Contents

Education Is the Key

Dental professionals are charged with informing parents about how they can safeguard their children's oral health. By Edward H. Moody, Jr, DDS

Strategies for the Safe Use of CBCT

Cone-beam computed tomography is an effective tool in orthodontics, but it must be used judiciously to protect patients from unnecessary radiation exposure. By William C. Scarfe, BDS, FRACDS, MS, Lucas Rodrigues Pinheiro, DDS, Allan G. Farman, BDS, LDSRCS, PhD(odont), DSc(odont), EdS, MBA

Prevent Tongue Trauma

Children can get their tongues caught in the small openings of metal water bottles, causing serious health consequences. By Tracee Dahm, BSDH, MS, RDH, Ann M. Bruhn, RDH, BSDH, MS

A New Approach

The implementation of remedial maintenance instrumentation may help clinicians improve periodontal therapy outcomes. By Stacy Matsuda, RDH, BS, MS

Sharing Facts About Fluoride

Dental hygienists need to be prepared to promote and defend community water fluoridation as an effective caries-prevention strategy. By Erin C. Knoerl, MPH, Meg D. Atwood, RDH, MPS

The Heart and Mouth Connection

While the evidence shows that periodontitis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases are linked, the reasons behind this association are still being investigated. By Bruno G. Loos, DDS, MS, PhD

Reduce the Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

Preventive therapies and oral hygiene education before conception and during early pregnancy may help reduce the severity of periodontal diseases and the negative effects of inflammation on pregnancy. By Kristin Dillow, RDH, MS, Steven Offenbacher, DDS, PhD, MMSc (deceased)

A Whole New World

Guided tissue regeneration offers new treatment possibilities in the field of periodontal therapeutics. By Thiago Morelli, DDS, MS

The Dangers of Tickborne Diseases

Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases can have devastating health effects, making early diagnosis critical. By Gayle B. McCombs, RDH, MS, Holly Gaff, PhD

The Power of A Smile

On a recent flight from Chicago to Los Angeles, the movie "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" was playing, which was quite appropriate as I was experiencing exactly this type of day. By Jill Rethman, RDH, BA

How Do Cassettes Protect Clinicians From Sharps Injuries?

The dental assistants I work with open the cassettes or take contaminated instruments out of the cassettes before they put them in the ultrasonic cleaner. I informed them that the point of the cassettes and the ultrasonic cleaner is to remove debris and reduce the risk of punctures and injuries. What source can I cite [...] By Kandis V. Garland, RDH, MS, CDIPC

February 2015 Marketplace

A listing of featured products. By The Editors

Kellogg Foundation Awards Grant to Reduce Oral Health Disparities

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has awarded a 2-year, $400,000 grant to the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Minority Dental Faculty Development (MDFD) program to address oral health disparities in underserved communities By The Editors

Kentucky Trains Early Childhood Professionals on Oral Health

The Kentucky Oral Health Coalition has implemented a new program in which early childhood professionals across the state will receive training on the importance of children's oral health and steps they can take to educate parents/caregivers on the subject in an effort to reduce the incidence of early childhood caries. By The Editors

American Academy of Pediatrics Issues Updated Policy Statement on Oral Health

The American Academy of Pediatrics, a professional organization that represents American pediatricians, released an updated statement on oral health in December. By The Editors

Industry Info

Examining the oral/systemic link. By The Editors