Invisalign woes; Amalgam wars II

Dear DrBicuspid.com member:

When I was in grammar school, fellow students offered to straighten my teeth for free. Of course, in this modern era, we no longer have to turn to schoolyard bullies for on-the-spot orthodontia.

Thanks to Align Technology, we have Invisalign, the clear, custom-molded, convenient alternative to traditional braces. As the company proudly notes, Invisalign has been chosen by over 500,000 people "who want amazing smiles."

What's not to like? Patients love it for all of the above reasons. General dentists love it because the technology is much easier to use than conventional braces, which means they can dip their cup in the orthodontists' well and come up with a few doubloons.

But all is not well in Invisaland, if you believe the results of some admittedly small clinical trials. The potentially big problem: compared to patients using traditional braces, Invisalign patients' teeth relapsed significantly. Is it the fault of Invisalign or general dentists who are out of their league? Could you be facing a malpractice lawsuit? Read Senior Editor Laird Harrison's report for the details.

Amalgam Wars, Part II

Last week, ace reporter Laura Lane (who has the best name of any journalist I know, save Clark Kent) delved into the murky waters of the Great Amalgam Debate. Is the mercury in amalgam sickening your patients? Is the ADA covering up a scandal? What's the current state of the amalgam story?

This week, in "Amalgam Wars Part II: A phantom menace?" Laura digs into the science to unearth some answers. Does amalgam release mercury vapor? How much does your body absorb? What do recent studies, from the likes of JAMA say?

The results may surprise you.