Complaints about dental incompetence accumulate

 

LONDON, UK: The body that investigates dangerous or incompetent dentists in the UK has been battling a backlog of serious complaints, the BBC has reported. According to the broadcaster, problems at the General Dental Council (GDC) were at their worst in 2010, when 72 serious complaints had still not been dealt with after nine months.

 

That compares to the 224 serious complaints referred during the year. Since then, the GDC has appointed a new chief executive and furthermore increased the number of investigatory hearings and staff. In 2011, additional people were recruited to sit on the committees that deal with fitness to practise cases. Furthermore, it took on 12 extra caseworkers.

The GDC, which is responsible for monitoring dental professionals, is in turn regulated by the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE). In September 2011, the government asked the CHRE for a report on how the GDC is being run, following the resignation of its former chair, Alison Lockyer, who had complained about the manner in which internal disputes between executives and other staff in the GDC were dealt with. The report is expected by the end of this month.

In 2011, the CHRE conducted two audits and in its reports criticised the time the GDC took to process the disciplinary cases of dentists.

“The General Dental Council needs to refocus all its energy and attention on patient safety and the quality of dentistry,” Chief Executive of the CHRE Harry Cayton told the BBC.

The latest statistics reflect that a total of 1,400 complaints were made to the GDC in 2010. Unjustified complaints are sifted out by case-workers. An investigating panel decides whether serious cases are to be referred to a senior committee, which has the power to strike a dentist off.

Cases that have taken more than nine months to pass from the investigating committee to one of the more senior panels are classed as backlogged cases by the GDC. According to the BBC, the number of these has fallen from 72 to 51 since the appointment of its new chief executive, Evlynne Gilvarry, in October 2010.

“What I was determined to do as soon as I joined the organisation was to ensure that the theoretical risk to patients—that patients might be put at risk—never manifested into a reality,” said Gilvarry. “We have done that and we have put in a reform programme and 12 months on, we are in a much stronger position.”

Source: http://www.dental-tribune.com/articles/content/scope/news/region/europe/id/7218

New implant institute opens

Dental professionals worldwide can hone their skills, learn about the latest techniques and share information — online or on location — through the new Institute for Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry (IIRD). The state-of-the-art facility opened Nov. 16 at the South Florida campus of BIOMET 3i, a global leader in dental implants, abutments and regenerative oral health-care products.

Education and knowledge sharing of evidence-based dentistry using leading-edge technology is at the heart of IIRD. World-renowned leaders in the fields of implant and reconstructive dentistry comprise the faculty and guest-speaker panel.

The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art dental and educational technology to maximize experiential learning through live surgeries, tele-surgeries, hands-on training, educational programs, lectures and information sharing. The IIRD also will conduct online educational programs, including lecture series, university partnership programs and industry events and meetings.

“The Institute for Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry is designed to serve dental professionals as a trusted educational partner. However, we go beyond providing ‘continuing education’ courses,” explains Anthony Singleton,
BIOMET 3i global director, the Institute for Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry. “Regardless of their experience level, dental professionals will be able to fine-tune their skills, build their confidence with the latest dental technology and, perhaps, be challenged by new perspectives on patient care. All this can lead to growing their practices and enhancing patient outcomes.”

The IIRD is the culmination of the vision of BIOMET 3i co-founder Richard J. Lazzara, DMD, MScD, who passionately believes education, evidence-based research and leading-edge dental techniques are essential to providing the best dental solutions and care to patients. Lazzara is one of many world-class dental professionals who will serve as faculty of the institute.

Subject matter ranging from treatment planning, advances in digital dentistry, implant dentistry innovations, implant restoration, CT-guided surgery and advanced diagnostics and complex case management provides a comprehensive education continuum for varying levels of dental specialists and clinicians, allied staff and dental laboratory technicians. Programs are continuously added.

In addition to information about course offerings and online registration, the IIRD website allows visitors to take a virtual tour of the facility. Articles and research, videos and interviews are also included on the website, along with links to the Journal of Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry (JIRD), the official publication of the IIRD.

Source: http://www.dental-tribune.com/articles/content/id/7198/scope/business/section/overview

Needle-free anesthetic close to marketability

Efficacy trials for a new dental anesthetic that saves patients the pain of injections are continuing after the company responsible for the development of the drug secured additional $3.5 million funding from an angel investor this week.

 

The yet unnamed anesthetic developed by St. Renatus, LLC, a Midwest startup from Colorado, is administered through the nasal cavity as a fine mist and is claimed to achieve complete anesthesia in the maxillary arch. The first application for FDA approval of the method was submitted in 2002 and final trials on humans were begun following the completion of phase 2 efficacy studies in July last year.

St. Renatuss CEO Steve Merrick, a former Septodont marketing executive, said that the recent cash injection will help the company to continue to conduct further large-scale studies on more than 300 patients in schools around the U.S. Initial trial results are expected to be available by mid-2012, he recently told the Northern Colorado Business Report.

“Thanks to this angel investment group we are able to take a major step forward in bringing this new technology to dentists and their patients,” he said.

According to Merrick, the company has already spent $25 million on the development of the drug.

The name of the investment group has not been disclosed.

Source: http://www.dental-tribune.com/articles/content/id/7183/scope/business/section/overview

Global handpiece manufacturer boosts North American presence

For years, NSK dental handpieces have had a strong base of devoted users in the United States and Canada who are attracted to the company’s reliable, user-friendly performance and reputation for quality. A word-of-mouth advertising strategy combined with highly targeted customer relationships has worked well for the organization.

But the strategy has also meant that there are many dental professionals who still aren’t sure about what makes NSK so different in the handpiece market.

That’s about to change.

The dental equipment manufacturer, founded in 1930 in Japan, is raising its U.S. and Canadian profile in a big way, perhaps most tangibly to date by the May 2011 opening of its newly constructed North American headquarters in Illinois. The facility includes a showroom, training facility, expanded warehouse space and a larger parts and service center.

“The company made the decision last year to increase its investment in North America in 2011,” said NSK Dental Marketing Manager Rob Gochoel. “We’ve also added office and technical-service staff, and an internal team of representatives who will be able to work directly with a greater number of dental practices.”

The company is also expanding its distributor relationships. As a whole, the efforts should enable NSK to provide information about its unique business model to most of the dental practices in North America.

Source: http://www.dental-tribune.com/articles/content/id/7138/scope/business/section/overview

Aribex receives Utah Life Science Incentive for Growth

Aribex, a manufacturer of handheld X-ray technology, has qualified for up to $350,000 in financial incentives from the state of Utah for expansion of its manufacturing capacity. Aribex will receive the incentive in the form of tax credits that are contingent upon the company hiring 30 more employees in the next three years.

The incentives were authorized under the new Technology and Life Sciences Economic Development Act passed by the Utah Legislature in 2011, and administered by the Board of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

“We’re honored that our home state recognizes the work that we are doing and the benefits our products bring to the health community, both domestically and internationally,” said Dr. D. Clark Turner, president and CEO of Aribex. “It also acknowledges the fact that we have the innovation, the resources, and the talent to take full advantage of the opportunities and growth ahead of us.”


“Utah’s new medical device incentive is evidence of the impact that a smaller X-ray device from Aribex can have, and how a top-innovation state like Utah can help such companies grow and thrive,” said Richard Nelson, founder and CEO of the Utah Technology Council, an association representing the interests of the state’s 6,000 growing life science, IT and clean tech companies. “We’re proud of the success that the Aribex breakthrough products are having in both the dental industry and in patient care around the world.”

Aribex manufactures the NOMAD Handheld X-ray System, which fills the need for a truly portable, lightweight dental X-ray device. Thousands of Aribex NOMAD handheld devices are now in use in the finest professional dental offices as well as providing access to care for hundreds of thousands of underserved people around the world. Unlike the bulky wall-mount systems traditionally used, the Aribex NOMAD is rechargeable and can go anywhere.

The Aribex NOMAD battery-powered handheld device increases X-ray safety by dramatically decreasing the amount X-ray exposure required for correct use. It dramatically decreases costs and provides hundreds of safe, high-quality images for dental, veterinary, medical, industrial and security applications, on a single battery charge.

Source: http://www.dental-tribune.com/articles/content/id/7193/scope/business/section/overview

ADA, AGD speak out against new non-dentist provider models

by Fred Michmershuizen, DTA

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation recently released survey results claiming that the majority of Americans support new non-dentist mid-level provider models to address the shortage of access to care. In response, the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) issued statements challenging the methodology used for the survey.

The survey asked if Americans support or oppose “training licensed dental practitioners to provide preventive, routine dental care to people who are going without care,” and the majority of respondents said yes.

“The Kellogg Foundation’s narrow focus on a single idea — so called ‘dental therapists’ — and its claim that a vast majority of Americans favor creating dental therapists lacks credibility,” said ADA President Raymond F. Gist. “Kellogg’s survey question regarding dental therapists implied that care by therapists would somehow cost less than care by dentists. We know of no data to support this. If such data exists, Kellogg should release it.”

“The manner in which the questions were posed may have caused some confusion among the public responding to the survey,” said AGD President Howard Gamble, DDS, FAGD. “Members of the public may not have been aware that the question was referring to supporting or opposing ‘non-dentist mid-level providers.’”

“Mid-level providers do not have the same level of education as a dentist; they are non-dentists with as little as two years of post-high school training to perform clinical dental procedures that may be irreversible, on populations with the most complex health conditions, without the direct supervision of a dentist,” Gamble said. “Therefore, these midlevel providers could be putting the patient’s oral and overall health at risk, and that is a concern to the AGD.”

Based on a poll of 1,023 adults, the survey, conducted by Lake Research Partners, found that more than 80 percent of Americans believe it is difficult for people to get free or low-cost dental care in their communities, and think the number of Americans who cannot access dental care is a problem.

“This survey clearly shows that people throughout the country are struggling to get dental care,” said Sterling K. Speirn, president and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. “We know the impact that poor oral health has on overall health and well-being, so we must look at using mid-level providers, such as dental therapists, to ensure that children can get the preventive dental care they need.”

The survey also found that while most Americans value regular dental care, four in 10 lack dental insurance. Those most likely to be putting off care due to cost are those with annual incomes of less than $30,000 (55 percent), those without dental insurance (54 percent), and those with a high school diploma or less (47 percent).

Both the ADA and the AGD support other measures that will increase access to care for all Americans.

“The nation will never drill, fill and extract its way out of what Surgeon General David Satcher, MD, famously called a ‘silent epidemic’ of oral disease,” Gist said. “Oral health education and prevention are the two most important measures that can end that epidemic. Regular care by dentists and their teams will prevent disease from recurring. The ADA believes that everyone deserves a dentist.”

“It is unethical and unfair for the underprivileged to be relegated to lesser educated professionals than the rest of the American population,” Gamble said. “When it comes to their health, organizations should be working together to create workable and proven solutions needed to improve the health of our fellow Americans.”

In November 2010, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation launched a major initiative to improve access to dental care for vulnerable populations. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is currently working with Ohio, New Mexico, Kansas, Washington and Vermont to establish dental therapists to help expand access to needed dental care. More than a dozen states are considering similar options.

Life-saving treatment includes complete maxillary and mandibular dentures

by Lisa Marie Samaha, USA

 

Michael Boyd, a 55-year-old male, lived a life of many challenges. By age 52, Michael had a diabetic medical emergency and upon recovery was relieved of his job. At that point his diabetes had already caused him to lose one foot and a portion of his other foot. Getting around was a challenge, but it didn’t stop him from helping others.

While assisting an elderly woman in getting her social security check cashed during an ice storm, Michael fell and injured his leg, further complicating his health. Additionally, Michael struggles with high blood pressure, lupus erythematosus, failinghip replacements, arthritic knees and a variety of other medical challenges.

In spite of his own disabilities, Michael makes a point of visiting patients at the Veterans Affairs Hospital, almost daily. Although not a veteran, he wants to show his appreciation to our soldiers, and word has it that he never fails to succeed in bringing them comfort and laughter each time he visits. He knows that many of them have no other visitors except him, a thought he can’t bear.

Michael also extends a daily helping hand to his elderly and/or disabled neighbors by cooking for them or taking them on errands to fill their prescriptions, purchase groceries or go to the bank. Sometimes he just spends quality time visiting with them. Every day, a visit to his mom is first on his list.

His disease

Although always interested in bringing a smile to others, Michael remained self-conscious about his own smile. He was frequently in pain, and relied on over-the-counter medications for his severely decayed teeth and aggressive periodontal disease. His oral disease was most certainly complicating his systemic disease, especially as it related to his diabetes, joint issues and propensity to heart attack or stroke. Sadly, none of his physicians had established a concern over the severity of his dental disease. It was his sister who encouraged him to come see us. She had learned of the life-enhancing care we provide by reading stories about how we had helped others with similar health complications.

The diagnosis of severe, generalized periodontal disease with spontaneous purulence and bleeding combined with severely carions and abscessed teeth, left us no option but to remove all of Michael’s teeth in short order. He accepted treatment and we scheduled him within days for his full-mouth surgery.

The treatment

We performed the surgery, uneventfully, with only local anesthesia. Michael remained relaxed, comfortable and enjoyably conversational during the entire experience. All teeth, including root tips, were removed, sockets thoroughly debrided and granulation tissue excised. Biopsies, laser ablation, bone grafting and guided tissue regeneration were performed. We placed Michael on antibiotics and a targeted, periodontal nutritional regimen immediately.

Postoperative

Throughout his healing period, Michael was comfortable and healed uneventfully, needing only one 800-mg dose of Motrin for pain on the day of treatment. When Michael returned for suture removal one week later, we saw a much healthier man in every way. In spite of his diabetic history, he healed remarkably well.

We delivered his complete maxillary and mandibular dentures and he received them with tears in his eyes — and a big, bright smile on his face.

He said they felt just like he had had them all his life. Remarkably, the first words out of his mouth were spoken as though they had been his all along! Michael looked and felt exceptionally well.

Summary

This life-saving makeover provided Michael with a healthier and happier life with fewer complications from his diabetes and other systemic health challenges.

Not surprisingly, his mom was the first one he wanted to share his new smile with the day he received his dentures. As soon as that visit was over, Michael returned to spend time and spread some cheer with the soldiers at the VA and then, escort his neighbors on their errands.

His new smile was met with disbelief by all!
Note: This article was published in Dental Tribune U.S. Edition, Vol. 6 No. 18, December 2011.
About the author

Lisa Marie Samaha, DDS, FAGD, graduated from the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, and has been in the private practice of general dentistry in Newport News since 1982. Samaha is the founder and director of the Perio Arts Institute, which is nationally recognized for teaching and research. The institute’s mission is sharing diagnostic and treatment protocols for the betterment of oral/systemic health. She can be reached at samahadds@pwdentalarts.com.

Gallery of photos visit: http://mediacenter.dental-tribune.com/image/galerie/ID/441

Source: http://www.dental-tribune.com/articles/content/id/7140/scope/specialities/section/cosmetic_dentistry