today GNYDM 2

By Kristine Colker, Managing Editor n TODAY from 2 to 3 p.m. in aisle 5000, room 3, Dr. Mike Rethman will present “Fluorides and Non- Fluoride Interventions for Caries Control – An Overview” as part of the DTSC Symposia. In his session, he will focus on non- fluoride anti-caries adjuncts in the context of fluoride anti-caries strate- gies, including problems associated with recommending the use of non- fluoride adjuncts. Rethman talked to today about what to expect from his symposium. Dr. Rethman, you are presenting a DTSC Symposia session called “Fluorides and non-Fluoride Interventions for Caries Control — An Overview.” Would you give us a brief overview of your session? Fluorides have long been recom- mended as key parts of anti-caries programs. Recently, non-fluoride regimes have gotten increasing buzz. In the wake of chairing a recent ADA expert panel and evidence- based review of the literature on the latter, I’ll report what we found in the context of the concepts and effective- ness underlying the use of fluorides and other anti-caries methodologies. Could you talk a little more in-depth about non-fluoride anti-caries adjuncts and some of the issues surrounding them, including problems with recommending them? Fluorides help. Sealants help. Some non-fluoride adjuncts also appear effective. Patients at low risk for car- ies may need no interventions, others might benefit from all. Every patient isdifferentandbecausetheliterature reports average responses, clinicians need to remain aware that no patient is average. How do non-fluoride anti-caries adjuncts fit in treatment protocols compared with fluoride-based interventions? Are there any positives or negatives associated with one over the other? In my opinion, non-fluoride anti-car- ies adjuncts are best considered as adjuncts to fluorides and sealants for reasons I’ll discuss in my talk. Head- to-head comparisons could tease out the comparative and/or additive effects but such studies are unlikely. If an attendee is interested in going to your session, is there anything he or she should be aware? Is your session aimed for specialists or is it a more general topic? It’satopicofinteresttoalldentistsand dental hygienists who treat patients. Your session is sponsored by Colgate. How did you begin working with the company and what is it that you like about its products and services? Colgate is a highly reputable com- pany that sponsors many speakers and conferences worldwide with no expectation of gleaning anything morethantherespectofparticipants. And Colgate has earned my respect. But to drill down a bit, I’ve had ses- sions sponsored by close to a dozen companies over the years. Crucial to me is that a sponsoring company expects nothing more than an arms- length treatment of a topic. That’s what I endeavor to provide, and it’s all Colgate expects. If there is one thing you hope attendees to your session come away with, what would it be? I’d like for attendees to be better at contextualizingthebarrageofpromo- tional information that they receive every day. speakers16 Greater New York Dental Meeting — Nov. 26, 2012 Dr. Mike Rethman speaks on fluorides and non-flouride interventions for caries control AD About the speaker Mike Reth- man, DDS, is a board- certified peri- odontist with more than five years of general prac- tice experi- ence. He is also a dental research sci- entist and a former director of the U.S. Army Institute of Dental Research, as well as a past-president of the American Academy of Periodontology. ▲ ▲