about one-third of erectile dysfunction cases, but researchers have failed to make a connection with any specific genomic locations until now.

• Say what?! Clear communication matters when educating patients

  Wednesday, October 10, 2018

  We’ve probably all experienced it to some degree. Staring, glassy-eyed and befuddled, while someone is speaking so far above our heads that there is no hope of truly understanding what is being communicated to us. It may not be a big deal in a lecture hall or an online course. But if it’s taking place in a doctor’s or dentist’s office and it’s a doctor explaining diagnosis or treatment to a patient? That’s a big deal.

• Dental licensure may get a little easier

  Wednesday, October 03, 2018

  You’ve upgraded your technology over the years, yes? Surely you’re not still using a flip phone. Or a VCR to record your favorite shows. How about dial-up internet? So, it makes sense that industries would upgrade policies and procedures as technology makes strides in making everyone’s lives simpler and more streamlined. Dentistry included. Calling for the modernization "upgrade" of the dental licensure process, three dental associations have teamed up to become the founding members of a group called the Coalition for Modernizing Dental Licensure.

• A single blood test could diagnose 8 different types of cancer

  Thursday, September 27, 2018

  Cancer is such a mysterious disease. For many different types of cancer, diagnosis can be a long and challenging process. A new blood test, however, might offer a much-needed simpler and more effective diagnostic technique. Called CancerSEEK, this new blood test has the potential to identify eight cancer types using just one blood sample. In the study, researchers show how the test shows high levels of sensitivity and specificity for cancer detection in more than 1,000 participants with the disease.

• FDA campaign targets teen e-cigarette use

  Tuesday, September 25, 2018

  The commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently called the use of e-cigarettes among teens an "epidemic," and announced a campaign to educate young people along with an initiative to target retail and online sales of the addictive product. Is it really such a big deal? Yes. Some e-cigarette devices can contain as much nicotine as a pack of 20 regular cigarettes, according to information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

• Last call: Only a few days left to register in advance for the ADA Annual Meeting

  Wednesday, September 19, 2018

  Procrastinators unite….tomorrow. Actually procrastinators, this time, it’s OK that you put it off. If you’re a dentist and ADA member, and you’d like to attend the 2018 ADA Annual Meeting in Hawaii, you still can! Well, for a very limited time. There is still time to plan a trip to the meeting and the Hawaiian Islands. Advanced registration will be available until Sept. 21, at 5 p.m. CDT. Prices for the overall meeting and individual CE courses will be higher after that. The meeting will be held in Honolulu from Oct. 18-22. Over the course of the week, participants will have a chance to get involved in an extensive schedule of events, exhibitors and continuing education opportunities.

• Could ketamine help reduce opioid use in emergency rooms?

  Thursday, September 13, 2018

  As opioid abuse continues to make headlines across the nation, medical researchers are busy looking at different, safer ways to treat patients who present with acute pain. A recent study in the journal Academic Emergency Medicine compares the analgesic effect of the drug ketamine to opioids in an emergency room setting. The conclusion? Ketamine could be a useful, safe alternative in many cases.

• Dental benefits deconstructed: Dentists’ top concerns

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018

  Unsurprisingly, dentists across the nation have lots of questions and concerns when it comes to their patients' dental plans, benefits and third-party payers. From pre-authorization headaches to refund requests, dental benefits can be a confusing topic to navigate. Most dentists would rather be in the exam room, doing what they were trained to do in dental school, rather than trying to decipher benefits rules and policies. This is where the team of experts at the ADA Center for Dental Benefits, Coding and Quality within the Practice Institute really shine.

• Dentists have opportunity to aid in Venezuelan refugee crisis

  Thursday, September 06, 2018

  Dental professionals have a unique opportunity to serve in underprivileged parts of the country and even other underserved parts of the world, providing routine preventive dental care and treatments to individuals who would not otherwise have access to dental care in any capacity. The University of California San Diego Pre-Dental Society is looking for dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, medical and dental lab technicians, translators, educators, engineers and all other health-related professionals to take part in a U.S. Navy-led humanitarian mission to South America in the midst of the Venezuelan refugee crisis.

• In case of emergency: Survey reveals that most dental practices are prepared

  Wednesday, August 29, 2018

  I love it when a survey confirms good news, don’t you? It’s so much better than the opposite. According to a survey conducted by the ADA Council on Dental Practice earlier this year, nearly 97 percent of American dental practices reported that they had a plan for responding to medical emergencies in the office. Great job, dentists! Dr. Craig Ratner serves as chairman of the Council on Dental Practice for the ADA, and said of the results, "According to the survey, dental practices report that they are largely prepared for medical emergencies that might happen in an office."

• Dentists working longer before retiring

  Wednesday, August 22, 2018

  The dental industry is trending right alongside the rest of America where retirement ages are concerned. In a nutshell, we’re working longer and longer before formally exiting the workforce. According to the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute, the average dentist currently retires just before they turn 69, although back in 2001 their average retirement age was about 65. Across the board, Americans are working longer. Why?

• When should children have their first dental visit?

  Thursday, August 16, 2018

  It might look a little odd to see a baby laid back in a dental chair for a routine examination. But new research and guidelines put forth by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) would like to see more of this in dental practices across the country. The AAPD released research this month that asserts there may be risk factors in found in a child's medical record that are helpful for predicting risk for cavities. Well, OK. But what does that really mean? And why does it matter?

• ADA Find-a-Dentist campaign takes to social media with great results

  Wednesday, August 08, 2018

  Who doesn’t love an awkward school photo from days gone by? Correct. You love 'em. I love 'em. Everyone loves to laugh at the mullets, the big hair, the shimmery blue eye shadow. The massive shirt collar. The fake smile that looks like someone pinched the subject just before snapping the photo. The American Dental Association is capitalizing on these unfortunate (but hilarious) moments in time for its Find-a-Dentist campaign.

• Silver diamine for your patients’ golden years

  Wednesday, August 01, 2018

  Caring for the teeth of your older patients requires an awareness of the issues and conditions that can affect the oral health of this older population. Dental conditions associated with aging include dry mouth (xerostomia), root and coronal caries, and periodontitis. Additionally, patients may show increased sensitivity to drugs used in dentistry, including local anesthetics and analgesics. If you are a dentist who treats an older population, read on.

• Flossing toothbrush with ADA approval recalled

  Wednesday, July 25, 2018

  Water Pik Inc. might just have the hottest toothbrush in town — but not in a good way. This month, Water Pik Inc. voluntarily recalled its Sonic-Fusion water flosser/toothbrush amid concerns that the charging base could overheat and possibly cause a fire. In May, this product earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance after meeting all program requirements for toothbrushes and for powered interdental cleaners.

• Free ADA webinar to spotlight oral health effects of tobacco

  Wednesday, July 18, 2018

  While the rate of smoking has certainly gone down since the mid-1960s, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the current rate of adults who use combustible tobacco products is still nearly 18 percent. Additionally, almost 1 in 5 high school students use tobacco products and around 480,000 people die each year as a result of smoking. Dentists have a unique opportunity to educate their patients about the dangers of tobacco use as oral cancer screenings have become a normal part of most preventive dental care appointments in practices across the country.

• Long-awaited new dental board exam slated for release in 2020

  Wednesday, July 11, 2018

  The very first National Board Dental Examination in the United States was administered in 1933. This important test has gone through some changes and modifications over the years, including a switch from essay questions to a multiple choice format. But in 2009, a committee was formed, charged with the task of completely overhauling the somewhat outdated exam. Many in the industry have likened it to the creation of a new exam altogether, which will be called the Integrated National Board Dental Examination and will replace the current National Board Dental Examination Part I and Part II.

• Pediatric dentist’s ‘magical’ video garners national attention

  Tuesday, July 03, 2018

  It’s not unusual for young children to fear going to the dentist, but Dr. Eyal Simchi of Riverfront Pediatric Dentistry in New Jersey works hard every day to change that. Dr. Simchi and his team regularly post endearing videos on Facebook of fun interactions with his young patients. So when he and his office manager, who is also his wife, Rachel, posted a video in late May and then returned to the office three days later, they were in for an astonishing surprise.

• New law makes it easier for veterans to access healthcare

  Wednesday, June 27, 2018

  Our nation’s veterans certainly deserve the spotlight all the time. But in the month of July, the spotlight shines a little brighter as, collectively, we recognize and honor our nation’s veterans as we celebrate the birth of the United States of America. Just in time for this year’s Fourth of July festivities, a new law has passed that will make it easier for all veterans to receive needed health care and will also benefit the dentists and physicians who work for Veterans Affairs facilities.

• Volunteers sought for August dental mission in Grenada

  Thursday, June 21, 2018

  Have a heart to serve? Love traveling? Looking for ways to use your skills to help others? Great opportunity awaits. Great Shape!, a California-based nonprofit organization is launching its inaugural project in Grenada this August and is looking for volunteers for oral health care and education in the underserved Caribbean nation. Great Shape! has primarily been active in Jamaica but expanded its 1000 Smiles project to St. Lucia in 2015.

• ADA appeals to Congress to expand HSA/FSA flexibility for 2019

  Friday, June 15, 2018

  The American Dental Association has a strong advocacy wing, whose primary role is to influence public policies affecting the practice of dentistry and the oral health of the American public. In a recent letter directed to the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, the ADA asked Congress to increase the limits of health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for the coming year. The hope is that consumers will be more likely to use their tax-advantaged savings toward dental services if their plans are less limited.

• Improvements in dental aligners may make them even more popular

  Friday, June 08, 2018

  More than 5 million Americans seek orthodontic treatment each year, according to the American Association of Orthodontists. Treatment plans often include traditional braces or aligners; a set of customized plastic pieces that shift improperly aligned teeth slightly over time. Most notably, aligners have a better aesthetic than traditional metal braces and can be removed for special events or when eating, making them easier to deal with.

• Dental leaders focus on international volunteerism

  Friday, June 01, 2018

  Medical professionals volunteering and serving in underserved areas around the world is a common (and positive!) reality today. Dentistry is well-represented in this arena. And for good reason. The mouth is a key indicator of a person’s overall health. It can show signs of physical, emotional and even mental health. In some countries, there are few opportunities for adults and children to have access to dental care and oral hygiene education.

• Should you brush your teeth before or after eating breakfast?

  Friday, May 25, 2018

  Who even cares about Yanny and Laurel? That is so last week. For dentists, a more important either/or debate centers on whether people should brush their teeth before or after breakfast. No, really. It turns out the order in which we perform our morning rituals (namely, teeth brushing) can impact the health of our teeth over the long haul. As dental professionals, we should present a unified front on this important topic.

• OTC pain relievers proven to be more effective than opioids in treating dental pain

  Thursday, May 17, 2018

  With opioid misuse and abuse on the rise across the nation, it’s not surprising physicians and dentists are occupying prime seats at the table in the quest to find a viable solution for the best way to treat patients with chronic pain. A recent study conducted at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland asserts that ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone or in combination with acetaminophen are actually better at easing dental pain than opioids. These findings are supported by new research conducted with the university's School of Dental Medicine.

• Free webinar gives guidance on coordination of benefits for dental professionals

  Friday, May 11, 2018

  Even in a very polarized political climate, there is at least one thing most Americans can easily agree on. Health insurance is frustrating. Whether you’re a provider or a benefit recipient, navigating health insurance, with all its complexities and constant changes, is a challenge. The American Dental Association is taking a proactive position in helping its members understand key areas; namely benefits.

• Root Canal Awareness Week spotlights endodontists

  Thursday, May 03, 2018

  May 6-12 is Root Canal Awareness Week! Woo…hoo? At first glance, it might seem an odd (or even silly) thing to celebrate and raise awareness about. Root canals? Really? But if you’ve ever had a root canal, you know firsthand the sweet, sweet, sweet feeling of having your pain relieved after it’s all over. Guess who alleviates that pain? An endodontist. And here’s a little story to illustrate this truth…

• With oral cancer on the rise, dentists can play an important role

  Thursday, April 26, 2018

  ​Today's dental professionals routinely see and deal with many issues and conditions that were not so common just a few short decades ago. For example, there has been a marked increase in the incidence of oral cancer in the United States, sparking the need for regular oral cancer screening as part of a preventive dental checkup. This additional screening is now routinely performed in many dental practices across the nation.

• Dental leadership doing its part in preventing opioid misuse

  Thursday, April 12, 2018

  ​Every day, more than 115 Americans die after overdosing on opioids, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the total "economic burden" of prescription opioid misuse in the United States alone is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment and law enforcement involvement.

• April is National Facial Protection Awareness Month

  Friday, April 06, 2018

  Although it may be more appealing (and mouth-watering) to talk about National Donut Month or National Ice Cream Month, April marks another area where awareness is important. It's National Facial Protection Awareness Month.

• Why doesn’t Medicare cover dentistry?

  Monday, April 02, 2018

  ​Medicare is often touted as the gold standard of healthcare for aging Americans. And in many ways, it is. The massive government program certainly allows seniors to receive care they might not otherwise be able to afford. Many Medicare recipients are on fixed incomes and no longer have employer-covered insurance options to carry them through their retirement years.

• Is seltzer the new diet soda? And is it bad for teeth?

  Friday, March 23, 2018

  Dentists know to warn their patients about the perils of too much sugar in the form of sodas, juices and other sugary drinks. But is it time to steer them away from seltzer water, too? The wildly popular La Croix has made its way into the hearts and hands of nutrition-minded people across the nation. Unflavored, tangerine, coconut, grapefruit, kiwi, lime — the bubbly water in a can contains no sugar, no artificial sweeteners, no sodium and can be guzzled guilt-free.

• How smart materials can aid in the fight against tooth decay

  Monday, March 19, 2018

  "Two for one" is a great marketing strategy — for certain things. Two bags of chips for the price of one? Yep. Two nights hotel stay for the price of one? Yes, please. But an additional cavity (called recurrent caries) beneath the filling of a cavity that was already filled? Uh, no thanks. Unfortunately, many dentists have to deliver this bad news to patients on a daily basis.

• Study: Wine may fight bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease

  Friday, March 09, 2018

  Lots of dental offices feature beverage bars so their patients can enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea or even a bottle of water and a light snack while they wait for treatment. But a new study by the American Chemical Society (ACS) might have some dentists considering adding a selection of wine to their beverage bar offerings.

• ADA 2018 will focus on women in dentistry

  Friday, March 02, 2018

  No doubt, women's issues have been in the forefront of the news in recent months. From marches to movements, women's concerns are garnering more attention in the media, classrooms, boardrooms and even examining rooms across the nation.

• New adhesives show promise at preventing braces bracket stains

  Friday, February 23, 2018

  ​Imagine how your young orthodontic patient might feel. She has spent up to 18 long months in braces, endured the regular adjustments, the discomfort, the dietary restrictions and even the laborious cleaning regimen.

• Study: Patients prefer automated follow-up over human interaction

  Friday, February 16, 2018

  Robo-dentist? Well, not exactly. But a recent study conducted at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine in Cleveland concluded that most people do not mind (or even prefer) receiving their follow-up oral hygiene information from an iPad rather than directly from a healthcare professional.

• 5 ways to make your dental practice shine (like those pearly whites)

  Friday, February 09, 2018

  Dentistry is a service, certainly. But equally true is the fact that dentistry is a business. The most successful dental practices are those that give careful consideration and attention to both the service aspect and the business aspect of their practices.