Continuing Education

Now Available: Continuing Education Credits

Infection Control and OSHA Update: Part One
Infection Control and OSHA Update: Part Two
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Authored by: Jaisri R Thoppay, DDS, MBA, MS, DABOM, MSHA
Dental lasers have revolutionized dentistry. The potential indications for their use exist in virtually all disciplines of dentistry. Advantages of laser protocols include reduced need for anesthesia, minimized bleeding, and faster healing times. While lasers can be used for cavity preparation, soft tissue management, and pain management, their use has contraindications and limitations. This Quality Resource Guide (QRG) provides an overview of laser physics, safety requirements, and specific laser types. Specific hard tissue and soft tissue protocols are discussed, along with the novel use of photobiomodulation in managing pain and promoting healing in dental conditions such as temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and oral ulcers. The limitations and challenges of laser use, including equipment cost, training requirements, and restrictions in specific clinical scenarios, are also discussed. This QRG serves as an essential resource to assist the dental practitioner in determining whether to incorporate laser therapy in their practice.
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Authored by: June M. Sadowsky, DDS MPH, Ben Warner, DDS MD MS
Dementia describes various neurological conditions that result in deficiencies in an individual's mental cognitive tasks, such as memory and reasoning, with symptoms that worsen over time. Different forms result in degenerative changes in specific brain expanses, causing brain pathways to malfunction. Using an evidence-based approach, this Quality Resource Guide (QRG) reviews the different types of dementia, discusses dementia awareness by the oral health care provider as a member of a professional collaborative team, describes the behavioral aspects of dementia, and outlines the critical aspects of providing dental care for a person with dementia. The QRG will serve as an essential update resource for the dental office team striving to maximize the success of care for their patients with dementia.
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Authored by: June M. Sadowsky, DDS MPH, Ben Warner, DDS MD MS
Factors associated with dementia may influence oral health, and multiple components of memory, decision-making, and judgment affect the ability of an individual with dementia to perform adequate oral hygiene and participate effectively with the dental office team during dental care. Using an evidence-based approach, this Quality Resource Guide (QRG) discusses the relationship between oral and systemic health facets essential to consider when providing care for a patient with dementia, describes appropriate oral health therapy for a person with dementia, reviews the general dentist's role and anesthesia use for individuals with dementia, and discusses the future of oral health care for individuals with dementia. The QRG will serve as an essential update resource for the dental office team striving to maximize the success of care for their patients with dementia.
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Authored by: Renato Silva, Timothy Kirkpatrick, Ariadne Letra, Zhen Shen, Jason Knappb, Austyn Grissom, Han Na Cho, Bailey Weightman
Traumatic dental injuries are often the result of facial trauma and affect individuals of all ages. More than one billion individuals and an average of one in four ages 6-50 have experienced dental trauma. There are several types of traumatic dental injuries involving soft and hard tissues, ranging from simple crown fractures to more complex types associated with damage to the soft tissues and facial bones. The type and severity of the injury will influence its prognosis and determine the best treatment approaches. This Quality Resource Guide (QRG) provides an evidence-based review of: the classification of traumatic dental injuries associated with dislocation of teeth; proper management of traumatic dental injuries; timing and chronology of treatment procedures for traumatic dental injuries, and; expected prognosis and treatment outcomes. The QRG, in narrative and table formats, supplemented by high-quality photos documenting therapy and follow-up, presents the clinical findings and treatment guidelines for concussion/subluxation, extrusive luxation, lateral luxation, intrusive luxation and avulsion. It will serve as an essential reference when a patient presents with an oral traumatic injury and a resource for practitioners and staff members as they discuss treatment, follow-up, and prognosis with a patient having a traumatic dental injury.
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Authored by: Gary F. Guest, DDS, Michaell A. Huber, DDS
The dental record is the official document that houses all pertinent information about a patient receiving care in a dental practice. It archives historical and diagnostic information, as well as details diagnoses, treatment plans, consents to treatment, and the specifics of care provided. A properly constructed and maintained dental record allows concise and efficient communication between the dentist and the patient, as well as between the dentist and other health care professionals. A well-documented record may be the dentist’s best defense in a case of alleged malpractice and may serve as a key component of a forensic investigation. This Guide provides straightforward, concise guidance in constructing and maintaining a dental record that will meet contemporary standards of care, as well as federal patient privacy standards. Since general dentists often find it difficult to document occlusal status in an efficient manner, a helpful “Rapid Occlusal Assessment” template is provided as an appendix.
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The MetLife Quality Initiatives Program is recognized by the following organizations to award continuing education credits for its educational offerings:

  • American Dental Association Continuing Education Recognition Program (CERP) 05/01/21 - 06/30/25
  • Academy of General Dentistry

In addition, dentists in the states of California and Florida have unique requirements for licensure purposes. The MetLife Quality Initiatives Program is recognized by the Dental Board of California (RP4331) and Florida Board of Dentistry (50-37446).

Dentists and allied health care professionals can earn continuing education credits by participating in educational offerings sponsored by the MetLife Quality Initiatives Program.

Continuing education is an integral part of staying current on clinical and professional developments. Practicing and Academic dentists who serve on the MetLife Dental Advisory Council meet regularly to review quality data and the educational needs identified by dentists participating in the Preferred Dentist Program. Educational offerings are developed as a result of this needs assessment.

You can participate in the needs assessment by completing the evaluation form that accompanies the guide(s) you review. You will be asked about topics for future guides. Your comments are shared with the guide's author. Guides are updated every three years, and more often when changes in dentistry indicate.

MetLife Quality Resource Guides (QRG) are self-study courses authored by full time members of a dental school faculty or dentists who hold a prominent position with a national dental organization (e.g. NIDCR, ADA) or professionals who have published in the subject area. Guides undergo an extensive peer review process prior to publication.

CE credits are FREE to dentists and office staff in the MetLife programs as a benefit of participation. Non-participating dentists can access MetLife educational offerings at no charge. If a non-participating dentist desires educational credits, he or she will be prompted to provide credit card information prior to the post-test being processed.

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