Will healthcare reforms reshape dentistry? And, study questions DR claims

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

The U.S. government is making history this week, with the passing of landmark healthcare reform legislation. The bill, which now awaits President Barack Obama's signature, not only ensures that every American has some form of healthcare coverage but could also change the way dental care is delivered and paid for. Read more.

In related news, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer dropped a bombshell last week: Her 2010 budget eliminates the state's KidsCare program -- which provides medical and dental coverage to 38,000 low-income children -- and calls for deep cuts in adult Medicaid dental benefits. Dental organizations at the state and federal level expressed grave concern over the long-term effects these cutbacks will have on Arizona's most vulnerable populations. Read more.

In Practice Management news, a Georgia dentist who stumbled upon a state law requiring insurance companies to cover general anesthesia for some special-needs patients says the discovery means more patients can now afford the care they need. A majority of other U.S. states have similar laws on the books. Read more.

And in our Imaging & CAD/CAM Community, a new study in Acta Odontologica Scandinavica finds that some of the advantages long touted for digital radiography (DR) don't always hold true in clinical practice.

Finally, over on the Second Opinion page, Dr. Sheri Doniger shares her thoughts on products she uses or has tested in daily practice in her new series, Sheri Suggests. See what tops her list this week by clicking here.