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One of the things I hope to bring to my blogging for dentalproductsreport.com are highlights from the consumer media. It's interesting how so many of the magazines I read - from Time to Marie Claire to The Atlantic - end up mentioning dentistry or oral health in some way.

Information revealed in a 2008 study from Pediatric Dentistry will undoubtedly cause new moms to fight the urge to kiss their infants on the mouth. Research shows that sharing utensils and on-the-mouth kisses can lead to cavities through the transfer of saliva. Mutans streptococci, the cavity-causing bacteria, can be passed from a child's mother or father during every day activities like blowing on food to cool if off, sharing utensils and even sharing on-the-mouth kisses.

With guidance from The Pankey Institute and the National Association of Dental Laboratories, the Virginia Dental Association House of Delegates recently passed new requirements for dental labs in the state. The Virginia Dental Lab Safety Act aims to protect patient safety and improve communications between dentists and dental laboratories.

The National Museum of Dentistry recently launched a health resource created to empower parents who have children with autism spectrum disorder. The guide, Healthy Smiles for Autism, uses step-by-step instructions, social stories and visual sequencing cards to help parents teach children with autism how to brush and floss. The guide also provides information to help parents prepare their children for their first dental visit.

This might not have anything to do with actual people patients, but for those of us who love our pets dental hygiene is important. And if you really think about it most of the advice found in the following steps recommended by nationalpetpharmacy.com are the same whether they apply to a pet or a person. However, I don't remember the last time I was given a treat as a reward after having my teeth cleaned. Read the full press release below.

The new movie "Contagion" is being marketed as a big-budget thriller about the rapid spread of a new infectious disease, but for The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP), the film's launch is a teachable moment and a major opportunity to raise awareness of how proper infection control procedures can help prevent the movie's fictional story from becoming prescient to a real-world catastrophe.

The group officially kicked off its seventh annual conference Friday morning with a performance from Senior Vice President Lorie Streeter and other AADOM members. Streeter took the stage dressed as Lady Gaga with her own rendition of bad romance before she moved on a song a bit more appropriate for Nashville-Gretchen Wilson’s I’m here for the party.

If you don’t have a patient referral program in your office, it’s time to create one. On Friday afternoon, Kim McQueen of Patterson Dental told a room full of office managers exactly how to do that. The program can be as easy or as complex as you’d like to make it, she said, and it’s an easy way to market your practice. It creates excitement in your patient base, and helps you attract patients who are more likely to be long-term patients because they were referred by a family or a friend.

Saturday may have been AADOM’s last day in Nashville, but attendees didn't leave before taking in a few more courses and getting in some last-minute conversations with exhibitors. To get it all started, day 3 kicked off with the keynote address from Kathy Metaxas. Her “Generational Talk” focused on improving communication between generations, including tips on how to train and maintain Gen Y employees and how to market your practice to  Gen X and Gen Y patients.

  Among all the nominations that came in for this year’s Office Manager of the Year Award, Robyn Rossetter stood out most. She was named the 2011 Office Manager of the Year on Friday afternoon, and 2010’s winner, Melissa Meredith of Central Arkansas Dental Associates, presented her with the award. “This is another great privilege, to be able to pass this experience to another hardworking individual in the profession,” Meredith said.

Smile Reminder's evolution and growth has resulted in a new branding solution for the company's name. The company unveils and explains the reasons behind the change. Read the full press release below. LOS ANGELES, CA - September 7, 2011 - Smile Reminder recognizes its evolution from patient-to-practice communication to a comprehensive engagement platform by changing it's brand identity to: Solutionreach.

While AADOM attendees participated in advanced training sessions hosted by XLDent, Dentrix and Eaglesoft on Thursday afternoon, the exhibitors took some time to get to know each other during this year’s Industry Summit.

In the wake of the company's recently completed acquisition of iTero intraoral scanner maker Cadent, Align Technologies recently announced plans to consolidate it's CAD/CAM operations into existing facilities. This will mean the company will be closing it's Carlstadt, N.J.

The seventh annual American Association of Dental Office Managers Conference kicked off this morning at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, and I’m here to keep you up-to-date on the latest from this sold out show. Office managers, practice administrators, insurance and finance coordinators, and patient and treatment coordinators are here, too, excited to be part of this networking and educational event for administrative professionals.  

Someday sunflower seeds or bubblegum might become widely viewed as the preferred chewing substances in baseball dugouts across America, but chewing tobacco remains a lingering presence in the world of baseball. This is something Oral Health America's NSTEP® (National Spit Tobacco Education Program) hopes to change, and the organization is trying to spread its message to the game's youngest players.

The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention has hired its first Director of Research and Scientific Affairs. Dr. Charles John Palenik assumed the newly created position on Sept. 1, and he is tasked with advancing the research into health and safety practices for oral health professionals. Dr.

DENTSPLY International announced today that the purchase of implant maker Astra Tech had been completed. The purchase expands DENTSPLY's implant offerings and gives the company and its customers access to Astra Tech's Atlantis patient specific abutments.

In a letter from company CEO Marco Ratz, Amann Girrbach announced the hiring of former Brasseler USA VP/COO Matt Whalen as the company's new President for Amann Girrbach America. DLP certainly wishes Mr.

We wrote an article back in March covering this topic and received a lot of feedback from those who expressed a need for dental therapy education standards and also those who are strongly opposed to this mid-level practitioner concept. Now that CODA has voted to establish accreditation standards for dental therapy education programs what do you think? Read the full press release below.

Crest Oral-B is accepting nominations for its second annual Pros in the Profession awards program. Pros in the Profession recognizes six dental hygienists who have demonstrated a true passion for making a difference in the lives of their patients. Do you work with an inspiring dental hygienist? Nominate him or her! Read the full press release below...

It is one thing to register a "tsk tsk" at dentists for not doing more to be environmentally friendly. It's another to step up and set an example. And, in the same way that The Pankey Institute has worked to be at the forefront of restorative care and technique, they are now taking steps to be at the forefront of setting a greener example for dental professionals...  

For the past decade Candulor has promoted the esthetic possibilities of finely crafted dentures through its biennial KunstZahnWerk, or "Art of Denture" competition which has been held in conjunction with the International Dental Show in Cologne, Germany. This spring, for the first time, North American technicians were invited to take part in the competition, and they did quite well with Jack Edwards, MDT, of Fullerton, Calif., placing 10th overall, and Andrea Hegedus, CDT, placing 2nd in the Digital Documentation category.  Now a North America-only branch of the competition is being launched with entries due this fall and awards to be presented next February at Lab day 2012 in Chicago. To keep things even, Candulor supplies the case details, models, denture teeth and implant parts. Then it's up to the technicians to show off the best of what they can do. Winners receive cash prizes and automatic entry into the 2013 international KunstZahnWerk event at the next IDS. Opportunities such as this are about more than just prizes and recognition. They show the dedication of every entrant to the art and craft of their vocation, as work on these cases are often done in whatever extra time a busy technician has. Being named the winner is of course nice, but seeing the top entries side by side also provides a great chance for technicians to evaluate subtle differences in technique and approach. Hopefully there is a rich pool of entrants who put some of the best North America has to offer on display next winter in Chicago. Contest details can be found at candulor.com or directly here. A full press release on the contest is below.

Common Sense Dentistry recently sent DPR its latest survey results on Continuing Education. When polled on the main reason they attend continuing education programs, 73% of all dentists listed their primary choice of CE to learn about the latest and greatest clinical products that can help them in their everyday practices. Dentists first and foremost are looking for ways to advance their everyday practice.

Dr. Brendan Fay, DDS, is being recognized for going  the "extra mile for smiles." The Wilmington, Delaware dentist has won recognition for making pediatric dental services available to uninsured, needy local families in a national contest sponsored by FireFly toothbrush, part of the company’s ongoing Crusade Against Cavities initiative.

The CE-related news continues to roll in... Learn HealthSci Inc. announced today that ACTEON®, a world leader in small equipment and imaging products for dentists, will be joining the Viva Learning™ network and hiring Learn HealthSci to create the ACTEON Viva Learning™ dental continuing education website.

The 3D Imaging Institute, sponsored by Imaging Sciences International, announces the latest addition to its curriculum of 3D dentistry events: the Live 3D Dentistry Forum. This highly engaging clinical event combines lectures, live scans, real-time surgical and treatment planning procedures.

J. Morita USA has appointed Andrew Rose as the National Sales Manager for Large Equipment. Rose graduated in 2000 from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He brings ten years of management experience, including five years at J. Morita, to the position. His previous roles at J. Morita have included sales for small equipment and consumables, as well as Technical Service Specialist which entailed installation and training for both 2D and 3D x-ray units and servicing accounts in the field.