Dear DrBicuspid Member,
Dental professionals have debated the safety and efficacy of Sargenti paste for years. The ADA, FDA, American Association of Endodontists, and others who do not support its use point to the fact that its key ingredient is dangerous and potentially toxic -- a claim borne out by dozens of lawsuits (most settled out of court) from root-canal patients who said they had been severely harmed by Sargenti paste.
Sargenti proponents, on the other hand, say the real issue is one of economics and "turf."
Is there a reasonable resolution to this decades-old debate? Should dental professionals be able to use Sargenti paste without worrying that litigation might be just around the corner? Or is public safety truly at stake? Read more by clicking here, or visit the Restoratives Community.
Children's Dental Health Month
Meanwhile, in honor of National Children's Dental Health Month, DrBicuspid.com is running a series of articles and videos during February that demonstrate what dental professionals can do to make early childhood visits more pleasant and productive for patients and providers alike. Part I focuses on creative methods for distracting young patients and ensuring cooperation during even the most difficult procedures.
And in related news, a new study in the journal Pediatrics found that parents' dental habits dramatically influence those of their children, especially when it comes to ensuring regular visits to the dentist.
