Week in Review: Insurance convergence; plus recurrent endo issues and removing implant biofilms

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

The medical and dental insurance markets have operated in separate silos for decades. But that could start to change -- and sooner than you think. Industry insiders say the question isn't if the two industries will converge, but rather when and how. Read more here.

Also this week on DrBicuspid.com, do you know the best practices for managing recurrent endodontic issues? A new study found that individual practitioners often changed their minds regarding treatment of specific cases, and they discovered significant differences in decision-making among types of dentists. Learn more here. You can obtain continuing education credits from this article here.

Removing harmful biofilms from dental implants and their crowns is an ongoing challenge for practitioners and patients. The use of a nozzle that streams a powerful cavitating jet of water to remove these biofilms from implant surfaces was tested in a new study with promising results. Read more here.

Can dentists and hygienists help prevent oropharyngeal cancers? The authors of a new study suggest being informed about the human papillomavirus and the ability to talk with patients about this difficult topic may help reduce the incidence of these cancers. Learn more here.

At press time, the latest stopgap funding bill to keep the U.S. government running had not been passed in the U.S. Senate. The funding bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on January 18 included six years of funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Hopefully, next week we can bring you news that CHIP funding has been ensured.