Is U.S. ready for public dental insurance? Perio therapy eases arthritis pain

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

This just in: Starting Monday, June 15, all content on DrBicuspid.com will be available only to registered members. That means if you're a registered member, you'll need to log in with your user name and password to view our content; if you're not a member, you'll need to register in order to read articles and view other information.

The new policy brings DrBicuspid.com into line with other Web portals that offer original, unique content to their members. As always, membership on DrBicuspid.com is free of charge.

For most of you, there should be no noticeable change in how you use the site since you are already a member and have a user name and password. But if you experience any problems logging into the site or need help with your user name or password, please e-mail [email protected].

In other news, a survey commissioned by Oral Health America found that two-thirds of U.S. adults think the federal government should step in to provide dental coverage for people who don't have it. Is this really the best solution? Read more.

In clinical news, researchers from Case Western Reserve University may have found a new treatment option for people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis: periodontal therapy. Read their study findings here.

And while mouthguards may protect teeth from trauma, the bacteria and fungus they contain are making athletes sick, according to a study presented at the recent American College of Sports Medicine meeting. Should mouthguards be replaced every two weeks, as one researcher suggests? Read more.

A new article in our Imaging Community looks at the growing body of evidence lending weight to developers' claims that optical coherence tomography (OCT) can detect dental decay and other oral lesions better than traditional imaging modalities.

And as veteran hygienist Rhonda Jones aptly points out, no hygienist is an island. In fact, knowing how to optimize their knowledge and expertise and make them a valued part of the dental team can bolster your bottom line. Read more.

Finally, we are pleased to announce yet another new feature on DrBicuspid.com: Practice Success, featuring weekly practice management tips from Dr. Roger Levin and Levin Group. Here's to success!