Has amalgam become obsolete? And, why implants shouldn't cost so much

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

The future of dental amalgam has been bandied about quite a bit this year, thanks to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's changing position on amalgam's safety and various legal maneuvers questioning the agency's motives. Now Dr. Helaine Smith wonders: Given the many advances in composite resin materials, hasn't amalgam become obsolete?

And knowing that he might be going out on a limb, Marketing Madness columnist Richard Geller argues that dental implants are overpriced and dentists are doing themselves, and their patients, a disservice by not making them more affordable.

In more coverage from the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons meeting, oral surgeons need to adapt quickly to technological changes and participate in the healthcare reform debate if they want their specialty to remain successful, according to a symposium on the future of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Read more.

And at the Institute for Oral Health's conference on quality care last week, former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona made a strong business case for quality dental care, calling on the dental community to start making its patients more accountable. If patients shopping for dental care understand its importance, they will drive quality and cost, he said.

Dental Excellence Awards -- don't miss out!

If you haven't turned in your nominations for the DrBicuspid Dental Excellence Awards, make sure you take a few minutes to let us know who should be in the running. Categories range from Most Influential Dental Researcher and Most Effective Educator to Best New Material, Best New Instrument, and Best New Consumer Product.

This is your chance to make your voice heard! Just click here or go to dentalexcellenceawards.drbicuspid.com to submit your nominations.