Will FDA delay amalgam decision? And, ADA lobbies healthcare reforms

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Despite the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's commitment a year ago to reclassify dental amalgam by July 28 of this year, there is speculation that the agency may not make that deadline.

Earlier this month, FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg removed herself from the amalgam rule-making process, citing ethical concerns; prior to being named FDA chief by U.S. President Barack Obama, she served on the board of Henry Schein for five years. Will her decision to recuse herself so close to the July 28 deadline delay the agency's much-anticipated reclassification of dental amalgam? Read more.

In other news out of Washington, DC, ADA President John Findley this week outlined the organization's efforts to lobby on behalf of the dental community as U.S. legislators debate the various healthcare reform bills being proposed on Capitol Hill. In a letter sent to ADA members Monday, Findley noted that "the whole concept of a public plan remains troubling." Read more.

On the clinical front, in a new twist on the water fluoridation debate, infant formula consumption may be associated with an increased risk of babies and toddlers developing enamel fluorosis depending on the amount of fluoride in the water used, according to a study in this month's Journal of the American Dental Association. Read more.

And there are still some silver linings to be found within the current economic crisis. Bartering, the time-honored practice of swapping goods and services, is boosting dental businesses across the U.S. and increasing access to care for cash-strapped patients. To find out more about this growing trend, click here.

Finally, good news for those in need of satisfying their annual continuing education requirements: DrBicuspid.com is now offering more than 70 online CE courses. To see our ever-growing list of courses and to sign up today, click here.