First dental therapists set to graduate; novel collimator reduces radiation

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

After years of speculation and debate, it looks like we're finally going to find out firsthand what role dental therapists will play in addressing access-to-care issues.

The first graduates of Minnesota's dental therapist program are set to receive their diplomas in June, and all say they will focus on treating the poor, children, and the elderly, citing the overwhelming need they have seen across the state. Read more.

Meanwhile, in imaging news, a unique collimator design being reintroduced to the dental market this spring could help address growing concerns about exposure to unnecessary radiation and improve image quality in the process, according to its developers. Click here to read what makes this rectangular collimator different from others already on the market.

Over in the Hygiene Community, an overwhelming majority of periodontists believe tobacco-cessation interventions are a responsibility of the dental profession, according to a study in the Journal of Periodontology. But barriers to providing these interventions remain. Read more.

And in Restoratives Community news, mothers who chew gum that contains xylitol while their children are very young can significantly delay the occurrence of caries in those children, according to research presented at the recent International Association for Dental Research meeting.

Finally, in her latest Dental Diaries entry, Dr. Sheri Doniger recounts her office's recent struggles with upgrading their computer system -- a reminder that sometimes it pays to call in an expert.