President’s Message: Our Quest for Information

Whether you are having your car serviced, completing an online purchase or using your bank app on your phone, it has become routine to be asked at the end of your encounter to fill out a survey. Surveys allow organizations to gather massive amounts of information, which they can then use to better meet the expectations of their clientele. Though we used to rely on mail or phone surveys, online surveys now are the norm as they collect data faster and with less cost while still maintaining good data quality and reliability. In fact, results from election polls show that online surveys are more accurate than older forms of polling. The AAE has followed suit by distributing the AAE Member Needs Surveys electronically. But questions still remain – how can we improve the accuracy of our data and how can we apply that data to serve members more effectively?

Antibiotics: A Risky Prescription

The adverse effects of overusing and misusing antibiotics are highly publicized in the health professional literature, most recently in the August issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 2 million people in the United States are hospitalized and more than 23,000 die each year from superinfections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Clostridium difficile is a particularly vicious resistant bacterium. A major two-year review of antimicrobial resistance reached the grim conclusion that, without drastic curbs, drug-resistant superbugs could claim millions of lives worldwide each year. These superbugs have the potential to become a greater killer than cancer by 2050. Yet, despite the potential dangers and limited usefulness of antibiotics in dentistry and endodontics, their use is common and possibly increasing.

APICES 2016 Top 10

The 13th annual APICES was hosted at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on July 15-16. Year after year, APICES proves to be a unique event with a variety of resident attendees from every region of the country. Read on for the top 10 reasons APICES 2016 was the best yet!

Calling All Endodontists: Join the NDPBRN

The National Dental Practice-Based Referral Network (NDPBRN) conducts dental practice-based research to improve oral health and the efficiency and effectiveness of dental care. Its research is done in the “real world” of daily clinical practice and focuses on issues that will have an impact on patient health outcomes, patient satisfaction or the efficiency of the daily delivery of care.

The AAE supports the NDPBRN and encourages endodontists to participate. Endodontist involvement helps demonstrate the differences in care delivered by a generalist versus a specialist.

Reaching Into the Future

With a vested interest in young practitioners, the Foundation for Endodontics created the Resident Expert Advisory Committee, REACH, in 2015. The inaugural group met for the first time in summer 2015 with goals of facilitating stronger relationships between residents and the Foundation and helping the Foundation better serve and engage a new generation of specialists.

Going Back to School

There are numerous professions, like our own, in which ongoing professional development is required. We have to keep learning and growing in order to continue practicing.

District Director Nominees Announced for 2017 Election

The American Association of Endodontists proudly announces the district director candidates for the 2017-2020 term. Members will approve the nominees by casting their votes at the 2017 General Assembly in New Orleans, La., on Friday, April 28, 2017.

Recognize Your Peers: Submit Nominations for the 2018 Awards

The AAE Honors and Awards Committee encourages you to recognize significant contributions to the specialty and community by submitting your nominations for 2018 awards, to be presented at AAE18 in Denver, April 25-28, 2018.

AAE Digital Outreach by the Numbers – July 2016

Patients increasingly are turning to online sources for information about their health care and health providers, and the AAE has taken concerted steps to ensure those internet users have access to reliable, authoritative information.