MetLife Adds Four New On-line Courses to Its ADA Approved Dental Continuing Education Program
NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
MetLife announced today the addition of four new on-line Quality
Resource Guides to its self-study dental Quality Initiatives Program.
MetLife's continuing education program, which can be accessed on-line
at: www.metdental.com, is approved for fulfilling licensing
requirements, where applicable, by the American Dental Association
(ADA) under its Continuing Education Recognition Program and by the
Academy of General Dentistry. The new self-study courses, which are a
part of MetLife's series of continuing education materials, focus on
four distinct topics, (1) Endodontic Failures and Their Management (2)
Performance of an Oral and Head and Neck Examination (3) Tobacco
Cessation in the Dental Office and; (4) Tooth Root Resorption.
"Through our continuing education offerings, MetLife strives to
provide information about topics that are important to helping members
of the dental community stay current on clinical and professional
developments," said Alan Vogel, DMD, national dental director for
MetLife. "We are proud to be a valued resource for addressing current
issues in dentistry and best practices."
The new offerings include:
(1) Endodontic Failures and Their Management. Written by Larz S.
W. Spangberg, DDS, PhD, Head of the Department of Endodontology at the
University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, this guide, an
enhanced 2nd edition, begins with information that allows the
practitioner to make an assessment of the probability of a successful
endodontic outcome; including information that will help in providing
the patient a greater understanding of the procedure and what can be
expected, thus helping to facilitate obtaining informed consent. The
guide provides an understanding of why failure might occur and
specific pre- and post-treatment factors. This is followed by a
discussion of retreatment choices and considerations.
(2) Performance of an Oral and Head and Neck Examination. This
guide, which is an updated 3rd edition, is authored by James J.
Sciubba, DMD, PhD, an active consultant at The Milton J. Dance Head
and Neck Center at The Greater Baltimore Medical Center. The guide
describes a logical sequence which, if followed, will help prevent
overlooking the evaluation of important structures in the mouth and
the head and neck. Included is a form designed for use with individual
patients that reflects the nine-step examination and provides an easy
way to document what was done and when, and serves as a necessary
supplement to the recording of positive finds in the patient record.
(3) Tobacco Cessation in the Dental Office. Written by Brian C.
Muzyka, DMD, MS, MBA, an associate professor of Family Medicine and
the Director of the Dental Division at East Carolina University Brody
School of Medicine, this guide discusses the scientific link between
smoking and numerous chronic diseases including oral cancer and
periodontal diseases and presents straightforward procedures for the
dental professional to determine the stage of a patient's nicotine
dependence. Based upon that assessment, the clinicians are guided in
ways they may assist the patient to create an appropriate withdrawal
strategy.
(4) Tooth Root Resorption. Authored by Karl Keiser, DDS, MS, an
associate professor and interim director of Advanced Education in
Endodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center, this
guide presents an overview of the various types of tooth root
resorption and discusses diagnosis, management and associated
prognoses of teeth affected with this condition. Detailed sets of
radiographs demonstrate the destructive tooth root conditions. A
user-friendly table differentiates the clinical, radiographic and
recommended treatment differences between "internal resorption" and
"external resorption."
MetLife Quality Resource Guides are authored by esteemed
professionals in the dental community and are developed based on needs
assessment and program input from the MetLife Dental Advisory Council
(DAC) - a group of practicing and academic dentists, as well as
corporate benefit representatives who serve as the oversight committee
for the MetLife Quality Initiatives Program.
MetLife is the largest administrator of dental benefits among all
single commercial carriers, providing dental plan administration for
nearly 21 million individuals. Participating as well as
non-participating dentists can participate in the MetLife's continuing
education program free of charge. As a plan program benefit,
continuing education credits are complimentary for members of the
MetLife Preferred Dentist Program. Non-participating individuals are
assessed a nominal fee for educational credits.
About MetLife
Celebrating 140 years, MetLife is a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.
(NYSE: MET), a leading provider of insurance and financial services
with operations throughout the United States and the Latin America,
Europe and Asia Pacific regions. Through its domestic and
international subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. reaches more
than 70 million customers around the world and MetLife is the largest
life insurer in the United States (based on life insurance in-force).
The MetLife companies offer life insurance, annuities, auto and home
insurance, retail banking and other financial services to individuals,
as well as group insurance, reinsurance and retirement & savings
products and services to corporations and other institutions. For more
information, please visit www.metlife.com.
MetLife, Inc.
Karen Eldred, 212-578-9561
keldred@metlife.com
or
Shalana Morris, 212-578-1115
snmorris@metlife.com
Copyright Business Wire 2008
