Dear DrBicuspid Member,
Welcome to August! On DrBicuspid.com, we finished July with some very interesting stories that I wanted to make sure you saw today, if you missed them earlier this week.
Let's start with a trio of stories connected to COVID-19 that were among our most popular of the week.
First, clinicians used lingual compression to assist a 40-year-old woman who experienced a severely enlarged tongue, almost stretching to her chest, following prone positioning as part of COVID-19 treatment. The photos that go along with this case report are amazing.
Second, failing to maintain good oral hygiene may result in clinically recovered COVID-19 patients continuing to test positive for the novel coronavirus for longer periods of time, according to a recently published study. If you need another reason to remind your patients to brush and floss, this just might be it.
Last but not least on the COVID-19 front, we looked at how the pandemic could potentially affect your business and its employees. Dental human resources expert Tim Twigg says simply that "employees cannot waive their rights under the law." He dove into the concept of employees signing a COVID-19 liability waiver and what dentists (as well as those employees) need to know about it.
In other news, we also examined a study that used atom probe tomography and other techniques to reveal that human enamel contains small chemical flaws that may affect the resiliency of the fundamental building blocks of teeth.
Personally, I think one of the more interesting reads of the week came from the University of California, Los Angeles' Center for Health Policy Research. The numbers in this article were alarming and show just how big the gap is between low- and higher-income adults in California in terms of their access to dental care.
As we begin a new month, one message carries over from the previous ones: We continue to wish for your health and safety, as well as for the health of those who are in your life, personally or professionally. As always, thank you for reading DrBicuspid.com.
