Dental Education News: 
October 2020
Highlights
NYU College of Dentistry: Metro Community Health Centers to Open Health Clinic at NYU College of Dentistry

Metro Community Health Centers, Inc. (MCHC) is partnering with NYU College of Dentistry to open a new federally qualified health center. The center will offer primary and specialty medical care as well as behavioral health services to primarily low-income and underserved patients, including medically and behaviorally complex patients. Read more.
Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College Expands to Include new Cutting-Edge Pediatric Dental Practice

After several months of anticipation, Touro Dental Health, the 115-chair dental teaching practice of Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM), officially opened its new state-of-the-art pediatric dental practice to the public on September 29th. Designed with the needs of TCDM's youngest patients and their families in mind, the new six-chair pediatric practice-Touro Dental Health Kids- boasts 2,600 square feet of modern, light-filled space, with four operatories and two spacious, fully private rooms especially designed to treat children in a quiet distraction free environment. Read more.
Education & Training
Columbia University College of Dental Medicine: Diversity Publication Honors CDM for Seventh Consecutive Year

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest diversity-focused publication in higher education, has named Columbia University College of Dental Medicine (CDM) a recipient of their 2020 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Health Professions Award. CDM has received a HEED Award every year since 2014 and was the first dental school to receive this honor. The award recognizes CDM's work to foster inclusivity through events, student recruitment and retention efforts, and hiring practices. Read more.
Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College Launches Hybrid Admissions Season and new Virtual Tour

Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM) officially kicked off its admissions season on September 25th, providing applicants with the choice between an in person or virtual interview. This hybrid model is opening the door for more candidates to interview despite COVID-19 travel restriction, and the school's steady application rates reflect a growing interest in comparison to last year's rates at this time. To provide applicants with an overview of campus life from the comfort of their own homes, TCDM launched a virtual tour video featuring commentary from students and leadership, in addition to stunning shots of its exceptional clinical and educational facilities. Take the virtual tour.
Oral Health Care Access
Eastman Institute For Oral Health, University of Rochester: How People From Afar Helped a Dental Clinic Stay Open When Shutdown hit and Others Closed

There is pain that can't be put on hold, shouldn't be put on hold. That's why the Howitt Urgent Dental Care clinic at UR Medicine's Eastman Institute for Oral Health remained open for emergency treatment after the pandemic hit Rochester. This was at a time when other dental clinics and dentists' offices were closed to control the spread of the coronavirus. Read more.
Eastman Institute For Oral Health, University of Rochester: Ear and Throat Pain led Woman to Urgent Care, has Surgery few Hours Later

Maureen woke up one day in early November with pretty significant ear and throat pain. She called in sick and texted her husband that she was headed to urgent care. After an initial exam, they immediately sent her to the hospital emergency department. "I knew things were bad, because when I got there, they took me in before a guy with a bleeding head wound," recalled Maureen, who was diagnosed with a severely infected tooth abscess and jaw infection. Read more.
Research
NYU College of Dentistry: Botox for TMJ Disorders may not Lead to Bone Loss in the Short Term, but More Research is Needed on Higher Dose, Long-Term use

Botox injections to manage jaw and facial pain do not result in clinically significant changes in jaw bone when used short term and in low doses, according to researchers at NYU College of Dentistry. However, they found evidence of bone loss when higher doses were used. The researchers, whose findings are published in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, call for further clinical studies to track bone- and muscle-related changes with long-term use of Botox for TMJD, or temporomandibular muscle and joint disorders. Read more.
Faculty & Awards
Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine: Dr. David Lam Named Interim Associate Dean for Research

David K. Lam, MD, DDS, PhD, has been selected as Interim Associate Dean for Research of Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Lam joined the School of Dental Medicine in 2017 as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. He also serves as Professor in the Department of Surgery, Chief of the Division of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, and Clinician-Scientist at Stony Brook Cancer Center. Read more.
Eastman Institute For Oral Health, University of Rochester Professor Elected to MASCC Board of Directors

Sharon Elad, DMD, MSc, professor and chair of the Oral Medicine Department at the University of Rochester Medical Center's Eastman Institute for Oral Health, was elected to the Board of Directors of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC). A member of MASCC/ISOO since 2003, Dr. Elad has been very active in numerous projects on behalf of this society over the years. In her role as a board director, she will assist the organization in maintaining its high standards of service, while helping disseminate its unique knowledge more broadly throughout the world, as well as explore new opportunities to enhance supportive care through research and education.
NYU College of Dentistry Awarded NIH Grant to Investigate Endosomal Receptors as Targets for Chronic Pain Treatment

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has awarded NYU College of Dentistry researchers Nigel Bunnett, PhD, and Brian Schmidt, DDS, MD, PhD, a $3.9 million grant to study targeting endosomal receptors for the treatment of chronic pain. Read more.
Read more from the dental schools!