Minnesota agrees on midlevel providers; are amalgam's days numbered?

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

It looks like Minnesota will be getting midlevel providers after all.

Dental professionals and legislators in the Gopher State this week reached a compromise in their debate over the creation of a dental therapist program that would help improve access to oral care for underserved populations across the state. A final vote on the bill is expected this week. Read more.

In other legislative news, a recent shift in the U.S. government's position on mercury is rekindling the debate over the future of dental amalgam, while a bill to ban dentistry performed in Louisiana schools has been approved by the state's House Health and Welfare Committee, but with new amendments that make exceptions for underserved areas.

In clinical news, an infection-control expert warns that overuse of disinfectant sprays can launch masses of aerosols into the air, prompting headaches, dermatitis, coughing, and eye irritation. Meanwhile, researchers from the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine have found that, similar to the link between obesity and periodontal disease, malnutrition can cause gum disease as well.

Finally, in "How technology changed my life," a veteran dental hygienist recounts the many ways her workdays have become easier -- and her bottom line healthier -- thanks to advances in dental materials, imaging devices, practice management software, and hygiene equipment.

And don't forget to check out the top products we came across at the International Dental Show last month. Shades of the future of dentistry!