Dear DrBicuspid Member,
With the average debt of a graduating dental student soaring nearly 40% since 2003, many young dentists are being forced to take private-practice jobs that don't allow them to help those populations most in need. Is it time to rethink tuition and loan policies? Read more.
In other news, the U.S. is not alone in its struggles to implement healthcare reforms that reduce costs and improve care. Germany's new e-health card -- the first phase of a mammoth healthcare informatics initiative -- is meeting with resistance in that country from some dental and medical professionals. Read more.
In clinical news, platelet-rich plasma can speed healing after dental implants are placed and is easier to use than you might think, according to a presentation at the annual American Academy of Implant Dentistry meeting last week. And a study published in this month's Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry suggests that regular oral hygiene can help aging adults maintain brain function.
Finally, over on the Second Opinion page, Dr. Helaine Smith says that rather than defending amalgam, dentists should be demanding better materials for restoring severely decayed teeth -- and learn how to use them properly. And Dr. Don Deems addresses the negative effects that fear, anxiety, and anger can have on our personal and professional lives.
