DrBicuspid.com Hygiene Insider

Dear Hygiene Insider,

Over the last two decades, the U.S. periodontology profession has been steadily changing in favor of providing IV sedation in clinical practice, according to a new survey in the Journal of Periodontology.

Learn more about what prompted this trend and how a generation gap is developing when it comes to periodontists administering IV sedation in this latest Hygiene Insider Exclusive.

In other Hygiene Community news, opposition from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the governor of Maine didn't prevent the Maine dental board from voting to restrict what x-rays independent practice dental hygienists can take during an upcoming pilot project.

Click here to find out why the FTC opposes the move and what the state dental hygienists' association has to say about it.

In clinical news, researchers from the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles found that while 5% of dental offices in Los Angeles County have a blanket policy of refusing dental services to people living with HIV/AIDS, this rate is much lower than that of other healthcare providers.

And two studies explored the issue of bacterial and fungal contamination of dental materials and equipment. The first looked at whether impression guns pose a contamination risk, while the other found that dental practitioners may be relying too much on the antimicrobial properties of impression materials. Learn why here.

Meanwhile, bacteria will have a harder time surviving when a specific set of antibiotics are used to treat generalized, aggressive periodontitis, according to a study in the Journal of Periodontology.

And this time of year begs the question: To vaccinate or not? Click here to read what the experts recommend when it comes to flu shots and related vaccinations for dental practitioners.

Finally, consumers and practitioners alike may be surprised to learn that some cereals pack more sugar than chocolate chip cookies. Read more.