Gas mix-up sends teen to ER; ads question safety of midlevel providers

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Were your office's medical gas lines properly inspected before you saw your first patient? How could you be certain the plumber who installed them had the appropriate credentials?

An oral surgeon in Lawrence, KS, says the city is to blame for a gas-line mix-up in his brand new office that sent a high school senior awaiting a third-molar extraction to the intensive care unit, where he remains today. Read more.

In other regional news, the Minnesota Dental Association says that concerns about public safety prompted it to launch a statewide ad campaign to raise awareness of midlevel dental practitioner legislation that is headed for a vote in the state senate. But do the ads tell the whole story? Read more.

And millions of patients in California will lose access to dental care starting July 1 unless the state restores its Medicaid dental program for adults. The program is being cut as part of the state's efforts to reduce a $42 billion budget deficit. Read more.

On the national front, despite strong opposition from the ADA and other U.S. medical associations, dentists will be required to comply with the so-called "red flag" identity theft rules that take effect May 1. Click here to find out what you need to know to be in compliance and avoid the potential $2,500 fine.

And writing in response to Dr. Helaine Smith's recent column on third-molar extractions, Dr. Jay Friedman argues that dentists should use scientific, not anecdotal, evidence before deciding to perform prophylactic third-molar extractions. Read his Second Opinion by clicking here.