BITES&BRIEFS


Request N95 Masks, Additional PPE at No Cost Through State Site


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n an August eNews sent to members, the MDA shared a State of Missouri order form link providers could access to request N95 masks from the state. You can access the link direct at bit.ly/moppeform. When using the form, select “Dentist” as the facility license type, and


the Honeywell DC365 N95 becomes visible to be requested. As a reminder, there is no cost for the masks or for shipping, and orders (shipped in case amounts) will be filled as long as supply is available. Dentists also can request other items on the form, again at no cost. The state does ask all healthcare providers attempt to obtain supplies through their normal vendors but understands there have been numerous times throughout the pandemic when certain items have been in short supply or vendor orders have been delayed. The link has been avail- able, and shared frequently, from the MDA website page, modental.org/covid (under the PPE section) since the order form was initiated by the State of Missouri, soon after the COVID pandemic began and supplies became available to dentists. The MDA advocated for dentists to be included as health professionals who could order supplies at no cost, similar to other branches of healthcare. Current PPE items available for order include: Disinfecting Wipes; Face Shields; Honeywell DC365 N95 Masks; Standard Procedure Masks; Isolation Gowns; Exam Gloves; Goggles; and, Shoe Covers. Dr. Rob Tait, MDA president, recently ordered N95 masks, ear loop masks and nitrile gloves from the site. Upon receiving the supplies, he estimated the value was more than $1,000. “This savings was three-quarters of my MDA dues amount,” he said. “This is another value of membership, that MDA not only advocated for dentists to be able to get these supplies, but that they’ve shared the link with members so that we can realize the savings.” We know other members have expressed gratitude for their ability to order free PPE, especially N95 masks, from this state-sponsored site.


DDS Program Exceeds


$500 MILLION In Donated Treatment


New Releases, Updates from ADA T


he ADA has released an updated edition of the ADA Dental Drug Handbook and the 12th edition of The Chairside Instructor. The ADA Dental Drug Handbook provides up-to-date information on prescribed medica-


tions used in dentistry, and the Chairside Instructor has 50 new images and the latest information on patient education, including topics such as fluoride, wisdom teeth removal, children's airways, dry mouth and dental emergencies. You can order both at ADAcatalog. org. Also last month, the ADA added four new coding guides to its Coding Education webpage at ada.org/en/ publications/cdt/coding-education. The guides cover wound dressing materials, graft material collection, caries preventive medication application and docu- mentation of teledentistry events. The ADA will release two more coding guides around October 1 related to pre-visit screening and overdentures codes taking effect in 2022. Visit ADAcatalog.org or call 800-947-4746. Use promo code 21528 by December 31 to save 15 percent!


10 focus | SEP/OCT 2021 | ISSUE 5


Dental Lifeline Network (DLN) is celebrating a milestone, having just reached $500 million in donated dental treatment from more than 39,000 volunteer dentists and 6,500 volun- teer laboratories that have participated in the charitable program. Since the launch of DLN’s first Donated Dental Services (DDS) program in 1985, the organization has exceeded half a billion dollars’ worth of treatment for 165,000 people with special needs. The announce- ment comes at the same time Fred J. Leviton, president and CEO of DLN, has announced his retirement at the end of 2021 after spend- ing 45 years with the organization. Read more in this ADA News article bit.ly/2XgomNS. Since Missouri became a participating DDS state in 1999, Missouri DDS volunteers have donated more than $10.7 million in dental care to 2,270 patients. Missouri currently has 368 volunteer dentists and 92 participating labs. While this is something to be proud of, the program always can use more volunteers to help serve the more than 195 applicants on the waiting list. Learn more about becoming a DDS volunteer at dentallifeline.org/missouri.


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