Opinions on the provision of dental care in Iowa nursing homes

Using a stratified random sample, a questionnaire was mailed to 400 practicing dentists and 200 directors of nursing (DONs). Response rates were 58.3% for dentists and 50% for DONs. Dentists were representative of Iowa dentists, with 85% male, mean age 49.1 years, and 22.4 years in practice. All DONs were female, with mean age of 44.9 years. Of the participating dentists, 86% had provided dental care for nursing home residents, but the majority of care was completed in dental offices. Three‐quarters of dentists were somewhat/not interested in nursing home dentistry. Dentists and DONs held common perceptions of the most frequent problems related to care provision at nursing homes: low financial reimbursement, especially for Medicaid patients; no portable dental equipment; no suitable area for dentistry; dentist's preference to treat patients at their dental practice; and transportation of residents to a dental practice. Dentists and DONs had some differing perceptions about oral health care (p < .01). Minimal dental care was provided on‐site at Iowa nursing homes.     

Balloon valvuloplasty treatment of an infolded CoreValve

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement is an approved treatment for select patients with severe aortic stenosis. A rare complication of self‐expanding transcatheter heart valves (THVs) is infolding of the valve stent frame, which results in a malopposed segment, perivalvular aortic insufficiency, and possibly leaflet dysfunction. We report here a successful case of balloon valvuloplasty treatment for severe infolding of a self‐expandable THV in the aortic position, restoring stent frame geometry and leaflet function. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.