NEWS E TOY, Switzerland: T h e r o l e d e n t a l hygienists play within the dental industry can sometimes be overlooked, with some curtail work often taking place before a dentist has even seen the patient. Presented by the SUNSTAR Foundation and supported by the International Symposium on Dental Hygiene (ISDH), the World Dental Hygienist Awards recognise dental hygienists who have made a significant contribution to dental hygiene science, patients and the broader community. Presented every two years at ISDH, entries for this years awards close on 14 January 2019. The 2019 ISDH will take place in August in Brisbane, Australia. As per previous years, the winners of the Dental Hygienist Awards are chosen by an independent selection committee. These awards are an excellent opportunity to give visibility to a crucial profession in the 2018 Pakistan Edition DENTAL TRIBUNE 15 November Last call for entries for the World Dental Hygienist Awards Presented every two years at the International Symposium on Dental Hygiene, the World Dental Hygienist Awards recognises dental hygienists who have made a significant contribution to their field. (Photograph: Anna Jurkovska/Shutterstock) o r a l h e a l t h f i e l d . Unfortunately, the dental hygienists role is often underrated, although it is key to show patients how to maintain a proper oral care routine, and to detect some oral problems at earlier s t a g e s , s a i d J o A n n Gurenlian, President of the American Dental Hygienists Association. The awards are divided into two categories: research and activity or project, with professionals and students competing separately. The research entries may include b o t h q u a n t i t a t i v e a n d qualitative analyses that provide important new insights that contribute to the body of knowledge in the oral hygiene field. The total prize money for the professional and student category is US$5,000 (4,407) and U S $ 2 , 0 0 0 ( 1 , 7 6 3 ) , respectively. In the activity or project category, entrants are required to provide details of the activities that have made a key contribution to patients, the community or the general public. The positive impact of the activities on the health of a significant number of i n d i v i d u a l s s h o u l d b e empirically demonstrated, with measurable outcomes that demonstrate improved health. The award is open to individuals as well as groups, with the total prize money for the professional and student entry totalling US$3,000 (2,644) and US$2,000, respectively. - Dental Tribune International Mercury-free healthcare ... Continued from front page intellectual delays and problems during childhood. Under the health ministry's initiative, policy guidelines will be developed for stakeholders on how to phase out mercury-based products, while a complete ban will be slapped on the use of mercury-containing amalgam for restorative dental care. Also, the medical and dental colleges' curriculum will be changed accordingly; strict regulations and legislation will be introduced on the use of mercury in cosmetics and fairness creams, and a nationwide campaign will be begun to raise public awareness of the hazards of mercury-based products and equipment. National Health Services and Regulations Minister Aamir Mehmood Kiani is understood to have directed the relevant officers lately to turn the programme, his brainchild, into a reality without delay saying this will help further the cause of healthcare in the country as promised by the ruling PTI. Experts welcome the ministry's plans saying their successful execution will go a long way in protecting the people f r o m t h e d e v a s t a t i n g h e a l t h consequences of mercury use. Dr Wasim Khwaja of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences said that the mercury dispersed into the ecosystem, remained in the ecosystem for generations, causing severe health and intellectual impairment to the exposed populations. "The mercury discarded and spilled by healthcare settings makes its way into the environment, where it methylises and bio-accumulates in the food supply, negatively impacting human and environmental health," he said. The gastroenterologist said the removal of mercury-containing devices and products from hospitals and clinics would prevent doctors, health workers and patients from the potentially highly toxic levels of elemental mercury. Noted dental surgeon Dr Pakiza Hyder hailed the proposed ban on mercury dental fillings saying it would protect patients from poisoning, exhaustion, emotional disturbance and high blood pressure. "Mercury is used in fillings commonly known as silver fillings. It is mixed with silver and copper to form a durable mixture to lock in the quicksilver. However, it is seen that toxic mercury vapours leak and travel throughout the body, and are deposited in the vital organs causing multiple health problems," she said. Regretting the rampant use of mercury fillings by hospitals and clinics, the dental surgeon strongly felt that better public awareness was the best way to turn Pakistan into a mercury hazard-free country. 100-day performance ... Continued from front page health ministry. Hence, the ministry had embarked on a process to upgrade all basic healthcare facilities in the federal capital. To consolidate all the healthcare facilities of the city under one ministry, they were in the process of making new appointments. Moreover, plans to build four more hospitals in Islamabad, especially with help from Saudi Arabia, were underway. In this regard, work on building a hospital in Tarlai is expected to start soon. To regulate all public and private healthcare facilities in the capital, including clinics, hospices and even health care professionals, a registration process is being initiated. For this purpose, a healthcare commission and healthcare regulatory authority are in the process of being created. The second phase of the Prime Minister's Health Programme has also begun for which the bid collection process has been completed. The ministry hopes that by the middle of January next year, more than two million people will get health coverage. Additionally, this phase will also see the funds provided for medical treatment become more than double from Rs3.5 million to Rs7.2 million. The health ministry has also worked on revamping the apex drug regulator of the country, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). In this regard, the aspects of medicine making process, checking laboratories according to international standards has been emphasised and that soon level three qualification will be achieved. Sources, quoting the report, further said it lists the measures which were taken on family planning - as recommended by a high-powered board formed on controlling the country's population. Moreover, the government has decided to impose a 'Sin' tax on cigarette and other tobacco products which will amount to two per cent tax on these products, which will be contributed in the development and progress of health sector. COP2 focuses on dental ... Continued from page 10 Caribbean group also supported this ban. The environmental project coordinator for Honduras, Pablo Rodríguez, shared his countrys pilot project on eliminating products and processes that use mercury in the health care sector in the four largest hospitals in the country. They have eradicated the use of medical devices that use mercury and the use of dental amalgam in these hospitals. He said that this project was started in 2014 and is gaining momentum and has now become the model for his countrys transition out of mercury use in the health care sector. Representing VOCO dental materials, Peter Hoffmann shared with participants solutions for non-mercury dental restorations. It is extremely important, in particular for developing countries and countries in transition, to learn to use the atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) technique. ART was developed in Tanzania, more than 30 years ago as an alternative to conventional dental treatments. A concerted commitment to end the use of dental amalgam was evident during COP2. Delegates throughout the week agreed that this use of mercury m u s t e n d . - D e n t a l Tr i b u n e International Straumann partners with ... Continued from page 14 driven by increasing clinical experience and the improved flexibility provided by two-piece solutions, said Marco Gadola, CEO of Straumann. Together with Z-SYSTEMS, we offer the widest range of ceramic implant options supported by digital workflows and biomaterial solutions. The combination of our expertise, research capabilities, sales power and global reach position us as a leading force in the global ceramic implant market. We are very proud to partner with the world leader in implant dentistry, stated Ernst Thomke, member of the board of directors of Z-SYSTEMS. - Dental Tribune International