Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

10-Minute Ebd: Are Hearing Protective Devices Effective For Protecting Clinicians From Noise Exposure In Clinical Practice?, Julie Frantsve-Hawley Phd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This Ten-Minute Evidence-Based Dentistry Article provides an example of implementing the evidence-based dentistry search process with trusted search engines and identifying the best literature through critical appraisal to answer the clinical question: Are Hearing Protective Devices Effective for Protecting Clinicians from Noise Exposure in Clinical Practice? This article examines the effectiveness of hearing protective devices for safeguarding clinicians from noise exposure in dental practice. The clinical environment, exacerbated by COVID-19 aerosol-reducing devices, exposes oral health providers to elevated sound levels. While there's no conclusive evidence regarding the impact of handpieces on hearing, occupational noise exposure in dental settings can affect …

Protect Yourself From Occupational Risks, Christopher J. Smiley Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This month’s editorial underscores the importance of safeguarding against occupational risks in dentistry. Dr. Smiley shares personal experiences, highlighting potential hazards to oral health care workers' eyes and hearing, including intense lights, noisy equipment, and exposure to infectious pathogens. He emphasizes the need for protective eyewear, light shields, and equipment calibration to reduce eye-related risks and the use of custom musician earplugs to reduce the risk of job-related hearing damage. The overall message stresses that taking steps to protect oneself from occupational risks can preserve the quality of life and a professional career.

Eye Safety In Dentistry, Marie T. Fluent Dds, Cdipc

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

In this article, Dr. Fluent underscores the importance of eye safety from vision loss that ended her clinical dental career. The article emphasizes the prevalence of ocular injuries in occupational settings, with about 2,000 U.S. workers suffering job-related eye injuries daily. Dental professionals face multiple eye hazards, including flying debris, chemicals, and infectious materials. Protective eyewear is crucial, with the CDC and OSHA recommending its use.

A significant concern is the "bottom gap" in protective eyewear, which exposes dental personnel to risks. The article introduces a new ANSI standard, ANSI/ISEA Z87.62-2021, to standardize eye and face protection against bloodborne pathogens …

J Mich Dent Assoc October 2022

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Monthly, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association brings news, information, and feature articles to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. No publication reaches more Michigan dentists!

In this issue, the reader will find the following original content:

• A cover story on eye safety to reduce occupational risk of eye injury in clinical dentistry.
• A feature story on a dentist’s journey with Bell’s Palsy.
• A department reports on legal issues caring for patients suspected of being under the influence of marijuana.
• Department article on workforce and employees quietly quitting.
• Articles on MDA Public Relations Grant Recipients …

Periodontal Disease And Covid-19, Zhaozhao Chen Dds, Ms, Phd, Laurie K. Mccauley Dds, Ms, Phd, Purnima S. Kumar Bds, Ms, Phd, Hom-Lay Wang Dds, Ms, Phd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

As the gateway to the respiratory system, the oral cavity can play an essential role in SARS-CoV-2 invasion and transmission. Besides high expression of angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the oral cavity can harbor viral particles in saliva, gingival crevicular fluid, and the periodontal pocket. Microbial and inflammatory associations closely link periodontitis and COVID-19. In this review, we summarize the possible oral manifestations of COVID‐19, its association with periodontal diseases, the plausible underlying mechanisms of microbial and inflammatory crosstalk between COVID‐19 and periodontal diseases, and mitigation protocols during periodontal treatment.

Infection Prevention In Dentistry: Reaching Our “New Normal”, Karen K. Daw Mba, Cecm, Marie T. Fluent Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article addresses the evolving landscape of infection prevention in dentistry amid the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the dynamic nature of guidance and standards. It explores historical perspectives, including the transition from "wet finger dentistry" to universal precautions and standard precautions. The focus then shifts to the regulatory considerations and the relevance of transmission-based precautions in the context of COVID-19. The Hierarchy of Controls is discussed, encompassing elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative control, and personal protective equipment. Respiratory hygiene, personal protective equipment, and infection prevention practices are compared between the pre-COVID era and the current landscape, emphasizing the importance of adapting …

Please Don’T Shoot The Messenger, Christopher J. Smiley Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This editorial emphasizes the importance of discerning reliable information amid the influx of COVID-19-related studies and guidelines. Drawing parallels with the ancient Greek sentiment from Sophocles' play Antigone, JMDA Editor Dr. Chris Smiley advocates for an open-minded approach to trustworthy sources, citing the World Health Organization's seven steps for evaluation. The Michigan Dental Association is highlighted as a reliable resource for synthesizing evolving information for clinicians. Despite pandemic-induced frustrations, the editorial urges practitioners to navigate changes resiliently, recognizing the dynamic nature of public health guidance.