The ADA Standards Committee on Dental Products is seeking volunteers for new work projects that the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs approved in April.

Dr. Irvin Silverstein, La Mesa, Calif., received the 2009 Trudi Birger Award for volunteerism from the Alpha Omega international dental fraternity.

Orlando, Fla.—Three unique programs planned for the ADA annual session Oct. 9-12 will give attendees the opportunity to participate in discussion forums on hot clinical topics; preview up-and-coming speakers; and participate in a professional development program presented by the Walt Disney Co.

Jerusalem—In a melting pot city where thousands of indigent children lack access to oral health care, the Dental Volunteers for Israel Trudi Birger Dental Clinic has spent 30 years focusing on its mission: "To prevent suffering of Jerusalem's indigent children and youth—of all ethnic and religious backgrounds—from physical and psychological pain by providing quality dental care and oral health education."

Boston—The new dates for the ADA Center for Evidence-Based Dentistry and Forsyth Institute's interactive evidence-based dentistry course are Nov. 1-5 at the Forsyth Institute.

Kansas City, Mo.—The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Criminal Justice Information Services Division is sponsoring a workshop July 17-18 in Kansas City, Mo., on coding dental forensic information for the National Crime Information Center and the National Dental Image Repository.

San Francisco—A Kansas dentist has put his name on a class action lawsuit against the company that manufactures and sells the Invisalign brand for instituting a case quota, allegedly failing to reimburse dentists for thousands of dollars in training fees and reportedly decertifying doctors who don’t comply with the company's rules.

Boston—Dentists face a challenge in helping their patients manage pain.

Washington—A 14-member dental coalition strongly urged the Obama administration and congressional appropriators to invest 10 percent of $1.2 billion authorized by the health reform law in dental futures.

In its continuing effort to prevent oral disease in children, the ADA Foundation Samuel Harris Fund has awarded 10 organizations with grants totaling $50,000.

Cautiously optimistic. The hesitant phrase is how dentists are describing the 2010 first quarter results of the ADA Quarterly Survey of Economic Confidence, which by most indications points toward an upswing in the economic climate for dentistry. The ADA and dentists are encouraged by the report but say it may be too soon to make definitive predictions.

Washington—The full Senate May 12 unanimously approved an amendment offered by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) that would exempt dental practices and other eligible small businesses from the jurisdiction of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as proposed in the Restoring American Financial Stability Act (S. 3217).

Washington—The Association supports a "very aggressive" amalgam separator goal under a memorandum of understanding with the Environmental Protection Agency, the ADA told Congress May 26 in invited testimony. The goal would call for a 20 percent gain in voluntary use of separators within 12 months and 25 percent annual increases thereafter.

Washington—The Federal Trade Commission announced May 28 that it has further delayed enforcement of its Red Flags Rule until Jan. 1, 2011. The delay is intended to give Congress time to pass legislation that would permanently exclude certain small businesses, including dental practices, from the rule.

Washington—Four-way negotiations continue on the Red Flags Rule as the FTC's latest enforcement moratorium is set to expire June 1.

Scottsdale, Ariz.—There was a tense period where thousands of low-income adults and children in Arizona were going to be without health insurance, but the governor and legislature were forced to remedy the situation.

Washington—Patients are the first to feel the impact of funding cuts, says an ADA-supported coalition ad urging Congress to extend federal Medicaid matching funds through June 30, 2011.

The National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore June 26 will host "Jaws and Paws," a family festival devoted to animals and their teeth.

ADA CE Online offers a variety of clinical and practice management courses for dentists and members of the dental team. There are many convenient no-cost options, and courses are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at www.adaceonline.org.

The ADA announced the appointment of Dr. Jeffrey B. Sameroff of Pottstown, Pa., as editor-in-chief of ADA CE Online April 19.