A turf war in Alabama? And, noncompete clause stirs lawsuit

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

When the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry ended a five-year relationship with the nonprofit Sarrell Dental Clinic -- the largest single provider of Medicaid dental services in Alabama -- this month, the clinic cried "turf war" while the school pointed to supervisory issues for students who worked at the clinic.

But all involved agree that the issue raises questions about the role of nonprofit clinics in providing oral healthcare to underserved populations -- especially when they compete with private practitioners. Read more.

In a related story, lawsuits involving noncompete issues following the purchase or sale of a dental practice are not uncommon. But a case pending in Alaska raises the question of what constitutes "competition" when a federally funded dental clinic that provides free services to the poor is involved. Read more.

In clinical news, two studies presented at the recent American Association for Dental Research meeting examined factors that can influence whether a dentist practices more or less invasively, including reading peer-reviewed journals and the dentist's gender. Read more in this latest addition to the Restoratives Community.

Finally, in his most recent Coaches Corner column, Dr. Don Deems lists some key reasons for simplifying your life -- and creating more time for personal and professional growth in the process.