ADA on teeth-whitening decision impact; fluoride in England; Chicago Midwinter wrap-up

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

The North Carolina dental board and the ADA criticized last week's U.S. Supreme Court decision over teeth whitening, saying it undermines the states' authority to regulate activity while creating a quandary for professional boards across the country. Read Features Editor Donna Domino's article here.

Water fluoridation above a certain level is linked to higher rates of hypothyroidism in England, according to a new study in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. The study findings raise concerns about the validity of community fluoridation as a safe public health measure, the authors noted. Read more here.

The 150th Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting concluded this past weekend. Despite subfreezing temperatures, there was a busy exhibit floor, standing-room-only clinical presentations, and dozens of new products launched. View our slideshow here.

Your dental practice uses a range of devices every day, but do you consider that some of them come with the slight risk of accidents or injury? A new study has found that more than 28,000 adverse event reports associated with dental devices were filed with the FDA during a 15-year period, with endosseous implants the most frequently reported device. Read Rabia Mughal's article here.

Tomorrow, March 5, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is scheduled to issue new data on children's dental disease. We'll bring you full coverage. We're also following the ongoing impact of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners case and how it may reshape dental and medical boards throughout the U.S.