TeethRemoval.com

The American Student Dental Association (ASDA) has recently published a White Paper on Ethics & Professionalism in Dental Education which can be found at http://www.asdanet.org/uploadedFiles/The_Issues/ASDA%20White%20Paper%20Final-Newcomb.pdf

The paper is designed to help address issues of cheating which have occurred at dental schools.

The ASDA Student Code of Ethics states that, “ASDA recognizes the importance of high ethical standards
in the dental school setting. Therefore, the Association believes students should conduct themselves
in a manner reflecting integrity and fairness in both the didactic and clinical learning environments.
Ethical and professional behavior by dental students is characterized by honesty, fairness, and
integrity in all circumstances; respect for the rights, differences, and property of others; concern for the
welfare of patients, competence in the delivery of care, and preservation of confidentiality in all situations
where this is warranted.”

The paper addresses some of the reasons as to why students cheat and how to go about solving these ethical issues.

Continue Reading

The American Dental Association (ADA) is looking for dentists interested in spreading the word about evidence-based dentistry to attend the EBD Champions Conference March 26-27, 2010, at ADA Headquarters in Chicago, IL.

The deadline for applications is faster approaching and is Jan. 30, 2010. The conference is sponsored by the ADA and the Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice and supported by an educational grant from Procter & Gamble.

The event is a unique opportunity for dentists to become resources to their local dental communities by promoting an evidence-based approach to patient treatment and disease prevention. I am glad to see that dentists are gathering to discuss evidence-based dentistry and feel that if you are able to make the conference, it would be well worth it.

For more information about the conference or to apply to become an EBD Champion, visit www.ada.org/goto/ebdconf or call the ADA 312-440-2500. They have a toll free number as well but I don’t know it.

Continue Reading

I encourage you to submit emails, phone calls, and /or letters to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS).

Here is an convenient email list containing emails of the current AAOMS officers and trustees in which you can your message to

iradc@aol.com, drljmoore@aol.com, ajeeone@aol.com, eslade@comcast.net, rlynnwhite@austin.rr.com, brinaldi@aaoms.org, snelson@rmoms.com, lawrencebusino@gmail.com, lkrafetto@gmail.com, etgoms@comcast.net, wnelson@baycare.net, mapavelka@msn.com, windellh@gmail.com, ejohnson@aaoms.org

Here is the message I recently sent to them.

By promoting the idea of removing healthy impacted wisdom teeth the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are not living up to their mission statement, are being unethical, irresponsible, and contributing to the public health hazard that is facing many Americans.

Each year thousands of Americans are left with permanent disability as a result of elective oral surgery to remove their wisdom teeth. This practice is not justified by any scientific evidence and is a tragedy that is continuing in America.

The British National Institute for Clinical Excellence has recommended that:

• Impacted wisdom teeth that are free from disease (healthy) should not be operated on. There are two reasons for this:
  • There is no reliable research to suggest that this practice benefits patients
  • Patients who do have healthy wisdom teeth removed are being exposed to the risks of surgery. These can include, nerve damage, damage to other teeth, infection, bleeding, and, rarely, death. Also, after surgery to remove wisdom teeth, patients may have swelling, pain and be unable to open their mouth fully.
• Patients who have impacted wisdom teeth that are not causing problems should visit their dentist for their usual check-ups.
• Only patients who have diseased wisdom teeth, or other problems with their mouth, should have their wisdom teeth removed. Your dentist or oral surgeon will be aware of the sort of disease or condition which would require you to have surgery. Examples include untreatable tooth decay, abscesses, cysts or tumours, disease of the tissues around the tooth or where the tooth is in the way of other surgery.

The American Public Health Association

1. Recommends that public education about the removal of third molars (wisdom teeth), like the removal of any teeth, should be based on evidence of diagnosed pathology or demonstrable need;

2. Opposes prophylactic removal of third molars, which subjects individuals and society to unnecessary costs, avoidable morbidity, and the risks of permanent injury;

3. Recommends that the Agency for Healthcare Research Quality and the National Institutes of Health, agencies of the US Department of Health and Human Services, and other independent researchers call for convening an expert panel that considers evidence-based research on the effectiveness and appropriateness of prophylactic removal of third molars and generates a consensus statement;

4. Recommends that oral health researchers and funding agencies include in their research agendas support for the application of evidence-based dental practice, to include issues such as the prophylactic extraction of third molars and how to most effectively translate evidence-based science into the practice of dentistry;

5. Urges all public health agencies and dental professional organizations to disseminate information explaining why prophylactic removal of third molars is not recommended, in keeping with their dedication to improving the health literacy of the public and its consequent ability to make informed health care decisions.

Each year thousands of Americans are left with permanent disability as a result of elective oral surgery to remove their wisdom teeth. This practice is not justified by any scientific evidence and is a tragedy that is continuing in America.

I encourage you to review http://www.teethremoval.com/complications.html to learn about the numerous complications patients experience with removing wisdom teeth. In addition I encourage you to read my story http://www.teethremoval.com/ and numerous stories shared by others http://www.teethremoval.com/yourstory.html

I am hopeful you will make the appropriate recommendations regarding third molar extraction in the United States using evidence based medicine and follow in the footsteps of those organizations already to have done so.

Below you will find the full information of the 2009-2010 officers of treasures of AAOMS including email, phone, and address. Use as you see appropriate.

Ira D. Cheifetz, DMD, President

609/587-2900 Fax: 609/587-1749

E-Mail: iradc@aol.com

2303 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Suite 5

Mercerville, New Jersey 08619-1994

Larry J. Moore, DDS, MS, President-elect

909/606-0160 Fax: 909/606-4061

E-mail: drljmoore@aol.com

4200 Chino Hills Pkwy, Suite 805

Chino Hills, California 91709

Arthur C. Jee, DMD, Vice President

301/498-3900 Fax: 301/317-4758

E-mail: ajeeone@aol.com

13934 Baltimore Ave

Laurel, Maryland 20707

Edwin W. Slade Jr., DMD, JD, Treasurer

215/345-7373 Fax: 215/345-0242

E-mail: eslade@comcast.net

101 Progress Drive

Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901-2509

R. Lynn White, DDS, Immediate Past President

512/346-7949 Fax: 512/346-9427

E-mail: rlynnwhite@austin.rr.com

Austin OMS Associates

7800 Mopac Expressway, Suite 270

Austin, Texas 78959

Robert C. Rinaldi, PhD, CAE,

Executive Director and Secretary

847/678-6200 Fax: 847/678-4302

E-Mail: brinaldi@aaoms.org

9700 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue

Rosemont, Illinois 60018-5701

Steven R. Nelson, DDS, MS

Speaker, House of Delegates

303/758-6850 Fax: 303/758-0729

E-Mail: snelson@rmoms.com

6850 E. Hampden Ave., Suite 202

Denver, Colorado 80224

Lawrence J. Busino, DDS, District I

518/446-1001 Fax: 518/446-0802

E-mail: lawrencebusino@gmail.com

Albany OMS Group

2 Executive Park Drive

Albany, New York 12203

Louis K. Rafetto, DMD, District II

302/477-1800 Fax: 302/477-0343

E-mail: lkrafetto@gmail.com

3512 Siverside Road, Suite 12

Wilmington, Delaware 19810-4941

Eric T. Geist, DDS, District III

318/388-2621 Fax: 381/388-2835

E-mail: etgoms@comcast.net

Oral Surgery Associates

2003 Forsythe Avenue

Monroe, Louisiana 71201-4938

William J. Nelson, DDS, District IV

920/347-0400 Fax: 920/347-0868

E-mail: wnelson@baycare.net

Bay Care Clinic

2581 Development Drive

Green Bay, Wisconsin 54311-4247

Miro A. Pavelka, DDS, MSD, District V

972/231-6661 Fax: 972/231-3161

E-mail: mapavelka@msn.com

400 S. Cottonwood

Richardson, Texas 75080-5708

Henry C. Windell, DMD, District VI

503/665-7882 Fax: 503/665-6983

E-mail: windellh@gmail.com

24850 SE Stark Street, Ste 100

Gresham, Oregon 97030-8317

Continue Reading

2009-2010 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) president Dr. Ira Cheifetz has said some disappointing and upsetting words in his recent inauguration speech on October 15, 2009  in Toronto, Canada.

We have known empirically for many years that untreated third molars are likely to cause problems. Now we have the evidence-based data to back us up. The Third Molar Clinical Trials, undertaken jointly by the AAOMS and the OMS Foundation, has shown a correlation between third molars, their associated biofilm, and systemic disease. Despite the reams of evidence reported by this ongoing study, the American Public Health Association recently released a policy statement that notes, “. . . the removal of ‘asymptomatic’ third molars is unnecessary and is a drain on the resources of the health care system”.

How do we respond to this challenge? Recognizing the effect this position could have on our fellows and members and the public’s health, the AAOMS took immediate steps to address this incorrect and potentially dangerous policy. The Third Molar Task Force was appointed to respond to the media and others who inquire about the APHA policy. Using the AAOMS White Paper on Third Molars and the evidence reported by the Third Molar Clinical Trials, we are able to supply solid information quickly to dispel misconceptions, innuendo, and stale, unreliable data. On other fronts, the AAOMS meets regularly with representatives of the insurance industry and third party payers to explain our position and present our research. Our science is unassailable and an easily withstand in-depth scrutiny from any individual or group willing to put aside a preconceived agenda and examine the facts. We have and will continue to make this information available to all communities of interest.

Clearly, Dr. Ira Cheifetz is taking issue with retired dentist Jay W. Friedman.

Firstly, I do not think there is any ‘preconceived agenda’ going on by those arguing for evidence-based dentistry and extraction of wisdom teeth for valid medical reasons. Simple examination of the facts and data by the British National Institute for Clinical Excellence show

There is no reliable evidence to support a health benefit to patients from the prophylactic (preventative) removal of pathology free impacted teeth.

Secondly, I would really like to see some information that Dr. Ira Cheifetz says is available regarding why healthy impacted wisdom teeth should be extracted and removed. Sufficient complications occurring in numerous individuals regarding chronic 24/7 headache, death, and permanent injury are reported and continue to emerge as more wisdom teeth are removed when in fact those wisdom teeth were not causing any health problems in the first place!

I encourage you to write, phone, and/or emall Dr. Ira Cheifetz and let him know your thoughts on third molars (wisdom teeth) and why evidence-based medicine is necessary in the United States.

Dr. Ira Cheifetz
Phone: 609/587-2900
E-Mail: iradc@aol.com
2303 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Suite 5
Mercerville, New Jersey 08619-1994

Continue Reading

I wanted to alert everyone who have have missed it that Jay W. Friedman was the American Journal of Public Health Author of the year. Jay W. Friedman is a retired dentist now living in California. He has his own website http://www.wix.com/simcoe/jay/ and has received a lot of attention here on www.teethremoval.com.

Jay W. Friedman was selected for this honor for his articled titled “The Prophylactic Extraction of Third
Molars: A Public Health Hazard.” which has been reproduced on my website courtesy of Jay W. Friedman and the American Journal of Public Health at http://www.teethremoval.com/the_prophylactic_extraction_of_third_molars.html.

The reasons for the selection of Jay W. Friedman as the AJPH author of the year can be found in an article found on Jay W. Friendman’s personal site. It has also been added at http://www.teethremoval.com/AJPH-2009_Author_of_the_Year-1.pdf in case you have difficulty finding it.

Deborah Holtzman writes regarding AJPH 2009 Author of the Year Jay W. Friedman

Jay Friedman’s article confirmed what [my husband] said he knew all along, i.e., removal of wisdom teeth is often an unnecessary medical procedure. My husband did not actually know this since he had not seen the data, but after we both read the article, we were sufficiently convinced that we did not want our 2 youngest children to have their wisdom teeth removed, despite their dentist’s desire to do just that.

Jay W. Friedman has long been advocating that wisdom teeth removal is

an enormous waste of money, considering the small risk of future pathology; money that could be better spent on real health care needs.

In 2008, with the help of Jay W. Friedman’s article, the American Journal of Public Health has adopted a policy (no. 20085) titled “Opposition to Prophylactic Removal of Third Molars (Wisdom Teeth).” This article has also been reproduced on my website with courtesy of Jay W. Friedman and the American Journal of Public Health at http://www.teethremoval.com/Opposition_to_Prophylactic_Removal_of_Third_Molars_wisdom_teeth.html.

Jay W. Friedman argues in his 2009 AJPH Author of the Year Award acceptance speech

..[M]y paper illustrates that what is usually considered an acceptably small risk of injury to an individual may be a public health hazard when applied to the entire population.

Continue Reading