Align sues 2 more competitors; poor oral health costs Aussies over $1B

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Align Technology has filed two lawsuits in a German court charging two of its competitors with infringing several European patents related to clear-aligner therapy systems.

This is the latest in a series of lawsuits Align has filed to protect its intellectual property and market share; earlier this year the company sued ClearCorrect over several U.S. patents. Read more.

In other news, the U.S. is not alone in its struggles to ensure that those most in need -- and least able to afford it -- have adequate access to dental care. A new report from the advocacy group Brotherhood of St. Laurence found that poor dental health is costing Australia between $1.3 billion and $2 billion annually.

Meanwhile, a bill introduced last month to the U.S. Congress would make it easier for charitable programs to provide medically necessary dental care to low-income children and adults with serious medical conditions. Dental Lifeline Network, which oversees the Donated Dental Services program, is calling on dentists and other interested parties to respond to a recent ADA Call to Action and write their senators, urging them to support the proposed legislation.

And the ADA, along with Oral Health America and several other major health groups, is calling on the NCAA and the Orange Bowl Committee to cancel a cigar company's sponsorship of one of the biggest collegiate sporting events in the U.S., saying it sends the wrong message to young fans and helps market cigars as athletic, masculine, and "cool." Read more.

Finally, be sure to check out the latest Ask Marty Q&A, in which Dr. Marty Jablow discusses the products that changed the way he practiced in 2011.

And to all our friends and colleagues, happy holidays from the staff of DrBicuspid.com!