A Copy of Super Mario 64 Sells for $1.56 Million

 

As a tech lover, I grew up on video games.  Well I guess that's not exactly true.  The original Atari console came out when I was in college and I played that crazy thing night and day... especially Space Invaders.  So I didn't really 'grow up' on video games, but they were for sure a part of my younger years.

I also loved the Mattel Intelivision system, but my real love began when Nintendo released the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) around 1986.  The NES was a phenomenal p product for its time and quickly became a 'must have' for many American homes.  As an American male in my 20s, there was nothing better for playing games.  I spent hours in front of the TV that was connected to my NES.

 I've still got that NES and all of the games that I bought for it as well.  However, now I wish I had purchases TWO of each of those games and kept one sealed in the box.

Why?  Well, over the past weekend two Nintendo games sold for incredible amounts of money.  

The first was on Friday when an original version of the classic game The Legend of Zelda sold for $870,000 and then on Sunday a copy of Super Mario 64 sold for... wait for it... $1.56 million.  Amazing, right?

The Super Mario 64 game was actually one of the original games for the Nintendo 64 game console which, I believe, was the third generation of Nintendo consoles.  The Legend of Zelda was made for the original NES.

It's amazing how nostalgia can draw money out of collectors.  personally I wouldn't buy a game I cannot then put into the console, but perhaps the owner has enough money that they can do just that.  

Really when you think about it, that's over $2.3 million for TWO video games.  It's amazing that those items have so much value.  I suppose it goes to show the value of the characters Nintendo created.  I can still remember playing Donkey Kong on a stand-up arcade machine for 25¢ and helping Mario jump over barrels to save the  Princess.  That was over 35 years ago.  I think it's safe to say that Mario is an iconic character that has stood the test of time.

DentaQuest Announces 2021 Health Equity Heroes: Champions of The Pandemic

 

On its inaugural Health Equity Hero Day today, DentaQuest, a purpose-driven oral health care company dedicated to improving the oral health of all, announced its 2021 Health Equity Heroes: Champions of the Pandemic. Now in its seventh year, the DentaQuest Health Equity Hero program celebrates individuals who preserve access to equitable oral care and health care for all. This year, DentaQuest chose heroes who assisted those most at-risk during the pandemic and who continue to expand that access today.  

“As we emerge from the pandemic, it is clear we are at a crossroads in our health system. We must build toward a new, more equitable system that breaks down barriers to care and improves health outcomes for everyone,” said DentaQuest President and CEO Steve Pollock. “These Health Equity Heroes are actively making that health system a reality. Our 2021 class committed themselves to preserving access to care throughout the pandemic for those who often get left behind. We are honored to highlight them on our inaugural Health Equity Hero Day and thank them and so many others who are creating a more equitable future in oral health care.” 

In addition to celebrating and promoting the contributions of the 2021 Health Equity Heroes, DentaQuest is providing a $5,000 charitable contribution in the name of each hero to a nonprofit of their choice.  

The 2021 DentaQuest Health Equity Heroes are: 

 Adele Della-Torre, DDS, co-founded Ready, Set, Smile (RSS) in Minneapolis to deliver trauma-informed, culturally competent dentistry for children across 27 Minneapolis public schools where more than half of the students are of immigrant descent with limited resources. RSS has helped reduce the number of children with untreated tooth decay by 25% and decrease the number of students with urgent needs from 15% to 7% among children enrolled in its school-based oral health program. During COVID-19, Dr. Della-Torre and her team sought partnerships with community-based organizations to continue running clinics and serve many of the children who would not have received any services without RSS. Dr. Della-Torre is using her award donation to continue the work of Ready, Set, Smile.  

Kadambari Rawal, BDS, CAGS, MSD, FASGD, FICD, FACD, geriatric dentist and Clinical Assistant Professor at Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, is an oral health advocate for older adults living in long-term care; a growing population with glaring deficiencies in care access. As the pandemic restricted several critical services at long-term care facilities, Dr. Rawal helped implement teledentistry and on-call emergency oral health care protocols for the provision of essential dental services to at-risk patients. Her work was featured in Boston District Dental Society and Special Care Dentistry. She also co-authored a chapter in Dental Clinics of North America, highlighting the growing oral health needs of older adults. With faculty appointments at BU and Harvard University, Dr. Rawal is dedicated to educating the next generation of dentists in geriatric care. Dr. Rawal is directing her award donation to the Smiles for Success Foundation and AID’s COVID Relief Fund for India. 

Yashashri Urankar, DDS, and chief dental officer at Community Health Centers of South-Central Texas, partnered with local emergency departments and urgent care centers throughout the pandemic to continue oral health care for the 20,000 patients the centers serve across the most vulnerable communities of south-central Texas. While telehealth played a significant role in continuing doctors’ visits and behavioral health appointments, it was not yet permitted for virtual dental appointments. Dr. Urankar advocated for the authorization of teledentistry during this time and supported Texas HB 2056, which Governor Abbot signed into law in June. Dr. Urankar is supporting Gajanan Maharaj America Devotees Parivar and Central Texas Food Bank with her award donation. 

Debbie Oswalt and the Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) have helped uninsured Virginians and those in hard-to-reach communities receive medical, dental and mental health care for nearly 30 years. By investing more than $57.5 million to help establish and expand many of the state’s health safety net clinics, VHCF has enabled more than 3.5 million patient visits. Oswalt has also led the growth of Virginia’s dental safety net by funding more than half of the 100 clinics that currently serve the communities. In addition, VHCF has generated $6.3 billion in free medications for uninsured patients with chronic illnesses, and enrolled more than 125,000 Virginians, including uninsured children, in state-sponsored health insurance. As the Executive Director of VHCF, Oswalt’s advocacy work for Medicaid adult dental benefits helped secure the approval of the bill in 2020, enabling more than 750,000 Virginians to become eligible for comprehensive dental benefits. As the bill takes effect, Oswalt plays another important role: ensuring that Virginia’s dental safety net clinics are able to manage the influx of new adult dental patients. Oswalt is directing her award donation to the Virginia Health Care Foundation.  

Karen Fields-Lever, DDS, is the president and owner of 28 to Brush which offers preventive oral health services to the Chicagoland area and more than 16,000 Chicago public school students. These students have diverse racial, ethnic backgrounds and typically reside in under-resourced communities. Through her work in the schools, Dr. Fields-Lever has increased access to treatment for children by 50% year over year and introduces children to the dental profession. During the pandemic, Dr. Fields-Lever continued treating patients through teledentistry and emergency visits. As one of the few Black female dentists in the Chicagoland area, Dr. Fields-Lever is a STEM champion for young students and a mentor to aspiring women pursuing careers in oral health care. Dr. Fields-Lever is sharing her award donation with several community nonprofits, including Black Village Foundation, Urban Initiatives, Breakthrough, Spelman College and Oak Grove AME Church. 

David Jourabchi, DDS, of Pacific Dental Services (PDS) Foundation Dentists For Special Needs, specializes in treating patients with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD). Due to the lack of dentists who specialize in this field, oral health care remains one of the most common unmet health needs for individuals with IDD. Dr. Jourabchi provides the appropriate accommodations for his patients, including desensitization, to combat challenges with physical disabilities as well as sensitivity to sensory stimuli like speech, sound and light. The dental experience begins in the reception area where patients are introduced to a sensory room with tiles, fish tanks with bubbles and galaxy lights that match sensory stimuli preferences. This personalized level of attention extends through the entire visit to ensure patients feel comfortable and safe. Patients who were once unable to complete a dental appointment without sedation are now capable of achieving each step of an appointment without incident. Since 2019, Dr. Jourabchi has treated more than 1,200 patients from across the U.S. and was one of the only dentists to deliver care for patients with IDD during the pandemic. Dr. Jourabchi is supporting Special Olympics of Arizona and PDS Foundation with his award donation.   

Jim Mangia, MPH, president and CEO of St. John’s Well Child & Family Center, quickly mobilized to protect community health in South, East and Central Los Angeles with testing and contact tracing programs, telehealth for triage and consultations, services for the homeless, monoclonal antibody infusion treatments and a vaccine equity program that inoculated more than 266,750 at-risk residents – all while running one of the largest nonprofit health centers in the most under-resourced areas of Los Angeles County, caring for more than 100,000 patients annually. During the past 20 years, under Mangia’s leadership, St. John’s has grown to 20 sites, including three state-of-the-art mobile clinics, and six school-based health centers, one of which was the first to fully integrate dental services. Mangia selected Esperanza Community Housing Corporation as the recipient of his award donation.  

The St. Elizabeth Physicians Pharmacy and Operations team was on the frontlines of the pandemic, playing a major role in COVID-19 vaccinations for educators in northern Kentucky. The team vaccinated nearly 4,000 teachers and school staff within a three-week window, an effort led by Director of Value Based Performance Erica Neff and Director of Operations Jackie Houze. By effectively and efficiently vaccinating the teachers of this region, St. Elizabeth Physicians helped children return to normalcy. Neff and Houze are directing their award funds to the St. Elizabeth Foundation. 

Jeremy Simms Alexander, DDS, introduced the concept of mobile dentistry to his native home of Shreveport, Louisiana, as a way to expand access to sustained oral health care across all ZIP codes, particularly those in under-resourced communities. Since its inception in 2015, Miles for Smiles Mobile Dental Care has brought oral health education and preventive care to 80 Louisiana public schools. As the only dentist in the state fully committed to operating mobile dentistry, Dr. Alexander was able to continue services for these students—bringing his mobile clinic to school sites in three different parishes  across northern Louisiana, offering cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, X-rays and exams. For many, Dr. Alexander is the first dentist, and first Black dentist, they have ever encountered and serves as a teacher of oral health and advocate for diversity in the community. He is supporting Holistic Youth Programs for Empowerment, Inc. with his award. 

Charles Madden, DDS, Dental Director of the Good Samaritan Free Health Center, has recruited dozens of volunteer dentists, hygienists and dental assistants during the past 10 years to serve the oral health needs of financially challenged Cincinnatians. The Good Samaritan Free Health Center is a medical, dental, optometric and behavioral health home which seeks to enroll every patient into Medicaid, Medicare, Veterans Affairs services or any other program they might qualify for prior to providing treatment. While COVID-19 shut down dental operations, Dr. Madden and his volunteer staff were still able to provide more than $200,000 in free dental care in 2020. Dr. Madden has transitioned to a part-time COVID-19 vaccine administrator and enabled the Good Samaritan Free Health Center to become a vaccination site for the surrounding at-risk community. Dr. Madden is supporting the Good Samaritan Free Health Center with his award. 

Amarilis Jacobo, DDS serves many roles, including neighborhood dentist, former president of the National Hispanic Dental Society, and leader in the Bronx County Dental Society and the New York State Dental Association. She was a natural addition to Gov. Cuomo’s New York Forward Reopening Advisory Board, where she provided knowledge and expertise on the return of preventive and routine care at dental offices limited to emergency care during the pandemic. Dr. Jacobo has been active in grassroots campaigns to promote oral care and prevention, including spending weekends to champion COVID-19 vaccinations in her neighborhood. In recognition of her community contributions, Bronx High School awards a health careers scholarship in Dr. Jacobo’s name. Dr. Jacobo is directing her award donation to the New York State Dental Foundation.  

Marsha Wilkes Beatty, BS, MPH, is a champion for oral health improvement in Oklahoma and across the U.S. As Assistant Professor of Research, Director of the Senior Externship Program at The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry and Chair of the Oklahoma Oral Health Coalition (OOHC), Beatty helped Oklahoma adapt and refine a grading system that evaluates the oral health care performance of each state. Because Oklahoma lacks access to adequate dental care for so many of its citizens, the state scored poorly, receiving a “D.” As thousands more Oklahoma adults become eligible to receive dental benefits through Medicaid expansion, Beatty is providing leadership for coalition partners and stakeholders to create the state’s first strategic oral health plan since 2009. At the college, she reinforces the importance of rural dentistry and has developed a program which gives seniors an enhanced opportunity to experience dentistry in rural and metropolitan communities where access remains a particular challenge. Beatty is spreading her award funds among multiple nonprofits, including Neighborhood Services Organization, Good Shepherd Ministries, Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma, Oklahoma Dental Foundation, Inc., and the OOHC.   

In addition to highlighting this year’s Health Equity Heroes, DentaQuest will be celebrating all champions of health equity as part of Health Equity Hero Day and encourages partners and individuals across the country to join in on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn using the hashtag #HealthEquityHeroDay. 

VOCO's VisCalor Bulk Continues to Impress

 

I wanted to make a post today to bring readers up to speed on my continuing work with VisCalor Bulk from VOCO.

I began working with the material in October or November of 2020.  I had always been a fan of heated composite.  I had been using the Calset device from Addent for at least 15 years.  I *loved* how easy it was to place and work with warmed composite.

When VOCO approached me about working with VisCalor Bulk, the idea of a heated AND bulk filled material was immediately intriguing.

Since my initial exposure to the material, I've had nothing but good experiences with it.  The warming gun makes the material easy to place and the redesigned compule makes placing the material simple and effortless.  

VOCO redesigned the composite compule for this material.  The tip is 10mm in length and 2mm in diameter.  That means that the tip can be easily placed to the floor of the proximal box in a Class II restoration.  This allows the operator to easily fill the prep in a "back filling" type procedure while keeping the tip immersed in the material.  That means voids are not a concern.  All you need to do is prep, heat, fill, and sculpt.

When you add to all of that the fact that the material is incredibly aesthetic, it's a win-win-win product.  The case below is a great display of the material's aesthetics.   The preoperative shade was taken and determined to be A-2.  After competing the preparations and getting ready to fill, we realized that we were out of VisCalor Bulk shade A-2.  I discussed the situation with the patient and it was decided to proceed with shade A-1.   As you can see from the post-fill photo, the shade, even though wrong, still worked out very well.  The takeaway from this case is that if the material looks this good using the wrong shade, imagine what it will look like when you use the right shade.

Now that you've seen the photos, I can say with certainty that is I write this, VisCalor Bulk is one of the most aesthetic materials  I have ever used.

I now have about 9 months of clinical experience with the material and I cannot remember one bad situation with it.  The product was highly recommended when I tested it... and I still rate it as highly recommended today.  You owe it to yourself to check this out!

Opiod Overdoses are Up and Prescriptions are Down - Did All of This Legislation Accomplish Anything?

 

I was reading this article in one of my favorite news sites Washingtonpost.com and I couldn't help but wonder what all of the "clamping down" on prescriptions has gotten us.

I will readily admit that the prescribing pendulum had gotten way to one side.  People were getting pain medicine for darn near *everything*.  Perdue Pharma even managed to convince the healthcare field that pain was a vital sign.  That was wrong.

However, instead of 'pumping the breaks' and working on educating professionals to cut back prescribing AND providing more treatment, legislatures *stood* on the brakes and began passing all kinds of laws that limited prescribing.

No one seemed to figure out that overdoses were a sign of addiction.  The unfortunate result of all of these pain pills flying around was that lots and lots of people got addicted.  That even applies to good God fearing folk who took them as directed.  After a while even following the rules creates physical dependency.  Then suddenly all of those people who were dependent were cut off... cold turkey.

And guess what?  When you cut off the legal supply and people start going through withdrawal, the black market of illegal drug sales is more than happy to make up for the sudden legal deficiency.

Illegal drugs aren't regulated.  Users don't know what they are taking, but they take what they are sold because withdrawal is a horrible, painful thing they want to avoid. Unfortunately the drug dealers are now lacing their products with Fentanyl.  That provides a significant high, but is also highly, highly addictive.  There's also a pretty low margin of safety.  A *tiny* amount of Fentanyl can be fatal.

Here's a scenario I'd like you to consider.  Someone being treated for chronic pain becomes physically dependent on hydrocodone.  They go to their doctor for a refill and are told the doctor will no l longer refill this prescription.  A day or so after the last pill they start to get sick... really sick.  The withdrawal is horrible.  The person can't work, can't sleep, can't eat, and are doing time in the 9th circle of hell.  In desperation they buy illegal pills that they are told are hydrocodone.  But instead, they get hydrocodone laced with Fentanyl.  Within a few days they are REALLY addicted and the cycle continues.  More illegal pills, more Fentanyl, more addiction.

Society has let this person down.  They were left with a physical dependence and no way to cope with it.  No treatment, no weaning off, no nothing.  But hey, fewer prescriptions are written so it's all good right?

A philosophy professor once told me "you cannot legislate morality" and truer words were never spoken.  As opioid and opiate prescriptions have gone down, illegal drug sales including for heroin have gone up more than proportionately.  Basically we've traded legal drugs for illegal ones and people are STILL dying.  It's sad.

I feel where the mistake in all of this is, was a lack of addiction and dependence treatment.  Leaving folks to go through withdrawal with no support system is inhumane.  You cannot just cut the supply, you have to change the entire dynamic.  People are still dying.

KaVo and A-Dec Announce a Collaborative Effort to Improve Dentistry

 This information is pretty much "hot off the press".  While I had heard a couple of rumblings about this from sources, I wasn't really sure if this announcement would really come to pass.  As those of you in dentistry know, KaVo and A-Dec are two hugely successful and quality minded companies.  I'm intrigued to see what they come up with.  The press release is pretty vanilla, but you can read it below.  If I find anything out that I can share, I will post it here...

A-dec and KaVo, two of the most respected names in the dental industry, announced a new collaboration to deliver premier products and world-class service to dental professionals worldwide – Excellence Amplified. KaVo’s legacy of world-class performance and innovation combined with A-dec’s legendary reputation for quality and customer service makes this a powerful collaboration.

A-dec President, Marv Nelson, announced the collaboration: “The dental industry is all about human connection, and the positive relationships we forge to work for the betterment of dentistry. A-dec’s commitment to this mission starts with our #1 core value, Concern for People: our employees that create superior customer solutions of the highest quality, and our valued partners that share our high standards for service and dedication to our mutual customers. Our new collaboration with KaVo represents our unwavering commitment to the betterment of dentistry worldwide.”

KaVo Vice President & General Manager, Ronald Linke, added: “It’s a special opportunity when two industry leaders, each with a proven track record of excellence in their respective fields, can come together and collaborate with a mutually shared vision. We’ve devoted our business to providing premium-quality products to dental clinicians for over 100 years. We continuously seek to improve our business and service to our customers. This collaboration, with an organization that demonstrates the same level of commitment to its customers, presents a clear opportunity for KaVo to support dental professionals in new, innovative ways.”

About A-dec: With a mission to work for the betterment of dentistry worldwide, A-dec is one of the largest privately-owned dental equipment manufacturers in the United States and recognized as a global leader in dental solutions. The company markets its manufactured dental products, including dental chairs, delivery systems, dental lights, dental furniture, and mechanical room air compressors, vacuums, and water control valves, and a new growing line of infection control products: A-dec 360™ (www.a-dec.com).

About KaVo: For over 100 years, KaVo employees have been developing, manufacturing and selling high-quality products that set new market standards in the dental industry. KaVo has built its reputation driving quality, precision, and innovation in a continuous endeavor to achieve “Dental Excellence”. KaVo is one of the world’s leading creators of equipment for dental professionals, including skillfully designed dental instruments, best-in-class imaging products and state-of-the-art dental treatment units. It is passion for excellence that enables KaVo to deliver the premium dental solutions worldwide (www.kavo.com).

Springfield Missouri Hospital Runs Out of Ventilators as Spike in COVID Cases Continues

 

This seems like a headline you would have seen in June of 2020 and NOT in June 2021, but here it is.  As I stated in a post last week, the number of COVID infections in the state of Missouri has been increasing rapidly.

The problem seems to be related to a fairly low number of vaccinated individuals in the state.  Unfortunately the Delta Variant has managed to make it to the Show Me State and since it is highly infectious and easily passed from one individual to another, it has caused cases to rise at an alarming rate.  Missouri currently has 39.16% of its population fully vaccinated.

The Delta variant also seems to be better at infecting younger individuals for some reason.

This low vaccination percentage has helped cases increase by 51% over the most recent two weeks.  Needless to say, that's an alarming number.

Now come word out of Springfield, the state's third most populated city, that they are out of respirators at Mercy Hospital.  That's a serious problem when dealing with a virus like COVID-19 that attacks the respiratory system.  According to reports, Mercy Hospital was using 47 respirators at the time and had none left in inventory.  Granted 47 is not a huge number, but if you are in need of one and you are patient 48, that number seems much more important.

It's unfortunate to learn of situations like this when there is a vaccine available and it is being distributed for free.  My personal feelings are that I would rather take my chances on the vaccine than be on a ventilator, but other opinions obviously differ from mine...

Missouri Sees Huge Spike in COVID Variant D Infections - Numbers Surge

 

For you readers who don't know, I practice in Lee's Summit, Missouri which is a suburban area in the southeast corner of the Greater Kansas City area.  Because of my practice location, I was less than thrilled with the state when I started seeing headlines stating that Missouri is either leading or almost leading the United States in new COVID-19 infections.

It seems that the vaccination rate in the state of Missouri is very low.  Estimates are that 44% or residents have received one dose of the vaccine with 38% fully vaccinated.  However, in one county only 13% have received at least one dose.

Because of this low number of vaccinations, the Variant D strain appears to be running rampant.  I saw a recent article that stated 2 hospitals in Springfield, Mo had a combined 153 patients admitted when a few months ago that number was about 30.  

The Delta Variant (also known as Variant D) is highly infectious.  This is the strain that was first spotted in India not too long ago and has already spread rapidly.  

The good news is that individuals that have been fully vaccinated appear to also have immunity to the Delta Variant.  The bad news is that until more individuals are vaccinated, this variant has the potential to rapidly spread through susceptible populations.

I understand that some people have concerns about the vaccine.  They feel that it was rushed to market and could. potentially have unforeseen effects in the weeks and years to come.  I get that.  This also reminds me of a great book I read a few years ago called The Psychology of Fear.  In the book, the author discussed the 9/11 risk.  The year after 9/11, the number of air travelers decreased significantly.  It was based on the simple fact that many people feared being in the next wave of highjacking and losing their life in a plane crash.  Many people who had to travel, did so by car instead of flying.

The thing about this logic is that  statistically automobile travel is *much* more dangerous than flying.  Tens of thousands die every year on the highways, while an occasional plane crash might kill a few hundred.

The net result was that in the year after 9/11 automobile deaths skyrocketed as travelers that would have normally been flying were driving.  That means that many individuals who would have lived had they flown, died because they were driving.

What we are seeing in some areas with low vaccination rates are basically the same situation.  Individuals that have a fear of the vaccine actually end up catching the Delta Variant.  Of course, COVID-19 statistically is only fatal in about 2-3% of cases.  However, eve3n if you get only a mild case, you could easily infect someone who can't take the vaccine due to some health condition.  If that person succumbs to the virus, that's a horrible thing to be responsible for.  All things to think about...