Economy takes toll on dentists' income; why some practices don't hire hygienists

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

It may not come as a big surprise, but it's still a bit disheartening: For the fourth quarter in a row, about half of U.S. dentists surveyed by the ADA said their income had dropped from the previous quarter. But not every specialty is being hard hit. Read more.

In a related story, why do some dentists hire hygienists, while others don't? That's the question a University of California, Los Angeles public health researcher asked herself. Find out what her analysis uncovered by clicking here.

In business news, the first of more than 900 lawsuits filed against Merck claiming that its osteoporosis drug Fosamax causes osteonecrosis of the jaw went to trial this week in New York. While Merck denies that Fosamax is responsible for the plaintiff's jaw-related problems, the case is being called a bellwether that could pave the way for out-of-court settlements. Read more.

Over on the Second Opinion page, Dr. Helaine Smith is thrilled with the recent decision in Minnesota to adopt the Canadian dental board exams, which do not require live patient exams as part of the testing process. Now, she says, it's time for the rest of the U.S. to follow suit. Read more.

And be sure to check out the revamped DrBicuspid Buyer's Guide home page. We've consolidated and reorganized the product categories to make it easier to navigate the more than 2,200 products and over 1,000 vendors listed there. Let us know what you think!