FDA Warns of Complications with Teething Gels Containing Benzocaine The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received reports of methemoglobinemia, a rare but serious blood disorder that is associated with pain relievers, including teething gels, that contain benzocaine sold under the brand names Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel, Orabase, and generic brands. Methemoglobinemia is a serious blood disorder that reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood stream and, in severe cases, can lead to death. Symptoms, which could possibly follow a single application of benzocaine with concentrations as low as 7.5 percent, include pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips, and nail beds; shortness of breath; fatigue; confusion; headache; lightheadedness; and rapid heart rate. The FDA is advising health care professionals to refer to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines for teething, which recommend giving infants and toddlers a chilled (not frozen) teething ring or gently rubbing or massaging the gums with a finger instead of using benzocaine to relieve the symptoms. For more information, visit the FDA website at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm250024.htm and the ADA website at http://www.ada.org/news/5731.aspx.
American Student Dental Association Names UTDB Student as President Third-year dental student Adam Shisler of Houston has been elected national president of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA), becoming the first University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston (UTDB) student to hold that post. He was elected earlier this year at the ASDA Annual Session in Anaheim, CA. Shisler is an experienced ASDA member, having served as class delegate, vice president, TDA delegate, district trustee and president of the UTDB chapter. His 1-year term as ASDA president began immediately and will be followed by a year in an advisory role as immediate past president. As the national president, Shisler will be the official voice of the ASDA’s 17,000 members to organizations such as the American Dental Association (ADA), American Dental Education Association, European Dental Student Association, The Academy of General Dentistry, specialty organizations and governmental agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. NOTE: Effective June 1, 2011, the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston will assume its new name, The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston (UTSD). The School of Dentistry is part of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
Perks Partner News New Perks Glove Partner Offers Introductory Special TDA Perks Program’s new glove partner, The Glove Group, (replacing The Glove Club), is offering a special to TDA members to kick off the program. Place an order by June 30th for one case (10 boxes) of any Kimberly Clark product, and you’ll receive two free boxes of Kimberly Clark’s Lavender, Sterling or Purple gloves. Order online at www.theglovegroup.com, (click on “categories,” “Texas Dental Association Perks Program,”) or by calling: (800) 570-1492. If you call, be sure to mention your TDA membership. For more information regarding this special, please visit www.tdaperks.com, or contact The Glove Group. Questions? Call TDA Perks Program at: (512) 443-3675.
Happy, Healthy Smiles … That’s Our Mission! Donated Dental Services is in Need of Volunteers! If you are unable to attend one of the TDA Smiles Foundation (TDASF) mission events, please consider becoming a member of the Donated Dental Services (DDS) program. As a DDS volunteer, you would see DDS patients in your office as you would a typical patient. The difference is you donate your time and services, and TDASF pays any lab bills the patient incurs. This program is open to Texas residents who are 55 or older and/or are permanently disabled. The patients are thoroughly screened, and a DDS coordinator will contact your office when a patient needs dental care. Together, you will determine if you can treat that patient. This program’s current waiting list is more than 3 years long because there are not enough volunteer dentists in the program. That means people in desperate need of dental care are unable to see one of our volunteer dentists for 3 years — a person who is approved for the program in 2011 might not make it to a volunteer dentist until 2014. If you are able to help by becoming a volunteer DDS dentist, we will only ask you to see one patient a year, and of course you always have the option to see more. For more information on this program or to sign up as a volunteer DDS dentist, please e-mail the TDASF DDS coordinator Ashley Authement at ashley@tda.org. May 2011 / TDA Today / 2
Dallas Texas Mission of Mercy TDASF staff and volunteers arrived for set up of the Dallas Texas Mission of Mercy (TMOM) on Thursday April 14, 2011, at The Potter’s House church south of downtown Dallas. All prepared for a big impact weekend. Starting at 8:00 AM, the staff and volunteers unpacked the trucks, and in approximately 7 hours, a 49-chair dental office, complete with registration, triage, digital X-ray, and removable department, was ready for patients. More than 100 dentists from the Dallas area and all over the state, along with a great group of hygienists and more than 600 volunteers, came together to serve on Friday and Saturday, resulting in dental treatment, education, and caring for 1,047 low income patients. Volunteers provided more than $587,000 worth of dental services. What a great way to spend a weekend! A sincere thank you to these supporters of the Dallas TMOM:
A patient shows off her new smile at the TDASF TMOM Dallas last month.
Major Sponsors: Dallas County Dental Foundation, The Potter’s House, Baylor Oral Health Foundation, Pogue Foundation, Community Dental, Henry Schein Dental, Stern Reed Associates. Donations and Support by: J. Morita USA, Aribex, Dexis, Oral Surgery Associates of North Texas, Crest Oral B, Lonestar Dental Lab, Burkhart, T.D.H.A., Schepps Dairy, Dean Foods, Borden’s Dairy, Minyard’s, Salvation Army, Walker Reprographics, C.B.C Enterprises.
Hygienist Ms. Debbie Gray (left) provides charitable care for a patient at the TDASF TMOM Dallas in April.