With the new duties delegated to Registered Dental Assistants in Michigan, the dental assistant program at Northwestern Michigan College will now be teaching students how to place, condense and carve amalgam restorations. Because of this new duty, they are in need of the following instruments, equipment and supplies: (The current budget was not built with these needs in mind...)

1. Amalgam condensers, carvers, and carriers
2. Amalgam triturators
3. Precapsulated amalgam (could be outdated as these restorations will be done on typodonts, not actual patients)
4. Amalgam matrices
5. Ball and anatomical burnishers
6. Amalgam wells

If you have any of these dental items and wish to donate to the program, please contact Sallie Donovan at (231)995-1240.  Your donation will be acknowledged by the NMC Foundation and can be used for tax purposes.

Sincere thanks for considering this request from Sallie Donovan, NMC

Program Director

Sallie A. Donovan

Northwestern Michigan College
1701 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI   49686
(231)995-1240

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A dentist shall not assign the following intra-oral dental procedures to a registered dental assistant unless the procedures are performed under the general supervision of a licensed dentist, as defined by part 1, R 338.11101, Section (i) "general supervision" means that a dentist has designated a patient of record upon whom services are to be performed.  The dentist shall be physically present in the office at the time the procedures are being performed.

• Performing pulp vitality testing
• Placing and removing matrices and wedges
• Applying cavity liners and bases
• Placing and packing non-epinephrine retraction cords
• Application of desensitizing agents
• Taking an impression for orthodontic appliances, mouth guards, bite splints and bleaching trays
• Dry endodontic canals with absorbent points
• Acid Etching and placing adhesive prior to placement of orthodontic brackets

R 338.11101. Section (g) "Direct supervision" means that a dentist has designated a patient of record upon whom services are to be performed by an assistant, registered dental assistant, or registered dental hygienist and has described the procedures to be performed.  The dentist shall examine the patient before prescribing the procedure to be performed and again upon completion of the procedure.  The dentist shall be physically present in the office at the time the procedures are being performed.

• Placing, condensing, and carving amalgam restorations
• Taking final impression for indirect restorations

ATTENTION MEMBER DENTISTS

It has come to my attention that many local dentists dispose of their used fixer and developer at the Traverse City Wastewater Treatment facility (OMI, Inc.).  This is a valuable service to dentists, but we need to be aware that the facility has a protocol that needs to be followed.  Some cases have occurred where dentists have dropped off developer/fixer in the afternoon without properly checking in with the staff ("like a baby on a doorstep", according to one staff member).  This causes problems for the facility and leads to program abuse.  We need to follow protocol to help the facility and ensure that we have an efficient and effective program for the disposal of these chemicals.

         When the fixer and developer are treated, silver is recovered.  I spoke to a representative of the Eastman Kodak Company who told me that while the fixer contains the most silver, the developer also contains some.Our local program at OMI, Inc. has requested that only fixer be submitted for treatment.   For anyone interested in a wealth of knowledge on the subject of dental chemicals and their proper disposal, a great site is the Eastman Kodak Company's dental website.  It can be accessed at www.kodak.com/go/dental.  Publications are available for easy download.

         In regards to our local program at OMI, Inc., please turn in your chemicals (fixer only) by following this protocol:

-       Pour (fixer only) into a stable, leak-proof container and turn in together (this was verified with Chris Keister, Industrial Pre-treatment Coordinator at OMI, Inc.).

-       Take the container and contents to the facility BEFORE 4:00PM.

-       Check in with the staff at the facility.  Containers need to be properly checked in and labeled with the appropriate contact information.

-       DO NOT drop chemicals off without proper check-in.

Following this protocol will help the facility, which in turn helps dentistry and the environment.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Michigan Dental Association

2004/2005 CDE SEMINAR SCHEDULE

*Contact person for information is Shawna Owens, at 800/589-2632 ext. 402

** All Friday (One day Seminars start at 9:00 am and end at 4:00 pm, I have marked those with an * below)

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY’S
RESEARCH DAY

For years, the School of Dentistry’s Research Day has showcased the accomplishments and efforts of bright and talented students and has garnered broad participation from research groups within the University and across the country.

This year’s Research Day event will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2006. Dr. Daniel Malamud, New York University College of Dentistry, will deliver the keynote address at 1:00 p.m. in room G-390 of the School of Dentistry. Set up for exhibitors begins at noon – 1:00 p.m. in the Michigan League Ballroom. Table clinic and poster sessions will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony at 4:30 p.m.

The School of Dentistry is seeking support in the form of donations and/or participation and the deadline for participation is December 31, 2005.

Additional Research Day information and a downloadable application form are available at: www.dent.umich.edu/research/tableclinic/.

Please also feel free to contact the Research Office at (734) 615-1970 or SODRESOFF@umich.edu with any questions or concerns.