ADA political spending up 60%; how to increase case acceptance 55%

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Last year was a record year for the ADA's political action committee (ADPAC), in large part because of the U.S. presidential election. ADPAC spent $2 million on campaign contributions in 2012, a 60% increase from 2011, according to the committee's first annual report. Click here to read more, including a list of the ADA's top political spending priorities.

In other news, as dental insurers evolve amid a changing marketplace and get ready to participate in the insurance exchanges required by the Affordable Care Act, the Delta Dental Plans Association is expanding its traditional B2B model with a more consumer-centric marketing approach. Read more.

Meanwhile, when a patient enters your office with a smile that is less than ideal, you have the perfect opportunity to transform their lives. It is no laughing matter when oral conditions cause health problems or confidence issues, according to Dr. Tanya Brown. If cosmetic and restorative dentistry are the solution, how do you help your patients become aware of the solution without scaring or overwhelming them? Dr. Brown shares her tips for helping to increase case acceptance.

And the current method for treating a blocked salivary duct is far more complicated and dangerous than it should be. Now Cook Medical is working to make the surgical procedure commonly employed to treat it in the U.S. obsolete, replacing it with an endoscopic method that is much kinder and gentler.

Finally, we used a Google Hangout to interview Dr. Gary Severance, vice president of marketing and clinical affairs at E4D, while he was on the floor of the Henry Schein Business of Dentistry Conference last week in Las Vegas. Click here to watch the video and hear some of Dr. Severance's thoughts on the future of digital impressioning.