Washington mulls midlevel providers; psychology improves brushing

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Will the state of Washington be the second in the U.S. to adopt a midlevel provider model?

Citing access-to-care issues for low-income, minority, and elderly populations, the state dental association and the dental hygienists association are proposing two very different approaches to staving off a potential crisis as the number of retiring dentists in Washington grows in the next five years. Read more.

In clinical news, telling patients to take better care of their teeth can seem about as effective as lecturing to an empty chair. But a study published in the October 2009 Journal of Dental Research suggests that behavioral techniques developed by psychologists can make a difference when it comes to patient compliance. Read more.

Over on the Second Opinion page, with third-party financing drying up in the current economy, Richard Geller offers some suggestions for alternative ways to finance larger cases. And with October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Sheri Doniger shares a personal story about this disease and reminds us all to "think pink."

And don't forget to submit your nominations for the first annual DrBicuspid Dental Excellence Awards! Your input is invaluable as we assemble our list of candidates. Just click here or go to dentalexcellenceawards.drbicuspid.com to submit your nominations.