MetLife quality resource guides

NEW YORK, New York--MetLife, a provider of dental plan administration for nearly 20 million people, has added five new quality resources guides to its dental continuing education program.

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The guides have been recognized by the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry.

The new courses, 1) Managing Complications During Root Canal Procedures, 2) Pain Control in Dentistry 3rd Edition, 3) Performing Atraumatic Surgical Extractions in General Practice, 4) Porcelain Veneers 2nd Edition, and 5) Posterior Composites Third Edition, can be completed online for continuing education credits at www.metdental.com.

“We continue to look for opportunities to expand the list of resources we make available to dental practitioners and consider our education program to be an important commitment to dentists, hygienists and, ultimately, millions of patients,” said Dr. David Guarrera, DDS, vice president, MetLife Dental Products. “Not only do the quality resource guides that we develop in coordination with MetLife’s Dental Advisory Council help fulfill continuing education needs, but they help to ensure that patients receive the best possible care.”

These offerings and credits are available at no charge to participating dental offices within the MetLife dental preferred provider organization and SafeGuard (a MetLife company) dental health maintenance organization. Nonparticipating providers also have access to the program and are assessed a nominal fee for educational credits.

1. Managing Complications During Root Canal Procedures is by James L. Gutmann, DDS, former professor of endodontics and restorative sciences at Baylor College of Dentistry, the Texas A&M University System Health Science Center at Dallas. The guide discusses the causes and prevention of complications during root canals to allow practitioners to be better informed when deciding whether to undertake a procedure. The management of complications, should they occur, is also addressed, along with guidelines for obtaining adequate anesthesia in a tooth with symptomatic pulpitis and the appropriate use of antibiotics during endodontic therapy.

2. Pain Control in Dentistry Third Edition, by Clarence Trummel, DDS, PhD, emeritus professor of periodontology at the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Connecticut, provides perspective on the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management of pain encountered in a dental practice. Special emphasis is given to a preemptive approach to controlling postoperative pain, which has been shown to result in less need for analgesic medication. A detailed assessment of drugs and doses is provided and arranged according to a pain intensity scale and the degree of pain relief achieved.

3. Performing Atraumatic Surgical Extractions in Dental Practice, by Karl R. Koerner, DDS, MS, discusses factors to consider during preparations for tooth extractions, the surgical procedure and the posttherapy period. Effective and efficient extraction procedures that maximize retention of alveolar bone are highlighted, and a discussion of newer instruments and devices available to assist the clinician during tooth extraction should help aid the general dentist expand his or her approach.

4. Porcelain Veneers Second Edition, by Thomas D. Larsen, DDS, MSD, associate professor in the department of restorative dentistry, division of operative dentistry at the University of Minnesota, provides a comprehensive assessment of porcelain veneer therapy. The guide begins with case selection, tooth preparation and temporization, and then discusses choice of porcelains, bonding, and finishing. The guide has been updated to include the most recently introduced materials and techniques.

5. Posterior Composites Third Edition, is written by André V. Ritter, DDS, MS, assistant professor and graduate clinic director in the department of operative dentistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This comprehensive guide includes updated information and references to aid the clinician in decision-making and communicating with the patient about treatment options. As posterior composites continue to gain popularity as an alternative to traditional restorative materials, the guide continues to be a valuable reference for dentists providing these restorations in their practices.

For more information, visit www.metlife.com.

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