U.S. lawmakers look to reform dentistry; how clean are your countertops?

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Two U.S. legislators are making it their mission to overhaul the country's oral health delivery system with the introduction of what is being hailed as "the most comprehensive dental care legislation in American history."

While organized dentistry generally praised the Comprehensive Dental Reform Act of 2012, unveiled June 7, many also voiced concerns about certain aspects of the legislation; click here to read what, and why.

Meanwhile, in Hygiene Community news, the Virginia Board of Dentistry has rejected a proposal to allow dental assistant IIs to use high-speed instruments -- a proposal that prompted heated debate in the dental community, with opponents calling it a threat to patient safety.

Also, a study in the Journal of the American Dental Association that measured the long-term effect of six spray disinfectants on nine common types of dental office surfaces found that one disinfectant was more effective than the others with regard to blood removal. The researchers also made recommendations about what types of counter surfaces dental offices should avoid. Read more.

And in the latest installment of our Leaders in Dentistry series, we talked with Ronald Bulard, DDS, founder of Imtec and CEO of Park Dental, who has been a driving force in dental implantology for more than 20 years.

Finally, television personality Brooke Burke is teaming up with Dreyer's ice cream for the new Reason to Smile campaign to raise awareness and funds for Operation Smile, and DrBicuspid.com was on hand for the launch event last week in Los Angeles. Click here for our exclusive story and pictures.