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Hygiene Tribune U.S. EditionHygiene Tribune U.S. Edition

HYGIENE TRIBUNE The World’s Dental Hygiene Newspaper ·U.S. Edition www.dental-tribune.com O ral Health America (OHA) and Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait, an initiative of the Dental Trade Alliance, brought together dozens of oral-health leaders on Capitol Hill to address the challenges facing older Americans with access to oral health care. The event, “Aging in America: You Can’t Be Healthy Without Good Oral Health,” fea- tured Ellie Hollander, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels America, as keynote speaker and recognized Dr. David Satcher as the 2015 recipient of the Marvin Gold- stein Outstanding Public Service Award for his dedicated leadership in improving public health in the United States. Satcher served as U.S. Surgeon General from 1998 to 2002, releasing the first ever Surgeon General’s report on oral health. “It is a special occasion for me and I express my deepest appreciation for this award,” said Satcher, founder of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute of the Morehouse School of Medicine. “The theme ‘Aging in America: You Can’t Be Healthy Without Good Oral Health’ is a very important theme, and it is also a very special year. It is the 50th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid and the Older Americans’ Act, very important anniver- sary in the history of our country as it re- lates to health and health care.” The Capitol Hill event was part of OHA’s annual Fall for Smiles campaign, which educates Americans every September and October about the importance of main- taining a healthy mouth through daily brushing and flossing, making regular dental visits, eating healthy foods and avoiding tobacco products. According to a recent survey commis- sioned by OHA and conducted by Harris Capitol Hill event advocates for increased access to oral health care for older adults By Jodie Heimbach, RDH, BS Fluoride or no fluoride, compact tooth- brush or full size toothbrush, coronal pol- ish first or polish last. The decisions neces- sary in the dental practice are numerous and many times are based upon personal choice. How and when does the dental profes- sional decide whether to elimi­nate alco- hol products from the practice or limit the recommendation of products that contain a high quantity of alcohol? The debate continues as to whether al- cohol may be drying of the oral tissues, but substance abuse disorders are part of the human condition and touch as many as one in four American families.1 If you are considering a reduction in the amount of alcohol used within product recommendations where should the den- tal professional begin? One of the most common products the dental professional may recom­mend is chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX). CHX has been considered the gold standard for the reduction of biofilm and gingival inflamma­tion. Chlorhexidine is an anti- septic mouthrinse that is bactericidal and effective against some forms of yeasts and viruses. Most chlorhexidine mouth- rinses contain 11.6 percent alcohol. If one were seeking an alternative to reduce alcohol by 11.6 percent, Sunstar Ameri- cas provides the clinician with GUM® Paroex®, the only FDA-approved alcohol- free 0.12 percent chlorhexidine gluconate mouthrinse.•• GUM Paroex To keep patients healthier and reduce the risk of allergies, many dental offices are now latex free and also now moving toward no-alcohol. In a similar principal, why not create an alcohol-free practice that will benefit the oral health of your patients without the irritation of alcohol? The GUM Paroex Chlorhexidine was tested beside Peridex® and Periogard® to evaluate the effectiveness compared with products that contain alcohol. Re- sults showed there was no difference in effective­ness between the alcohol-free and the others. The alcohol-free chlorhex- idine was as effec­tive as one containing alcohol in controlling plaque and reduc- ing gingival inflammation.2 GUM Paroex is ideal for immune com- promised patients challenged with mu- cositis or patients who are receiving head and neck radiation.3 GUM Paroex also can be considered as a post-opera­tive treat- ment following periodontal procedures and for a pre-procedur­al rinse in the office to protect patients and the dental team by reducing airborne bacteria.4 Chlorhexidine may also be used in caries control programs. Because dental caries are a bacterial infection, an anti- microbial such as chlorhexi­dine may be indicated to reduce caries.5 Offering your patients alcohol-free products Sunstar America provides the clinician with GUM Paroex, the only FDA-approved alcohol-free 0.12 percent chlorhexidine gluconate mouthrinse. Photo/Provided by Sunstar America ” See ALCOHOL-FREE, page B2 Additional concerns may be the individual who is suffering with xerosto­mia, ulcerative gingivitis and tissue damage; these condi- tions may be exacerbated by alcohol.6 Also consider treatment of the patients with alcohol dependency who may not reveal their full health history. Using a product with 11.6 percent alcohol is not necessary when there is an alcohol-free alternative that is clinically equivalent. Paroex is dispensed in a 16 oz. bottle that may be purchased at the dental office or by prescription from the local phar- macy. (A new 4 oz. bottle was introduced in 2014.) The dental professional can feel secure in dispensing an FDA-approved alcohol-free chlorhexidine to patients for periodontal maintenance, immunosup­ pressed conditions, post-surgical care and pre-procedural rinsing. GUM Rincinol GUM Rincinol® is a mouthrinse that pro- vides whole-mouth pain relief. It is the first non-prescription bio-adherent mu- cosal coating for long-lasting soft-tissue pain relief. The pain relief may occur in less than three minutes and has been re- ported to last for up to six hours. In addi­ tion, it does not contain alcohol or benzo- caine. The lack of alcohol and benzocaine will reduce stinging and burning sensations, or any post-treatment numbing effects. GUM Rincinol will comfort patients with apthous ulcers, denture sores, irritation from orthodontic appliances, re­movable prosthetics, post-oral surgery, scaling and/or root planning pro­cedures, muco- sitis, xerostomia and any other intraoral irritation. Many dental professionals rec- ommend the soothing rinse for use with those undergoing chemotherapy and ra- diation treatments. GUM Rincinol promotes healing be- cause it contains aloe. It is safe for use in adults and children ages 6 and up and is even safe if accidentally ingested. Each application lasts up to six hours, but will depend on the daily diet regimen. The product may be purchased in a pack of in- Poll, older adults already recognize the importance of oral health, with 58 per- cent saying they do not believe tooth loss is a natural part of aging and 92 percent agreeing that dental visits are necessary even if you are missing some or all of your teeth. However, many are confused as to what Medicare covers, with 52 percent of older adults unsure about what Medicare covers or believing Medicare covers rou- tine dental care. More than half of low-income older adults reported not having seen a dentist in more than a year, with most citing lack of money and/or insurance as the reason. “The people having trouble chewing, experiencing pain, having trouble trying to afford their next meal, we’re generally talking about those in the greatest social and economic need. Research tells us that poor dental health of course drives health care costs,” said Hollander. “We both have the same challenge if we do not address these inextricably linked issues.” OHA staff and board members are ask- ing members of Congress to pass the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015, restore funding for all pro- grams within the Older Americans Act to pre-sequestration levels, support family caregivers through the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support and Engage (RAISE) Fam- ily Caregivers Act and support workforce innovations to increase access to care. Fall for Smiles is sponsored by 3M ESPE, DentaQuest Foundation, Denticator, Hu-Friedy, Listerine, Midmark, National Dental Association, Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait, Patterson Dental, Sunstar, Trident and Whip Mix. (Source: Oral Health America DECEMBER 2015 — Vol. 8, No. 7 OHA and DTA bring oral-health leaders together to address challenges facing elderly Americans GNYDM BOOTH NO. 3828

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