Can panos work for bitewings? And, a dentist defends thumb suckers

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Intraoral bitewings have long been considered the gold standard for posterior interproximal caries detection. But researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio think they have come up with a way to help panoramic cameras produce high-quality extraoral bitewings.

The trick, they say, is to combine panoramic imaging with tomosynthesis, a technique for producing slice images from conventional digital x-rays. Read more by clicking here or visiting the Imaging & CAD/CAM Community.

And are thumb suckers getting a bad rap? Despite few studies documenting a direct link between prolonged thumb sucking and malocclusion, parents and dentists for years have been determined to curtail the habit with methods that can often be traumatic. One dentist says it is time to give these kids a break. Read more.

Meanwhile, in News in Brief, Iowa and Oklahoma are set to join the ranks of U.S. states adopting laws designed to fend off dental fee capping. And a Missouri dental practice was hit last week by a gang of online thieves who hacked into its computer system and stole more than $200,000 from its bank account.

Finally, in his latest Coaches Corner column, Dr. Don Deems asks: Are you ready for a dental coach?