DUX Dental Supports Tenth Anniversary of “Give Kids a Smile” Program and National Children’s Dental Health Month
Pediatric Dental
Supplies Enable Dentists to Keep Littlest Patients Smiling
OXNARD, CALIF. – FEB. 29, 2012 – In support of National Children’s
Dental Health Month and the
Tenth Anniversary of “Give Kids a Smile®” day, DUX Dental
donated 550 boxes of Bib-Eze™ disposal bib holders that were used at pediatric
dental clinics held around the country this month. This year marked the tenth
anniversary of the American Dental Association’s (ADA) “Give Kids a Smile” day,
a program that helps children get the dental care they desperately need and raise
awareness that children deserve a better health care system that addresses
their dental health.
“We are pleased to support National Children’s Dental Health
Month and Give Kids a Smile day,” said Paul Porteous, CEO and President of DUX
Dental. “Our support of pediatric dental health continues year round through
product donations and the development of innovative products that address the
special needs of kids.”
DUX Dental manufactures and markets a number of products
tailored for children’s dental needs. The company’s lead-free
children’s x-ray aprons and Bib-Eze disposal bib holders address two increasing
health concerns for children in the dental office.
Lead-free X-ray Aprons Increase Comfort
and Protection for Kids
One risk for children at the
dentist office is radiation exposure from inadequate protection during dental x-rays. Although there is no
specific research indicating a correlation between thyroid cancer and dental
x-rays, according to the American Cancer Society® exposure to
radiation is a proven risk factor for thyroid cancer. Children who have been
exposed to radiation or receive head or neck radiation treatments in childhood
are also at increased risk factor for thyroid cancer, more so than adults who
have been exposed to the same levels of radiation[1].
The use of x-ray aprons with built-in thyroid collars serve as a preventative measure and are imperative to shielding the
thyroid from unnecessary radiation during dental x-rays.
DUX Dental offers an innovative lead-free x-ray apron with a built-in
thyroid collar specifically for children. The built-in thyroid collar minimizes
the thyroid’s exposure to “scatter radiation” during the oral x-rays that
children typically receive annually starting at three years old and throughout
childhood. The DUX Dental children’s x-ray apron is also sized specifically for
children and its’ lead-free design is 30 percent lighter than leaded aprons,
while offering the same level of protection as leaded aprons.
“One key to
encouraging dental health among children is to make the experience at the
dentist office more pleasant and less scary. We also want to help pediatric
dentists create the safest dental environment for their patients. Our lead-free
x-ray apron is less intimidating for kids and is more comfortable while
delivering protection from harmful radiation,” said Porteous.
Children Susceptible to
Cross-Contamination from Infectious Bacteria Present on Bib Holders
The ADA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
developed and released infection control recommendations in 1993, later updated
in 2003, specifically for dentistry. Those guidelines resulted in great
improvements in dental infection control and the
recommended procedures are now routine at dentist offices, such as the use of
latex gloves and the sterilization of unwrapped instruments. Yet, research shows
that bib holders, the chains or rubber tubing used to secure the patient’s protective
bib, are often overlooked in the sterilization of dental equipment.
More than three separate studies have found unacceptable levels of microbial
contamination on dental bib holders, including pseudomonas, E. coli and S. aureus (the most common cause of staph infection). Pediatric
dental patients are more susceptible to these contaminates and can benefit from
the use of disposable bib holders like DUX Dental’s Bib-Eze.
A study by Noel Kelsch, RDHAP, a national infection control columnist,
Registered Dental Hygienist and former President of the California Dental
Hygienists’ Association, found that on average dental bib chains had five times the levels
of viable bacteria and fungus than the limit established by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) for safe drinking water (500 CFU/mL). Disposable clips
and holders opened fresh for each patient were free from contaminants and posed
no cross-contamination threats.
Bacteria from unsterilized bib holders can enter the body when a patient
touches the bib holder or their neck after a dental visit, and then rubs an eye
or touches their mouth. Cross-contamination can occur:
·
when a bib chain is splattered with saliva, plaque,
blood and spray from the mouth.
·
when a bib chain catches onto hair and accumulate
with the wearer’s sweat, make-up and neck acne.
·
if the dental worker applies a dirty bib chain with
their gloved hands before the examination or cleaning.
“Although the instruments and equipment in the dental office are
sterilized or protected by a single-use disposable barrier, the bib chain is
frequently forgotten in this process,” say Dr. Robert Frare D.M.D. and Dr. Mary M. Frare D.D.S., practicing dentists in Voorhees,
N.J. “In order to be completely
safe for patients, bib chains need to be thoroughly sterilized between each
patient or replaced with disposable ones. This is of significant importance for
kids whose immune systems are more susceptible to bacteria from
cross-contamination.” Drs. Frare hosted a “Give Kids a Smile” dental health
clinic on Feb. 3rd at their practice Compassionate Dental Care. They provided
free dental services to children who are uninsured and used Bib-Eze disposable
bib holders on each patient.
Made from lightweight, elasticized fiber, Bib-Eze bib
holders are more comfortable for the patient since they are not cold on the
neck, have no sharp edges and stretch to fit. Self-adhesive ends secure the
one-time-use holder to any bib and are easy to remove for disposal.
About DUX
Dental
DUX Dental has been manufacturing and distributing the highest level of
dental products worldwide for more than 50 years. Based in the coastal city of
Oxnard, Calif., with additional manufacturing and distribution facilities in
Europe, DUX Dental is home to a world-class team of innovators who produce and
service a portfolio of hundreds of dental products and supplies. DUX Dental is
well-known for its series of industry firsts including Zone Temporary Cement,
Identic™ Alginate and Bib-eze™ disposable bib holders, as well as its
award-winning PeelVue+ sterilization pouches. Visit www.duxdental.com or
contact duxoffice(at)duxdental(dot)com for more information about DUX Dental
products.
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