The 2009 H1N1 flu continues to cause havoc across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports laboratory-confirmed flu rates are climbing, and are higher than expected for this time of year. More notably, hospitalization rates continue to be the highest among our younger populations, with the highest rate of hospitalization reported in children 0-4 years old. Sadly, 129 laboratory-confirmed pediatric 2009 H1N1 deaths have been reported since April 2009.
If you are concerned about your upcoming dental appointment, and are wondering what your dentist is doing to prevent the spread of H1N1 in the dental office, here are some of the guidelines the CDC prepared for dental offices to consider adapting into their practice during this obviously stressful time:

Patients with an acute respiratory illness should be identified at check-in and placed in a single-patient room with the door kept closed.
• Staff should offer a disposable surgical mask to persons who are coughing, or provide tissues and no-touch receptacles for used tissue disposal. The ill person should wear a surgical mask when outside the patient room.
• Dental healthcare personnel assessing a patient with influenza-like illness should wear disposable surgical facemask, non-sterile gloves, gown, and eye protection (e.g., goggles) to prevent direct skin and conjunctival exposure.
• Patient and dental healthcare workers should perform hand hygiene (e.g., hand washing with non-antimicrobial soap and water, alcohol-based hand rub, or antiseptic handwash) after having contact with respiratory secretions and contaminated objects/materials.

Routine cleaning and disinfection strategies used during influenza seasons can be applied to the environmental management of swine influenza.
• Staff experiencing influenza-like-illness (ILI) (fever with either cough or sore throat, muscle aches) should not report to work.

• Staff who experience ILI and wish to seek medical care should contact their health care providers to report illness (by telephone or other remote means) before seeking care at a clinic, physician's office, or hospital.

• Staff who were not using appropriate personal protective equipment during close contact with a confirmed, probable, or suspect case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection during the case's infectious period should receive chemoprophylaxis according to CDC guidance (http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/recommendations.htm).

• Staff who have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, or are believed to be severely ill, should seek immediate medical attention.

We are all advised to stay home if the signs of influenza-like-illness are present. If you have an appointment, contact your office for instruction. Chances are, the dentist will recommend the appointment is rescheduled until the ILI symptoms are gone. If you require emergency dental treatment, the following guidelines have been established:

"If urgent dental care is required and swine influenza A (H1N1) has either been confirmed or is suspected, the care should be provided in a facility (e.g., hospital with dental care capabilities) that provides airborne infection isolation (i.e., airborne infection isolation room with negative pressure air handling with 6 to 12 air changes per hour).

For aerosol-generating procedures, use a procedure room with negative pressure air handling. Personnel providing direct patient care for suspected or confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) cases should wear a fit-tested disposable N95 respirator when entering the patient room and when performing dental procedures. Respirator use should be in the context of a complete respiratory protection program in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.

Talk to your dentist if you have any concerns or questions about visiting the dental office during flu season.
_{Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.}

Dental sealants are used to protect the deep grooves in the tooth from becoming decayed. According to the Surgeon General's report on oral health, dental sealants may reduce cavities in school aged children by up to 70%.

School-based dental programs provide children with essential dental care, including dental sealants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will provide approximately $22 million in funding over the next five years, to 16 states. This funding is used to help these states improve their school-based dental programs to provide the best care possible for children from low income families.

Are you interested to know what your state's oral health plan is? Take a look at this state-by state chart, to see what steps are being taken to improve oral health where you reside.

If you are concerned about the amount of Halloween candy that will make its way into your home this year, I have compiled a list of the Top Halloween Candy Tips for Healthy Teeth, that should do the trick. I know many of you experience a candy overload, especially when one or more of your children go out trick-or-treating. What should you do with all of that candy?

I was introduced to the Smiles Change Lives program earlier this year, and could not wait to share their information with you. Have a look at my profile on the Smiles Change Lives program, and when you're done, I'm sure you will know exactly what to do with all of your extra/leftover candy!

Dentistry had evolved significantly over the years, thanks to advances in technology. From the latest in digital radiography to laser dentistry, how influential is technology in your search for the perfect dentist? Satya Misra CEO of ActionRun Inc, offers these final suggestions for your consideration, when looking for the perfect dentist.

"What factors should you consider when looking for a dentist? Cost is definitely an important factor, but it shouldn't be the only one. What type of dental services do you require? Do you have dental insurance? These are just a couple of the type of questions you should ask yourself. Another important inquiry to make in your search for a dentist is the type of technology that is used.

Is technology in the dental industry really important in your search for a dentist? It is if you like the idea of dental procedures taking less time, spending less money for dental procedures, and experiencing less discomfort while sitting in a dentist's chair. The dental industry has experienced significant technological advancements that can greatly benefit both you and your dentist. Of course, a dental office with every possible gadget and instrument on the market is not necessarily the best choice. A dental office with current technology that enhances your experience without resulting in an astronomical increase in fees has the best interest of their patients in mind.

The technology you want a dentist to have depends greatly on what services you require. The following are a few of the current dental technologies from which most dental patients can benefit:

• Digital radiography that streamlines administrative and dental processes
• Digital x-rays that significantly lessen radiation exposure. Especially in case of panoramic x-rays, digital technology is important since ordinary panoramic x-rays expose your jaw and head to higher levels of radiation.
• Dental lasers that reduce patient discomfort
• Intra-oral cameras that enable better visual diagnostics
• Air abrasion that reduces patient anxiety with sounds associated with drills
• Digital Imaging Fiber-Optic Trans-Illumination that enables the dentist to diagnose conditions more accurately

If you require specialized dental services, such as cosmetic dentistry, you should research the current technology associated with these services and ensure that the dentist you choose has these tools available and is very knowledgeable and experienced in their use.

Using technology as one of the deciding factors for selecting a dentist can lead you down a path of exploration that may make you feel uncomfortable. There are many resources available to help you learn and understand the various technologies that are used in dentistry. The American Dental Association website (www.ada.org) is a good place to start. You can simply search their website for technologies used in the dental industry and learn what the standard is currently and what technologies are more in the experimental stage. It will take you a bit more effort to research this information, but your results will help you more closely identify the dentist that is best for you.

Resources

Journal of American Dental Association, Vol 136, No 10, 1358-1360 "Dental digital radiography"

Journal of American Dental Association, Vol 135, No suppl_1, 18S-22S "How technology can help improve office efficiency"

Journal of American of Dental Association, Vol 135, No suppl_1, 11S-16S "Can technology help dentists deliver better patient care?"