Need statistics and information about Indiana’s dental professionals? The latest Oral Health Workforce Brief from the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research & Policy is now available. This tremendously informative and useful infographic shows the demographics, statistics and professional characteristics of Indiana’s dentists and hygienists. Click here to download a PDF of the brief.

 
Mark your calendars for next year’s event: June 10-13, 2020, in French Lick.
 
View general photos of the conference and photos of our award recipients.

This week the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency issued a notification regarding controlled substance registration (CSR). The July 1 reference in the PLA notification alarmed some IDA members, but please be assured that the date refers only to the start of the new law, not to the deadline for obtaining the two hours of opioid CE. The law goes into effect on January 1, 2021.

Any professionals who hold or apply for a CSR must obtain the two hours of opioid abuse CE by the next license renewal date of March 1, 2020. Note that if you have already taken two hours of opioid CE within this current licensure period, that CE will satisfy the requirements of the new law.

IDA has several upcoming opportunities that will provide two hours’ worth of opioid continuing education:

Journal IDA

Mid- to late August
The summer 2019 edition of the Journal IDA will be an opioid CE issue. Articles focusing on addiction, best practices, scope of prescriptions and opioid resources will help members satisfy the two hour opioid CE requirements. As always, the Journal IDA will be mailed to members at no additional charge, but the cost to obtain a CE certificate will be $25.

E-Learning Rebroadcast: Opioids Part 1 and 2

IDA will be offering several rebroadcasts of its two-part webinar on opioids. Together the two sessions will help participants understand the scope of the opioid prescribing in the U.S., cycle and causes of opioid addiction, and proper prescribing protocols, best practices and more.

Opioids Part 1 Rebroadcast Dates and Times
Wednesday, August 7 | Noon–1 p.m.
Wednesday, October 9 | 7–8 p.m.
Wednesday, December 11 | 7–8 p.m.

Opioids Part 2 Rebroadcast Dates and Times
Thursday, August 8 | Noon–1 p.m.
Thursday, October 10 | 7–8 p.m.
Wednesday, December 11 | 8–9 p.m.

Cost: FREE to members, not available to non-members

Click here to register

Local Component Courses

Many local components are organizing their own courses in response to the CSR law. Contact your local component leadership to inquire about any classes near you.

It’s best not to brush teeth immediately after eating, especially after consuming something acidic, according to American Dental Association spokesperson Dr. Julius N. Manz. The ADA’s MouthHealthy.org website provides additional information on toothbrushing methods and toothbrush care for dental professionals and for patients.

The demographic of older adults (i.e., 65 years of age and older) is growing and likely will be an increasingly large part of dental practice in the coming years. Although better than in years past, the typical aging patient’s baseline health state can be complicated by comorbid conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes mellitus) and physiologic changes associated with aging. Click here to view oral health topics related to aging patients.