Advantages of using lasers; EHRs and your practice; does disease screening work?

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

In this Second Opinion, periodontist Dr. Cyril Evian advocates for the use of lasers in dentistry. He details the advantages of using a laser in your practice, including an expanded clientele, less patient anxiety, and more productive time.

Screening for diseases that can lead to death typically does not prolong life substantially, according to a controversial new meta-analysis in the International Journal of Epidemiology. A few screening tests may avert some deaths, but even then it is difficult to document an improvement in overall survival, the researchers found. You can read more here.

For a well-intentioned idea born more than a decade ago, establishing electronic health records (EHRs) has run into a surprising number of obstacles. In the first part of a two-part series, MacPractice CEO Mark Hollis reviews the relevance and benefits of EHRs for dentists. Read my interview with Mr. Hollis here.

Nearly a third of 5-year-old children in England have caries, and it is the main reason why many young children are hospitalized, according to a new report by the Royal College of Surgeons' Faculty of Dental Surgery. Read Features Editor Donna Domino's article here.

Look for our Anesthesia & Pain Management Insider tomorrow with exclusive first access to an Insider article. You can sign up here. Thanks to everyone who signed up for our Practice Management Insider, which we sent yesterday.