More men becoming assistants, hygienists; third-molar extraction: yes or no?

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

When New Jersey dentist Raj Upadya decided recently to hire another dental assistant, seven qualified, experienced people applied -- including two men, one of whom is now the newest member of his team.

Dental educators say they are noticing an increase in the number of men becoming dental assistants and hygienists, and more practitioners are hiring them. Click here to read what's driving this trend and how patients are reacting.

In other Practice Management Community news, the Kaiser Family Foundation has joined the chorus of public health organizations decrying the lack of access to oral healthcare services for underserved populations in the U.S. and its impact on the health and well-being of children and adults.

In a public forum yesterday in Washington, DC, representatives of the foundation and a panel of stakeholders in organized dentistry and public health shared the stage with the producer of a new PBS documentary on America's oral health crisis, hoping to put a spotlight on the issue and spur some action.

Meanwhile, a new literature review in the Cochrane Library found insufficient evidence to support or refute the necessity of routine prophylactic removal of impacted third molars in adults. But one dental professional is taking issue with the authors' conclusions. Read more in this Restoratives Community exclusive.

And surgery alone is the least expensive treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, according to a new study by Mayo Clinic researchers comparing the cost of the most common treatment methods. Click here to read how they conducted the cost comparison and their final recommendations.