Hygiene Tribune U.S. Edition

Hygiene Tribune U.S. Edition | October 2015B4 INDUSTRY NEWS By VOCO America Staff VOCO has introduced Profluorid’s Single- Dose, an operatory-dispenser that helps users of Profluorid® Varnish keep the product in easier reach in the operatory, eliminating needless trips to the storeroom. According the company, Profluorid is a thin, pleasant tasting, white transparent, 5 percent sodium fluoride var- nish that has quickly become a popular choice among hy- gienists and their patients. Profluorid seals off the dentinal tubules and offers high immediate fluoride release to relieve hypersensitivity — setting up in seconds after contact with saliva. Enhanced flow characteristics enable Profluorid to reach areas that traditional varnishes may miss. Profluorid Varnish has an easy, non-messy single- Profluorid seals off the dentinal tubules and offers high immediate fluoride release to relieve hypersensitivity. It sets up in seconds after contact with saliva. Photo/Provided by VOCO America Profluorid Varnish in easy dispenser dose delivery system, helping to make the application headache-free for users. This is complemented by a low film thickness, light taste and a variety of flavors (cara- mel, melon, cherry and mint) patients enjoy. For more information on Profluorid Varnish you can visit www.vocoamerica.com. ◊ WILLIAMSBURG, pageB2 finds the lowest price for prescriptions near you. I have first-hand experience of a young patient pulling up this app while still seated in the dental chair. In the time it took for the doctor to write up the chart, she already knew which pharmacy to go to. The app is in English and Spanish. • The First Aid app by the American Red Cross, also in English and Spanish, uses simple language and icons to help with medical emergencies. It includes a prepa- ration area for all sorts of emergencies. • iTriage is a search app covering a broad spectrum of health care, including doc- tors, symptoms and care facilities. Think of it as an interactive WebMD. You tap on a body part and a list of symptoms appears. It can direct you to the appropriate spe- cialist or facility. It supports 20 languages. I’m looking forward to any future au- tomations developed for the business of dentistry, but also those that will assist in the improvement of patient care. What a joy it would be to “bump” a cell phone to a patient’s phone to acquire their list of medications and allergies. Right now I patiently wait while the patient (often el- derly) pulls out a crumpled piece of folded Patricia Walsh, RDH, BS, has been a clinical dental hygienist for more than 20 years. She is a graduate of the Fones School of Dental Hygiene, University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. She has an extensive history in international volunteer work in oral health, including being instrumental in the creation of The Thailand Dental Project, a volunteer program focused on providing educational, preventive and restorative dental care to children in a tsunami-affected region of Thailand. Contact her at pwalshrdh@uberhygienist.com. ADA BOOTH 1813 Throughout the month of October, the American Dental Hygienists’ Associa- tion (ADHA) and the Wrigley Oral Health Care Program (WOHP) are partnering for the sixth straight year to provide den- tal hygienists and the public with a wide range of resources and information as part of National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM). This year’s campaign is focused on dental hygienists starting a conversa- tion with patients about “Doing the Daily 4” — brushing teeth twice daily, flossing each day, rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthrinse and chewing sugar-free gum after eating or drinking when brushing isn’t possible. This year’s NDHM will feature a number of dental hygienist-focused initiatives, in- Start conversations with patients about doing the ‘Daily 4’ Ad paper from a wallet. It is usually full of crossed-out lines and scribbles, leaving me to guess at the list I have to transcribe into my computer. • Pedicine (Pedicineapp.com) has an initial download that is free, but adding additional family members is $1.99 each. This app stores useful family medical his- tories in a safe and convenient way. Who can think straight enough to re- member surgery dates and every allergy when sitting stressed out in a waiting room? Your phone can. cluding resources and materials geared to help hygienists and patients start discus- sions about good oral health; samples and educational materials that can be used for community service projects and patient education; a free continuing education course for dental hygienists that looks at the important role saliva can play in pre- venting oral health issues; and unique dental hygienist-related contests through social media.. Plus ADHA members will receive a special thank you message from the organization and the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program to help celebrate them and the vital role they play in bet- tering the health of their patients. In addition, for the sixth year the Wrig- ley Company Foundation, in partner- ship with the ADHA Institute for Oral Health (IOH), will offer community ser- vice grants of $2,500 or $5,000 to dental hygienists who are pursuing projects intended to improve their community’s oral health. Since 2010, more than 63,400 patients have already benefitted from this program in the United States. More infor- mation about the grants and the IOH can be found at www.adha.org/institute-for- oral-health. The ADHA encourages dental hygien- ists and the public to share their outreach efforts and thoughts on Facebook (www. facebook.com/youradha), via Instagram (instagram.com/youradha) and with Twit- ter (twitter.com/ADHADOTORG). Include the hashtag #NDHM2015 with your sub- missions. Resources also can be found on the NDHM webpage at, www.adha.org/ national-dental-hygiene-month, includ- ing fact sheets in both English and Span- ish and research on the benefits of chew- ing sugar-free gum after meals to help prevent cavities and other oral health problems. (Sources: ADHA and WOHP)

Hygiene Tribune U.S. Edition

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