Week in Review: Dental insurance and loss ratios | Addressing opioids | 1st practice must-knows

Dear DrBicuspid Member, Did you know that while the Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act requires health plans to spend a certain amount of premium dollars on medical care and quality improvement, this hasn’t been mandated for most dental plans? A new study looked at such so-called medical loss ratios for dental insurance and found that many consumers may not be receiving a good value. Read more here. Dr. Jacob Elefant

Hormones and oral health: Treatment planning for women

Women face unique oral health challenges throughout their lifetime, thanks in part to fluctuating hormones, according to a presentation by periodontist Jacqueline Plemons, DDS, at the recent California Dental Association’s CDA Presents 2018 meeting in San Francisco. Dr. Plemons detailed how hormone levels affect women’s periodontal health and explained what dentists can do to help the female half of their patients maintain healthy teeth and gums. She also shared tips for

Propofol developer wins top science award

The developer of propofol has won the 2018 Lasker Award for clinical medical research, one of the most prestigious awards in medicine. Veterinary anesthesiologist John B. Glen, BVMS, PhD, began developing propofol in the 1970s while working for ICI Pharmaceuticals, which was later acquired by AstraZeneca. Today, propofol is one of the most widely used drugs for intravenous anesthesia and is administered more than 60 million times per year in the

New product: Ormco launches Damon Q2 bracket system

Orthodontic technology company Ormco has added a new bracket system to its Damon system. The Damon Q2 system features a new drop-in hook for improved bending strength and increased patient comfort. The system also has twice the rotation control for treatment reliability and predictability, according to Ormco.

10 Tips for Your Next Mexican Dental Vacation

High season in Los Algodones it´s about to begin, this means that it´s time to start planning your dental vacation. Today, we would like to share some useful tips that every traveler will find extremely necessary, especially if this is their first time traveling to sunny Mexico. Before starting, we would like to give you some extra (and very important advice) don´t be nervous! Traveling outside your city of residence

Which file is best for canal glide path preparation?

When using the WaveOne single-file system to shape a root canal, practitioners often create a glide path before canal preparation to improve performance. Researchers compared three popular systems used to create glide paths to see which performed best. They found one system, the ProGlider, to be better in two key categories than the PathFile and the K-file. Their study was published in BMC Oral Health (August 29, 2018). “Compared with

CDA Presents 2018: Common conditions may impact older patients

When your older patients aren’t eating or cite difficulty swallowing, the cause may be a condition such as lichen planus or xerostomia, noted Jacqueline Plemons, DDS, in a presentation at the California Dental Association’s CDA Presents 2018 meeting in San Francisco on September 7. She explained to attendees how they can help these patients. Dr. Plemons has a private periodontal practice in Dallas. She is also a professor in the department

New product: Dental EZ adds StarDental handpiece

DentalEZ has introduced the StarDental 430SWL torque flex handpiece. The handpiece offers 31 watts of power for high-speed procedures. It also has an 11.1-mm diameter head and a two-year limited warranty, according to the company. StarDental is a brand of DentalEZ. The handpiece will be available October 1. The StarDental 430SWL torque flex handpiece. Image courtesy of DentalEZ.

Do’s and don’ts for elective treatment: Actively promote elective treatment

Doctors and hygienists should mention cosmetic services to patients, using brochures and visual aids to create interest. Internal marketing activities — special promotions, updates on services, signs and displays around the office, social media posts — will keep patients thinking about why they should consider aesthetic treatment. Look beyond immediate patient needs. Many of your patients would expect you to alert them to dental problems they may have in the

CDA Presents 2018: 1st day highlights video

SAN FRANCISCO – Missed the first day of the California Dental Association’s CDA Presents 2018 meeting? Don’t worry, HuangshanDental.com Editor-in-Chief Tony Edwards and Associate Editor Theresa Pablos have you covered. Take a look at our September 6 Facebook Live video from the Moscone Center.

Week in Review: Chocolate for healthy teeth? | Associate compensation | Insurance and patients

Dear DrBicuspid Member, If your patients want healthy teeth, it may be better for them to opt for dark chocolate instead of crackers, according to a presentation by Dr. Roger Lucas at the California Dental Association’s CDA Presents 2018 meeting on September 6. Find out more here. Stay with HuangshanDental.com for more onsite coverage of CDA Presents 2018 in San Francisco, including coverage of presentations on pediatric anesthesiology, practice building and

CDA Presents 2018: For healthy teeth, pick dark chocolate over crackers

SAN FRANCISCO – If you want healthy teeth, it may be better to opt for dark chocolate instead of crackers, according to a presentation by Roger Lucas, DDS, at the California Dental Association’s CDA Presents 2018 meeting on September 6. Roger Lucas, DDS. Dr. Lucas, a pediatric dentist and author of the book More Chocolate, No Cavities: How Diet Can Keep Your Kid Cavity-Free, broke down the biochemistry of caries prevention, including