AGD - Academy of General Dentistry

Receiving an award is an honor, but what the recipient does to deserve that award is far more important. Peter E. Dawson, DDS, of St. Petersburg, Fla., received the Dr. Thaddeus V. Weclew Award at the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) 2007 Annual Meeting & Exhibits in San Diego. Named for the founding father of the AGD, the Dr. Thaddeus V. Weclew Award is presented annually to a dedicated educator who embodies the spirit of comprehensive dental care. Recipients must be professional role models whose activities exemplify a commitment to the profession of dentistry and the principles and goals of the AGD.

Dr. Dawson was selected for his exceptional contributions to the art and science of dentistry and for promoting the AGD’s principles and ideals. His contributions started at an early age. Growing up, Dr. Dawson spent time in his father’s dental lab; he became an apprentice technician at age 14. He says, “I fell in love with dentistry and never even considered any other career.” In the early days, he focused on crown and bridge dentistry but felt it was a necessary part of general dentistry. After graduation from dental school and two years in the U.S. Air Force, he took every postgraduate education course he could find. He says, “To be a complete dentist, it was apparent that I had to know a lot more than I had learned in dental school. This is probably why I am still such a strong advocate for postgraduate education.”

Dr. Dawson feels that the AGD’s goals align strongly with his in terms of advocating for postgraduate education, and he praised the AGD in his acceptance speech in San Diego. He says, “The AGD has done more to raise the standards of dentistry than any other organization. By encouraging postgraduate education, the AGD has set goals for competence that very few dentists would ever achieve on their own.” A proponent for education, Dr. Dawson helped to found the Pankey Institute and also founded the Dawson Center. He says, “I think new graduates from dental school would be amazed if they recognized all of the things they don’t know about practicing dentistry. Both the Pankey Institute and the Dawson Center are dedicated to closing the gap between what is known and what is actually practiced. Good postgraduate education has to be based on sound principles and a completely ethical foundation. I believe the AGD shares that viewpoint.”

As a lifelong educator, Dr. Dawson decided to detail his teachings on paper and has written several books, including Functional Occlusion: From TMJ to Smile Design, which was published in 2006 (Mosby). About deciding to write textbooks, Dr. Dawson says, “Having taught for so many years, it became increasingly obvious that I had to put my beliefs in print. My last book [Functional Occlusion] was one I just had to write. I was seeing so much cosmetic dentistry that violated every principle of function. I just saw a need to clarify the important principles.” Those principles include diagnosis of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and occlusal problems. Dr. Dawson hopes the book will be helpful to “any dentist who wants to clarify not only the how but also the why of functional occlusion and its relationship to everything a dentist should be doing in general practice.”

For Dr. Dawson, education extends beyond courses and textbooks. He believes the best way for general dentists to learn is by active collaboration with surgeons, orthodontists, restorative dentists, and technicians in order to learn how others approach treatment plans. He says, “With all of the advancements in dentistry, it is impossible for any dentist to be totally competent in all specialties. I have found that collaboration with specialists on treatment plans has great advantages for patients and doctors alike. It is also a great source for educating a general dentist in how other specialists look at the treatment of different problems.”

Close communication with technicians also is of utmost importance to Dr. Dawson. “One of the most important facets of my teaching is dentist-technician communication,” he says. “The dentist must determine precisely what is needed in regard to every detail, but if those determinations are not communicated in a verifiable way, the technician can only guess.”

Dr. Dawson urges general dentists to take advantage of every educational opportunity they can get, whether it is formal or informal. He says, “I know what postgraduate education has meant to my practice and my enjoyment as a practitioner. I just wish every dentist would recognize how much they are missing when they fail to take advantage of the opportunity to improve their knowledge base and their skills.”

ADEA Receives Grant to Promote Diversity

The Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation has awarded a grant of just over $550,000 to the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) to increase the diversity of the dental workforce in the United States. The ADEA will be the host organization and also will serve as the coordinating committee of the program, Moving Forward: Bridging the Gap. The grant will fund the planning process to implement a seven-year dental curriculum, which will be modeled after one currently used in medicine, to prepare a new cadre of under-represented minority and low-income students for the practice of dentistry.

The Center for Research and Education in Technology Evaluation (CRETE) announced the creation of a model, state-of-the-art dental center, which will be housed at the University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Dental Medicine. It will be the first center in the United States to be developed through a partnership between the dental industry and a dental school. Operatories in the center will be equipped to allow broadcasting in real time so manufacturers can accelerate their research and development processes.

The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) announced that a coalition representing the majority of the nation’s physicians and physicians-in-training is urging Congress to pass the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs Authorization Act of 2007 (HR 2915). The NHSC Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs Reauthorization Act will double the funding for the NHSC, increasing the number of available positions. The University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Dental Medicine is joining the AMSA along with organizations such as the American Nursing Association and the Association of Deans and Directors for Primary Care.

The AGD serves as the eyes, ears, and voice of the general dentist. View the latest legislative news on the AGD Web site at www.agd.org under “Advocacy News.”

On Wed., Oct. 24, 2007, by a 75-19 vote, the Senate gave bipartisan approval to a large health and education spending bill that will likely be the first of the fiscal year 2008 spending bills that Democrats will send to the White House. President Bush has threatened to veto the bill; if that occurs, there are technically enough Republican senators who voted for the bill to potentially override this veto. The House vote, however, passed with a much narrower margin, and it will be more difficult to secure a veto override if necessary.

While funding levels for Title VII Health Professions remain the same as fiscal year 2007 (approximately $48 million for dental programs), the Senate approved an increase in dental funding through an amendment—double funding for the Dental Health Improvement Act—which is seen as a victory by organized dentistry.

The provision, sponsored by Sens. Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME), was approved unanimously and increases funding for the Collins-Feingold Dental Health Improvement Act. The provision doubles the funding for this program from $2 million to $4 million. The act became law in 2002 and authorizes funds to help states develop innovative dental workforce development programs tailored to the state’s individual needs.

Three final rules were issued with respect to changes made to the TRICARE program resulting from language included in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2007.

What this changes: Before this rule, general anesthesia and institutional services were not covered in conjunction with dental treatment for patients with developmental, mental, or physical disabilities or for pediatric patients of any age through TRICARE medical plan contracts unless they qualified as adjunctive dental care.

What this changes: This action is required because dental procedure codes and nomen-clature are added, revised, and deleted by the American Dental Association every two years; when this occurs, the regulation also must be revised to reflect the new codes and nomenclature.

Rule Change No. 3: Survivor benefits for active duty spouses who leave the armed forces less than three years after the death of their active duty spouse.

What this changes: Prior to this new rule, a surviving spouse who is a member of the armed forces on active duty for a period of more than 30 days at the time the other active duty military member spouse dies, and who subsequently separates from active duty, was ineligible for the TDP survivor benefit.

For additional details, visit the advocacy news section on the AGD Web site at www.agd.org to view this story from the October 2007 national news archives.

The Dentistry Watch survey conducted by the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health in England reveals that some English people have resorted to do-it-yourself (DIY) dentistry—pulling out their own teeth because they cannot find and/or cannot afford a dentist. Six percent of those surveyed said they used pliers and glue to remove or repair painful or broken teeth or crowns. One respondent reportedly extracted 14 of his or her own teeth with pliers. While some dentists offer publicly subsidized treatment through the National Health System (NHS) in England, others perform more expensive treatment privately. Seventy-five percent of respondents said they were forced to seek expensive treatment because they could not find an NHS dentist who would perform the work, and almost 20 percent said they did not have any treatment done because the cost was too high.

The Journal of the American Dental Association (October 2007) published a report indicating that tooth loss may predict the development of dementia later in life. Many previous studies have suggested that patients with dementia have poor oral health; however, this is the first study to suggest that the relationship is the same in the opposite direction: Tooth loss may lead to dementia.

Research from the University of Pennsylvania that was published in Cancer (October 2007) indicates that patients who are depressed about their cancer diagnoses are no more likely to die than people who remain positive about their disease. The study analyzed data from two studies of the emotional states of a little more than 1,000 people who had head and/or neck cancer. The emotional status was not associated with survival rate.

A telephone survey executed by Philips Sonicare and GfK Roper, presented at the 2007 American Dental Association Annual Session, reveals that more than half of Americans surveyed would reuse their toothbrush after it fell on the bathroom floor—the same room the respondents said had the most bacteria in the house. Nine percent of men surveyed admitted to reusing their toothbrush after it fell into the toilet. The survey also revealed that half of the respondents said they would share their toothbrush with others, including family members, spouse/partner, or friends.

A study published in the Archives of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery (October 2007) suggests that children with sleep disordered breathing who undergo adenotonsillectomy may not only start sleeping better but also may show improvements in behavior. Children who suffer from sleep apnea, which stems from enlarged tonsils and adenoids, are fatigued throughout the day and tend to have an elevated rate of behavioral problems, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and poor school performance. Parents of children in the study who received the adenotonsillectomy procedure logged their children’s sleep disordered breathing symptoms and behavioral problems, and researchers found that both improved after surgery.

Chewing gum before an afternoon snack helps to reduce hunger, diminish cravings, and promotes fullness among individuals

who limit their overall calorie intake, according to a research study presented at the 2007 Annual Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society, which occurred Oct. 20 to 24, 2007. In the study, 60 people rated their hunger levels, appetite, and intensity of cravings immediately after lunch, and then hourly. Some highlights from the study include: Chewing gum significantly reduced caloric intake by 25 calories and specifically reduced sweet snack intake by 39 calories, and participants reported that chewing gum improved their mood by reducing anxiety and stress and increased contentment and relaxation.

Researchers presented a study at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in Washington D.C. on Sept. 17, 2007, that suggests a plastic dental splint mouthpiece may help keep some people from snoring while they sleep. The mouthpiece, known as a splint, is similar to a mouth guard worn by a boxer and protects both the upper and lower teeth while moving the jaw forward, allowing patients to breathe more easily at night and reduce snoring. The mouthpieces cost about $400 and have to be replaced once every two years. Researchers said the splints can cause discomfort and move the teeth around, however, and they advise that patients consult their dentist to be sure the splint is a good option.

Cancer Research (Oct. 1, 2007) reports that a strong skeleton is less likely to be penetrated by metastasizing cancer cells, so calcium might be the way to block cancer’s spread. Researchers found that a calcium deficiency may increase the tendency of advanced breast cancer to target bone. They tested mice and found that dietary calcium deficiency was related to a significantly higher increase in cancer cell proliferation and the total proportion of bone that had been penetrated.

Researchers from the University of São Paulo in Brazil have found that an adhesive made from an enzyme found in snake venom was a more effective and beneficial adhesive when used to close surgical incisions than traditional sutures. The study followed 15 patients during the healing process after a gingival graft and found that those patients who had the snake venom adhesive sutures had faster and better recovery results than those treated with traditional sutures.

According to BBCNews.com (Oct. 26, 2007), Cambridge University scientists used brain imaging and found that the brain responds to speech when under sedation. The researchers indicate that the brain processes speech when a patient is sedated, but it appears that it does not fully comprehend or remember the speech. The researchers’ aim was to show how the brain’s response to speech changed as the patient became more sedated. They also were interested in determining whether understanding of speech might continue even while consciousness and memory were impaired.

A study from the Congressional Research Service reports that 21 states will run out of money for children’s health insurance in 2008, and at least nine of those states will run out by March 2008 if Congress continues to spend at current levels. Those nine states cited in the study are Alaska, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. The study also indicates that states, by their own estimates, expect to spend $7.6 billion, which is $2.6 billion more than is budgeted for the program. To continue coverage for people now enrolled in 21 states, an extra $1.6 billion would be necessary just for the current fiscal year.

The Pawtucket Times (Sept. 27, 2007) reported a story about a new technique employed by a local dentist in Cumberland, R.I., to aid in tracking abducted or missing children. Angeles V. Felix, DMD, of Dental Associates, unveiled the new tooth print program, which helps police and rescue teams track missing individuals by using the scent of human saliva from traces left on dental imprints. Highly trained canines are able to trace the missing person from the scent left on the tooth print.

OSAP Offers MRSA Resource

The Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures (OSAP) has created an online informational resource about methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). OSAP has developed a page devoted to MRSA on its Web site at www.OSAP.org (go to Resources, then MRSA). The site is frequently updated so that dental professionals have the information and resources necessary to ensure the safety of their patients and themselves against MRSA.

MetLife and SafeGuard Dental & Vision introduced dual option dental plans that combine the strengths of MetLife’s preferred provider organization (PPO), also known as MetLife’s Preferred Dentist Program, with SafeGuard’s dental health maintenance organization (DHMO) to give employers in California, Florida, and Texas greater flexibility for offering their employees dental benefits that best meet their needs.

To help the elderly, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, the American Dental Association (ADA), and the ADA Foundation introduced a new, unique initiative, OralLongevity™, which focuses on improving and maintaining good oral health throughout life. The program offers older adults, their families, caregivers, and dental professionals with education and free resources to increase the awareness of and need for better oral health. Consumers can download the free OralLongevity DVD and brochure at www.orallongevity.ada.org.

Microsoft^® Offers Free Storage Site for Medical Records

Microsoft Corp. introduced a free Web site, www.healthvault.com, on Oct. 4, 2007, which gives consumers one storage and management space for their medical information. Microsoft claims the site is safe from data miners, hackers, and other security dangers. Users can store records, lab results, and prescription lists and can even upload data, such as glucose and blood pressure readings. Users can determine which parts of their records they want to share and with whom. HealthVault is the first site to offer such services to consumers, but Google™, Inc. has publicly said it plans to provide similar online tools.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health launched one of the largest collections of genetic and clinical data available free to researchers around the world. The Web-based SNP Health Association Resource (SHARe) allows researchers to access data from a number of large population-based studies. The goal of SHARe is to speed discoveries linking genes and health, and to improve understanding of the causes of, and prevention of, a number of different kinds of disease. SHARe is accessed through the database of Genotypes and Phenotypes, a Web resource for archiving and distributing data from genome-wide association studies that examine the associations between genes and traits (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=gap).

The AGD, in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP), is running photos and information in hopes that members will be able to assist law enforcement in identifying and locating victims.

On March 18, 2007, the nude body of an unidentified female, “Jane Doe,” was found in Prairie View, Waller County, Texas, near U.S. Highway 290. Prairie View is approximately 50 miles northwest of Houston. “Jane Doe” died of asphyxia due to external neck compression (the hyoid bone was broken).

The victim’s teeth were decayed and a dental chart is available for comparison purposes. A plastic bag had been placed over the victim’s head and secured with duct tape around her neck. In addition, the victim’s hands had been severed from the body and have not been found. The ends of the victim’s arms were covered with the same type of plastic bag used to cover the head; the bags were secured to the arms with duct tape. It is believed she had been dead for approximately two hours.

The Prairie View Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the FBI ViCAP Unit are requesting assistance in identifying “Jane Doe” in order to determine when and where she disappeared and fell victim to this crime.

In addition to identifying “Jane Doe,” the unique circumstances of her demise indicate the offender may have committed this type of crime in the past. If any agency has a similar case (or cases), please contact any of the following: Sgt. Brian Taylor, Case #: RA-2007-00126, Texas Department of Public Safety, 979.865.3111, brian.taylor@txdps.state.tx.us; or Lt. Wilbert White, Case #: 07-0318-01, Prairie View Police Department, 936.857.3521, white7711@aol.com; or Crime Analyst Rick Blankenship, Case #: 2007TX00009, FBI ViCAP, 703.632.4191, rblanken@leo.gov.

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The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) will host Excellence in Cosmetic Dentistry 2008, the AACD’s 24th Annual Scientific Session, from May 6 to 10, 2008, in New Orleans. Cosmetic dental professionals can register online at www.aacd.org or call 800.543.9220 to request conference materials.