Dear DrBicuspid Member,
Our top story of the week breaks down four dental trends on the radar of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In a March 2 report, the CDC summarized numerous factors influencing Americans' oral and overall health. Our write-up includes colorful graphics that illustrate dental spending, tobacco usage, the number of dentists, and drug overdoses.
One disheartening fact? More than 20% of high schoolers use electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). The skyrocketing adoption of e-cigarettes has completely erased recent declines in tobacco use among this age group, the CDC said.
Changes abundant with the COVID-19 pandemic
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may be far reaching for both practices and patients, according to two stories on DrBicuspid.com this week.
First, the focus on infection control and prevention may prompt the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue new infectious disease standards in the near future, according to certified OSHA outreach coach Mary Govoni. The changes could include unannounced inspections at dental practices.
In addition, the pandemic may be spurring an increase in stress-related dental conditions for patients. More than 70% of dentists reported seeing teeth grinding and clenching in their patients, according to a February poll conducted by the ADA Health Policy Institute. In the fall, 60% of dentists reported seeing an increase in those two stress-related behaviors.
Risky dental materials
I've heard some reports about dentists opting to get dental materials from outside the traditional supply chain. The practice may seem clever, or even prudent, with the promise of cost savings for similar or identical products. But is the reward in potential savings worth the potential legal and financial risks?
That's the exact question asked by Dr. Michael W. Davis in his thought-provoking column on counterfeit dental materials. Davis breaks down the definition of black, gray, off-label, and do-it-yourself (DIY) dental supplies. He also addresses the potential legal consequences of swapping an approved product for a cheaper alternative.
Clever use of dental x-ray
Last but not least, researchers used a dental x-ray scanner to virtually unfold and read a sealed letter from the Renaissance. Our story details the clever process used to scan and reconstruct the letter. And if that doesn't interest you, I'd still recommend an open to see a very cool animation.
I can't sign off without wishing all the dentists a very happy National Dentist's Day, which is today, March 6! Thanks for all you do to help keep your patients smiling.
