Dear DrBicuspid Member,
In the second part of this series, Noel Kelsch, RDHAP, writes that successful infection control and clinician safety depend on every clinician being ethical and following laws, regulations, recommendations, and the standard of care.
Handheld x-ray devices are used widely in dental practices across the U.S., but are they always safe? That depends on the device, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Dental Association. The study authors warn dental professionals to be cautious and use only those devices that have been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration. Read Rabia Mughal's article here.
In this Second Opinion, Dr. Laurence Fendrich writes that IV moderate sedation dentistry is extremely safe for the patient if administered correctly by a dentist who has been properly trained and certified to perform it. Read his column here.
Surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids in children suffering from sleep apnea is associated with decreased asthma severity, according to a new study in PLOS Medicine. In the first year after the operation, the children who had their tonsils and adenoids removed had a 30% reduction in acute asthma exacerbations and a 38% decrease in acute status asthmaticus, the authors wrote.
Rabia Mughal's interview with the authors of the new study on the safety of certain handheld x-ray devices, just as with infection-control issues, highlights that the details of running a practice are more important than ever. That handheld device might be less expensive on a third-party site, but asking some questions and doing some additional research are probably a good use of your time.
