Dental Tribune Pakistan Edition

IDP camps provide unique Polio vaccination opportunity Continued from front page cases reported in from 2008 onwards. “We have begun vaccination campaigns and are working with relevant government departments. In numerous camps we have vaccinated children and adults the polio virus”, said a vaccination official while speaking to Dental Tribune Pakistan. Camps hold 900,000 IDPs. Nearly 1 Million people have been displaced since the Military Operation began last month. Officials fear that an outbreak of any epidemic can prove deadly. Repeated appeals have been made to the Government to ensure safe drinking water. They fear that an outbreak of diahhorea would prove fatal. Officials have said the IDP camps would also be included in future vaccination campaigns. “Emergency outreach immunisation sessions are planned - to cover children accommodated in schools, government or private premises,” officials said. “Special training had been given to teams to vaccinate and register all children based with host families.” Officials have expressed hope that the Polio virus would be eliminated from Pakistan soon. Continued from front page administered incorrectly, viscous lidocaine can cause seizures, severe brain injury and heart problems. Of the 22 cases of adverse reactions to the product that were reviewed by the FDA, six cases resulted in death, three were categorized as life- threatening, 11 required hospitalization, and two required medical intervention. In many cases, caregivers did not follow the prescriber's directions or gave additional doses. Moreover, the FDA encouraged parents and caregivers once more not to use topical over-the-counter medications containing benzocaine for teething pain. In 2011, the agency had warned that using such gels for mouth pain could cause methemoglobinemia, a rare but life-threatening blood disorder. In response to the benzocaine announcement, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), a trade association representing leading manufacturers and suppliers of over-the- counter medicines and dietary supplements, issued a press release stating that the FDA's suggestion regarding benzocaine does a disservice to parents and caregivers who use FDA- approved gels and medicines containing the anesthetic. The association criticized the FDA for not providing any data to support its change to the recommendations in 2011. “Consumers should continue to have confidence that these medicines can be used safely and appropriately by following the label. We urge the FDA to clarify its position to consumers and follow the appropriate regulatory path,” CHPA said. The FDA stated that, since the issuance of the 2011 warning on benzocaine, it has received six new reports of methemoglobinemia cases in infants under the age of 2 associated with over-the-counter benzocaine gels and liquids. FDA changes recommendations on lidocaine for teething pain “This is the first initiative in Brazil to install mercury filters in all dental equipment at a dental school and the experience may serve as an example to other public and private institutions," said Dr. Claudio Fernandes, Director of the Center for Advancement in Dental Standards at the university. The university is also planning to include waste management in the dental curriculum and its dental research. "We look forward to various levels of education and scientific engagement about dental amalgam separation and mercury recycling,” Fernandes stated. DRI President and CEO Marc M. Sussman said, “It is remarkable to have the opportunity to work in a country with the largest number of practicing dentists. DRI's presence in Brazil, now and in the future, will aid the country's commitment to sustainable development, as we seek to promote environmental stewardship in the practice of dentistry.” Amalgam recycling starts in Brazil Sirona Direct has headquarters in Paris and a showroom in Rouen. The company will become part of Henry Schein France, which has served dental practitioners in the country for more than two decades. The financial terms of the transactions were not disclosed. Henry Schein expects the transactions to be neutral to its earnings per share for the balance of 2014. France is one of the largest European markets for dental products, with approximately 36,000 dentists serving a population of approximately 65.7 million people. Henry Schein acquires Sirona Dental’s French distribution business Continued from front page Continued from 6 page Diagnosis 2014: The things you need to know for successful endodontic treatment Continued from 5 page implant dentistry. This has created polarizing arguments: save the tooth via endodontic treatment, or extract the tooth and place an implant. Too soon today, dentists will opt to extract a tooth that has a questionable prognosis in favour of placing an implant. It is my opinion that dentists should exhaust all possible options before opting to place an implant. Recently, I treated two of my colleagues with cracked teeth who wanted to exhaust every option (both were treated surgically). Ironically, they are two dentists who are heavy into implant dentistry. There has never been a better time to employ the “Golden Rule” for treatment planning. What are the factors involved in the decision? Is there enough bone to support an implant? Will you have to augment or condition the site? If you elect to do endodontic treatment and it fails, are you willing to surgically try to save the tooth? If so, and it still fails because of a fracture, by doing surgery have you destroyed the bone? Can the patient afford to place an implant? And are they prepared for the amount of time they may be edentulous in that spot? All of these situations merit a thorough and honest discussion with the patient. In addition, the dentist needs to take into consideration the patient’s motivation to go through these procedures. Many times I speak to patients about implants, and they are surprised by the cost and shocked by the time it will take before they have an implant crown functioning in their mouths. In modern endodontics, as technology advances and we bring on file systems that shape more efficiently and safely-and we develop a greater understanding of the role of irrigation in endodontics - we can offer higher success rates than at any time in history. This paradigm starts with understanding the patient’s symptoms and medical contraindications, correlating them with the proper diagnosis and then having the ability to honestly look in the mirror and decide that you can perform this treatment successfully. These are the core decisions that need to occur on every level of dentistry. Successful implementation of these values and diagnostic procedures will lead to a profitable and stress-free practice. Summary Does the dentist have all of the salient dental facts? By asking for the patient’s symptoms, you begin the diagnostic process. From there the journey begins. Next, does the dentist understand the patient’s chief complaint and symptoms? Once I understand what the patient is in my chair for, I calculate a path that will get me the most diagnostic information. I will need to use imaging, thermal sensitivity tests and bite tests. Imaging gives me the direction. Once I determine the vitality and take the periodontal health into consideration, it’s time to discuss the diagnosis and treatment options with the patient. I always present treatment in sequences. The first option for the patient would be to take my findings “under advisement.” Those are patients who typically do not present with pain and at that moment in time do not appreciate the need for a root canal. I never worry about those people, because nine times out of 10 they will be back in my chair sooner rather than later. The second choice revolves around the need for endodontic treatment. With this option, I create value for the need for treatment. Couple that with the patient being in pain and wanting relief, and the decision and diagnosis is easy for this patient type. The third option I give each and every patient involves letting him or her know that extraction is a viable option for his or her tooth. With that, I explain if the site is a good candidate to receive an implant and give him or her information on the time, cost and procedure involved in placing an implant. It is legally very important that your consultation and diagnosis involve every possible option. In sum, the goal of diagnosis is to be able to collate the patient’s chief complaint with his or her clinical symptoms. Once that is done, the dentist moves through a logical progression of treatment options, with the goal of providing excellence (Fig. 6). In this paradigm, both the patient and the dentist benefit from superior service and treatment. Dr. Thomas Jovicich, MS, DMD, is director of the West Valley Endodontic Group, located in the San Fernando Valley of California. In addition to working in his private practice, Jovicich has been a key opinion leader for Sybron Dental Specialties since 2000. He lectures around the world on current concepts and theories in endodontics. Jovicich also hosts a learning lab in his office for dentists, teaching them endodontics on their patients utilizing the latest state-of- the-art technology and materials through the surgical microscope. He may be contacted at thomasjovicich@mac.com rootsauthor July 2014 Continued from front page Continued from front page Continued from front page Continued from 6 page Continued from 5 page

Dental Tribune Pakistan Edition

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