I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday weekend! I’m thankful that you have continued to read the blog and for all the story ideas and emails I receive. I’m thankful for all the friends that I’ve made within the dental industry. And I’m thankful for my family and their support through all my late nights and hectic schedules. Now – enjoy your family and turkey time!

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Molecular DNA Tests Positioning Dental Professionals at the Forefront of Oral Medicine – Company Planning the Launch of HPV/Oral Cancer DNA Test in 2010

Nashville, TN – November 16, 2009 – OralDNA Labs™ Inc. (www.OralDNA.com), a specialty diagnostics subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics^® Incorporated (NYSE: DGX) focused on bringing advanced laboratory testing to the dental community, today announced the availability of two revolutionary molecular tests to help periodontists and general dentists identify patients with and at risk for periodontal disease. MyPerioPath^sm detects the presence and quantity of specific bacteria associated with periodontal disease, while MyPerioID^sm PST^®, which the company licenses from Interleukin Genetics, provides a means of quickly and accurately¹ assessing an individual’s genetic risk for periodontal disease.

Used together, the new salivary DNA diagnostic tests can help dental professionals reduce patient incidence of periodontal disease. MyPerioPath^sm provides early and accurate¹ diagnosis of existing periodontal disease by identifying and measuring specific types of bacteria, while MyPerioID^sm PST^® assesses a patient’s genetic predisposition to developing periodontal disease well before physical symptoms occur. The company has launched a national dental industry awareness and training program to support the profession’s understanding and effective use of the new tools.

According to OralDNA Inc. senior vice president and general manager Robert Walker, the company has been introducing the tests to leading dental industry practitioners during the past year. “Leading periodontists and general dentists are already relying
on the MyPerioPath^sm and MyPerioID^sm PST^® salivary diagnostic tests to provide valuable insights for enhanced patient care, and as important tools in the fight against periodontal disease. We believe these tests will not only help put dental professionals at the forefront of oral medicine, but also enable them to provide more comprehensive and accurate treatment plans for their patients.”

According to the American Dental Association, an estimated 75% of all Americans over the age of 35 have some form of periodontal disease² and research conducted during the past 10 years has provided insight into the Perio / Systemic Connection and the link between chronic periodontal infections and heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and some forms of cancer.^3,4

Within the next year, OralDNA expects to add the clinician-administered oral DNA HPV test, OraRisk^sm HPV, for use in assessing the risks associated with certain types of oral cancer, and intends to continue to broaden its menu of salivary diagnostic tests for use in oral medicine.

For more information, education, and training related to OralDNA’s salivary DNA diagnostic tests, dental professionals, including periodontists, general dentists, and dental hygienists, should visit www.OralDNAtraining.com or call (877) 577-9055.

About OralDNA Labs™ Inc. (www.OralDNA.com)

OralDNA Labs Inc., a subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), is a specialty diagnostics company created to advance clinical testing in the dental community. The company’s goal is to help the dental profession achieve better clinical outcomes by providing reliable, definitive, and cost-effective clinical tests that drive the detection and prognosis of disease at an earlier, more treatable stage, with an initial focus on periodontal disease. OralDNA offers two DNA-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests for periodontal disease diagnosis and genetic susceptibility: MyPerioPath^sm detects the presence and quantity of specific bacteria associated with periodontal disease, while MyPerioID^sm PST^®, which is licensed through a marketing, sales, and distribution agreement with Interleukin Genetics, provides a means of assessing an individual’s genetic risk for periodontal disease. The company has also developed an oral HPV test named OraRisk^sm HPV for use in assessing the risks associated with certain types of oral cancer.

About Quest Diagnostics^®

Quest Diagnostics is the world’s leading provider of diagnostic testing, information, and services that patients and clinicians need to make better healthcare decisions. The company offers the broadest access to diagnostic testing services through its network of laboratories and patient service centers, and provides interpretive consultation through its extensive medical and scientific staff. Quest Diagnostics is a pioneer in developing innovative new diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology solutions that help improve patient care. Additional company information is available at www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

REFERENCES:

1. Data on file, OralDNA Labs Inc.

2. Genco R, Offenbacher S, Beck J. Periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease: epidemiology and possible mechanisms. JADA 2002;133(Suppl.):14S-22S.

3. Friedewald VE, Kornman KS, Beck JD, et al. The American Journal of Cardiology and Journal of Periodontology editors’ consensus: periodontitis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. J Periodontol 2009;80:1021-1032.

4. Van Dyke TE. The management of inflammation in periodontal disease. J Periodontol 2008;79:1601-1608.

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Join ChaseHealthAdvance and Lynn D. Mortilla, RDH at the Greater New York Dental Meeting for her presentation “You’ve Taken Implant Training…What Do You Do Next?” Tuesday, December 1 at 3:00 pm at the Dental Tribune Study Club Symposia in the exhibit hall.

Learn how to get the most out of your implant training and start booking more treatments through staff education, identifying implant candidates, case presentation techniques, record keeping and more.

While there, stop by booth #417 to get a free copy of Lynn Mortilla’s resource guide “Incorporating Implants into Your Practice – Team Strategies for Success”and to learn more about the great features of ChaseHealthAdvance financing options.

Here is an overview of the topics covered in the resource guide:

• The Auxiliary’s Role in Implant Dentistry

• Building Your Implant Team

• Dental Implant Evaluation and Assessment Report

• Tips to a Successful Case Presentation

• Financial Policy Form

This presentation and resource guide are a courtesy of ChaseHealthAdvance. www.advancewithchase.com  (888) 388-7633

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I become very annoyed when I read stories like these. Employees like Holly Ann Keate give all dental managers a bad name. Police arrested her before she boarded a plane to Hawaii for a family vacation. She pleaded guilty to charges of grand theft by embezzlement. By keeping cash payments made to the practice and the alleged illegal use of patient’s credit card information she was able to steal about $47K over four months. Sounds like she was just getting started. She used the money for vacation and plastic surgery.

The loss of income resulted in no bonuses for the team and the inability to donate to charities. Keate was office manager for Sierra Gate Family Dental in Roseville, CA. She will serve a year in jail, five years of probation and must pay back the money. Shameful.

Read source article here

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