Dear DrBicuspid Member,
It's becoming a trend that is hard to ignore: United Concordia has joined the list of dental insurers opting to cap fees for uncovered procedures. And unlike some of its competitors, the company isn't rolling out the new plan in stages; it will take effect across the U.S. starting November 1. Read more.
In other business news, Align Technology will pay Ormco, a subsidiary of Danaher, $13 million in cash and 7.6 million shares as part of a patent lawsuit settlement agreement. The deal gives Danaher 10% ownership in Align and includes a seven-year product-development effort that will combine the companies' orthodontic expertise. Read more.
Reports from WCMID
This past week we attended the World Congress of Minimally Invasive Dentistry (WCMID) and the related CAMBRA (caries management by risk assessment) Western Coalition meeting in San Francisco.
In an "invitation-only" session August 12, a roomful of dental educators, clinicians, and industry representatives discussed how to get more dental practitioners to understand the importance of adopting risk assessment and caries management tools into their practices. Among the critical factors: creating consensus when it comes to how we talk about, not just treat, caries and periodontal disease. Read more.
Another WCMID session focused on the bad rap some bacteria are getting when it comes to the underlying causes of caries. Researchers noted that even "good" bacteria can turn bad, and that those products targeting mutans may be missing the real source of the problem. Read more.
We'll be bringing you more stories from the WCMID as the week progresses. Stay tuned!
