Measles Outbreak is at a 33 Year High Point

 

Someone has to yell, 'The emperor has no clothes!" and I think nothing screams that louder than cold hard statistics.  For years now the anti-vax movement has made all kinds of debunked claims about the dangers of vaccines.  Everyone of them has been proven statistically inaccurate or flat out wrong.  However many well meaning folks have been lead astray by these claims.

When I was a young child, the measles vaccine was introduced.  Over my time since then, I've never known a person to come down with the disease.  It had become so rare in the U.S. that many began to say it was irradicated.

Then along came the anti-vax claims.  Many of those terrified parents of young children who thought they were doing the right thing for their children by refusing the vaccine.  Due to that, there's a fair amount of people who no longer have immunity to measles.  That leads us to where we are today.  Fear is a powerful motivator.  When I was young it was the fear of their child catching measles that drove parents to get their kids vaccinated.  Today the debunked buy loudly shouted fears of problems caused by vaccines has, in some areas, driven fear in the other direction.

Measles (also called rubeola) is caused by the morbillivirus virus and is highly infectious.  It spreads through the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or even speaks.  Statistics say that if a person is not immune, 90% of those exposed to the virus will contract it.  That's 9 out of 10.  The odds are not in an unvaccinated person's favor.

The benefit of vaccines is that even if a person should contract a disease by some strange twist of fate, the odds of passing it to others is greatly reduced due to herd immunity.  However, in an area where few people are immune, the disease spreads like wildfire.  Measles is especially an example of this.  The other unfortunate thing is that symptoms don't start to show immediately.  It takes somewhere between one to three weeks before symptoms develop and that entire time, the person is spreading the virus to everyone they come in contact with.  90% of the people they come in contact with will then develop the disease... if they are unvaccinated.

Measles can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death.  Those are grave consequences.  Hopefully this puts things into perspective.  From a dental perspective, measles can also affect the mouth.  The oral symptoms are an early diagnostic tool as they normally present before the characteristic skin rash appears on other parts of the body.  Due to these early oral lesions, dentists can become key in helping fight the spread of the disease by identifying it and advising the patient to see a physician  and avoid contact with others.

The CDC keeps statistics on these types of things and they update them regularly.  The current "Measles Cases and Outbreaks" page on the CDC website is updated every Wednesday and contains some fascinating information.  Since 2015 more and more infections, cases and outbreaks have been reported in the U.S.  The outbreaks this year are large.  Since 2010, the largest number of cases was in 2019.  In that year there were 1,274 cases reported.  Through July 1 of 2025 there are 1,267 confirmed cases.  That means we've already surpassed the largest reported number of cases in the last 10 years... and the year is only a bit more than half over.

Simply put, the numbers don't lie.  If you'd like more info, I highly recommend visiting the CDC Measles Cases and Outbreaks page.  It not only gives you numbers, but there also links to resources you can use.

Louisiana Joins Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact

 

Here is some great news for dental professionals.  For decades physicians have been able to easily obtain licensure in other states and practice in those areas.  The concept of 'licensure by credentials' has been in that profession for a long time.  However, dentistry has lagged behind our colleagues in medicine.  Most states require a dental professional, sometimes with decades of experience, to go through a lengthy licensing process, including clinical competency exams.

I remember when I was taking my clinical boards there was a gentleman in an operatory near mine who was probably in his late 40s.  When I asked him why he was taking the exam he explained that he was an oral surgeon who wanted to practice in Colorado.  He hadn't cut a prep (a daily process for general dentists) in decades, but he was required to take a dental hands-on competency exam in order to get that license.  Even then I thought that was draconian and incredibly impractical.  Over the years I've only become more a fan of credentials.

So the info below marks a new era for dental licensure.  Congratulations to Louisiana for their legislators being so forward thinking.

First state adopts dental licensure reform, enshrining high standards for patient care

Louisiana has become the first state to join the Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure (IDDHL) Compact. HB543, sponsored by Representative Wayne McMahen, is now law after it passed the legislature with no opposition. The IDDHL Compact, developed by the American Association of Dental Boards, aims to streamline the licensing process for dentists and dental hygienists who want to practice in multiple states. This compact offers a voluntary, expedited pathway to licensure for qualified dental professionals while maintaining high standards of patient safety and care.

 “The Compact facilitates a more efficient licensure process allowing practitioners to begin working in new states more quickly after meeting eligibility requirements,” said Representative Wayne McMahen during the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs hearing on May 7, 2025. “Joining the Compact could significantly benefit Louisiana by expanding the dental workforce, improving access to care, and streamlining licensure process for dental professionals.”

The IDDHL Compact, modeled after the medical licensure compact, preserves state authority over dental licensing while simplifying the process for qualified professionals to practice across state lines. It requires graduates from Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-approved schools to pass the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) licensure exam or have five years of practice after passing a regional licensing examination.

"This is a great step forward for dental care in Louisiana and the U.S., marking a significant milestone in dental care accessibility and professional mobility," said Dr. Art Jee, President of the AADB's Board of Directors. "Louisiana's adoption of the compact creates new opportunities for dental professionals to serve communities across state lines."
 

Key benefits of the compact include: 

• Expedited licensure process for qualified dental professionals

• Enhanced professional mobility for dentists and dental hygienists

• Maintained high standards of patient safety through uniform competency requirements

• Cost-effective implementation for participating states

The compact will also provide access to an AADB Licensure Repository, a centralized portal for verifying licensure documents and sharing disciplinary information among member states.

"By joining the IDDHL Compact, Louisiana demonstrates its commitment to meeting the needs of providers while protecting public health," added Dr. Jee. "We anticipate other states will follow Louisiana's lead, creating a nationwide network that benefits both dental professionals and patients."

The IDDHL Compact has been introduced in a total of nine states so far. It is actively being considered by legislatures in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. The IDDHL Compact was also passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives and both chambers of the Mississippi Legislature while making progress in other states where it has been introduced.

For more information about the Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact, visit aadbcompact.org.

 About the American Association of Dental Boards (AADB)

The American Association of Dental Boards, founded in 1883, is a national organization that promotes high standards in dental education, licensure, and regulation. AADB membership includes state dental boards, specialty boards, and dental educators from across the United States and its territories.

ADA Raises Concerns over Dental Insurer’s Acquisition of Dental Practices

 

Here's another post about why ADA membership is so critically important to private practice dentistry. I realize this is the second post this week about the ADA, but this one is really critical for you to read.  As I've stated here many times, dentistry needs a unified voice.  A single voice is easy to ignore or to not be heard, but a large number of voices bring the message and make it much  more clear.  

This can be not only with issues of standards and/or safety, but also when it comes to speaking a clear position to legislative bodies.  An agile group that can respond and convey a message is important.

Sometimes a voice is needed for something that has never even crossed the radar before.  Something that you may not have even considered and certainly not planned for.  That's one of those times where you really need that unified voice plus the resources to provide an immediate response.  I recently received an email from the organization to bring to my attention something I hadn't heard about...

What could a situation like that look like?  It looks like this... last week the ADA learned that Delta Dental of Wisconsin purchased a group of dental practices in the state.  You read that right.  An insurance company has purchased a group dental practice in Wisconsin.

Personally, I didn't even know this was legal.  I happen to practice in Missouri and the last time I checked only a licensed dentist could own a practice in the state. I've always figured that the rule was made to help prevent undue pressures being exerted on doctors.

And that brings me to my concern with this news.  Ask anyone is dentistry and they'll tell you that insurance companies focus on profits not patients.  I could go on and on about that point, but I'll save everyone the rant.  If you're a dentist, you know what I'm talking about.  The most important takeaway is that insurance companies push for the least expensive option practically every time... and sometimes the  least expensive option is to deny paying anything at all.

So what will happen when a business that doesn't want to spend money begins to make the total decision from start to finish?  By owning the practices the decision won't just be about treatment.  It will also affect things like the quality of products that the office uses.  Why purchase expensive supplies from reputable companies when the cheapest products available will mean greater profits?  Why order lab cases from well known and reputable labs when money can be saved by sending cases to foreign countries with no oversight from US authorities on things like infection control?  Those are just a couple of things I thought about, the list of questions could be much, much longer.

To wrap up today's post, this is why I'm glad the ADA exists.  If the ADA wasn't there keeping an eye out for the profession, this probably wouldn't have been much of a story.  This probably wouldn't make it onto people's news feeds.  However the ADA keeps track of happenings in the industry and when they see something they let members know.  We need a unified voice!

Oral Microbiome Composition could Differ Based on Different Self-reported Sleep Duration

 

Sleep is critical to overall health.  As someone who suffers from OSA (obstructive sleep apnea),  I can say that with confidence.  I denied my problem for years despite knowing better.  My journey of the problem lead me to my passion for treating patients with similar problems.

Adequate sleep is critical for your overall health.  Now there is info that not only can better sleep change overall health, but it can also affect the biologic content of the mouth.

The ADA has a brief piece on it with a link to more info on sleep, dentistry, to full body health.

The short article and like to sleep in fo can be found here.  

RFK Jr. Says He’s Fine With Giving Americans ‘More Cavities’

 

The fluoride controversy continues.  As dentist I'm a big fan of fluoride.  I consider it one of the best public health initiatives in history.  If fluoride is removed from drinking water, there is going to be a dental health backlash.  Unfortunately the result would be more decay and therefore more health problems for children and lower income individuals and families.

Secretary of HHS, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr was asked about this recently and his response is sobering.  Rather than steal the thunder of Rolling Stone magazine, I'll simply provide a link.  

Ocutrx Technologies Inc. Unveils Surgery Breakthrough: First-Ever Technology to Make Blood Translucent During Surgery

 

One of the most critical aspects or surgery is controlling the field.  Being able to control bleeding is something that is critical both from a visualization aspect as well as helping the health of the patient.  Today's post is about a new discovery that can make a huge difference in helping patients by making surgery easier and more predictable.  This tech will probably help make emergency surgeries in hospitals much easier. Imagine being able to see through blood.

Ocutrx Technologies Inc. ("Ocutrx"), through its R&D division Genius Labs, today unveiled a major surgical innovation: the ability to render blood translucent in real time during surgery. This patent-pending advancement enables surgeons to see through pooled blood without the need for suction or irrigation—a world first. The technology, called HemoLucence™, will be a feature of the OR-Bot™ 3D Surgical Microscope System, which is scheduled to enter clinical trials in 2025 or 2026.

The HemoLucence technology is powered by Ocutrx's proprietary algorithmic AI and digital engine, which is integrated into the OR-Bot™ system. The technology utilizes digital volumetric reconstruction and advanced de-scattering algorithms to visualize obscured anatomy under the blood. In tests, the system successfully visualized through three millimeters, approximately one-quarter inch, of whole human blood, which includes all major blood components. In further tests, the company expects to be able to visualize under at least half an inch of blood."

The Ocutrx OR-Bot 3D Surgery Microscope's ability to turn blood clear during surgery is a monumental achievement for the future of surgery, and a new high mark for Ocutrx's journey towards pioneering innovation in healthcare," said Michael A. H. Freeman, J.D., CEO/CTO of Ocutrx. "Our team at the Ocutrx Genius Labs worked tirelessly with me for two years to develop this remarkable technology that sets a new bar for surgical precision and visualization."

Ocutrx recently debuted this breakthrough during Abu Dhabi Global Health Week 2025, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

Transforming the Surgical Field

The HemoLucence technology overcomes blood opacity through advanced computational physics. The technology uses advanced math and physics to understand how light behaves when it passes through areas filled with blood. Although it works well from a single viewpoint, it achieves more accurate results by collecting images from different angles. This helps it distinguish between light being absorbed by blood and light being scattered by red blood cells. Behind the scenes, new, advanced algorithms employ sophisticated statistical methods and neural networks through proprietary techniques to extract detailed images of tissue structure and texture, even in areas where blood would normally obstruct the view.

"Having the ability to render blood 'transparent' now makes the unseen, in the heat of surgical battle, seen, creating another layer of safety and confidence for surgeons that traditional visual aids can't provide," said Dr. Leonel Hunt, MD, Ocutrx Medical Advisor and attending surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Spine Center and Cedars-Sinai Orthopedic Center in Los Angeles. "My primary areas of research interest involve the development of new surgical technologies and innovative surgical and non-surgical treatments for spine-related neck and back pain, and this is an important new one."

Dr. Robert Louis, MD, a neurosurgeon and Director of the Skull Base and Pituitary Tumor Program at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, Calif., added: "The ability to render blood as transparent will provide a level of visualization not previously possible in any field of surgery. No matter the discipline or scale, bleeding is a regular part of any surgery and can create several challenges. This breakthrough helps overcome those challenges and is a significant step forward in making surgery safer and more efficient."

A Technical Milestone in Surgical Imaging

"In operating room imaging, seeing through blood in real-time during a surgery has been a long-sought-after tool, considered not just difficult, but impossible, and with current microscopes fundamentally unachievable," said Jordan Boss, Chief R&D Officer and Director of the Ocutrx Genius Labs. "At Ocutrx Genius Labs, we saw what others viewed as a barrier—blood obscuring vision during surgery—as a challenge to overcome. While traditional systems can't see through blood, our OR-Bot™ uses AI-driven algorithms to cut through the scatter and reconstruct a clear 3D view of what's underneath, including vessels, nerves, bleed sites, and even tumors. This breakthrough transforms surgical visibility and precision. It's our commitment to bold innovation in medical imaging, AR/XR, and 3D tech that drives everything we do."

Industry Recognition and Vision

"Congratulations to Ocutrx for advancing microscope capabilities with this incredible breakthrough," said Dr. William D. Hunter, MD, a neurosurgeon at the Neuroscience and Spine Center in Gastonia, NC and Ocutrx Medical Advisor. "This new visualization tool will give us clearer views, better performance, and ultimately, better outcomes for patients."

Ocutrx continues to lead the way in AR, XR, and 3D visualization technologies, driven by a commitment to enhancing surgical procedures and exploring new market potentials. The company's dedication to innovation and its strategic patent portfolio underscore its role as a key player in advancing surgeries and healthcare with meaningful situation-changing solutions.

Looking to the future, Ocutrx is not slowing down. The company has 42 patents issued in over 35 patent families, with more than 50 patents currently in prosecution. The company plans to continue expanding its Ocutrx patent portfolio, furthering technologies that promise to enhance surgical procedures and other high-value markets. These efforts underscore Ocutrx's role as a key player in the ongoing development of new surgical technologies, with a clear focus on creating meaningful, impactful solutions.

About Ocutrx Technologies, Inc.

Ocutrx Technologies, Inc., with a presence in the US and Europe, leads in AR/XR and 3D visualization, expanding its reach across various industries. Founded by Michael and Mitch Freeman, two Emmy Award-winning inventors of mobile video in the 1990s, the company emerged from a passion to tackle the adversities of Advanced Macular Degeneration. Ocutrx's groundbreaking OcuLenz™ headset corrects vision for patients with advanced macular degeneration, improving their vision and quality of life. Complementing this, Ocutrx's OR-Bot 3D Surgical Visualization system sets new benchmarks in surgical methodologies, offering surgeons unmatched resolution, cinematic-quality magnification, and depth precision. In a significant acknowledgment of its innovative prowess, Ocutrx's DigiLoupe headset marks the next phase in enhanced surgery holographic visualization. With the acquisition of Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Inc., Ocutrx became diversified across several industry sectors, including Healthcare, AR/XR, 3D Visualization and Microscopes, AI, Medical Devices, Aerospace, Spaceflight, and Defense. Learn more at ocutrxtech.com.

Millions of Student Loan Borrowers could Face Garnished wages

New TransUnion analysis finds record number of borrowers 90 or more days past due, with many only weeks away from potentially defaulting

At the end of the Biden presidential administration, the news was reporting about forgiveness of lots of student loan debt.  If you're in dentistry, you know how how much student loan debt is accrued from dental school.  The costs are massive.  Because of that, there was a collected response of relief when the potential debt forgiveness was announced.

However, nothing is over until it's over (I'll love Yogi Berra), and now comes word that those same student loan borrowers may be facing garnishment of wages.  Here's the news report from TransUnion...

Less than two months since the U.S. Department of Education resumed collections activities among defaulted federal student loan borrowers, new research from TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) reveals that the number of consumers delinquent on student loans and at risk for entering default continues to climb. The analysis will be featured in a new TransUnion webinar titled Market Update: Student Loan Repayment Impacts on June 26th.

The updated analysis found that as of April 2025, the latest month for which data are available, 31.0% of federal student loan borrowers with a payment due are 90 days or more past due (90+ DPD) as reported by their servicer.1 This represents a sharp increase over the February 2025 figure of 20.5% reported as part of a previous TransUnion analysis in early May. It also stands at nearly triple the 11.7% figure from February 2020, just prior to the start of the pandemic. In addition, borrowers who have been newly reported as delinquent on their student loans have seen significant drops in their credit scores as a result, by an average of 60 points (based on VantageScore® 4.0).

The April 2025 rate of 90+ DPD delinquency represents the highest figure ever recorded. However, it does represent only a modest increase over March 2025’s 30.6% rate, which may indicate that more student loan borrowers are becoming aware of the importance of maintaining on-time payments.

The full article can be read on this page at the TransUnion website.  There is a lot more info there.