Oral health disparities beg new solutions; AAOMR offers CBCT training

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

The time for talk is over. The U.S. needs to find new ways to bridge the gap between public health research and the challenges dental practitioners face on a daily basis in providing adequate care for underserved populations, according to a symposium sponsored last week by the American Association for Dental Research.

As one presenter noted, "The data are important, but it's the people who really matter." Read more.

Meanwhile, a state audit found that University of Nebraska dental school faculty were overcompensated more than $100,000 for clinical procedures they performed in the school's dental clinic over the last three years. Click here to read what the school says caused the glitch, and what they've already done to address it.

In business news, American Dental Partners announced today that it has agreed to be acquired by a private equity investment firm. Is there more to the deal than meets the eye? Read more.

In clinical news, the ADA has issued updated recommendations for managing the care of patients receiving antiresorptive therapy for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

And while cone-beam CT (CBCT) vendors typically offer training for their customers, the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology believes these courses may not always be as objective as they could be. So the academy has developed its own continuing education course on the basic principles for safe use of cone-beam CT. Read more.

Finally, many cancer patients suffer oral complications following chemotherapy and radiation treatment, but some dental practitioners hesitate to offer treatment, fearing that osteoradionecrosis may prevent irradiated bones from healing. One Las Vegas dentist has responded by providing free treatment for breast cancer patients who suffer from treatment-related oral issues. Click here to read what inspired her.