MetLife Adds Five New Quality Resource Guides to Its Dental Continuing Education Program

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MetLife, a leading provider of dental plan administration for nearly 20 million people, has added five new quality resources guides (QRG) to its dental continuing education program, which is recognized by the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. The new courses, 1) Dental Adhesives 2^nd Edition, 2) Lasers in Dentistry 2^nd Edition and 3) Medical Emergencies: Preparation and Management 2^nd Edition, 4) Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment 2^nd Edition and 5) Women’s Oral Health Concerns 3^rd Edition, can be completed online for continuing education credits at www.metdental.com.

“Our Quality Initiatives Program, which is overseen by the company’s Dental Advisory Council (DAC), provides expert guidance for the program, which helps to fulfill the continuing education needs of dentists and hygienists, and helps to promote better patient care.”

“At MetLife we believe it is important for dental practitioners to keep up with the advancements in dentistry,” said Dr. David Guarrera, DDS, vice president, MetLife Dental Products. “Our Quality Initiatives Program, which is overseen by the company’s Dental Advisory Council (DAC), provides expert guidance for the program, which helps to fulfill the continuing education needs of dentists and hygienists, and helps to promote better patient care.”

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

Dental Adhesives 2^nd Edition by Jorge Perdigão, DMD, MS, PhD, professor of operative dentistry at the University of Minnesota, provides an updated review of essential information related to adhesives as the basis for discussing their clinical applications. The critical comparison of adhesives allows the practitioner to select the system most applicable to the clinical situation. The subject of dental adhesives is still a work in progress and the practitioner is urged to follow the evidence-based literature as it becomes available.

Lasers in Dentistry 2^nd Edition is written by Donald J. Coluzzi, DDS, associate professor at the University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences. The second edition of this guide discusses training in the use of the dental laser, newer handheld devices and clinical applications that have been recently investigated. The extensive list of references has been expanded, and new clinical cases have been added. Whether a dental office is considering adding a laser to the armamentarium of the practice, upgrading an existing laser system or expanding the range of clinical procedures using a laser, this guide provides useful information.

Medical Emergencies: Preparation and Management 2^nd Edition is authored by Stanley F. Malamed, DDS, professor of anesthesia & medicine at Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. The second edition of this guide reflects the updated American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), along with the basic essentials. It discusses how to prepare a dental office including the assignment of responsibilities to various members of the dental team and the minimally essential drugs and equipment that should be readily available to manage emergencies. The guide concludes with a description of the steps to be taken should the need arise, and is intended for everyone working in the dental office.

Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment 2^nd Edition by Thomas Oates, DMD, PhD, a professor in the department of periodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, addresses the subject of non-surgical therapy from the perspective of evidence-based dentistry, to include a discussion of the etiology of periodontitis and the need for therapy, as the basis for a rationale for treatment. The assessment of non-surgical treatment outcomes with a view to decisions regarding further treatment is a prominent feature of the guide. The discussion of non-surgical approaches goes beyond mechanical debridement to include subgingival irrigation, systemic antibiotics and locally delivered antibiotics. This second edition guide includes updates from research published over the past three years, providing valuable guidance to the clinician providing periodontal care.

Women’s Oral Health Concerns 3^rd Edition is written by Deborah Studen-Pavlovich, DMD, chair and professor of the department of pediatric dentistry at the University of Pittsburgh and Dennis N. Ranalli, DDS, MDS, professor of pediatric dentistry and senior associate dean at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. This guide details the unique aspects of women’s oral health. The third edition provides updated information discussing osteonecrosis of the jaw, temporomandibular disorders (TMD), eating disorders and dental therapy for pregnant women, as well as an expanded list of references. Information is included to guide the dentist in counseling and managing the clinical problems that women encounter in each of their life stages.

About MetLife

MetLife is a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), a leading global provider of insurance, annuities and employee benefit programs, serving 90 million customers in over 60 countries. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.