Dear DrBicuspid Member,
Are some oral and maxillofacial surgeons inadvertently overprescribing pain medications following impacted third-molar extractions? Yes, according to a new study in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The issue appears to be rooted in uncertainty about how long the patient's postoperative pain is expected to last. Read more.
Meanwhile, the market for "natural" products has grown steadily in recent years, and the interest in such products has extended into dentistry. During a presentation at the recent California Dental Association fall meeting, Ann Eshenaur Spolarich, RDH, PhD, an author and clinical professor at the Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California, sought to help dentists, hygienists, and assistants find ways to respond to patient questions about natural products. Click here to read her recommendations.
And in his ongoing analysis of issues in dental practice financial reporting, consultant Thomas Climo, PhD, emphasizes that dentists should rely on fact, not fiction, when buying a dental practice. It is critical to ensure that all financial information about the practice is accurate and complete, as demonstrated in the case study Climo outlines.
