​Did you know that the major cause of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), the Human Papilloma Virus type 16 and 18, are included in the HPV vaccine? HPV causes about 70% of current cases of head and neck cancer.  While oropharyngeal cancer screening is essential don’t’ miss an opportunity to prevent oropharyngeal cancer in your patients. The New York State Dental Foundation and NYSDA have partnered with the NYS HPV Coalition to increase awareness about the HPV vaccine to prevent oral cancer.
 
Let parents know that you strongly support HPV vaccination as prevention of cancer.  The vaccine gives the best immune response when given before the 13th birthday for both boys and girls but can be given to others as well.  There are more OPC cases than cervical cancer cases now. According to the CDC, each year there are 12,900 new cases of Oropharyngeal cancer and 10,800 new cervical cancer cases.  The reduction in cervical cancer is a result of the HPV immunization program for females beginning over a decade ago and within a short time we have the power to see similar results with OPC.
 
Make sure all staff in the office can answer questions about HPV vaccine with science based answers.  Refer to the patients primary care provider or the local health department.  By having primary care, dental care, and the health department work towards increasing the HPV vaccination rate, we will be able to prevent OPC’s well into the future.
 
For more information, click on the links below:
 
http://hpvroundtable.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DENTAL-Action-Guide-WEB.pdf
https://www.aap.org/en-us/Documents/AAP_OPC_HPV_5KeyPoints_final.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/index.html
 

​They say one person can make a difference and this event started with a dentist in California, Dr. Karin Irani, who learned that the only Veterans who received VA dental benefits were those who had a 100% disability or a dental related disability.  Because she knew many veterans were falling through the cracks and unable to get dental care, she opened her office for a day around Veterans Day to provide that dental care at no cost.  Soon her local dental association endorsed it, then the California Dental Association and then the American Dental Association.  It has now spread across the country and this is our third year in New York State and our local dental association the Ninth District Dental Association who is the local component of the American Dental Association-the voice and guardian for America’s dental health-is very grateful for Touro Dental Health to open its wonderful facility to the Veterans today.
The New York State Dental Foundation, which is the charitable arm of the New York State Dental Association, has as their mission the support of programs and events that provide dental care to underserved populations in our state.  For that reason, the Foundation has donated $2,500.00 to Touro Dental Health plus an additional $1,300.00 in dental supplies to support Touro’s initiative today.  We also have a dozen dentists from the Ninth District Dental Association who have taken a day away from their offices to help as mentors.  Places like Touro Dental Health can be an oasis in the desert for underserved populations in that they can offer dental care at a reduced fee structure and it is everyone’s hope that the pro-bono event today will enable those veterans and their families to get the dental care they need and deserve now and in the future.
This event is also meant to recognize the sacrifices that service members and their families have made in safeguarding the freedoms as Americans we all enjoy.  We often don’t think about those sacrifices but today professional dentistry with this event wants the veterans and their families to know we acknowledge what they have given to this country and our appreciation for doing so.  We want to thank Dean Ronnie Myers for embracing this project at its first mention.  The Committee headed by Rachel Silva has done an excellent job in the planning and outreach and we have been very impressed by the students on the committee.  Seeing them in action tells us that organized dentistry will be in good hands for many years to come.  Of course a big thanks goes to all the faculty and staff who are taking part today in honoring our veterans.
We want to thank the elected officials who are here supporting the veterans, not only today but all year long.  We are indebted to the Executive Directors of all the county Veterans Service Agencies who helped us get the word out and all they do on an everyday basis to help our veterans have better lives.  Hopefully this event can make a difference for many of the veterans and their families that have come today and who will have better dental health in the years to come.
 
Dr. Carl Tegtmeier
Chair, Ninth District Dental Association’s Committee on Dental Health Planning and Hospital Dentistry
Trustee New York State Dental Foundation

​The New York State Department of Health-AIDS Institute Oral Health Resource Center in collaboration with the Northeast/Caribbean AETC offers a unique chance to participate in an HIV Oral Health Preceptorship Program.
 
HIV Oral Health Preceptorships are available for dentists, dental hygienists and primary care clinicians in New York, New Jersey and the Caribbean. These programs are individually tailored to meet the needs, interests and experience-level of the individual provider. Typical sessions are from one to five days and are available for the person with no or very little HIV experience, to those looking for a more detailed clinical experience in an HIV Primary Care Center, or discovering oral pathology. Preceptorship sites are in multiple locations and the actual location will depend on the level of the preceptorship program selected for the applicant following assessment with our Program Director. Tuition for the program is fully covered by a grant from Health Resource and Service Administration (HRSA) and nationally accredited continuing education credits are available from the NYS Dental Foundation and the Dental Hygiene Association of the State of NY.
 
For further information or to register, contact one of the following:
Howard Lavigne, Program Consultant, at 315-247-2998 or howard.lavigne2@gmail.com  
Laura O’Shea, Program Coordinator, at 315-477-8124 or laura.oshea@health.ny.gov

Just A Reminder………Application Deadline Extended Until August 3rd.
 
If you haven’t already done so, you can still apply for The Foundation for Quality Care’s Mouth Care Without a Battle Project.
​

​The Foundation for Quality Care (FQC) is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for our Mouth Care Without a Battle Project.
 
The FQC received a grant award from the New York State Health Foundation for our Mouth Care Without a Battle:  Improving Oral Health Care for Older Adults in Nursing Homes Project.  The FQC will be implementing the project in a total of 24 nursing homes from the Buffalo, Syracuse and Long Island Regions.  This project will help improve daily oral health care and the quality of life for our nursing home residents.  The project will provide on-site and remote education, as well as Coaching to Nurses and CNAs on techniques and barriers to good oral care. Nursing homes in the Buffalo, Syracuse and Long Island Regions can apply to participate in this project.  
 
An informational webinar and an application to apply for this exciting project can be found at:  Mouth Care Without A Battle Application & Archived Introductory Webinar
 
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Melony Spock, Program Assistant at: mspock@nyshfa.org or call: 518-462-4800, Ext 14.

The New York State Dental Foundation has kicked off its new Donated Equipment Program with donations valued at nearly $38,000.00 to five regional health care programs: CP Nassau Dental Clinic, Finger Lakes Community Health, Stephen B. Gold Dental Clinic at St. Charles Hospital, and Alice Hyde Dental Center. 
 
According to Foundation Executive Director Laura Clark Leon, “This was all made possible through the tremendous support of industry partners like A-dec, Air Techniques, Belmont, Brewer, Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, Midmark/Progeny, Pelton/Marus, Scican, Henry Schein, Inc., and Tuttnauer. Without these corporate champions, this couldn’t have happened.”
 
A list of the organizations who benefitted from Foundation/corporate generosity, and what they received is below:
 
CP Nassau Dental Clinic
Mission: To Affect Positively the Quality of Life of Persons with Cerebral Palsy,
Others with Severe Disabilities and Multiple Service Needs, and the Families of Both and to Prevent Cerebral Palsy and Minimize its effects.
 
The Foundation’s Donated Equipment Program enabled CP Nassau to replace outdated and oft-repaired equipment which is used daily. In the end, this contribution ensure that CP Nassau can continue to provide the highest quality dental treatment to developmentally disabled patient populations.
 
Finger Lakes Community Health
Mission: Strives to Ensure High Quality, Comprehensive Health Care to the People in the Communities Served with an Emphasis on Underserved and Special Populations.
 
The Foundation’s donation of an Acclean Prophy handpiece that takes dispensable prophy angles will greatly elevate FLCH’s ability to treat the children enrolled in its program.

Stephen B. Gold Dental Clinic @ St. Charles Hospital
Mission: To Provide Compassionate Care for all Patients, including those with Physical and Developmental Disabilities, by Providing Preventative and Restorative Dental Care.
 
The Clinic received a supply of various high speed handpieces to accommodate its clinic patients. The mission of the Stephen B. Gold Dental Clinic is to serve the under and uninsured population.  Keri Logan, DMD, director, General Practice Residency, St. Charles Hospital, said “The Stephen B. Gold Dental Clinic at St. Charles Hospital is very grateful to the New York State Dental Foundation for the donation of six dental handpieces and three surgical dental handpieces.  The Dental Clinic currently sees more than 6000 patient visits each year, with 60 percent of the patients being developmentally or physically disabled. This generous donation will allow us to serve even more of this patient population who would not have access to dental services without the Dental Clinic.”
 
 
North Country Family Health Center, Inc.
Mission: To Improve the Health, Wellness and Quality of Life
of Individuals in our Community by Providing Accessible High Quality,
Affordable, Patient-Centered and Integrated Health Services.
 
North Country Family Health Center (NCFHC) has provided oral health services to low-income individuals of Jefferson and Lewis Counties in Northern New York for nearly 25 years. The rural nature of the service area and low socio-economic status of many of its residents present significant barriers to oral health care for most of NCFHC’s target population. The Center, which was recently funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration to expand access to preventative and additional dental services by adding an additional dentist and three dental hygienists, was able to use the equipment donated – a Rhino low speed handpiece-  by the Foundation and Henry Schein, Inc., to increase its reach to its vulnerable population base.
 
 
Alice Hyde Dental Center
Mission: Building a Healthier Community Together
 
When the hospital dental clinic which had treated the local Medicaid managed care population recently closed its doors, the Alice Hyde Dental Center took on these patients’ dental needs. The Center’s staff of five dentists, a hygienist, assistants and general staff, serves multiple counties, including Franklin and Clinton. The Foundation a Midmark/Progeny M11 sterilizer to the Center.
 
To apply for consideration for the Foundation’s Donated Equipment Program, which has an ongoing application process, go to www.nysdentalfoundaion.org. 
​

Under a new NYS law, dentists who have a DEA registration number to prescribe controlled substances must complete at least three (3) hours of course work or training in pain management, palliative care, and addiction. 

The course work/training must be completed by July 1, 2017, and once every three years thereafter, pursuant to Public Health Law (PHL) §3309-a(3). Your NYS Dental Foundation is now offering this fully approved course online, allowing you the option to take it at your leisure in your home or office over sitting in a course for three-hours.  
 
This course fulfills the mandate and counts as 3 hours of live CE towards your required 60 hours of CE every three years. Upon completion, your credits will automatically be added to your NYSDA Continuing Education Registry and you’ll be able to print a certificate of completion.
 
At $75 for NYSDA members, NYS Requirements for Prescribing Opioid Drugs is a reasonable alternative to live courses on the same subject matter, and what’s especially beneficial is the fact that it allows the ability to take the course in multiple settings, as opposed to doing so all in one three-hour shot.
 
Finally, taking NYS Requirements for Prescribing Opioid Drugs benefits the public, too, while promoting the fact that dentistry is a caring and healing profession. Proceeds will go toward oral health outreach programs, including the 2017 NYS Veterans Smile Initiative.
 
The New York State Dental Foundation is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider Approved. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. 
 
The New York State Dental Foundation designates this activity for three (3) hours continuing education credits. 

Click here to take the online course

Chicago, January 17, 2017 – The ADA Foundation has a new toll-free number for Give Kids A Smile (GKAS): 1-844-490-GKAS (4527). Callers can find out whether there is a GKAS program in their area, including parents and caregivers seeking oral health services for their children and dental team members and others interested in volunteering at a GKAS event.
Give Kids A Smile is the ADA Foundation’s signature children’s oral health access to care program. Through GKAS, children who may not have access to oral health services can receive free oral health education, screenings, preventive care and/or dental treatment from volunteer dentists and dental team members.
Callers will speak to staff in the American Dental Association’s Member Service Center (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. CST) who will provide them with contact information for a GKAS event in their community (if available). Callers can then contact the GKAS program directly to determine availability, what services are offered, and the program date. Although many GKAS events take place in early February, numerous others occur throughout the year.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of Give Kids A Smile. During GKAS’ first 14 years, more than 5.5 million children have received free oral health services from 500,000 volunteers, including 137,000 dentists and 420,000 other volunteers.
Visit ADAFoundation.org/GKAS for more information or to make a donation.​

About the ADA Foundation
As dentistry's premier philanthropic and charitable organization, the ADA Foundation is a catalyst for uniting people and organizations to make a difference through better oral health. The ADA Foundation provides more than $800,000 in grants, scholarships, and awards annually to programs that are in alignment with the organization’s four mission pillars: Charitable Assistance, Access to Care, Research, and Education (C.A.R.E.). As part of these efforts, the ADA Foundation oversees Give Kids A Smile® and also oversees the ADA Foundation Volpe Research Center in Gaithersburg, Maryland (formerly the Paffenbarger Research Center). For more information about the ADA Foundation, visit www.adafoundation.org.