Compendium-Continuing Education for Veterinarians最新文献

The laser promises a wide range of uses in dentistry, and patient acceptance has been demonstrated in opinion surveys. The laser has been studied for many years by respected researchers. While many advantages have been presented, the literature indicates that pulpal effects, possible hazards of inhaling the vapor emitted by the laser procedure, and the control of the laser beam reflection are some of the concerns that warrant further investigation.

For a variety of reasons, orthodontic intervention is often overlooked as a viable modality to correct occlusal, axial, rotational, and space discrepancies before undertaking fixed prosthetic rehabilitation. However, patient treatment is being enhanced as never before by such intervention. This valuable treatment option facilitates tooth preparation, path of insertion, optimum oral hygiene, and a better pontic and abutment design, while occlusal forces can be directed against the long axes of the teeth for a more predictable prognosis. Moreover, this interdisciplinary approach can be cost-effective to patients and their treating dentists from the standpoint of producing more stable, durable, and esthetic restorations.

There are many systemic drugs taken by patients that affect their periodontal statuses. Dentists are in a position to diagnose and manage these problems and, when appropriate, discuss possible alternative drug therapies with physician colleagues.

Many states now require dental offices to test their sterilizers on a regular basis for public health reasons. To perform this task, many offices choose to have the testing done by a third party. Many companies, small and large, now offer this service. To choose a monitoring service, the dental office should learn as much as possible about the variety of services available. This article will show the dental office how to choose a monitoring service.

The use of at least two biologic indicators to monitor a sterilization process greatly enhances failure detection. A retrospective study of a sterilization monitoring service's database revealed that 48.7% of tests using two test strips were single-strip positive. This indicates that there is a nonuniformity in the sterilization conditions within the sterilizer chamber and that there is a need for at least two test strips to detect this nonuniformity.

With the advent of regulatory requirements regarding infection-control procedures, the business of sterilization monitoring is becoming ever more popular across the country. Therefore, monitoring services, many of which are associated with an academic institution, are providing such services for dental practitioners. The relationship between the service and its clients, as well as the types of service the sterilization monitoring service provides, presents some interesting legal issues. The documentation of services provided, including record keeping, requires compliance with various state confidentiality and privacy laws. The service must also be concerned about potentially misrepresenting itself to its clients about the services it offers. Additionally, the service must avoid making warranties that its clients may detrimentally rely on to escape sanctions by applicable regulatory agencies. Finally, the service must concern itself with general business regulations, including those specific policies and rules that apply to the academic institution with which it is associated.