The History of Pain Control in Dentistry

For thousands of years, humans have attempted various ways to decrease pain. This CE webinar will discuss the history of pain control in dentistry. Using what the land provided, (tree resins by Babylonians 4000 years ago) to the use of inhalational gases in the 18th century, all the way to today’s current amide local anesthetics, will be presented. Also, the most modern and latest devices and anesthetics available, will be discussed.    (enter class)

From Screening to Biopsy to Reimbursement: A Step-by-Step Guide for General Practitioners

According to the American Cancer Society, almost half a million cases of oral cancer are diagnosed worldwide each year. In the United States alone, there were over 58,000 cases of oral cancer, with over 12,000 deaths in 2024. Unlike other cancers, where the annual rate of the disease is decreasing, the rate of oral cancer is increasing at a rate of about 1% each year. Survivors often experience problems such as facial disfigurement, eating and speaking difficulties, and more. The key to survival and minimizing the effects of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy is to identify oral cancers at their earliest stages, before it spreads throughout the head and neck region or metastasizes throughout the body.

What can general practitioners do? Learn how to perform a comprehensive oral cancer screening on every patient with the latest fluorescence visualization devices. The American Dental Association has a CPT code for oral cancer screenings utilizing fluorescence visualization devices, and some dental insurance companies pay up to $150 for performing such an exam. Once discovered, general practitioners can perform simple soft tissue biopsies in their own offices, with materials they already have in their offices. The purpose of this CE webinar is to familiarize the dentist with a simple, yet comprehensive oral cancer screening program, followed by a simple soft tissue biopsy technique that any clinician can perform. There is no need to refer out such a simple, yet potentially life-saving treatment.    (enter class)

Empowering Your Dental Team: A Unified Approach to Oral Cancer Screening

One procedure, which has not changed over time, is our responsibility, as healthcare providers, to perform regular oral cancer screenings. With the increase of interdisciplinary education, we have recognized the need to reach out to those health care professionals to support our efforts to save lives since we all treat and provide care for the same people! Many professionals now benefit from updated information to reinforce which adjunctive devices and tests are new on the market to perform screenings. These new tests and devices have the ability enhance our skills to communicate with patients and staff on the importance of the oral cancer screening process. As professionals providing health services, we should be at the pulse of clinical devices and appropriate patient care, while being able to recommend product protocols for use in the office.    (enter class)

Orabloc (2020 Update)

Orabloc® delivers a rapid onset time of one to nine minutes and a reliable duration of up to one hour. It has a 33% longer shelf life, less epinephrine overages than anesthetic made with a terminal sterilization process, and requires less volume than lidocaine anesthetics.    (enter class)