A Demographic Dilemma: Hypersensitivity and Its Treatment Rating: CE credits: 4 • Cost: $59.00 Faculty: Howard E. Strassler, DMD, FADM, FAGD, FACD For the dental community, the increasing life span of the average person means patients who require more dental health care for a longer period of time. As gingival recession is a condition that only worsens with age, its contribution to dentinal hypersensitivity cannot be ignored. Statistics show that approximately one-third of the nearly 78 million American adults, the baby boomers, over age 60 are at risk for recession in one or more teeth. With the impending flood of dentinal hypersensitivity cases that are likely to result from this demographic, the treatment of dental hypersensitivity is more important than ever. This course will discuss factors contributing to and treatment methods for dentinal sensitivity. Activity Details Program Format(s) Available: To view click appropriate button below

Abrasion and Implications for Oral Health Rating: CE credits: 4 • Cost: $59.00 Faculty: Bridget Conway-McPherson, BA, RDH Abrasion of teeth involves an abnormal mechanical process that results in enamel, dentin and cementum being worn away over time. Susceptibility to abrasion is increased in the presence of erosion of the surface of the tooth, which results in softening of the tooth structure. Professional dental care is aimed at preventing disease and restoring oral health for patients with oral disease. The appropriate use of professional and home use oral care products is required to achieve these objectives. Careful selection of polishing techniques is required by the dental clinician to ensure optimized stain removal, polishing and preservation of surface integrity, and the oral care regimen recommended to patients for home care must also consider the risk of abrasion. Activity Details Program Format(s) Available: To view click appropriate button below

An Update on the Dangers of Soda Pop Rating: CE credits: 4 • Cost: $59.00 Faculty: Gary J. Kaplowitz, DDS, MA, MEd Soda pop consumption has increasingly become a factor in oral disease. Clinically, demineralization occurs, with erosion of tooth surfaces and caries being evident. The most severe effects are seen in people who drink several cans a day. Adolescents and young adults are particularly at risk as the biggest consumers of soda pop. Preventive therapies include dietary advice and the use of high-level fluoride dentifrices, professionally-applied topical fluorides and fluoride rinses. Activity Details Program Format(s) Available: To view click appropriate button below

Biofilm Formation, Identification, and Removal Rating: CE credits: 4 • Cost: $59.00 Faculty: Fiona M. Collins, BDS, MBA, MA Dental caries and periodontal disease are among the most prevalent diseases known to man. Both are associated with the bacteria contained in dental biofilm. Dental biofilm is complex, with a well-organized structure. Up to 500 bacterial species have been identified in dental biofilm. Studies have shown that plaque accumulates rapidly on clinically plaque-free teeth. For oral and systemic health, the development and maturation of dental biofilm should be impeded and the dental biofilm needs to be regularly and meticulously removed. Removal and reduction of biofilm can be by mechanical means or mechanical and chemical means, and disclosing agents enable visual identification of plaque. Current chemotherapeutics in general do not effectively penetrate thick biofilm, underscoring the importance of the identification and rigorous mechanical removal of the dental biofilm. Activity Details Program Format(s) Available: To view click appropriate button below

Chlorhexidine: A Multi-Functional Antimicrobial Drug Rating: CE credits: 4 • Cost: $59.00 Faculty: Gary J. Kaplowitz, DDS, MA, MEd, Marilyn Cortell, RDH, MS Chlorhexidine gluconate is an effective bactericidal agent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial drug. It has been extensively researched and is the “gold standard” antimicrobial in oral hygiene. Chlorhexidine is useful in many clinical disciplines including periodontics, endodontics, oral surgery and operative dentistry. Activity Details Program Format(s) Available: To view click appropriate button below

Compliance and Your Patients Rating: CE credits: 4 • Cost: $59.00 Faculty: Mahtab Partovi, DDS Despite revolutionary advances in all fields of dentistry, a critical factor in the success of any treatment program is patient compliance. A number of factors are involved in encouraging and ensuring cooperative patients, including a thorough assessment of a patient’s medical, dental, and social history and any related fears or phobias. In addition, effective communication is vital in motivating and educating patients about their dental needs. This course examines the roles all of these play in ensuring patient compliance, reviews the literature regarding oral hygiene programs, and addresses the particular compliance issues involved in specialty fields, such as orthodontics and esthetic dentistry. Activity Details Program Format(s) Available: To view click appropriate button below

Demystifying Recurrent Oral Ulcerations Rating: CE credits: 4 • Cost: $59.00 Faculty: Michael Hurlbutt, RDH, BS, Lane Thomsen, DDS, MS Oral irritations and ulcerations occur frequently in the general population. Recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAU) are the most common. There are three types of RAU -- minor, major and herpetiform, the most common being minor aphthae. The exact etiology of RAU is not known. Systemic and local factors, as well as infectious agents, have been proposed. Certain medications and foods are associated with oral ulcerations, and chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) contained in dentifrices have also been implicated. RAU also occur in more serious systemic diseases and where appropriate patients should be referred for screening and medical care. Treatment of recurrent aphthous ulcers is palliative, based on the severity of the lesions. Both topical and systemic medications are available. Nutritional and oral hygiene advice should also be given, and if patients are sensitive to SLS, a low-dose SLS or SLS-free dentifrice should be recommended. Activity Details Program Format(s) Available: To view click appropriate button below

Dentifrice Abrasives: Heroes or Villains? Rating: CE credits: 4 • Cost: $59.00 Faculty: John Hefferren, Na Li This learning module presents information about the benefits of dentifrice abrasives. It covers the three major types of dentifrice abrasives: phosphates, carbonates, and silicas. It details the efficacy of each type of material and provides data about the safety of each type of material. Sodium bicarbonate has been found to be the least abrasive of the materials in common use while providing effective cleaning because it uses both mechanical and chemical methods in the cleaning process. Activity Details Program Format(s) Available: To view click appropriate button below

Essential Elements of Oral Care: Brushing, Flossing, and Rinsing Rating: CE credits: 4 • Cost: $59.00 Faculty: Gary J. Kaplowitz, DDS, MA, MEd Gains in oral health have been considerable in the last 50 years. However, by adolescence 68% of people have tooth decay and gingivitis is also prevalent, with 50% of US adults experiencing this around a minimum of three to four teeth. Brushing and flossing are typically considered to be the basic procedures required for good oral hygiene; yet oral hygiene is generally inadequately performed. Patient compliance issues related to brushing and flossing are well documented and well recognized. Rinsing offers an opportunity to reduce plaque and gingivitis, incremental to the reductions obtained by brushing and flossing alone. Use of a chemotherapeutic mouth rinse together with brushing and flossing as a three-step program may help to reduce plaque accumulation and prevent the formation of mature plaque and the onset of disease. Activity Details Program Format(s) Available: To view click appropriate button below

Innovations in Enamel Therapy: The Role of Fluoride and ACP Rating: CE credits: 4 • Cost: $59.00 Faculty: Bridget Conway-McPherson, BA, RDH While there have been moderate improvements in caries incidence and prevalence in the United States, caries is still a problem particularly in certain population groups. Both home care and in-office topical products are available for caries prevention. There are a number of traditional in-office options available including the use of fluoride gels and foams, rinses, and sealants. Since the 1990s fluoride varnish has also been available in the U.S. and is cleared by the FDA for use as a desensitizer. Innovative caries preventive agents include the use of products containing ACP and CPP-ACP. It is important to first conduct a risk assessment for patients to determine their need for fluoride applications, and then to select preventive products suitable for the patient. Activity Details Program Format(s) Available: To view click appropriate button below

Interdental Cleaning Rating: CE credits: 4 • Cost: $59.00 Faculty: Patty Bonasso Byrd, RDH, BS Upon completion of this course, the clinician will be able to do the following: Discuss the current status of caries, gingivitis, and periodontal disease in the United States, list the dental implications associated with inadequate/ineffective interdental plaque control, recognize the clinical signs of infrequent interdental plaque control and identify patients who are at a high risk for periodontal diseases, and recommend appropriate interdental cleaning methods and devices for specific patient needs, and explain the necessity of interdental plaque control as part of the patient’s complete self-care program. Activity Details Program Format(s) Available: To view click appropriate button below

Patient Compliance: Strategies For Success Rating: CE credits: 4 • Cost: $59.00 Faculty: Michael Florman, DDS, Geza Terezhalmy, DDS, MA, Pamela Martin, DDS, Susan Callahan Barnard, RDH, MS The essential elements of an office-based program and issues to be considered to encourage compliance with general preventive and post-procedure instructions are key for patient compliance and oral health. Factors in compliance include age, sex, socioeconomic status, patient satisfaction, systemic health and attitudes. Careful selection and recommendation of oral hygiene aids, dentifrices and rinses may help to increase patient compliance. Activity Details Program Format(s) Available: To view click appropriate button below

Periodontal Maintenance After Therapy Rating: CE credits: 2 • Cost: $24.00 Faculty: William L. Balanoff, DDS, MS, FICD Periodontal disease occurs in the presence of pathogenic bacteria in a susceptible host. The overall objectives of periodontal therapy are to halt disease progression, reduce pocket depths and, ideally, obtain clinical attachment gains. Following active periodontal therapy, periodontal maintenance comprising both in-office and meticulous home care is key for long-term positive clinical outcomes. Consideration should be given to techniques and protocols that aid patient compliance, as well as to address root caries risk and prevent unwanted sequelae. Activity Details Program Format(s) Available: To view click appropriate button below

Soft-Tissue Maintenance During Ortho Treatment Rating: CE credits: 4 • Cost: $59.00 Faculty: Michael Florman, DDS Orthodontic treatment is widely recognized for its results. By accepting orthodontic treatment, patients usually commit to two to three years of active therapy. Increases in plaque retention in orthodontic patients lead to an increased incidence of decalcifications. Almost all fixed applicance orthodontic patients experience moderate gingivitis and, to varying degrees, oral irritations. Even with attention to oral hygiene procedures, patients are at risk. Consideration of the use of antibacterial mouthrinses may be warranted for these patients. Oral irritations cause pain and impede oral hygiene—medications in the form of pastes, gels, liquids, and rinses can help relieve pain and, depending upon the medication used, may also promote healing. Patient selection, education, and adherence to oral hygiene measures, together with adjunctive preventive, palliative, and curative care, will not only help patients have a more comfortable experience, but will also increase the likelihood of both functional and aesthetical success. Activity Details Program Format(s) Available: To view click appropriate button below

The Importance of Early Orthodontic Treatment for Your Health Rating: CE credits: 4 • Cost: $59.00 Faculty: Brock Rondeau, D.D.S., I.B.O., D.A.B.C.P. Early orthodontic treatment is good for a child’s self-esteem and overall health. Functional orthodontics involves treating patients in the primary or mixed dentition using appliances. Further, functional appliances are useful in the prevention and treatment of TM dysfunction and sleep apnea. Activity Details Program Format(s) Available: To view click appropriate button below

The Progression of Dental Adhesives Rating: CE credits: 4 • Cost: $59.00 Faculty: Ara Nazarian, DDS There has been dramatic progression in the adhesion of dental adhesives and resins to enamel and dentin in the 40 years since Buonocore1 introduced the technique of etching enamel with phosphoric acid to improve adhesion to enamel. The first dental adhesives bonded resins to enamel only, with little or no dentin adhesion. Subsequent generations have dramatically improved bond strength to dentin and the sealing of dentin margins while retaining a strong bond to enamel. With more patients demanding metal-free dentistry, the use of dental resins as cements as well as direct and indirect restorations will continue to increase. This article discusses the progression of dental adhesives up to the most recent generation, in which all components are contained in a single bottle or unit-dose container and applied using a one-step technique that requires no mixing. Activity Details Program Format(s) Available: To view click appropriate button below