ONJ verdict could set precedent; DHAT expansion faces opposition

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

In what could set a precedent for hundreds of court cases currently pending against the manufacturers of bisphosphonate-based osteoporosis drugs, a Montana jury last week awarded $3.2 million to a woman who claimed the drug Zometa caused her to develop severe osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). Read more.

On the legislative front, a bill being considered by the U.S. Congress would bar the Indian Health Services from expanding Alaska's dental health aide therapist (DHAT) program to other states. Read more.

In business news, OralDNA Labs recently introduced two tests to the North American market that use saliva to detect periodontal disease, making it the first company to make such tests commercially available in the U.S. Click here to find out how salivary testing can benefit your patients and your practice.

And while putting together an annual budget may not be high on your list of priorities, Dr. Paul Pavlik -- a dentist and practice management consultant -- contends there are many more pros than cons when it comes to adopting a budget into your practice. And now is the time to start.

Finally, over on the Second Opinion page, Dr. Dan Kingsbury stresses the importance of accountability when it comes to making changes in our personal and professional lives, while dentist/comic Jimmy Earll shares some pieces of dental history that make us very grateful for how far the field has come.