ORTHO INDUSTRY NEWS Report Finds COVID-19 Rate Among Dentists Less than One Percent Fewer than one percent of dentists nationwide were found to be COVID-19 positive, according to a first-of-its-kind report in the United States based on data collected in June 2020. The result is far below that of other health profes-sionals in the U.S. In addition, 99 percent of dentists are using enhanced infection control procedures such as screening protocols and enhanced disin-fection practices when treating patients. The report, published online by The Journal of the American Dental Associa-tion, is the first large-scale collection and publication of U.S. dentists ʼ infec-tion rates and infection control prac-tices related to COVID-19. “This is very good news for dentists and patients,” said American Dental Association (ADA) Science and Research Institute Chief Executive Officer Marcelo Araujo, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., the senior author of the report. “This means that what dentists are doing – height-ened infection control and increased attention to patient and dental team safety – is working.” Dr. Araujo added that the authors of the report, researchers from the ADA Science and Research Institute and Health Policy Institute based in Chicago, are continu-ing to collect and will report infection rate data on dentists and have added hygienists to their ongoing survey, in collaboration with the American Dental Hygienists Association. This report focused on nearly 2,200 dentists in June, finding that 82 percent of dentists were asymptomatic for one month prior to the survey and 16.6 percent reported getting a COVID-19 test. Those who tested positive were not clus-tered in any particular geographic region. Among those not tested, less than one percent (0.32) were given a probable COVID-19 diagnosis by a physician. The authors weighted the results to align with U.S. dentists demographically and geographically and found an estimated prevalence of less than one percent (0.9) with a margin of error of 0.5 percent. This newly-published report, with the extremely low rate of COVID-19 infection among dentists, supports the effectiveness of the recommendations from the CDC and ADA in preventing virus transmission. The Cl ō SYS Ultra Sensitive Oral Rinse report was conducted at MRI Global, an independent laboratory in Kansas City that is accredited to test highly infectious viruses like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. Rowpar Pharmaceuticals Inc, the makers of the Cl ō SYS brand of toothpastes, mouthwashes and oral sprays, reported that an in vitro laboratory analysis showed that Cl ō SYS Ultra Sensitive Oral Rinse reduced SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 virus) up to 98.4% within 30 seconds without the use of any harsh chemicals like alcohol, hydro-gen peroxide or povidone iodine. A second independent accredited lab, Microbac Laboratories, Inc. provided similar results. The studies can be found at www.Cl ō SYS.com/ covidstudy. These initial trials did not include testing the oral cavity, said the company in a release, but based on the results, Rowpar has launched additional studies to determine whether Cl ō SYS over-the-counter products can help lower the trans-mission of the novel coronavirus Study Shows Oral Rinse Eliminated 98.4% of Viruses from one person to another. “These are exciting and potentially ground-breaking findings,” said chief execu-tive officer of Rowpar Pharmaceuti-cals Jim Ratcliff. “We know that the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted from person to person through spray droplets from the mouth, so this is an important first step in determining whether our oral care products can make a significant impact in reducing the chances of becoming ill or infecting others. There is a lot more to learn as we follow the science, but it’s a very positive start for our rinse formula.” Clinical trials in progress at the University of California San Francisco are evaluating whether oral rinses can reduce the viral load in the mouth, which may in turn reduce the transmission of the disease. XVWeb Cloud Dental Imaging Recognized For Technology Apteryx Imaging, a subsidiary of Planet DDS, reported that its XVWeb cloud imaging has been selected as a 2020 Cellerant Best-of-Class Technology Award recipi-ent for the “Dental Imaging Soft-ware” category. This is the second consecutive year that XVWeb has been recognized with the Best of Class Technology Award. Founded in 2003, Planet DDS is the largest independent provider of cloud-native practice manage-ment systems to the dental indus-try with their Denticon software. In addition to XVWeb, Apteryx has developed a line of award-winning imaging software technologies that also includes XrayVision, VELscope oral screening device, and TUXEDO intraoral sensors. “Planet DDS and Apteryx offer substantial value propositions to the dental industry,” Eric Giesecke, chief executive officer for Planet DDS, stated in an earlier release regarding partner-ship of the two. He describes the merge as the beginning of a bright future for both companies. www.orthodontics.com Fall 2020 7
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society Fall 2020: Page 7
