Week in Review: Kool Smiles protocol; Ga. hygienist legislation; and patient conversation

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

A report issued by the dental service organization Kool Smiles claims that state dental programs could save millions and provide oral care to more children if Medicaid dental providers used the company's care protocol and utilization rates. Read our article here.

A bill allowing Georgia dental hygienists to provide preventive care without the direct supervision of a dentist appears headed for legislative approval after getting a recent boost from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC said the measure would benefit underserved populations with limited access to preventive care. Read Assistant Editor Donna Domino's article here.

Everyone enjoys receiving compliments. You probably know this from personal experience -- feeling good when someone flatters you, and seeing the positive effect when you compliment others. It's also great for improving relationships with your patients. Complimenting them can be a vital part of your conversational repertoire, notes Dr. Roger P. Levin in his latest Practice Success tip.

A new study has again linked sugar-sweetened beverage consumption to dental erosion. The authors of the Journal of the American Dental Association study found that Mexican adolescents who regularly drank sweet, carbonated drinks had significantly more erosive tooth wear. Read Assistant Editor Theresa Pablos' article here.

We're headed to Chicago next week for the Midwinter Meeting. What are you looking forward to from this conference?

Also, there are still a few slots remaining for our Women in Dentistry conference in April. Please visit the conference's site and consider registering. We've got some of the most interesting names in dentistry presenting, including Dr. Carol Gomez Summerhays, Rella and Dr. Gordon Christensen, Dr. Desirée Walker, Dr. Sheri Doniger, and more. Looking forward to seeing you there.