Week in Review: Dentists and Graham-Cassidy bill; plus charcoal toothpastes and fluoride levels

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Experts, including the ADA, have criticized the latest Republican U.S. healthcare bill, which would change the way state Medicaid programs are funded. The ADA cautioned that some of the provisions in the Graham-Cassidy bill could reverse recent advances made in improving pediatric dental use. What should you know about this bill? Read more here.

September 30 is the deadline for both a vote on a healthcare bill and the possible renewal of the Children's Health Insurance Project (CHIP). Stay with DrBicuspid.com for ongoing coverage.

Also this week on DrBicuspid.com, do your patients use toothpastes containing charcoal? Maybe they've asked you or your team if these products have health and cosmetic benefits not available from other toothpastes. The authors of a new literature review found no scientific evidence to back up manufacturer health claims, and they urged dentists to talk with their patients about these products. Learn more here.

Does a high level of prenatal fluoride exposure affect children's cognitive function? What about their brain development after birth? A study published on September 19 concluded that the growing fetal nervous system may be affected by high levels of fluoride, although U.S. researchers cautioned reading too much into the study findings. Read more here.

How many times have you had a patient tell you how often they brush and floss after you've had to deliver the news that they have several cavities? Dr. Lisa Knowles faces that scenario more frequently than she would like, and she explores why patients aren't getting the message and what dentists can do. Learn more here.