These are the dog days of August as I write this and since we’ve barely had a summer I’m hard-pressed to write my Fall editorial. But it is time to try to get organized so let’s deal with odds and ends and bits and pieces….
Dentistry just got a little bit less invasive – and less painful. The FDA has approved a minimally invasive laser, a tiny laser fiber about the thickness of three human hairs, to treat gum disease by regenerating bone and tissue. It eliminates the traditional treatment of periodontal surgery, a highly invasive and often painful procedure. This less invasive technique means minimal post-operative discomfort requiring no opioid level prescriptions and faster recovery/healing time – most patients are able to drive themselves home and return to their regular daily activities immediately following the procedure. The LANAP protocol using the PerioLase MVP-7 was developed by Milllennium Dental Technologies and is the only laser-based gum disease treatment with the proven ability to regenerate all three periodontal tissues: alveolar bone, periodontal ligament and cementum lost to disease. More than 2200 dentists are now offering this preferred treatment to their patients.
Most people avoid the dentist because of the fear of pain, but this new laser will change that. Over 80 percent of US adults suffer from some degree of gum disease and only 3% will accept treatment. Gum disease is linked to systemic diseases including heart disease, Alzheimer’s, stroke, certain cancers, pre-term birth, diabetes and more. The procedure can be found by searching ‘LANAP Protocol – Laser Gum Disease Treatment’ on YouTube.
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Henry Schein says from September through December, it is offering its dental, animal health, and medical customers the opportunity to join the company in the fight against cancer. By purchasing a range of pink products, customers can help support the company’s Practice Pink program, an initiative designed to raise awareness and support a cure for breast cancer and other cancers.
A portion of sales from these pink products – including health care consumables, practice supplies, and apparel – is donated to nonprofit organizations to support research, prevention efforts, and early detection of the disease, and to help improve access to care.
Now in its 13th year, the Practice Pink program has raised more than $1.3 million for the fight against cancer through the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes increased access to care globally. In 2016, the Practice Pink program expanded to Europe, where Team Schein Members across the continent teamed up with supplier partners and non-governmental organizations to positively impact the lives of people battling cancer.
