Medical emergencies: are you prepared? And, don't forget to vote!

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

The deadline to cast your votes in the second round of the DrBicuspid Dental Excellence Awards is fast approaching! You have until midnight this Friday (December 18) to choose from among the nominees in 13 different categories, ranging from Most Influential Dental Researcher to Best New Material, Best New Diagnostic Device, and Best New Consumer Product.

After that, we'll be launching the final round of voting, in which you'll choose from two finalists in each category to pick the winners. Voting is easy. Just go here. (Remember -- you can vote only once per round.)

Be prepared!

In our Practice Management community, the founders of the Institute of Medical Emergency Preparedness are preaching "better safe than sorry" -- and with good reason. Every dental office should make sure they have a comprehensive emergency response plan in place, they write, because a medical emergency can happen any time during any dental procedure -- and yes, even in your office.

And in clinical news, Dr. Moe Anderson ponders the "denture dilemma" -- reline, rebase, or remake? -- and outlines a step-by-step approach to upgradeable dentistry, including the three-appointment denture (with video!). Read more.

Finally, over on the Second Opinion page, Dr. Sheri Doniger shares her thoughts on the best way to celebrate the holidays with your staff this year and let them know how much you appreciate them, while Dr. Allan Stafford reminds us that "living in the present" is more than just a life coach's mantra.