Lawsuit challenges teeth-whitening regs; study compares endodontic sealers

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

As the teeth-whitening industry expanded into a multibillion dollar business in recent years, dental boards across the U.S. have been pushing for more regulations to control who can and can't offer teeth-whitening services to consumers.

Since 2005, at least 14 states have changed their laws or regulations to exclude all but licensed dentists, hygienists, or dental assistants from offering these services, according to a report released yesterday by the Institute for Justice (IJ), a civil liberties law firm. In addition, at least 25 state dental boards have ordered teeth-whitening businesses to shut down, while nine states have brought legal actions against such businesses, according to the IJ.

Now the IJ is helping two business owners in Alabama fight back; in addition to the report, the institute has filed a lawsuit claiming that the state dental board violated the nondentists' entrepreneurial rights by prohibiting them from offering whitening services to the public. Read more.

Meanwhile, a research team at the Glasgow School of Art's Digital Design Studio has unveiled a 3D visualization system that could dramatically change how dental students learn anatomy. Click here to learn more about the new training tool, which is designed to enable users to view, manipulate, and interact with a 3D head in real-time and also features an interactive dental injection simulator.

Over in the Restoratives Community, a team of German researchers tested 10 different sealants for their antibacterial properties and found that one performed well in every phase. Read more.

Finally, whether you are upgrading your practice management software or purchasing a new system, chances are your implementation will not go as smoothly as you would like. Healthcare IT expert Mike Uretz offers some tips to help ensure a positive and successful experience for all involved.