Top dental stories of 2009; the genetics of gingivitis

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

As the final moments of 2009 tick away and the first decade of this century comes to a close, what better time to reflect upon the year's highs (and lows)?

2009 will certainly be remembered as a year of challenge and change. From healthcare reform and Medicaid cutbacks to midlevel providers and mobile dentistry, the dental profession as we have come to know it may never be the same. But many of the changes we saw this year bode well for the understanding and treatment of oral diseases and the overall improvement of patient care. Click here to read our picks for the top dental events of 2009.

And despite this being the holiday season, there's been no rest for the weary in Washington, DC, as the U.S. Senate pushed to get its version of the healthcare reform bill finalized before the New Year. While some of the bill's initiatives will bring smiles to the faces of most dental professionals, others may not. Read more.

In clinical news, more than 9,000 genes -- nearly a third of the human genome -- are associated with the onset of gingivitis and its healing process, according to a study in the Journal of Periodontology. Researchers say this finding could aid in the development of new treatment approaches. Read more.

Finally, over on the Second Opinion page, comic and dentist Jimmy Earll delivers his own unique Christmas tale, while Dr. Dan Kingsbury asks: is it time to make a dental coach part of your team?

All the best in 2010, from the staff of DrBicuspid.com!