Tag Archive for: dentistry

Jennifer Cully

Jennifer Cully, D.M.D, M.Ed., appointed division chief of Oral Health

Jennifer Cully

“I am honored to continue my service to Children’s National by stepping into this leadership role,” said Dr. Cully.

Children’s National Hospital has appointed Jennifer Cully, D.M.D, M.Ed., as division chief of Oral Health.

Dr. Cully is currently a pediatric dentist and director of research for the Division of Oral Health at Children’s National, where she manages the division’s research initiatives. She’s also an associate professor of pediatrics at George Washington University.

“I am honored to continue my service to Children’s National by stepping into this leadership role,” said Dr. Cully.

Dr. Cully earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from the College of William & Mary, her Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and received a certificate in pediatric dentistry from Children’s National. She received her master’s on Education from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Cully is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American College of Dentists and will be inducted as a fellow in the International College of Dentists this fall.

“As a leader in the field of pediatric dentistry, Dr. Cully will play an integral role in helping to advance our comprehensive oral health program,” said Dr. Nathaniel Beers, executive vice president of Community and Population Health.

little girl at the dentist

Limit antibiotic use before dental procedures to high-risk heart patients, says AHA

little girl at the dentist

A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) says that good oral hygiene and regular dental care are the most important ways to reduce the risk of a heart infection called infective endocarditis (IE) caused by bacteria in the mouth.

A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) says that good oral hygiene and regular dental care are the most important ways to reduce the risk of a heart infection called infective endocarditis (IE) caused by bacteria in the mouth. The statement was published in Circulation, the AHA’s flagship journal.

This statement addresses the impact of the major changes made in the 2007 AHA infective endocarditis (IE) guidelines that limited antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) prior to dental procedures to cardiac conditions at highest risk of complications from endocarditis by focusing on the following:

  • What was the acceptance of and compliance with the 2007 recommendations?
  • Was there an increased incidence of viridians group streptococci (VGS) infective endocarditis (IE)?
  • Were the recommendations from the guideline valid and should they be revised?

While the statement speaks to all types of heart disease, one area of particular interest in congenital heart disease was highlighted by statement co-author Craig Sable, M.D., F.A.H.A., associate division chief of Cardiology at Children’s National Hospital.

He noted that the statement specifies that children and adult congenital heart patients undergoing pulmonary valve replacement can be at higher risk for IE. The most significant risk factor for IE is the material the valve is made from, regardless of whether it is placed by surgery or catheterization.

Read more about this statement from the AHA

Watch AHA’s video explaining the statement, which features Dr. Sable.