Inside Dental Assisting

Vol.VI No.6 - June 2010
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June 2010 course

Color in Dentistry: Is “Everything We Know” Really So?

Expires: 06/30/2013
Credit Hours: 2
Cost: $18
Accredited By: Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. approves courses for credit which meet the parameters of the DANB Recertification Requirements.
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All IDA Courses

Course		Expiration	Issue	Credit	Cost
The Bruxism Triad Sleep bruxers are a difficult subset of patients to manage predictably. They damage teeth and restorations at a higher rate than normal stress-related bruxers. The adverse effect of their sleep bruxism does not stop just with tooth damage. These patients are more prone to sleep disturbances including apnea and gastric reflux symptoms. It appears that these three sleep issues are interwoven in a triad of factors that create a uniquely detrimental environment for teeth.	View course Take quiz View questions	8/31/2013	July/August 2010	2	18
Color in Dentistry: Is “Everything We Know” Really So? Esthetic restorations represent a significant and increasing portion of dental services and income. Closely related to the application of color science principles in clinical dentistry and optical properties of dental materials, work with color is a critical component of these procedures. This article addresses issues related to shade matching such as color education and training, color vision, shade-matching conditions, and dental shade guides. Properties of dental materials associated with color appearance are presented through three categories: color compatibility, color stability, and color interactions. Recommendations for achieving optimum color-matching results are suggested. Overall, the application of color science in clinical dentistry, improvements of dental shade guides and related restorative materials, and further standardization of color appearance in dentistry can enable better control of the esthetic outcome and improve esthetic success. New standards might eliminate dental materials exhibiting extreme inconsistencies with corresponding tissues, poor color stability, or severe batch variations.	View course Take quiz View questions	6/30/2013	June 2010	2	18
Rapid HIV Testing in the Dental Setting The CDC reports that approximately 25% of HIV-positive individuals remain undiagnosed, and approximately 36% of those who do test positive are identified late. The CDC recommends offering routine HIV screening in alternative settings, which includes dental programs. The advent of rapid HIV-screening technologies allows individuals to learn their HIV status in approximately 20 minutes, well within the timeframe of a routine dental visit. Before a dental practice can initiate rapid HIV screening, certain steps must happen: 1) review state HIV testing laws and develop consent tools; 2) submit a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment application; 3) receive training/certification; 4) choose HIV test; 4) train personnel; and 5) provide linkage to care for confirmatory testing, counseling, and follow-up care.	View course Take quiz View questions	5/31/2013	May 2010	2	18
Backrests, Armrests, No Rests: What Does the Research Say? Poor fit or adjustment of the operator stool can lead to low back, neck, or shoulder pain. The stool should adjust to support the body in a neutral position, but with the wide variety of body sizes and heights among dental practitioners, certain stool types will fit individuals better than others. The two most poorly understood ergonomic features of an operator stool are the backrest and armrest. Understanding how backrests and armrests may be selected and adjusted to benefit a dental assistant’s working posture can help prevent injury.	View course Take quiz View questions	4/30/2013	April 2010	2	18
Oral Cancer and Precancer: Improving Outcomes The best way to help improve survival rates of oral cancers is early detection and treatment. Almost 80% of patients with these cancers would have a 5-year survival rate if their disease had been found early. Many factors, such as long-term exposure to certain carcinogens, may heighten the risk. It is paramount that a dental clinician be cognizant of the sometimes subtle and overlooked signs and performs appropriate follow-up care. This article discusses common presentations, clinical aids, treatment, and management, as well as provides a detailed clinical evaluation form. Testing techniques such as chemiluminescent examinations and use of the VELscope can help. Ultimately, the dental practitioner bears responsibility for improving survival rates.	View course Take quiz View questions	3/31/2013	March 2010	2	18
Environmental Surface Asepsis: Principles, Applications, and Issues Chemical disinfectants are critical for proper infection control, and a number of new formulations and technologies are available for the dental practice. This article discusses the factors clinicians need to consider when choosing which type of disinfectant to use in a practice: the basic principles of environmental asepsis, classification and regulation of commercially-available products, and product use and misuse.	View course Take quiz View questions	2/28/2013	February 2010	2	18
Managing Caries in the High-Risk Child Dentists often report that treating children in their practices is either the most rewarding or the most challenging of all their professional experiences. Special considerations must be made for the biology of the caries process, the psychological development of the child, parental involvement, the complex environmental factors that contribute to caries, and the wide variety of clinical treatment options available. Caries management by risk assessment (CAMBRA) is becoming the standard of care for dental professionals. Although significant progress has been made against caries in the past 30 years, very resistant pockets of disease remain in certain demographics. This article presents a number of different clinical scenarios, which will explore diagnostic and restorative protocols that apply to children who are at risk for caries.	View course Take quiz View questions	1/31/2013	January 2010	2	18
Xerostomia: Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Management This article summarizes the common causes, clinical presentation, and complications of xerostomia and salivary gland hypofunction in the geriatric population and discusses the various management options.	View course Take quiz View questions	12/31/2012	November/December 2009	2	18
The Patient with Asthma: Implications for Dental Practice A history of asthma is reported commonly by adult dental patients and may be more prevalent in children. An acute episode of asthma in the dental office may be precipitated by extrinsic factors such as inhaled allergens, as well as intrinsic factors such as fear or anxiety. An asthma episode should be considered a medical emergency and must be treated promptly by inhalation of a bronchodilating agent. A history of asthma in the dental patient should alert the dental practitioner to implement strategies that may prevent an acute attack and to be prepared to manage this potentially life-threatening medical emergency appropriately. The chronic use of bronchodilating inhalers and/or glucocorticoids for the management of asthma can increase the likelihood of oral candidiasis, particularly in patients who have additional risk factors such as smoking, denture use, or the use of xerostomic medications.	View course Take quiz View questions	10/31/2012	October 2009	2	18
Infection Control: Ending the Day The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention require dental offices to follow infection control and safety regulations. Infection control, which is a comprehensive and vital part of any practice, requires attention to detail. This article focuses on the procedures that should be performed at the end of the day in a dental practice. A practical checklist is provided to help prioritize the daily, weekly, and monthly tasks for infection control. Infection control and safety documents and records, as required by OSHA, are reviewed, as well as an update on OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standards.	View course Take quiz View questions	9/30/2012	September 2009	2	18

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