METLIFE ADDS NEW QUALITY RESOURCE GUIDES, INCLUDING A NEW MULTIMEDIA COURSE, TO ITS DENTAL CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM

METLIFE ADDS NEW QUALITY RESOURCE GUIDES, INCLUDING A NEW MULTIMEDIA COURSE, TO ITS DENTAL CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM

New York, NY November 30, 2010

MetLife, a leading provider of dental plan administration for over 20 million people, announced the addition of new quality resources guides (QRG) to its dental continuing education program, including a new multimedia presentation of Infection Control in the Dental Office – a highly requested continuing education topic. In addition, three print-based guides, 1) A Guide to Contemporary Endodontic Technology 2^nd Edition, 2) Medical Health History in Dental Practice 3rd Edition and 3) Risk-Based Management of Dental Caries in Adults 3^rd Edition, have been added to the program. The new courses can be completed online for continuing education credits and can be accessed at www.metdental.com.

“We continue to look for ways to enhance our dental continuing education program, which is recognized by the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry,” said Dr. David Guarrera, DDS, vice president, MetLife Dental Products. “The addition of a multimedia course makes for a more engaging user experience, and we will be looking for ways to adapt these features into other quality resource guides relevant to the latest research and trends in oral health practices and patient care.”

The new continuing education course, Infection Control in the Dental Office, featuring Dr. John J. Molinari, PhD, director of infection control for the publication The Dental Advisor, offers participants a different way to learn tips and precautions that can be used to ensure compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and best practices for infection control in the dental office. Dr. Molinari discusses the history of: 1) infectious diseases and the healthcare worker; 2) the development of guidelines by the Center for Disease Control to protect both the patient and the healthcare worker; and 3) the OSHA regulations that impact the dental office. The guide discusses standard precautions for use during dental care, as well as vaccine recommendations and management of dental waterlines.

Also newly available within the MetLife Quality Resource Program are print versions of 1) A Guide to Contemporary Endodontic Technology 2^nd Edition, 2) Medical Health History in Dental Practice and 3) Risk-Based Management of Dental Caries in Adults.

A Guide to Contemporary Endodontic Technology 2^nd Edition is written by Ashraf Fouad, DDS MS, chairman of the Department of Endodontics, Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry at the University of Maryland. The 2^nd edition of this guide provides the practitioner with information about the incorporation of new technology into their practice, such as new diagnostic instruments including cone beam and digital imaging, electronic apex locators, rotary instrumentation, disinfection and root canal filling in a concise format. The newest science is reviewed with regard to instrumentation and filling materials. This guide can serve as a fundamental resource for the practitioner initiating or expanding the delivery of endodontic therapy within their practice.

Medical Health History in Dental Practice 3^rd Edition is authored by Peter L. Jacobsen, PhD DDS, and Elisa M. Chávez, DDS, with the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. The availability of current medical history information is essential before undertaking dental treatment and helps insure the safe and effective management of the patient. The 3^rd edition of this guide provides guidance in obtaining appropriate medical consultation. It also discusses prescription drugs and natural products that relate to oral health and/or complicate patient management. Language barriers confronted when obtaining information are addressed with the introduction of a multi-language health history questionnaire.

Risk-Based Management of Dental Caries in Adults 3^rd Edition is written by Dr. Daniel Shugars, DDS PhD MPH, professor of Operative Dentistry at the University of North Carolina and Dr. James Bader, DDS MPH, Research Professor in the Department of Operative Dentistry and Senior Investigator in the SHEPS Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry. The assessment of a patient’s risk for dental caries is an essential component of oral health care. The third edition of this guide has been updated to reflect recent additions to the literature, including evidence-based recommendations. The concise narrative is supplemented with easily accessible tables that identify risk indicators and their use in establishing a patient’s risk category. A list of office-based and home-based caries risk intervention strategies is provided.

The contents of the MetLife Quality Initiatives Program are overseen by the company’s Dental Advisory Council (DAC), which provides expert guidance for the needs of dentists and hygienists. MetLife educational offerings and credits are available at no charge to participating dental offices within the MetLife DPPO and SafeGuard DHMO (a MetLife company). Non-participating providers also have access to the program and are assessed a nominal fee for educational credits. For additional information about the new MetLife QRG’s and MetLife’s dental continuing education program, visit www.metdental.com.