COMMENTARIES

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tion bar of every online article, right above Google Scholar and PubMed. Another new online feature is the ability to download any illustration or table from a JADA article for use in lectures or presentations, at no charge to the member or subscriber. This feature is in response primarily to the many faculty members and educators who use JADA as a teaching tool and appreciate the use of the data and excellent illustrations. The next century will continue to

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ADA welcomes letters from readers on articles that have appeared in The Journal. The Journal reserves the right to edit all communications and requires that all letters be signed. Letters must be no more than 550 words and must cite no more than five references. No illustrations will be accepted. A letter concerning a recent JADA article will have the best chance of acceptance if it is received within two months of the article’s publication. For instance, a letter about an article that appeared in April JADA usually will be considered for acceptance only until the end of June. You may submit your letter via e-mail to [email protected]; by fax to 1-312-440-3538; or by mail to 211 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611-2678. By sending a letter to the editor, the author acknowledges and agrees that the letter and all rights of the author in the letter sent become the property of The Journal. Letter writers are asked to disclose any personal or professional affiliations or conflicts of interest that readers may wish to take into consideration in assessing their stated opinions. The views expressed are those of the letter writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or official policy of the Association. Brevity is appreciated.

LADMARK ARTICLE LAUDED

DENTISTS AND VACCINATIONS

I wish to compliment Dr. William Bowen for his excellent July JADA article, “Pointing the Way to Better Oral Health” (JADA 2013;144[7]:774-778). This was written under the JADA Landmark Series, denoting critical junctures of our history over the past 100 years. The author depicts certain individuals who were the best of us and whose altruism and constant research during the fluoridefluoridation controversy must not be forgotten. He wisely concludes that “the optimum use of fluoride in prevention of dental caries remains an elusive goal.”

On the surface, dentists giving vaccinations seems like a logical thing for them to do. However, looking beneath the surface, the procedure is a bit more involved. Papadakis and colleagues’ book titled Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2013 provides helpful information on recommended immunization for dentists who decide to give shots to children or adults, including pregnant women.1 For example, the dentist would need to track down the patient’s history of previous vaccinations. The dentist then would need to convince a patient that the patient needs certain immunizations and that he or she is as qualified as the pa-

Jack M. Saroyan, DDS San Francisco

JADA 145(1)

bring a whirlwind of change in how we receive and consume information. The editors and publishers of JADA stand ready to anticipate and meet the changing demands of dentists everywhere, as we have for the last 100 years. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Q doi:10.14219.jada.2013.18 1. Pihlstrom BL, Glick M. A century of progress. JADA 2013;144(1):14-16.

tients’ physicians to administer them. In a physician’s office, nurses give the shots. That way the unpleasant procedure is associated with the nurse, not the doctor. In the dental office, the dentist would give the shots. Do dentists need another unpleasant procedure to associate with dentistry? Side effects are usually few, but patients will remember sore arms, fever and feeling out of sorts. Of course, there will always be that one patient who will experience an unusual reaction. Different needles and syringes will be needed. The payment will involve medical insurance and Medicare claims. Some vaccines are expensive. All vaccines have a shelf life. Since they are purchased only as needed, the patient would need to schedule another office visit to get the shot. Is $20 or $25 for a flu shot worth the vaccine, supplies, time, clean up and billing involved? When everything is considered, giving immunization shots is not something most dentists would be interested in doing, or so it seems to me. W. Braden Speer, DDS, MSD Dallas 1. Papadakis MA, McPhee SJ, Rabow MW. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2013. 52nd ed. New York City: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2013:1307.

SMOKELESS TOBACCO

I am writing regarding Dr. R. Constance Wiener’s August JADA article, “Association of Smokeless Tobacco http://jada.ada.org

January 2014

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Dentists and vaccinations.

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