Dental handpiece having means for opening and closing a chuck. A device for opening and closing a chuck for a dental handpieces has a handle portion and a powerhead assembly including a hollow driving shaft having, adjacent to its outer orifice, a forwardly outwardly tapering portion defining a small diameter rear portion and a large diameter front portion. A chuck pusher is held in a socket member with a disc plate spring interposed between the socket member and the chuck pusher, and the pusher is movable for axially displacing the chuck to hold or release the dental tool.
Ethylene oxide gas has been utilized as an alternative method for sterilization of dental handpiece, as it is less corrosive than steam. However, its effectiveness for sterilization of the internal components of dental handpieces has not been established. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of ethylene oxide and steam for sterilization of dental handpiece. Unused handpieces and handpieces which had been exposed to clinical dental procedures were contaminated with Streptococcus mutans, exposed to steam or ethylene oxide, and flushed with sterile saline. Washings were plated on mitis-salivarius agar, and colonies identified and counted. This data suggests that a substance entrapped within ‘clinical’ handpieces (possibly the biofilm) may protect bacteria from ethylene oxide gas, preventing adequate sterilization.
To understand current status of the uses of dental high speed handpiece, methods of disinfection and sterilization and their effectiveness in dental-care hospitals and out-patient departments of stomatology in general hospitals. METHODS: Ten dental-care hospitals and departments of stomatology in general hospitals at varied levels were randomly sampled during 2000 to 2001 to investigate the uses of dental autoclave and means of their disinfection and sterilization. One used dental handpiece from each hospital or department of stomatology in general hospital selected was detected for possible contamination of bacteria by aerobic bacterial count and CONCLUSIONS: dental handpieces without anti-suction should be replaced soon by those with it or comprehensive dental unit with anti-suction device should be used. Used dental handpieces must be sterilized effectively before next use. Awareness on prevention from cross-infection should be improved for dental-care professional staff and operation of sterilization should be standardized.
Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced the results of an analysis of the Aetna Dental Medical Integration (DMI) program. Since 2007, over 930,000 people participated in the DMI program and Aetna sent 652,000 educational mailings. In addition, dental care coordinators made over 250,000 follow up phone calls to members who have not had a recent dental visit. As a result of Aetna’s proactive outreach, 56 percent of people who received information from the DMI program sought dental care. The analysis also showed that DMI members with access to regular dental care had better control of their diabetes including more regulated blood glucose levels.
“Approximately 65 percent of the US population has periodontal disease. The prevalence of periodontal disease increases to 90 percent in individuals with a chronic condition like diabetes,” said Mary Lee Conicella, DMD, Chief Dental Officer for Aetna Dental. “The scientific literature clearly shows the association between oral health and good overall health. The DMI program helps find ways to connect the two by educating patients and providing information and resources to help people get the care they need.”
Aetna’s DMI program is available to people with Aetna dental and medical coverage and uses sophisticated technology to identify members who have not had a recent dental visit that are pregnant, or have chronic conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, including kidney or vision problems or hypertension. Aetna reaches out to members by mail and through phone calls to make people aware of how gum disease may impact their medical condition. Members who enroll in the DMI program receive one additional free cleaning at the dentist and access to certain periodontal treatments covered at 100 percent with no deductibles or coinsurance.
Aetna Dental sponsored a symposium on the connection between chronic disease and oral health called Diabetes and Oral Disease: Implications for Health Professionals on May 4, 2011 at the New York Academy of the Sciences in New York, NY.
A project to build a comprehensive living history of dentistry, the John McLean Archive, is seeking participants from across the UK to help make dental history. Participants are required to participate in the project’s next witness seminar in October; and to take part in an ongoing series of oral history interviews across the UK.
The second witness seminar for the project, which will take place at the British Dental Association’s (BDA’s) London headquarters on 26 October 2011, will focus on changes in dentistry since 1948. Discussion is expected to concentrate on topics including the introduction of the NHS, payment and contracts, developments in equipment and evolution of private practice. Participants in the project’s first witness seminar, which took place in March and looked at the development of the regulation of dentistry, included past Presidents of the BDA and General Dental Council, three former deans of dental schools and a former dean of the Dental Faculty of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. It was chaired by Professor Nairn Wilson, Dean of King’s College London Dental Institute. Deliberations from each of the witness seminars will be published and placed in the John McLean Archive and will be publicly available via the BDA Museum’s website.
Volunteers are also being sought to carry out oral history interviews with dentists and dental care professionals across the UK. The transcripts of these interviews, which will focus on different aspects of the development of dentistry, will also be published as part of the project. Volunteers must have a connection to dentistry, good listening skills and an interest in dentistry. Volunteers selected to take part will receive training in oral history and the use of the recording equipment that will be used in the interviews.
Individuals interested in participating in either strand of activity contact Sophie Riches, the John McLean Archive project co-ordinator at the BDA Museum. Email sophie.riches@bda.org or visit the BDA Museum stand at the 2011 British Dental Conference and Exhibition.
The John McLean archive has been jointly established by the BDA Museum and the Unit for the History of Dentistry at King’s College London Dental Institute. It is funded by a bequest from former BDA President John Walford McLean OBE. It aims to fill a void in the profession’s recorded history.
Notes
1) John McLean was a leading dental practitioner and internationally renowned dental materials scientist, author and lecturer. He was appointed an OBE in 1978 and was the recipient of numerous awards, including the John Tomes Prize for research. He served as BDA President from 1994 to 1995.
